Chapter 24

Ruthanne's Point Of View <3

I'm not tired when we get back to the suite, just happy. Kris turns on the TV like he usually does, just for background noise, I guess, cause he never watches, or changes the channel.
"poor Caitlin." I say, plopping down on the sofa.
"what?" Kris says, looking at me funny.
"Can't you tell she's upset?"
"She looked perfectly happy to me." Kris says, still looking at me funny.
"She gets really tired when she's depressed or has a dilemma." i explain. He still looks at me funny. "I should go talk to her."
"Stay here. I'm sure she's asleep already." He says, putting his hand on my leg and sitting beside me.
I nod, still concerned. Caitlin's always been on this emotional rollercoaster. With her, everything is in extremes. So I tend to try and take care of her. I think it annoys Kris. I lean on him and watch the screen, not understanding anything.
"You want to go out for a drink?" He asks.
"Alcohol?" I look at him.
"Um... yeah." He says, looking at me like I'm dumb.
"Uh, Kris, I'm only 18, besides, I've never really drank before." I say, feeling really dumb.
He sighs and sits back again. "Whatever. It's fine."
"Kris?" I look at him. "What's wrong?" He's been acting funny for a while now. I don't understand why. I can't remember anything I did.
He sighs again and shakes his head, watching TV. "nothing." He says quietly.
"Hey.. how 'bout that drink?" I say, standing up and grabbing his hand. It's funny how I feel like I'll do anything for him.
"You just said 'no'." He looks at me.
"I changed my mind." I look at him and his expression lightens, from the intensely annoyed face to the gentle kind one that I love.
We go to the busiest bar we could find, it was at the bowling alley, actually, so he could order 2 drinks and get away with letting me drink. "please don't get me anything too strong." I whine in his ear, regretting my choice to even come. The flashing lights on the dance floor are making me dizzy and I don't feel like being in here anymore. The initial excitement is gone.
He brings me back something a weird color in a little cocktail glass. "I told him not to put very much alcohol in it." He hands it to me.
"What is it!?" I look at him.
"a martini." He says, pointing at the olive at the bottom, making me feel stupid, yet again. I nod and hope for the best, hoping he really did get me something that's not strong. I don't understand why I suddenly don't trust him.
I don't drink any, looking at him as he downs his first shot. "What's wrong Kris?"
He looks at me again, a weird look in his eyes. "Nothing. I told you."
"hmmph." I say, setting down the glass and kinda looking away. He walks up to get another drink without saying anything.
I stand there alone in our little corner. I don't want a drink. I don't want to be here anymore. Kris is making me nervous. He comes back after a minute. "I want to go back to the suite." I say, drink in hand again. I would feel bad if I didn't drink any of the drink he bought me so I took a gulp, draining the glass halfway.
"Go ahead," he says. "I'll see you later." He grabs my hand, making me doubt all my fears, and squeezes right before I head through the crowd back to the main deck outside. It's chilly outside despite the warm breeze. I wish I would have brought a sweater. Walking back to the room alone, I feel like I'm in a horror movie. All the festivities going on around me and then there's me, walking alone back to my room.
When I get there I don't know what to do with myself so I go get in the shower and get ready for bed. I'm in my sleep pants with a toothbrush in my mouth. It's been about 45 minutes since I left. Kris comes in, a bit drunk.
"Hey." I say.
"Hey." He says back.
"Feel better?" I ask him, knowing something was wrong and wanting to bring up the point again to try and get it out of him.
"There was nothing wrong." He says defensively, clenching his jaw and his fists.
"Hmm." I say, walking back into the bathroom to finish brushing my teeth before I go to bed.
I go to bed and lay on my side without saying anything else to him. I'm asleep before he ever gets in bed and I don't care. I don't want to smell his nasty alcohol breath anyways.

