I woke up the next morning with the worst hangover. The worst food hangover that is. I know it doesn't seem like a real thing but, eat enough food in the middle of the night and you'll find out it is.
"Oh," Gabby groaned. "Why did we eat so much?"
I couldn't even see her because I didn't have my contacts on.
"Because you wouldn't let me stop eating," then I started to mimic her. "You only live once, Green. It's just one more skittle, Green." I scoffed. "One more skittle my..."
"Green. I'm over here," I felt her hand on my shoulder as she turned me around.
"Oh," I said. "Have you seen my contacts?"
"You wear contacts?" she asked.
"Oh my God," I said. "I'm going to get a cup of coffee."
"No. I'll help you get it," Gabby offered.
"Gabby," I said. I searched for her shoulder and placed my hand on it. "I've lived in this house for fifteen years. I think I can get a cup of coffee within your help."
I know now that that is the dumbest thing I have ever done. The thing is, as the time I couldn't sleep with clothes on so, I slept in my underwear. I didn't think to put clothes on because I assumed Gabby and I were the only ones in the house.
I found my way downstairs. It really wasn't that hard because it was my house. I didn't need to see it to know where I was going. I got to what I hoped was our kitchen, then I started to hear sounds. Catcalls to be specific. I thought I was hearing things because it was early in the morning and I hadn't had a cup of coffee yet.
I managed to make the coffee and pour it into a cup, when I heard someone's voice. I heard it more clearly now. I knew my mother was at the bakery, so I panicked.
"Gabby?" I said, the volume of my voice rising. "Gabby!"
I heard her running down the stairs.
"Green?" she said. "Oh no."
"What?" I asked. "What is it?"
"Here," she said. "I found your back up glasses."
She helped me put on my glasses and when I saw what she saw I wanted the ground to open up and swallow me. I had forgotten that the basket ball team was to come to my house that morning.
There they were. Sitting in my living room, seeing me in my underwear in my open kitchen. I wasn't even embarrassed. I just wasn't in the mood for the jokes I knew would come out of this.
All the guys were making funny faces at me. I assumed they were flirting. I really didn't know what flirting looked like. But, whatever they were doing, it was grossing me out.
Mace Smith walked up to me and was about to say something but, I held up my hand to signal him to stop.
"Just don't," I said to him, then I turned to the guys. "I'll be back in half an hour. Try not to break anything."
They made weird sports cheering noises as I went up the stairs. I hate my life.
I took a shower, brushed my teeth and wore my outfit. It was a gray fuzzy crop tank top with marching sweatpants and a hoodie in my back pack in case I got cold. I wore my white Nike Air Force ones that my dad got me. He said it was what the kids were wearing these days.
Gabby wore the exact same thing but black. I had two of all my outfits.
I took my whistle and went back down stairs with Gabby.
"So, were are we going?" Jackson, one of the guys, asked.
"To the ring," I said.
We were actually just going to the community gym, but, I wanted it to sound really dramatic.
It did.
~~~~~~~
We got to the ring earlier than I thought we would. Which was a good thing. I led everyone to the boxing section.
"Okay," I said with a clap. "Mace. Jackson. Put on gloves and get into the ring."
Jackson quietly put on the gloves. I liked that. Blind obedience. I wasn't going to take him very far but, it helped my situation. Mace on the other hand...
"What?" Mace asked. "I'm not doing that."
I took a deep breath to try to hold myself back. It did not work. "Mace Leslie Smith." He was so shocked I knew his middle name. The guys were trying to hold back their laughter. "I did not wake up at 7:00 AM on a Saturday morning, with the worst hangover ever for you to nag my ears off. Put on the damn gloves!"
"Ok," he said, and grumbled some curse words.
"Get into the ring," I said. They reluctantly got in.
I played a bell sound effect on my phone. "Okay, box."
They both stared at me. "Did I say it wrong?" I asked. I really didn't know how boring worked. "I'm not really sure..."
Before I could complete my sentence, Jackson hit Mace Smith in the stomach. Yikes.
Gabby wanted to say something but, I stopped her. I really wanted to see how far it was going to go.
Mace hit Jackson back twice as hard. Jackson did the same. It kept going back and forth before Mace hit Jackson so hard he fell on the floor.
"Okay," I yelled. "That's enough."
I went to go help Jackson off the floor. I walked him to a chair. "Go get him an ice pack, please," I asked one of his team mates.
I went over to Mace. "I knew you guys were mad at each other but, I didn't know you were that mad," I said kind of surprised at Mace's strength.
"Does anyone else want to let out their frustrations?" I yelled.
"We're good," one of them yelled back.
"Okay," I said then, blew my whistle. "We're going back to my house."
I could sense their confusion but, I wasn't in the mood to explain anything.
~~~~~~~
We got back to my house. I got everyone snacks and when everyone had rested, Gabby spoke, "What the hell, Green?"
I took a sip of my apple juice and started to explain, "Well, my original idea was for us to sit down here and talk about our feelings," I took another sip of my juice. "But when I told you about it lasted week, you told me that boys don't like to talk about their feelings. Which I totally understand. But, I still thought my way was better. So, I wanted everyone to see the outcome of the only other way."
They all starred at me like I was crazy. It wasn't a stare I hadn't gotten before. I had come to terms with the fact that I didn't think like every one else.
I got up to get my bunny, Quality Benedict Cumberbatch, from my room. I went back to the living room and raised him up.
"This is Quality Benedict Cumberbatch. Qually is my bunny. You do not speak, if you don't have the bunny. Understand?" I said. I got no response. "Would you rather go back to the ring? Cause I booked it for the whole day."
"Fine," Jackson said.
"Good," I said. I gave Qually to Jackson. "Careful. Okay."
Jackson just stared at me. "Speak your truth, dude," I said, a little annoyed. He stayed silent. I took my bunny. "Fine. If you won't speak your truth, I'll speak mine."
"You don't..." Mace said. I held my hand up.
"I dedicated so much if my time to this team. Way more than I should have. I've missed choir practices, Qually's check up, oh and multiple visits to my therapist," I turned to Jackson. "And if you don't start spilling whatever you're bottling up, then it will all go to waste. So, take my bunny, grow up and spill!"
"Fine," Jackson said. "Mace stole my girlfriend." Huh?
"Dude!" Mace started. I held one finger up.
"You will not speak, if you don't have the bunny," I turned to Jackson. "Jack. You were telling us how Mace is a backstabbing whore."
"Green," Mace started again. I looked at him and he stopped talking.
Jackson continued "Sophia and I dated for a while last year and..."
I stopped listening. I couldn't help but feel sorry for Jackson. He looked genuinely hurt. And Mace beat him up so bad. That must have been so frustrating. Getting beat up over and over again by the same person.
I know I should have trusted that Mace didn't do it but, I'd seen him around Sophia. He'd do anything for her.
"...then she broke up with me."
What I did next didn't seem like anything at the time. To me it was just a friendly gesture. One that I really regret now.
I walked to Jackson and gave him a hug. He hugged me back. A little tightly. But, I was okay with it.
I heard the door slam shut and Mace wasn't there anymore.