Brooklyn Noelle Brankovich

Chapter Forty-five: "I'll have what he's having"

It was early in the day and I woke up feeling like shit. Work was killing me the past week since my debacle with Natalie, and I needed a break.

I ventured out of my apartment for the first time since getting in from work at three in the morning. Like an idiot, I left my things in the car because I was too tired to do anything when I got off.

When I spun after locking my door, I saw Cassie with her eyes fixed on me. She had a bag of food delivered, giving me the idea to probably eat something as it was noon and I hadn't eaten since last night.

"Brooke? Got a second?" She called out for me.

My heavy head lifted slowly and I walked toward her. The closer I got, the more I noticed how awful she looked. It was nice seeing I wasn't the only one looking how I felt. "You look like shit," I proclaimed, "Are you okay?"

She nodded. "Uh, yeah. I'll be better tonight once you say yes."

I pursed my lips and hummed with suspicion. "What am I saying yes to? It would probably be yes anyway, but I need to know what I'm doing."

"How do you feel about frat parties?" asked Cassie.

Honestly, I loved them! I loved the whole aesthetic. Having snuck out to attend a few, I found out they were just like what you see in the movies and moments like that make me feel alive. Not to mention the hot guys, fun people you meet, and outfits I get to wear!

"What's the theme?" I asked her, hopping on board with the plan.

"Eighties party," she laughed, wetting her cracked lips. "Super colorful. Everything I'm not."

Excited, my eyes grew big and I started thinking of my costume already. "I'm in," I exclaimed in agreement, "Is it just us? Or you inviting anyone else?" Obviously I meant our only mutual friends, Noah and Gael. It would be nice to have some guys with us, you know, to assure our safety.

Cassie shrugged her shoulders and said, "He told me to bring my friends, which I'm assuming would be all girls, but I'm going to tell Gael and Noah, too. We should all go out; I need it." Agreed. I'm glad she let herself realize she needs a break and is open to enjoying something, especially with all of us.

I was almost excited until I noticed my girl's hair. I gritted my teeth, the corners of my lips pulling down. "You need to wash that hair before you go anywhere," I scoffed in a joking manner but really meant it, "See you later." Cassie can take the criticism, I'm sure she knows my heart by now and that I'm just looking out for her. We were both a wreck, I wouldn't have been surprised if she called me a bum, too.

*

When I came back from my car, I stopped right in the middle of the kitchen to reply to Gael's text. He insisted he wouldn't be the designated driver for the night which I disagreed with. I wanted to drink, too. I dropped the purse and heels on my counter and typed away.

That's when I got the idea to challenge him. My elbows supported me as I leaned over the counter, grinning at the screen. I sent him a request to play me at the virtual game of cup pong, something I thought I excelled at.

Not too much longer, I moped about my loss and exited our thread. Looks like I'll be driving tonight. When I came back from the fridge with a bottle is water, I paused in thought.

"Fuck," I breathed out, "what am I going to wear?!"

Frantically, I scrummaged through my closet in search of outfit ideas.

The eighties? A few icons came to mind then I realized my top picks were actually in the seventies. So, I went with a classic - Meg Ryan in the movie 'When Harry Met Sally.' Perfect. This meant hair and costume, so I continued raiding my wardrobe which took me forever.

Frat parties: exactly how you see them in movies like I said before.
We were in a split-level home in the middle of a suburban community out of the city. The Tall fescue grass was freshly cut and decorated with empty cups and cans of beer.

There was no DJ, just some Alpha Sig guy playing rap songs, house music, and 80's hits from his laptop connected to the speaker system.

Keg stands, karaoke, beer pong, and a game of strip Uno were the sources of entertainment for the night.

I walked around, looking for Noah who escaped me as I made friends with a few girls waiting in line for the bathroom behind me.
He was drunk as hell and kind of embarrassing but everyone thought he was a blast.

Gael and Cassie caught my eye in the kitchen under the light. They were talking and getting a drink when I approached them.

