Something Gained

I woke up with a pounding headache. I groaned. I sat up and looked around my room. It was small, which helped keep it neat, I had a full-size mattress and teal walls. I had a small desk in the corner where I sat to do my homework and a gray nightstand.

"Oh God," I mumbled. I heard something crash in the kitchen. Great, my favorite person is awake. Note the sarcasm. I decide to get up so I can get something in my stomach. I quickly tied my hair into a messy bun. I grabbed my phone and headed out of my room, towards the kitchen. My dad was stumbling around the kitchen to find a glass. Drunk, yet again. I know why he drank, but it still didn’t make it right.

Mom died five years ago and that's when this started. He cleaned the bar he drank at, which was how he got drunk. Unless he tells me to buy him alcohol from the store. Yes, I have a fake I.D. This town is small though so they don't care if you're underage.

"Where are the cups?" he angrily slurred.

"Find them yourself," I told him.

"You better watch it. I'm your father and I asked you a question,"

"Yeah, you're some shit excuse of a father. Now find your own damn cup!" I yelled, causing another wave of pain to go through my head. I moved to go cut some oranges and get some water for my hangover. As I pass him, he brings his hand swiftly to my cheek and slaps me. One of his rings cut my cheek. I gasped. I ran out of there as fast as I could, still feeling the stinging sensation on my cheek. With my phone in hand, I ran out, barefoot, onto the gravel road leading to the beach. I let the tears fall. Why was my life like this? Why couldn't mom still be here? I slowed down to a walk halfway to the beach. Somehow, I was in my pajamas- an oversized t-shirt and some shorts. I still couldn't remember who took me home or what happened after the party. I didn't want to remember.

I didn't realize that I was at the beach until my feet hit the cool water. Suddenly, I could hear the waves crashing and the seagulls chirping. I brought my hand up to wipe my tears away and when my hand came into contact with my cheek, I felt the throb of the bruise that was sure to be forming. I started crying even more. I was shaking so hard it could have looked like a seizure from behind me.

"Gosh, what happened Liz?" I heard a deep voice say behind me. I didn't respond. I couldn't. It hurt too much. Not the cut on my cheek, but my heart. I seriously don't know if I can move on like this. Did I do something wrong? Am I a bad person?

Cole ran up to me and sat down in the water with me. I turned to him. Right away, his face pales. He reaches his arms around me and pulls me into a tight hug.

"It was him, it was your dad wasn't it?" He rushed out.

I just let out another sob. He hushed me and we sat there for a while. I felt so much better in his arms...and then I remembered, it hit me. He took me home last night. I then remembered another not so great detail...I kissed him. I was supposed to tell him I liked him, not kiss him in my drunken state! Oh, God. I pull out of his arms, once I've stopped crying.

"Do you want me to go beat his ass up? You know I will Liz. That mother fucker deserves his ass beat!" he rambled, curling his fists. I touched his hand to calm him.

"It's okay, Cole, really. It's only a little scratch."

"No! This isn't okay! There's no way he's going to hit you and get away with it!" he raised his voice again.

The truth is, he's hit me before. I went to Kat's house last time and she helped cover it so no one would notice. We knew this is how Cole would react. I didn't want to bring him into it.

I smiled, "Is anyone at your place? I need something for this headache."

He gave me a frown, "No, no one's home, my aunt went out for the weekend, further inland to visit a friend," he replied. He stood up and reached down for my hand, giving me a lopsided smile. I returned it and grabbed his hand, following him to his house. He lived with his aunt, both his parents died when he was ten, he was very mature, even at that age. I met him when he had moved here with his aunt when I was nine. We've been best friends ever since. We make it to his three-story home. Hosing down our sandy feet, before entering. I let the water pour over my feet for a little longer, savoring the pleasant feeling. We go inside and up the stairs, into his room.

"You stay here, I'm going to go get some Neosporin and a band-aid for your cut," he said, I nodded my head and took a seat on his bed. I lean my head back onto the headboard. How should I tell him? Hey, Cole, I've liked you for a while now and I know you like me. Yeah, that'll work. He came back and started applying the cold cream to the cut. His finger felt so nice against my skin I almost didn't notice the stinging that came with the cream. He finished applying the cream and put the band-aid slowly over my cheek. Then, he pressed lightly against the band-aid to get it to stick.

"Look, Cole, about last night...I-" I started.

"Liz, it's okay, you were drunk, we don't need to talk about it right now." He said, softly.

"No, I want to...look...I...I like you," I stuttered. He leaned in a little closer.

"What?" he asked.

I sighed, "Cole, I don't want to repeat myself, you heard me the first time."

He laughed, "No, I literally couldn't hear you."

"I...like...you!" I practically screamed.

In about five seconds his lips were pressed against mine. It felt even better now that I was sober. I got on my knees and brought myself into his lap. I straddled his hips and brought my hands to his neck. We deepened the kiss and I started rocking against him. It felt like pure passion. The doorbell rang and I pulled back. Startled, I climbed out of his lap. My cheeks burned and I could still feel his lips against mine.

He scratched his neck, "I ordered DoorDash before I went on my morning jog."

I laughed, "What'd you order?"

He gave me a smirk, "IHOP."

"Yum, go get it," I waved him off with my hand. Once he left, I looked at my phone. I have new messages from Kat.

Sorry about last night I left with my new bf. I'll tell you later. -Kat

Did you tell him?? - Kat

? - Kat

? -Kat

Hello! Pick up your phone! -Kat

Yes I told him, I'll tell you about it tomorrow. - Me

Just as I sent the message, Cole walked in with food. It smells heavenly. He brought in a small tray with two glasses of water, oranges, Advil, and the bag from IHOP. I moaned.

"I can't wait to get used to that sound," He remarked, even though Cole was amazing, he was still a boy. I shrugged it off and rolled my eyes. We dug in right away, there were pancakes and french toast which was my favorite and some sort of cheesy omelet for Cole. We ate and talked about different sports and such until we were done with the food.

"So," I started once there was an awkward silence.

"So," he repeated. "Let's go out."

"Out where?"

"Anywhere," he replied, "I should take you on a proper date before we just start making out again."

"That's a good point," I laughed, pecking his lips.