To the Steadfast by Briana Gaitan Page B

and that…” I
realize I don’t even know this guy’s name. “She and that dude are naked.”
    “Yeah, I know.”
Killian’s eyes widen slightly before he stands up and stretches.
    “Did we?” I motion between
the two of us and make a few suggestive motions with my hands.
    “Have sex? No, I don’t
take advantage of girls on drugs.”
    “You knew I was high?”
    “God, you told me more
than I wanted to know last night.”
    I cover my face in
embarrassment. I have a tendency to say too much when I’m high. “I’m sorry.”
    “Can you two shut up?”
Violet yells from the bed. “Take it outside.”
    Killian opens the door
and I follow him out into the hallway.
     “So you stayed to make
sure I was okay?”
    “Something like that.
Listen, I know Violet is your friend, but when you two are together, it’s like
this dynamic duo of trouble. You’re different around her. It’s like you two are
trying to compete or something. I’m sure she’s a great friend, but she’s
reckless and…”
    “She’s my friend. She’s
practically my only friend.”
    “What about me?” He
raises an eyebrow at me.
    “Violet is my only female friend.”
    “She’s a bad influence.
The Cromwells will do nothing but drag you into trouble with them.”
    In no mood to fight, I
stomp into the kitchen. “Don’t tell me anything else about last night. I’d
prefer to live in ignorance. Now sit. I’m making pancakes.”
    After breakfast,
Killian returns home in one of those moods where he pretends he’s okay, but I
know something is still bothering him. He has every right to be upset, but it
was my prom to ruin, not his.
    The entire weekend is a
recuperation from prom, and though I can’t remember much of what happened, I
dread school on Monday. Finals are over, so instead of going, I decide to skip
and spend the day in Atlanta, maxing out my father’s credit card.
    I’m getting gas at the
only station on the edge of town when someone taps me on the shoulder.
    “Hey, Cody.”
    I turn around to see
Mischa in a button down shirt with Brown’s Auto embroidered on the
pocket.
    “Mischa! I didn’t know
you worked here.” Seeing him brings a flush to my face. I’ve missed him at
school.
    “Yup, that’s me.
Attendant slash part-time mechanic.”
    “Wow, that’s great. So
you aren’t going back to school? You’re so close to graduation.”
    “Someone needs to make
money. My mom sure as hell isn’t doing it. Besides, there’s only a few more
weeks left.”
    “You can do better.
You’re too smart to work here,” I blurt out.
    He scratches the back
of his neck and changes the subject. “Good news. I might have a car in the works.”
    “Really?”
    “Yeah, well. I have a
lot going on with my dad and all, but maybe we can get together sometime soon
and chill.”
    My gas pump stops,
alerting me that it’s time to go, but I can’t stop staring at him and the way
the sweat glistens off his skin in the hot Georgia sunlight.
    “I get off in a few
minutes. Wouldn’t care to give me a ride home, would you?”
    I pull the pump out of
the car and replace the gas cap. “Well, I kind of had plans.”
    “Please? I’ve really
wanted to call you, but things have been crazy.”
    “Okay, why not?”
    “Great. I need to
finish up something, and I’ll clock out and meet you in a minute.”
    I return to my car, not
sure exactly how this has happened. A few minutes ago, I was on my way for some
much needed R&R.
    Mischa keeps to his words
and is in my car within a few minutes.
    “Your place?” I ask.
    “Yep.”
    We leave the gas
station heading towards his home. I wrack my brain for an excuse to prolong our
time together. I could invite him to hang out with me, but he’s a mess, a
hat-headed, grease stained mess.
    “What have you been up
to?” I ask.
    “The usual. You?”
    “Prom.”
    “I heard.” His answer
is short, but I detect a bit of annoyance. I decide to probe for answers.
    “Something wrong?”
    “No, I mean