"Have you seen Noah?" I yelled over the music.

"What?" Cassie shouted back. She was in my face and I still could hardly hear her. I sucked my teeth, realizing we were getting no where.

Suddenly, a skinny pasty white boy in a speedo was pushed onto the countertop with a ball gag in his mouth. He was carried in by a few Alpha Sig boys, all chuckling maniacally. Everyone circled around and watched as they hazed the pledge.

"This is stupid," I said my thoughts out loud about them torturing the kid. I looked in my red cup and shook my head. Because I was the designated driver, I poured the alcohol into the sink behind me and tapped on Cassie's shoulder to get her attention.

"How'd you hear about this party again?" I asked in her ear.

She tore her eyes away from the public humiliation happening in front of us. "This guy Tony invited me," Cassie said casually. I shrugged and squeezed through the crowd.

In need to pee, I wandered to the bathroom and tried opening the door but someone's body was against it.

"Go away," a girl's voice shouted.

"I don't care about what you're doing, okay," I yelled, "I just need to pee. Come on!" I banged my fist against the door. When she didn't answer, I kicked it impatiently.

They ended up letting me in and I rushed inside, almost peeing myself. I didn't even bother looking at the couple hooking up in the corner but when I did, I paused with my hands on my belt before even fully squatting over the toilet. I did a double take and my head dropped as I sighed.

I just looked away for a second, giving them privacy to make themselves decent. Then, the andom girl got off her knees and scurried out of the bathroom.

Shaking my head, I exited the bathroom and stood outside of the door.

Five minutes went by before I got suspicious and stormed back in there to get him.

"Noah!" I hollered, looking around the bathroom.

"Shhh! I'm hiding from Brooklyn," he said drunkenly. He was lying in the bathroom, having broken the shower rod. His body was wrapped in the shower curtain and he didn't even seem to care, continuing to chug straight from the bottle of Grey Goose.

I lifted his body and pulled him to the kitchen.

"We have to go," I barked at Cassie and Gael, they looked at me like I was crazy so I added, "Now."

*

We were at Munchies, a burger joint that was open every hour of the day and night, all week. It was the go-to place in the college town for a spot to eat after a night out. A long line filled the drive-thru and parking lot. They continued the party outside while the inside was just as busy.

Gael, Noah, Cassie, and I sat in a booth, buzzing about the party we just left. I looked around at them in their 80's themed costumes. Cassie as Kelly from the show Saved By The Bell. Gael as Patrick Swayze AKA "Johnny" in the movie Dirty Dancing. And Noah, James Bond in Octopussy. I wasn't familiar with any of their costumes. Hell, mine either, I was just familiar with the references and knew it was eighties.

We talked about nothing over our late meals. I stayed quiet since leaving the party.

I just watched them interact. Cassie and Gael all smiles and giggles, sometimes engaging in their own conversations on the opposite side of the booth. Then Noah, who was sobering up but still being obnoxious.

Elton John's song Crocodile Rock played from the ceiling speakers and Noah lit up, telling us it's one of his favorite songs. He stood over us and had the whole restaurant singing. As tired as I was, I even found myself going "Laa, la-la-la-la-laa
La-la-la-la-laa
La-la-la-la-laa."

*

"Good night, y'all," I said to Cassie and Gael who got out the elevator before Noah and I. They were tipsy, well Cassie was drunk, but Gael wasn't. Still, they were feeling good after a fun night and not too concerned about Noah. He seemed fine actually, just annoyed me.

I had no plans to play babysitter for the night but he threw his arm around me and stumbled to my door.

"Good night, Noah," I grumbled, fishing in my pockets for my keys.

"Take care of me," he groaned, holding up the wall.

I sucked my teeth and patted him down in search of his keys.

"Oh?" He purred, raising an eyebrow. My eyes rolled as I came to the realization he didn't have anything on him. I remembered he put his phone and wallet in my purse so I checked there, but nope, no keys.

I looked over my shoulder, hoping Gael and Cassie were still lingering in the hallway but they weren't.

