I wake up to Josie groaning in pain. She whimpers and pulls the covers over her head, still tightly wrapped around me.

“Hangover?” I ask.

She jolted.

“Shit you scared me,” she said.

“My arm is asleep.” I point out.

“Oh, sorry,” she moves over.

I sit up and look at her and she looks at me. I don’t know why but I’m nervous. Is she going to say something about it? Is she going to pretend it didn’t happen? Does she even remember it happened? If she doesn’t, am I obligated to say something?

She looks down at my lips and I feel my face heat up knowing the smudged lipstick gives everything away.

“Ugh, what the fuck happened last night?” She plops back on the bed.

I let out a sigh of relief.

“You mean other than the fact that you got plastered before midnight and basically ruined my whole night?”

“Shit, my bad. How did things with Carson go?”

“Good actually. He said he likes me; we are basically already official.” I sigh romantically and lay down next to her.

“That’s… good.” She forces out.

“Why’d you get plastered?” I turn to face her.

“Guess I just lost count. Happens.” She shrugs it off.

“At least you didn’t puke,” I say.

“That’s a win, I guess. Come on, let’s wash this make-up off and check on the others.”

I get up out of bed and stretch before walking to the bathroom to wash up. After I clean my face I move to grab a change of clothes. Normally I’d just change right in front of her and not even think twice about it. But after last night, I feel subconscious. I don’t know how to feel about the whole thing.

So without even realizing I’m doing it I grab my clothes and go change in the restroom. Then I leave the room in search of the others without waiting for her to finish getting dressed. The house is a total disaster, as expected. There are people passed out everywhere.

I sigh.

“Alright, morning call. Everyone go home!” I shout.

They start to stir awake and grumble complaints.

I go to the other bedroom and slowly creak the door open. Inside are Sophie and some guy. Still passed out and naked. I cringe and close the door. Where’s Sage? I move back to the living room where people slowly get up and laugh about the night before. I wouldn’t know how fun it was because my night was ruined.

I go out front and see that it’s just as trashed.

Someone better help me clean this place up.

I see Sage’s boyfriend’s car and smirk before walking over to it. Sure enough, the two are cuddled up inside, sound asleep.

I bang loudly on the hood of the car causing the car alarm to go off. They jolt awake and I laugh at their surprised faces.

“Morning!” I call.

Sage flips me off.

I giggle before going back into the house.

“You find Sage?” Josie comes up to me.

“She’s with her boyfriend in his car,” I walk over to the kitchen.

“Did you see Sophie?” She asks.

We look at each other and giggle.

“That could have been me if someone hadn’t cock blocked me,” I playfully jab her in the stomach.

“I said I was sorry,” she giggles.

“Sorry enough to make breakfast?” I ask.

She rolls her eyes and pulls out some eggs.

“Yes!” I peck her on the cheek and move to sit down at the bar.

I watch her face get really red.

Then I feel my face get really red.

Is it always going to be this awkward around us now?

“Hey babe,” Bryson slides into the seat next to me.

“Ugh! Who invited you.” I complain.

“You know you still want me.” He smirks.

I roll my eyes.

“I looked for you last night,” he says.

“Well, I was busy, with someone who’s a way better kisser than you.” I snap at him.

“Ouch, right in the heart.”

Don’t let his little flirty boy act fool you as it did me. He acts so cute and makes you laugh only to crush your soul the moment you start dating. Been there done that, never going back.

“We making breakfast?” he looks to Josie.

“We are, you are leaving.” I push him out of his chair.

“No way, don’t I get the VIP treatment?”

“Hell no, get lost.”

“Kitty Kat, don’t be like that.”

Ugh, I always hated that nickname.

“If you don’t leave, I’ll sick Josie on you again,” I smirk.

Josie crushes an egg in her hand right into the sizzling frying pan. He gulps.

“Alright fine but mark my words. You’ll take me back.”

“Keep dreaming!” I call after him as he walks away.

The last time he didn’t leave me alone Josie grabbed him by the balls and squeezed so hard he started crying like a baby. It was actually the funniest thing I’ve ever seen. I can always count on Josie to have my back.

“What a jerk,” I complain.

“I always hated him,” Josie washes the egg off her hands.

“And that nickname, god, I hate it so much,” I complain.

“Ah come on, kitty kat.” She teases.

I flip her off.

She laughs.

By now everyone has left or called rides and are hanging out in the living room. Sage walks in and joins me at the bar while her boyfriend goes to the bathroom.

“Where’s Sophie?” she asks.

“With some guy, naked.” I wiggle my eyebrows.

“Damn, at least one of us got lucky last night.”

“What happened to you?” I ask.

“Mother nature.” She sighs.

“Damn,” Josie says.

“And you?”

“Josie,” I glare at her.

“I said I was sorry.” She cracks another egg into the pan.

“What happened to Josie?”

“She got wasted, before midnight! Ugh! Guess who got stuck taking care of her. But it’s okay, I still connected with Carson. We kissed!” I squeal in excitement.

“I still can’t believe you like him.”

“Shut up, he’s cute.” I playfully push her.

“If you say so,” she playfully pushes me back.

“You’ll come around once you see how sweet and adorkable he is.”

“I guess the jury is still out for now.”

“Ugh…” Sophie wonders into the kitchen and sits next to Sage.

She’s dressed now but looks like she got run over.

We all stare at her.

“What?”

We all giggle.

“Shut up, assholes.” She flips us off before laughing.

