Thea "Are you serious right now?" I grumbled at Candace as I half-dragged her through her front door. "One HUN-dred percent, Thea, baby!" She poked me in the cheek and waved her forearm in front of my face so I could see the phone number written on it. "How did you find a booty call at a ritzy place like that?" I caught her as she stumbled. By her bed, I unzipped her cocktail dress and let it slide to the floor. "No, it's - Thea, it isn't a booty call," she giggled as I tucked her in bed. "If you say so." I moved her shoes where she wouldn't trip on them in the morning and turned her light off. "Thea, no. Are you leaving? Stay with me, pleeease!" She was half out of bed again. "Stop. Lay back down." I came over to her. "Fine, alright, I'll stay here tonight." She giggled her pleasure and made room for me on the bed. I dropped the red gown next to hers with a sigh and crawled in. "For someone so put together, you sure are a hot mess when you're drunk, Candie." "Yeah? Well, for someone who needs to get laid..." She paused, concentrating on what to say next. "You need to get laid, Thea!" Another fit of giggles as she grabbed me around the middle, clutching me like a teddy bear. "Go to sleep, Candie," I told her. She snuggled in next to me and I pulled the covers up to our chins. "I swear to God, if you throw up on me you're gonna pay for it." Silence. "Candie?" I looked over, she was out like a light. I considered leaving anyway since she was asleep, but she was so entwined around my body that she would probably wake up if I moved. Oh well, it was after midnight anyway, I might as well get some sleep. But I couldn't. Bright green eyes danced in my head. My fingers tingled where he'd kissed them. Devin. I squirmed a bit and tried to count sheep to fall asleep, but it didn't help at all. After a while, I gave up and watched the moonlight through the windows. The occasional car would pass by, and I would hear the soft hush as they drove through the icy slush on the ground. A whir started in the walls as her heater kicked on. Still, nothing distracted me from the man I met at the gallery. He was trouble, Devin. You could see it in his eyes. Focus, Thea. You don't need that kind of distraction in your life right now. He smelled wild, like cedar trees or campfire. Stop it. He was so intense, I could almost breathe him in. He was probably like, six years older than me! I wonder what it would feel like to run my fingers through his hair. I threw the covers off of me and peeled Candace from my torso. She had to be deep enough asleep by now not to wake up. I needed air. I slipped into my grey dress and flats and pulled on my coat. I locked her door and walked down the hallway. I climbed up to the roof access and into the night air. The chill hit me right away and I pulled my coat tighter around my shoulders. A gazebo with benches and a picnic table had been built up here, and I sat under it on a bench with a sigh. My breath clouded in front of me and I gently blew it away. "-heard that he already picked one." "What court do you think she'll-" "-about time we got another-" Who was gossiping at midnight in the snow? I looked around, not seeing anyone else on the roof. Curious, I stood up and walked around. It helped to keep me warm anyway. The streetlights below glowed yellow, and I heard another car splash through the slush in front of the building. "-another ignorant human-" Human? I peered over the edge of the building, leaning on the chain-link fence that circled the rooftop. Two women were sitting on the hood of a mustang, talking. One of them was a pretty blonde, the other had white hair. I squinted. Was her skin a little blue? And they were wearing almost nothing, despite the cold. "-probably another brat for Spring." They were the ones talking. But how could I hear them from all the way up here? Suddenly icy blue eyes shot up at me. The blonde watched me for a moment, and grinned before whispering something to her friend. They both broke out laughing, looking up to where I stood on the rooftop. I jumped back from the fence like it was on fire. Those two gave me the major creeps, and I tried to remember if I'd had more than one glass of champagne at the party or if I'd really heard what I thought I just heard. I was done with the roof, this was more than enough fresh air. I quickly ran down the stairs and climbed back in bed with Candace. Maybe she wasn't the only one to have too much to drink tonight. ~ "Thea, you're being too loud," Candace moaned from under her covers. "I'm doing yoga, not playing the drums." I stretched my arms high in a new pose. "Well you're doing it too loud," she said. I smiled and held my body in place for a long count, then relaxed and eased into another pose. "You could always join me." She snorted. "Suit yourself." I huffed. "Do you want me to get you anything before I leave? An aspirin for the hangover?" "Candace Lewis does not get hangovers," she grumbled. "Mmhmm." "I will allow you to bring me a water," Candace said. "Of course, your majesty." I dropped my pose, walking over to the fridge and grabbed a water bottle. I threw it at the lump of blankets on her bed and she yelped. "Rude!" She popped her head out, squinting at me. "You do realize it's almost noon?" I slipped my shoes on and grabbed my coat. "You goin' to work?" She yawned. "Yup. Call you tonight?" "Yeah," she said.