Inside, I didn't turn on any lights, I just walked to the bathroom and started the hot water in the shower so I could wash off the night.

While the water ran, I entered my room and started taking off my clothes.

Noah popped up and said, "Are you gonna lay with me, Brooklyn?" I shook my head as I removed my jewelry.

"You haven't talked all night," he hiccuped, "are you mad at me?" I shook my head again.

"Will you talk to me if I drink some water?" he asked. I nodded, peeling my jacket off.

"Okay," he rasped, standing to exit the bedroom and get a glass of water from the kitchen. While he did so, I went back in the shower.

*

I didn't bother washing my hair because I was too lazy, so I just brushed it out and put it half-up half-down, leaving it fluffy like Meg's.

I lotioned my skin and then started brushing my teeth. Curious by how quiet it was, I stepped back into the bedroom and saw Noah staring out the window, gulping down water. I spit and cleaned the sink before dropping my toothbrush in it's holder and cutting the lights off in my bathroom.

I walked over and stood before him, fully nude, not saying anything. My eyes just wandered every inch of his body.

"I feel better," he spoke slow, "are you gonna talk to me now?"

I started to walk away but with my back to him, Noah pulled me close. I looked away and stayed still and quiet as he lifted my towel and kissed from my ass up my spine. I shuddered but smoothed my towel back down to cover myself.

I stomped around the bed and properly said, "I don't want to have sex."

"Me either," he replied lowly, situating himself under my covers.

"Okay," I breathed out in relief. I was fidgety, looking for my pajamas.

"No, come to bed," he insisted, fluffing the pillow.

"Huh?"

"Bed."

"I'm naked-"

He cut me off, saying, "Have I not seen you before?"

I swallowed hard and awkwardly inched under the covers. Noah brought my body close to his. Instantly feeling warm and secure, I kissed his neck, chin, and then found his lips. He squeezed my thigh, pulling my leg onto his body, but I sat up and straddled his lap. His hands gripped my hips as I blinked at him.

"What are you thinking about?" Noah asked me, locking his fingers behind his head. My mouth twisted, I shook my head.

"Did I embarrass you tonight?" Noah questioned me. When I shook my head again, he tapped my ass and I rolled off of him, lying on my side.

"My parents used to be so close. So close they didn't seem like husband and wife anymore, they were, like, family," Noah talked as he ran his hands over my skin, "I don't know how to say it. One day I came home from school with this A plus on my science test. I was so excited to show them, I ran into their bedroom like 'Mom, Dad, look!' It was so weird; my mom was washing her ass at the sink while my dad, two feet away, took a shit. They had a whole conversation, asking each other how their day was, and laughing like they were the funniest people they knew. And I remember asking myself how two people can get that close?"

I turned and blinked my eyelashes against his which tickled us both. We were both too tired to laugh, but he pulled my body back on top of his and I just laid with my ear to his beating chest. His body was hard, but warm and felt right under me. I let his hands feel up my sides until one of them got lost in my hair and the other massaged my ass.

I kissed his pecks and then stared out the window.

"Are you comfortable?" he asked me.

"In this position?" I wondered.

"No, dummy. Like, are you comfortable? Right now? With me?"

Oh. I gulped and inhaled deeply. "Yeah."

Then there was this silence and it wasn't awkward or forced, but it was a comfortable silence like Mia (Uma Thurman) talked about in the movie Pulp Fiction.

"Do you want to know what my tattoo is?" I asked him out of no where.

"What?" His sleepy voice presented himself.

"No rain, no flowers," I bragged. It was something he said to me on the cruise. I couldn't forget it: we were in a hut on the island after the storm cleared us from the beach. I broke down to him and those were the words he said to cheer me up, changing my perspective. I'm sure he didn't come up with that quote but I'd never heard it before and I found it so profound. "Remember that?" I asked Noah in a girlish, hopeful gasp.

"No," he said back.

***

>> pictured above: Brooklyn's tattoo <<