Self Battle

-Sakura-

I:

“I don’t get it!” I complained. I took another drink of sake. My friend, Quentin, eyed me.

“How was work?” he asked. I looked over at him.

“Fine,” I said. “The boys are little perverts. And there’s this one girl I can’t figure out.”

“Oh?” he asked. I took another drink.

“Are you familiar with Tenshin Kohaku?” I asked. Quentin took a moment to think.

“The name sounds familiar,” he said. “What does she look like?”

“Short dark blue hair, kind of short, and rarely smiles,” I said. My friend frowned.

“Hm?” he said.

“No?” I asked, raising my eyebrow.

“Not really,” Quentin said. “Why? What about her?”

“I can’t reach her,” I said. “I can’t figure her out.” I sighed and took another drink. I looked around the coffee table.

“Do we have anymore beer?” I asked. Quentin gave me a straight look.

“I think you had enough,” he said. I glared at him.

“Okay, okay,” my friend said. “Hang on.” He got up and walked into the kitchen. I sat back, smiling.

II:

How much did I drink last night? Who knows? I just get lost in the bottle. I’m not an alcoholic. I rarely drink. When I do, oh boy!

Last night vanished into an alcoholic haze.

I don’t remember what happened last night.

In the morning, I woke up on Quentin’s couch. My head started to ache. I grumbled as I sat up.

“Damn,” I muttered to myself. “What time is it?” I looked around for a clock.

“Good morning!” I heard behind me. I looked up to see Quentin standing in his kitchen doorway.

“Sleep well?” he asked. I groaned.

“What time is it?” I asked.

“7:09,” he said. I sat up, blinking.

“Huh?” I asked.

“Yes,” he said. “You’ve got to get up and get ready.” My brain wasn’t catching up yet.

“What?” I asked. Then it donned on me…

“Oh crap!” I shouted. I jumped off the couch. I gathered up my things and ran out the door.

“Bye,” Quentin said behind me. The door slammed shut.

III:

I’m here. My head still hurts. I look nice and cleaned myself up. Just get through today and it should be fine.

When I went inside, I had the feeling of people staring at me. Two of my coworkers came up to me in the hall. I froze in my tracks, blinking.

“Hey guys,” I said. “What’s going on?” They didn’t speak at first.

“What is it?” I asked. One of them tried to laugh.

“What?” I asked. The one who tried not to laugh stepped forward.

“Did you spend the night at Quentin’s last night?” she asked.

“Yeah, why?” I said. They stared at me, smiling.

“You do know he’s gay, right?” the other teacher asked.

“Yes…” I said, eyes shifting back and forward. “He’s my friend. He got me the job at this school.” Both teachers laughed. I looked between them both.

“What?” I asked. I had no idea what I had done.

IV:

They won’t stop talking! The snickering made it worse. The questions made me vomit.

“Are you together now?”

“Is he straight now?”

“Did you turn him straight?”

“Are you dating?”

My teeth were clinched this whole time. It’s not true! We’re just friends! He’s gay! Quentin just got me a job! That’s all!

I keep saying it but they won’t listen. Gar! Quentin didn’t like this either. How did they even know I spent the night at his place? Was I being spied on? I shivered. I didn’t like this.

V:

“Why do they keep talking about us?” I asked. Quentin shrugged at his desk.

“People talk,” he said.

“But who saw me leave you place?” I asked. “Who?”

“I don’t know what to tell you,” he said. I buried my head in my hands. What was happening? How did this happen? This was not how I wanted to start my first week of school! Mama help me!