Risk the Fall (Steph Campbell) by Steph Campbell

Author:Steph Campbell
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 2014-05-06T04:00:00+00:00

“Hey stranger,” Shayna says. I jump back when I hear her voice; I’d snuck in here to be alone. “Holy shit, it’s a Christmas miracle! Both of us are hiding out at another party.”

“What are you doing here?” I ask. She’s leaning back in one of the two dark, leather recliners. I take a seat in the other one.

“Ugh, my parents dragged my ass here. My dad plays golf with all of these assholes. Your dad worked with Mr. Taylor, right?”

I nod. “This party is lame.”

“Tell me about it, why do you think I’m hidden in here?”

The room is lit only by a small desk lamp, and the dark, wood paneled walls and furnishings make it feel like a cave. I sort of love it in here. I curl up into the buttery leather of the chair.

“Is that a real bearskin rug?” she asks.

“I do believe so, someone better call PETA.”

“Cute dress,” Shayna says.

“You too.” My moss-green, one-shouldered crepe dress seemed like the perfect choice for tonight. But next to Shayna in her sophisticated v-neck bodice and crinkled silver lame skirt, I feel like the self-conscious twelve-year-old that I was when I first met her.

I start to wonder if maybe that is why I have always had it out for her. Was it because I felt completely inadequate to begin with and Shayna’s seemingly perfect existence only exaggerated those feelings, making it that much worse?

“What time is it?” I yawn.

“I thought you’d never ask!” Shayna laughs and reaches into the pocket on the side of her recliner.

“It’s Henn o’clock, on the dot, baby!” she says. She shakes a bottle of Hennessy Black back and forth.

“Where did you get that?”

“Over there.” She motions to the small bar across the room. “You want?” she offers.

“Nah, I’m good,” I say. The only substance or pill I had consumed since being home from the hospital was the tiny bit of rum in my cold-chocolate and a few Advil. Not that I’m going all straight-edge (please), but I’m not in a hurry to end up back in the ER.

“Suit yourself.” She puts the dark bottle up to her glossy, cherry-red mouth and drinks directly from it. I wait for her to wince, but she doesn’t.

“So, are you like, okay? I heard some stuff about…” Shayna asks, before taking another swig from the bottle.

I start to pick at my Smitten with Mittens polished nails.

“I’m fine,” I say. She raises her eyebrows, looking for more than I had offered. “I didn’t try to kill myself,” I qualify.

“Well that’s good, because I’d tell you that you suck at that too.”

A laugh escapes my lips before I can stop it.

“Wait, what do you mean I suck at it too?” I ask, reaching for the bottle. A few sips won’t hurt anything, besides, I’m at a party with my parents, I’m not about to get sloppy. I tip the bottle back and am surprised by the smoothness of the cognac. It’s not like the crap that my mom keeps in the invisibility cloaks at all.

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