The guy she was with walks away, winking at Sophie as he leaves.

“Girl, he was cute,” Sage says.

“He doesn’t go to our school. Damn, the guy is huge. I’m sore now.”

We all laugh.

Sage’s boyfriend comes back and wraps his arms around her from behind. He’s all washed up and changed now. His name is Wyatt Greene, he’s been dating Sage going on three months. He’s nice, better than all her other boyfriends. I like him, but he likes to keep Sage all to himself and doesn’t really like talking to us much. Only if Sage makes him.

“Stay for breakfast, I’m going to get washed up.” She pecks him on the lips before walking to the bedroom.

He sits off to the side.

“You okay? You were really hammering those things down last night.” Sophie says to Josie.

“I’m fine, my bestie had my back.”

“I would like to point out I never volunteered to be babysitter.”

Sophie laughs.

I stare at Josie, who looks at me. When our eyes meet, we both avert our gaze. Ugh! Why can’t I just get the whole thing out of my head? So, she kissed me, big deal. She was drunk, better me than some creep.  We’re best friends, we’ve seen each other naked. I’ve seen her puke and helped her with her period more than once. I help her dye her hair; we paint each other nails. So what we kissed, big whoop.

I’ve kissed a lot of people.

Okay not really, but still!

Why can’t I just pretend it didn’t happen and forget about the whole thing? Move on, never bring it up again.

“Ugh!” I groan out loud and rest my head on the bar.

“You okay?” Sophie asks.

“Huh? Uh, yeah. Just thinking is all.”

“Wow, there is a first for everything.” Josie sets a plate of eggs and bacon in front of me.

“Shut the fuck up,” I flick her in the nose.

She giggles.

I smile at her.

Maybe I really am overthinking this. It’s not like it meant anything. If it did, she would have told me. It was just some freakish accident. She’s my best friend, so what we kissed. That doesn’t mean we’re not still best friends. I’m just psyching myself out.

I just need to clear my head and forget the whole thing ever happened.

Sage comes back just as Josie finished serving everyone. There were no more seats left so Josie just stood off the side by me.

“You can sit down if you want,” I offer to trade her.

“Up,” she motions for me to move.

So, I stand up. She sits down, then before I can say anything, she lifts me up and sits me on her lap.

Instantly my face gets really red.

Damn it.

What the fuck is happening?

Why am I getting like this?

It’s not like I haven’t sat on her lap before. On car rides, in the cafeteria, while she plays with my hair. Ugh! Just be normal Kat, how hard can it be?

She casually wraps one arm around me and rests her chin on my shoulder as she eats.

I just stare at my food.

“You okay?” Sophie asks.

“Huh? Yeah, I’m fine.” I lie.

“Sorry my thighs don’t have much meat on them, just deal with it.” Josie comments.

Sage snorts in amusement.

I move to eat when I feel Josie’s hand move up my shirt and rest on my stomach.

I gasp out loud and everyone looks at me.

“I’ll just stand,” I quickly get off her.

“Okay,” Josie eyes me like I’m the one being weird.

When she’s the one being weird!

I quickly eat my food in silence.

After breakfast, Sage puts on some music and with the help of her boyfriend, we get to cleaning.  Sage, Sophie, and Wyatt tackle the house. Josie and I work on the outside. I pick up the trash in silence.

“Is this about last night?” Josie finally says.

“Huh?” I play stupid.

“It was just a joke, it didn’t mean anything,” The way she says it makes me not believe her.

“Okay,” I say and keep picking up trash.

“Kat come on, you know me.”

“I said okay,” I shrug and keep picking up trash.

“I was just drunk.”

“Okay, Josie,” I say more forcefully.

She sighs and goes back to picking up trash.

“Are we… Are we okay?” she asks after a long stretch of silence.

I pause and set the trash bag down before turning to meet her gaze.

“I’m not… I don’t roll that way.” I say.

A look of pain flashed across her face.

“That doesn’t mean we can’t still be friends,” I add.

She clenches her fist and holds back her tears before nodding and forcing a smile, “Okay.”

I feel bad.

I didn’t mean to hurt her feelings.

“When I was talking to Bryson, I was talking about you.” I add to cheer her up.

It takes her a moment to get it, but when she does she smiles genuinely and laughs.

“Shut the hell up.” She throws a beer can at me.

“You first,” I laugh and toss it back.

She catches it in her trash bag.

“Hey, no matter what happens, you are always going to be my best friend. I don’t care about what happened last night. I love you for who you are, no matter who you like.” I reassure her.

“Thanks…” her voice wobbles. “That really means a lot, Kat.”

“Don’t go soft on me okay?” I playfully bump shoulders with her.

“You wish,” she laughs.

I whack her with my trash bag and she whacks me with hers. Soon we are in a whacking war. I run all around the yard trying to get away from her, laughing my head off. When we are down by the lake I nearly slip into the water but she catches me and pulls me into her arms.

I stare up into her eyes.

“T-Thanks,” I say.

She stares at me and I stare at her.

The tension is so thick between us you could cut it with a knife.

She leans in slowly, her lips centimeters from my own.

I find myself leaning in too.

“How’s it going out here?” Sage calls.

We jolt apart before anything can happen.

Sage gives us a, What the fuck? Look.

“It’s uh, going…” I call back.

“Right…” she eyes us.

I quickly move to pick up more trash.

Josie does the same.

Sage give us one last confused look before walking back inside.

I glance at Josie and she looks at me.

When our eyes meet, we avert our gaze.