Caitlin's Point Of View :)

I wake up happy despite my dilemma last night and my upset stomach. I feel really sick. I probably won't see Max all day, so that's comforting. One less problem to face.
"Sidney?" I roll over, looking for him. I look at the alarm clock. 1:30. I gasp, wondering how I slept that long. "Sidney?" I ask again. He turns around from the couch to see me on the bed.
"good morning sleepy head." He says, getting up and coming over.
"Don't touch me." I say, sounding a little bit more agitated than I mean to. "I mean, I feel really sick.. I don't want you to get it."
"Sorry." He says, settling for sitting next to me rather than kissing me like he intended to. "So.. what kind of sick?" he asks.
"My stomach."I point at it just as it does another one of those flips that are making me feel like I'm going to vomit. "ohhhhhhh"I get up and try to stagger to the bathroom. Sidney stands and helps me immediately, not really knowing what to do. When I'm laying over the toilet he holds my hair. I love my Sidney.
"Thanks." I say. "I'm sorry." I say, embarrassed, rinsing my face off and getting down my toothbrush
"Why be sorry? It's not your fault silly." He hugs me. I look at him, really not wanting to give this bug or whatever it is to him.
"It's probably from going swimming in that pool." I whine. I can't help but lean back into his strong arms. He kisses the top of my head.
"It'll be alright." He hugs me gently and I'm glad. My stomachs still not up for much.
"I have some Tums in my bag, but I don't think it'll help much," I point at my bag through the door in the next room. Sidney helps me back to the bed even though I don't need it and goes to get the tums. My phone goes off. I reluctantly grab it off the shelf, not in the mood for texting.
Sidney brings me the tums and I throw one in my mouth, grimacing at the disgusting chalky taste. "Thanks." I croak. He laughs and lays next to me. I don't open the text, instead, just turn the ringer off and put it back on the bed stand.
"Are you hungry?" He looks at me. I shake my head. "I can go get you some soup or something simple. Crackers? Anything?" I shrug.
"Crackers. Maybe." I say.
He nods and says, "Be right back." Before heading out the door, he runs to the bathroom and grabs the trash bin, setting it on my side of the bed. "Just in case," then he runs out the door. I go back to my phone, which rings again as he walks out the door. Weird that I'm not getting texts except now, when I'm awake.
2 messages
I think there's something wrong with Kris. He's acting funny and he went out and got drunk last night. :( From Ruthanne. I tap in my reply.
I think there's something wrong with me. I just puked my guts out. Sorry about Kris. You can come over if you want, but I don't want to give this to you. :P
the next one's from Max. Weird
Hey. I'm sorry things are so weird between us. Don't think I don't notice. I'm sorry that I like you so much. I can't help it. How are you? we haven't talked. <3
I tap in yet another "sick" reply
yeah.. it's so awkward. I just don't want to hurt Sidney, you know? It comes out more like I'm on Max's side and I'm just pitying Sidney but I don't fix it. I'm absolutely miserable, I just puked my guts out. Sidney just went to try and get me crackers. :P
I put my phone back on the night stand and close my eyes. I wish for sleep but I just lay there, miserable. Max texts me back right before Sidney comes in. I turn off the ringer and leave it on the stand.
"I had to get soup to get the crackers. That's what took me so long." Sidney says, carrying a tray in.
"Oh." I kinda croak.
"I thought I would eat the soup part and give you the broth. It sounds like you have a frog in your throat." Sidney says. I also hadn't realized he was so caring. So, motherly, almost.
"aww." I say, closing my eyes again. I just want to sleep.
I fall asleep to Sidney's voice after taking just a little bit of broth. When I wake up Sidney's right there beside me, looking worried.
"sorry." I say, turning to look at the clock again. It's going on 4:00 now.
"It's fine. You're sick. You need rest." Sidney says, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear.

Ruthanne's Point Of View <3


Kris and I don't really do anything all day. There's still that tension between us since I keep asking him what's wrong. He'll never tell me, but I still feel concerned. At like 5:30 we decide to go out to dinner and we're trying to act all normal when we both know things aren't. I hate that. But I feel like it's the only way to go.
Suddenly though Kris says, "I'm sorry I acted funny last night, but something happened back home that really confused me and made me mad. When we get back, I have to go home to Montreal." He explains.
"Oh." I say, dumbfounded. "Sorry." I feel really bad for bothering him so much. "How long will you be gone?" I ask.
"Maybe a month? It depends." He says, frowning.