“Hey.” She could hear someone talking. Her senses were still a little dull but even still she could tell she was lying on a floor somewhere, the tile was hard and cool against her skin. Then she felt someone shaking her shoulders slightly. “Hey there. You okay?”

When Brianna opened her eyes she noticed a few things. One she was in a strange bathroom and there was a strange man standing over her. She tried to get up but felt dizzy followed by a wave of nausea and decided she’d be safer just sitting there leaning against the wall. Looking down she then realized she was only wearing her shorts and a bra. Crossing her arms in front of her chest she looked up at the stranger and nodded her head. “Where am I?”

The tall man kneeled down in front of her to get a better look. Deciding that besides being hung over, this strange houseguest seemed otherwise okay. “You’re at my house.”

“Oh.” She looked around the room for a minute then back at the strange man. “And who are you?”

When he smiled at her she noticed he had a cute lopsided smile that seemed warm and unthreatening. “I should be asking you the same thing. My name is Mitchell. Were you at the party last night?”

Taking a minute to think Brianna remembered going to a party at a strange house with John. She also finally remembered the fight and getting sick. Assuming she must have passed out in the bathroom she flushed pink with embarrassment and felt the warm sting of tears on her eyes. “Yeah.” She closed her eyes to try to keep them from spilling over before she continued. “I came with a, well with someone. He left me here. I’m sorry.”

Mitchell took a second to study the young girl. He didn’t remember seeing her last night, but then there had been quite a lot of people there. She still had not told him her name, but considering the fact she seemed to be more concerned with trying to cover herself up he thought that her name was the farthest thing from her mind at the moment. Looking around he didn’t see anything in the bathroom and so stood and walked into the adjoining bedroom. There he spotted a pink tank top on the bed and took it to the bathroom. “Is this yours?”

Opening her eyes, Brianna saw her shirt in Mitchell’s hands and gave him a weak smile while nodding her head. “Thanks.” Was all she said as she reached for it and put in on. This is so awkward and embarrassing. “Um, if you can show me to a phone I’ll just call a cab and be out of your way.” The sooner I get out of here the better.

“What’s your name?” She seemed to be coming out of her sleepy, hung-over fog a little and maybe could answer a few questions now.

“Brianna.”

“Well Brianna, who was the cruel person who just left you here last night?” He offered her a hand to help her stand and smiled again when she took it. She was a little wobbly on her feet still and he noticed her blanch as she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror. “Don’t’ worry about that. I’ll get you a wash cloth.”

“John.” She went and sat on the edge of the bed and watched as Mitchell got a washcloth from a closet in the bathroom and ran it under the faucet before bringing it to her and sitting on the bed next to her.

“Does this John have a last name?”

“Stanzes.”

“John John did this to you?”

John John? I’ve never heard anyone call him that. Wiping the mascara from under her eyes she again just nodded her head as an answer.

“Why don’t you come downstairs and get something cool to drink, or some coffee maybe. I just made some. Then when you’re ready I’ll give you a ride home.”

“You don’t have to do that. Really, I can just call a cab.” She just wanted to get out of there as soon as possible.

“Really, I can’t just stick you in a cab. Especially after the way John John treated you. I’d feel better if you’d let me take you home, that way I know you make it there okay.” Again there was that warm smile.

Brianna knew she should just get in a cab and leave. She knew nothing about his guy and she just wanted her own bed to sleep away the hang over, but something made her accept his offer. So, rather than calling a cab she found herself sharing a warm cup of coffee with him outside on a shaded patio over looking a sparkling pool. For an August morning there was actually a cool breeze blowing and the combination of the sun, warmth, coffee, and the breeze was helping to wake her up and clear her head. An hour later she was seated in a silver BMW convertible being chauffeured across town to her apartment.

“So, Brianna, how do you know John John?”

“Umm, well we went to high school together. I’ve know him since then.”

“Really, that’s interesting.”

“How do you know him? If you don’t mind my asking? I don’t remember him ever mentioning someone named Mitchell.”

He smiled at her briefly before answering. “We met several months ago through a mutual friend. He’s done a little bit of work for me here and there since then.”

“Oh, that’s cool. What kind of work?”

“Nothing much really; just a few small odd jobs.”

“Oh.” When she looked out the window she realized they were turning into her apartment complex. “If you turn at the second right my apartment is the first one on the right.”

“Well, Miss Brianna here we are then. Are you going to be okay?” Before she could answer he got out of the car and ran around the other side to open the door for her.

“Thanks.” For the first time that morning she gave him a real smile. “I’ll be just fine, especially after I get a little sleep.” She had to shield her eyes from the sun as she looked up at him. Mitchell was rather tall. Brianna thought he must be close to 6’, at least.

“Take care then. And I’d stay away from that punk John. He obviously doesn’t know how to treat you.”

Brianna laughed. “That’s what everyone keeps telling me. I’m beginning to realize they were all right all along. Thanks for the ride home.”

“My pleasure.” Mitchell got back in his BMW and drove away waving out the window as he turned the corner.

Brianna walked into her apartment and crawled on top of her bed, not even bothering to get under the covers. She was so exhausted it was a matter of seconds before she was asleep. But just before she drifted off an uplifting thought ran through her mind. Maybe, just maybe last night had not been a total waste.

<~ Chapter 49 or Chapter 51 ~>

In the End

Karina 2003