Pieces of Us Read Online Free Page B

my stomach. I turn to him and kiss him, and I love that our crowns are still on.
    I let his hands roam under my shirt. I like that he tells me I’m beautiful. I could just lie on this bed and only kiss for hours. But I’m getting so tired. I feel my eyes closing. I feel him kissing me and I’m in and out. Something wet on my toes. The beagle is licking them. Ethan’s hands move to my jeans, and I move mine to push him away. At least I think I do. I want to, but the room spins faster. The jeans are off, and he’s pulling at my underwear, and I whisper, “No.”
    And he says, “It will be okay. I promise. You’re my Pyramid Girl.”
    And I want to ask him why rush , and tell him not tonight, but the words don’t come and my eyes keep closing. And he’s still telling me—voice sounding further away than before—that it will be okay and in my haze I believe him. I’m Pyramid Girl.
    Then there’s pain. My eyes snap open, and Ethan is rocking on top of me. I want to push him off, but I can’t. I close my eyes, hoping to erase the pain, to disappear. He stops. I breathe. But then he’s on top of me again, rougher than before, hurting me more. I open my eyes again, and it’s not Ethan anymore. He’s beside me now, still telling me it will be okay, still calling me his Pyramid Girl, telling me to relax, to sshh …
    As Chris pushes further inside me.

Katie
     
    T he morning after, I wake up on the floor, naked, musty blanket over me. Beagle licking my toes again. The room still spins, and I grab the blanket and run to the bathroom to throw up. So many colors in the porcelain. I let go of the blanket and hold the sides of the toilet. More keeps coming. I pull the blanket over me again and slump down on the floor and wait for the next wave.
    Footsteps enter and feet stand beside me. “You mind?” asks Chris, pulling down his pants and peeing into the bowl.
    Funny that he asks me now. He didn’t ask last night. Peeing must be more intimate than sex to him.
    My head pounds. I feel it splitting. I shiver and push him out of the way so I can throw up again.
    “Jeez, now you made me get some on the floor.” He grabs toilet paper and wipes up his pee as I continue to throw up. “I’ll get you some water.”
    When he comes back, I’m empty. I take the glass and he hangs around, staring at the blanket. I pull it tighter around me. “You can go.”
    He smiles. “You know … ” He walks closer, bends down, puts his hand under the blanket, touches me. “I’d say we should have another go, if you didn’t look so wrecked.”
    “Go to hell.”
    “That’s not what you said last night.” He winks at me.
    I couldn’t have said I wanted to, could I? The night is a blur. I remember the dog. Ethan on top of me, then not Ethan. Eyes closing and opening. “Where’s Ethan?”
    Chris laughs. “Yeah, he had to jet. You don’t think you’re still together, do you? Another guy might have been able to hack it, but not Ethan. You can’t sleep with a guy’s best friend and expect him to still want to be with you. There’s a code, girl.”
    “I didn’t—”
    Chris nods. “No, I get it. You were trashed. I told him that. Told him to give you another chance.” He shrugs. “What can you do?”
    My mouth is dry. I stare at him and wonder if he’s real. Maybe I died from alcohol poisoning and I’m in hell. Maybe that’s where I was last night. Maybe none of it happened.
    He comes close, wipes at the tear down my cheek. “Hey now. It’s okay. Who cares about Ethan? You can have me anytime you want me. I’m not as stuck up as Ethan. Shit, you’re almost a virgin.”
    Oh God. Oh God. Oh God. This has to be hell.
    “Wait,” he says, running into the bedroom. “I know what will cheer you up.”
    He comes back with my crown. How is it intact? Still shiny. Still fake.
    “Look, I don’t mean to be a dick, but my parents will be home in an hour. Drink some more water, get dressed, and then I have to get you home.