Chapter twelve : Breakfast-whore

ELLIOT SHOWS UP AT THE DOOR after exactly fifteen minutes, I was really grateful that he did or else I would have gone mad at the mess around me. "eww!" he says once he steps into the living room, I notice the bunch thrown over my book wall and groan further into the pillow I am holding. "Oh are you okay? Your eyes are bloodshot red" I sigh "Shit I didn't have enough sleep and now this" I hope I can hold my anger well "they better be sorry for this" he whistles playfully and walk further in the place. I grumble and put my hair in a ponytail and start sizing the damage. Crap! the curtains are ruined, and the sofa is screaming mess. There's even a pair of bra hanging on it, I need a swat team to clean the place.

Who let these animals out of their place!

I start cleaning silently, I feel him observing me, clueless. I give him a cleaning tissue and he takes it as his cue to start collecting the plastic cups. May and Noah passed out minutes ago.

An hour later I lay on the living room's floor, I was tired and cleaning the apartment wasn't on my to-do list today, did they really need to throw it here? I make a note to give the Joe exotic and the coco-Channel-wannabe a piece of mind when they are awake. The place is almost clean so I stand up to look for Elliot who didn't bother say a single word after we started cleaning.

I follow the sounds till I am in kitchen and Elliot is doing the dishes, I start laughing like a lunatic, really? Elliot washing the dishes? He rolls his eyes at me and I keep laughing even more "Elliot you can leave them it's okay thanks for helping me" I try to undress his gloves and he lets me

"Oh it's okay it was Noah's mess after all, speaking of him where is he?" "He's in my room I helped him have a rest, he was really knocked out" he nods his head and I feel like I should apologize for troubling him. "Can I have a drink?" he surprises me and I grab a coke from the fridge "here" I offer and he thanks me.

"Earlier I saw your car at the parking lot, were you visiting Josh?" he nods his head, maybe he doesn't want to chatter? I sigh awkwardly and excuse myself to the bathroom. I don't really know how to behave with him.

I relieve my paining blade and try to freshen up a bit, I splash water over my face. When I pass by the living room I find josh seated on the sofa and Elliot about to leave. I am starting to feel exposed in my own place "oh josh! Hey- how are you?" I try to form a sentence and he ends up chuckling at me.

I can never get used to boys hanging around my place.

"Sheryl I was told that Noah threw a party in your place so I came here to check on you guys" "Yeah May was also in that but thank god Elliot was here, he helped me through the mess" I say and look at Elliot who rolls his eyes and leave. Did I do something wrong?

I sigh and take a seat, I am beyond exhausted and he's being extra jerky, if he doesn't like me why'd he help me? Guess it was only because of Noah. I am a fool for thinking he's that civilized.

"So how'd you got those people out? Elliot helped you?" I shake my head no "I said I'd call the cops" he laughs at my scrunched face. I yawn and he stands up, "that's my cue to leave Sheryl when the brat wakes up call me" I smile at him and stand up too "thanks for stopping by and thank your I-have-A-permanent-stick-up-my-ass brother again for me, he's been giving me a hard time"

Josh laughs at my annoyed body language and pats my head "okay shy and uh Elliot treats you the best by the way you don't get to complain I mean he even gave you a hand cleaning the place" I furrow my eyebrows. That's not what I think.

"Night Shy and don't think about him, think about me" I tsk and chase him out of the apartment "night Josh" he waves his hands at me and I close the door.

Boys and their egos.

The next morning I wake up late and scurry to the bathroom to wash, I find Noah emptying his stomach into the sink. The best thing you could ever start your day with.

I hope the dislike is prominent on my face "Sheryl I know I am in deep trouble with you but can you please bring some medicine" I sigh and go bring him an Advil and a glass of OJ. Noah is like a child stuck in an adult body.

"You brought this upon yourself goof!" I say to him and start foam washing my face, he sits on the sink and I help him freshen up too. When we walk to the kitchen May is drinking a cup of coffee and dragging her blanket with her, they look at each other for a while and I catch on their silent conversation "follow me to the coffee table now!"

I sit down and they drag their feet getting ready for some nagging "Hurry up folks" they sit down and stare at me for a whole minute. "Whose idea is it?" I say, they groan and each of them accuses the other one. I scoff at their guilty faces "Sheryl I am so sorry he dragged me in this" May says guiltily and Noah shrieks nearly falling off the chair.

"Shy don't believe her she even brought strippers, I asked her several times if it's okay and she agreed"

"Has your hangover affected your sense of judgement?"

"Says the one who threw her bras all over the flat"

Noah reaches for her blanket and they start to fight. I try not to laugh and slam my hand on the table "For the ever loving god how old are you?" they stop bickering and I sigh.

"We made pancakes for you" they both say, with the puppy eyes and Noah puckering his lips like a duck.

"You're lucky I am breakfast-whore or else I would have made you licked the floor clean" I finally surrender, as they take it as a sign to lunge at me.

I grip on dear life.

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Noah leaves by noon, May starts studying for her upcoming exams, I had to do Janis's shift and stop by the gym. When I reach the dinner, Hanna tells me they hired another person and I couldn't be any happier; Janis and I really needed that.

I wear my apron and wait at the register, the bell chimes signaling for other customers to arrive and I look at the door expectantly. To my utter surprise my mother walks in with rob and Alan engaged in a conversation; my breathing goes haywire and my heart skip a beat, they keep walking to a table near the front, my eyes follow them silently.

I tried to get away from them as possibly as I can but to my big disappointment they're here, sharing the same air and eating food I'd serve. I crumble to the floor and cry my fear out, all the things she did came back at me at once and I wished the ground would eat me whole.

Through my daze I hear Hannah looking for me and wipe the tears that escaped; I stand up, and because of the noise in the dinner they didn't notice my name, maybe they wouldn't even if they hear it.

"Yeah Hannah?" my best friend's mother notices something off within me and gives me a break, since the new bartender has arrived. I thank my lucky stars and head over the door. Not minding my surroundings I crash into someone's chest, I skillfully regain my balance and race to the door when I hear Elliot say "Are you seriously blind Sheryl?"

"I-uh Elliot? What're you doing here?" I say through my clenching teeth and his face drops in a serious gaze "Are you okay?" I barely register his words and run out of the place, gaining curious glances. I run all the way to the park, the trail of my tears on my cheeks failing to dry, I couldn't face them yet; no matter how much time passed, my wounds are still fresh and they would be forever.

When I last looked at their table, my mother was patting Alan's head in a way she had never did with me, even the look in her eyes was way changed than the barely-interested-look she would give me back when I lived with her.

I wish I'd never see them again.

I sit on a curb and let the afraid child inside takes over me; I cried my pain out, until all I produce is hiccups. As my meltdown continues, I spotted Elliot running all over the park looking lost. I wipe my face with the back of my hand, my face was hot and flushed, and my eyelashes stuck together, waterlogged.

I try to make another run, but I think it's too late when I see Elliot in front of me hands on his knees, and face way too much concerned.

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