Behind Closed Doors

Chapter 22

So here's chapter 22...AGAIN.  I totally deleted it the other day and of course didn't have it saved to my home computer.  There's nothing changed in this chapter.

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He kissed me…I can’t believe he kissed me!

“What the fuck?” I yell.  He just stands there, staring at me.  “Say something!”

“I’ve already said everything that I need to say,” he says matter-of-factly.

“What were you thinking?  How could you do something like that?”  By now I’ve sobered up some from my night of drinking.

“I’ve told you, Kansas.  I like you.  I thought it was time I showed you how I felt.”

I just look at him, shocked.  As if things weren’t complicated enough between Braxton and I.  All I know is that he can never find out about this.  Just the thought of Braxton finding out, made me nauseous. I put my hand over my mouth.  “I have to go,” I say quickly, brushing past him to get to the bathroom.

I run into one of the stalls, slamming the door behind me, locking it.  I immediately start vomiting.  I continue until all of my stomach contents have been emptied and I’m only dry heaving. 

“Kansas?  Are you in here?”  I hear someone asking for me.  The voice sounds like Keshia. 

I step out of the stall, looking over to find Keisha standing by the sinks with a shocked look on her face.

“What?” I ask, confused.

“You look like hell,” she says trying not to laugh.

I look in the mirror gasping.  My mascara and eye liner are running down my cheeks.  My face is all blotchy and my eyes are red.  I look like a total nightmare.  I walk to the sink, grabbing a piece of paper towel.  Wetting it, I start wiping under my eyes to clean up the black marks from my makeup. 

“Is everything okay?”

“Yeah.  Why?” I look at her in the mirror.

“I couldn’t tell you the last time that I’ve seen you puke.  Usually you’re so good at keeping yourself together.”

“I think it might have been the food,” I say wiping my forehead.

“Sam and I ate the same things and we’re fine.”

“I don’t know then,” I snap.

Startled, Keshia gives me this look before storming out of the bathroom.

“Keshia!” I yell after her.  I throw the paper towel in the garbage, grabbing the door as it closes.  Before fully stepping out into the hallway, I do a quick sweep to see if Mark is still lingering around.  I don’t see any sign of him, so I go running after Keshia.  I find her by the entrance with Sam.

“Wait!” I say as I reach them.  “I’m sorry, Keshia.  I didn’t mean to snap back there.  I just… I don’t know.  I think I just need to go home.”

She looks at me sighing, “I think we all need to go home.”

Sam looks at both of us confused, “Did I miss something?”

“I caught Kansas puking in the bathroom,”Keshia says smiling.

“What?  I didn’t think you were the puking type,” Sam looks at me dumbfounded.

“Shut up both of you.  Let’s go,” I say jokingly.

When we get to the car, all three of us are exhausted from the night of eating, drinking and dancing.  The ride is pretty quiet.  My mind keeps drifting back to Mark kissing me.  I still can’t believe he did that.  I don’t know how the hell I’m supposed to look at him tomorrow at work.  I contemplate calling in sick, but then remember that I promised Barb that I wouldn’t miss any more days.