Stalking Kynan
Twenty-one: In which I am hung over and I fall
I woke up to a dry mouth. I rolled over, wrapped in unfamiliar blankets and groaned. I felt sick to my stomach. At first I had no idea where I was, and then it occurred to me: Kynan's bedroom. Kynan's bed. I couldn't remember how I got there. Couldn't remember much of anything.
I sat up on the side of the bed, but quickly slumped back over. My head was dizzy and sick, and I thought for a minute I was just going to die. My skin was clammy. I wasn't sure I could stand up.
"I guess this is what a hangover feels like." I muttered to myself.
"Yeah, pretty much." I looked up. Kynan was standing in the doorway. I wondered how long he had been there. Looking up made me feel worse so I put my face back into the pillows. Maybe I could just passively suffocate to put myself out of my misery.
Kynan came over with a mug of tea and an assortment of pills. "Here you go. Tylenol, Pepto-Bismol, and some vitamins. Just drink a little of the tea. If you can keep them down you'll feel better in half an hour." He helped me sit up, and rubbed my back while I did my best to take the pills, spilling most of the tea over my shirt.
"What do you want to do? I can leave you alone up here, or you can come downstairs... I'm baking muffins for my parents. They're coming home tomorrow. So I need to be downstairs. Whatever you think." Kynan, for the first time ever, seemed almost nervous. I wondered if I had, somehow, last night let something slip.
That only made me feel worse.
"I want to come with you if that's ok."
Kynan nodded and helped me out of bed. I couldn't tell if I was still drunk, or just so sick that my small amount of natural depth perception had completely disappeared. I almost fell down the stairs. It bugged me that I couldn't remember walking up them last night. But I must have.
Downstairs Kynan suggested I lay on the couch, but I decided on the kitchen table instead. I dropped heavily into a chair and spread myself over the tabletop. The table top was cool and smooth against my check. I decided that I never wanted to leave. Kynan opened up the oven, switched the pans and then closed the door again. He sat down across from me.
"So, how does it feel to be the official life of the party?'
"What?" I muttered without lifting up my face.
"We took a vote. You have been declared to be the winner of the title 'official life of the party.'"
I groaned in answer and decided that was good enough.
Just as Kynan promised and started feeling better after twenty minutes, and I did manage to keep the pills down despite wondering if I would be able to on several occasions. I sat up and Kynan smiled. "Do want to eat something now?"
I nodded, "Yes, but only a little."
"Toast?"
"Yeah."
Kynan got up, and put some toast in the toaster. He poured me another cup of tea and brought it over with a glass of water. I sipped the water slowly, and Kynan passed me a plate with lightly buttered toast.
I ate that too, and then leaned back in my chair. I felt horrible, but still not as horrible as I had before.
Sitting there I knew that I needed to get home. My parent would eventually start to wonder why I had not left my room, even if they had gone out. But I didn't want to leave. I didn't want to walk. I didn't want to leave. I didn't want to have to tell Kynan that I had to leave.
But I also didn't want to stay if I had done something I didn't remember. Or if he wanted me to leave.
And most importantly I could not be around when Kynan's parent arrived. That scene would not be a pleasant one.
So I told Kynan I had to go. He have me another round of pills for later, and a water bottle for the walk.
We stood together in the front foyer. I couldn't quite manage to get myself out of the door, and Kynan didn't do anything either. Finally, Kynan put his hand on my forehead, slowly pushed my hair out of my face. I looked up at him with undisguised adoration.
He hugged me. I was awkward as always. My hands just rested on Kynan's back until I started to rub them up and down his bumpy spine. He kissed me on the cheek, and after a seconds thought I kissed him back. His grip loosened and I steppped back. I somehow groped for the door handle and opened the door.
"I'll see you tomorrow, Nate." Kynan said, smiling.
"Bye…" I backed away. Right off the front steps.
And our romantic moment was suddenly over. Kynan started laughing, and I was shy, embarrassed, and clumsy. I felt like my stalker-ish self once again.
I turned around, and bowed elaborately to Kynan. He waved, and I walked down the road cursing myself the whole way.