Behind the Scenes

K: Morning After

Two Months Later

Kimberly Carter

"You can't keep avoiding him Kimberly." Elizabeth mumbled.

"Yes, I could." I held my head down and kept my eyes away from the bar. They dragged me here against my will. It seemed Elizabeth and my brother were going through something that they couldn't full express because I was still there. They still seemed functional around Zachary, but I could see through the smiles. They were both hurting.

Sara remained glued to her phone, texting vigorously. I haven't seen Alex in almost two months and even though I didn't want to admit it, it was driving me crazy.

Shawn and I were working things out as usual but it wasn't anything intense. We had each other when we needed each other the most, but now it seemed we were out growing our relationship. He was my best friend.

"Here he comes. Behave and smile." Beth ordered.

"There you are." He smiled and then acknowledged the girls. "I haven't seen you in a while."

"I never knew we were friends." I chastised. I felt Beth's feet under the table as she kicked me.

"We slept together twice. I thought that was a given." He joked, placing an envelope on the table. "Thanks for the loan. I really appreciated it."

I opened my mouth in shock. He actually meant it when he said he would pay me back. When he placed the bottle of Tequila beside the envelope, I smiled up at him.

"There she is." he commented on my smile making me blush. "On the house." He promised. He turned to walk away but I stopped him.

"Have a shot."

"I never knew we were friends." he retorted over his shoulder, returning to the bar. I leaned back into the chair as I watched him for the first time tonight. He was honest and humble. Two qualities I wasn't necessarily accustomed to when it came to men.

Sara opened the bottle, mixing the liquid with our glass of Champaign. "I need to get drunk."

"Why don't you just go back to him." I rolled my eyes.

"Why don't you just f**k the sexy bartender?" She snapped as she cleared her glass. I don't know what it was, but we were use to snapping at each other now. It was our way of communicating. It was heavy and filled with rage but it was innocent. It wasn't personal.

She poured another shot for herself and then swallowed it. "If you don't mind, I would like to have some before you finish it." I commented.

Sara narrowed her eyes at me as Beth snapped her fingers. "Stop. Everyone has his or her own s**t all right? It doesn't mean we go around fighting each other."

"What's up with you two anyways?"

She sighed. "Just marriage issues. We're trying to work things out, but if not we will still remain civil."

"If not?" I muttered.

"What are you talking about?" Sara snapped.

"I don't want to talk about it. I should head home." Beth stood up and straightened herself. "Sara let's go."

Sara sighed and hesitantly stood up. "Are you coming?" she asked me.

"I think I'll take a cab." I muttered.

They left and I finished the rest of the bottle by myself. I've been having a rough month and a hard too weeks. I eyed Alex from across the room as he worked his customers, making them laugh.

I placed a large tip on the table and indicated to the busboy that it was for the bartender before I left. I pulled my phone out of my pocket and dialled Shawn's number. After the third ring, he picked up.

"Holla at me." he answered.

"Where are you?" I slurred.

"Out with some friends." He replied. I heard a girl ask him whom he was talking to before he muttered for her to shut up.

"I need you to come pick me up."

"Where's your car?" he questioned.

"If I drove my car do you think I'd be calling you? Besides I drank a lot and I don't think I can make it home." I leaned against the building wall as my feet gave out. My head was spinning and everything appeared in doubles. I felt sleepy beyond measures.

"Then you shouldn't have drank so much," he lectured. "Where are your girls?"

"Not here you dumbass. Are you coming or not?" I argued tiredly. I was half a sleep at this point.

"No, I'm not. I'm busy and right now I think I'm too high to drive." He moaned, no doubt probably getting a blowjob by the girl earlier.

"Asshole," I grumbled as I hung up the phone, took off my heels, and tried to stand to signal a cab.

"Do you need help?" the bouncer asked.

"Yes," I muttered as I felt myself slowly slipping into an unconscious mind frame. "Alex."

I woke up not remembering how I got undressed and in bed but I could smell something delicious coming from the kitchen. I rolled and grunted at the same time as my hangover settled. My ears were ringing, I felt dizzy, and I had a headache. The sunlight coming from the window didn't help matters either.

I sighed as I got up and made my way to the washroom in the hallway. I washed my pale looking face that had make-up smudged under my eyes. I wrapped my hair in a bun and rinsed my mouth with mouthwash.

I wrapped my body is a worn out looking rob and wobbled to the kitchen. I don't think I have the energy to get ready and leave just yet. I was starving and I needed food.

I reached for the piece of bacon on the plate beside him and signed when it touched my lips.

"Good morning to you too." He muttered in a sharp tone. I looked at him as I chewed, confused about what his face meant.

"Yeah, yeah, morning. What's up with you?" I muttered.

He laughed without humor and shook his head slowly, turning off the stove. He took the plate of bacon to the small dining table and placed it with the rest of the food. He sat down and waited for me to join him.

I sat on the edge of the table with my feet on the chair.

"Get your ass off my table." He muttered as he began to eat.

I hopped of dramatically and stood beside the wall, eating as I stood.

"Is something wrong with my chair?" he wondered.

"No I just don't like the idea of sitting around the table as if we are a couple." I replied.

"Oh, but you don't mind getting pissed drunk and having me carry you to my house."

"Is that why you're all upset right now?"

"No. I'm upset because you had to be carried into the bar like a dead body. I am upset because I had to leave work early to get you back here. Also because you vomited in my car and then in my bed."

I had no recollection of last night. "Well... I'm sorry I was such a bother." I couldn't look him in the eyes. He was right to be upset. I had no right to his affections or attention. I wasn't his responsibility to take care of.

I hurried to the room to get changed so I could leave. I noticed the wet spot on the left side of the bed that remained uncovered. God, I was disgusting. The thought of him cleaning up after me brought embarrassment. I couldn't even imagine his car.

"So now you're going to storm out without a word." He was behind me in the doorway.

I turned my back to him and dropped the robe, getting on my dress. "I said sorry. What more can I say? I can pay for your bed and car to get cleaned." I offered

"So is that your solution to everything? Just throw money at it?"

I turned to find my heels and then my bag. My arms flew up and then down to me side. "What else could I do?" I tried to pass him in the doorway but he didn't move.

"You could stop drinking." He suggested.

"This coming from the person who gave me the bottle to begin with."

"I gave it to you and your friends. I never knew you had a problem."

I pointed my finger at him angrily. "I don't have a problem." I sneered.

"I beg to differ."

"I don't care what you say. You mean nothing to me." I lied.

"Then why did you tell Ian to bring you to me. Why didn't you just call someone that mattered?"

I opened my mouth but froze. "It won't happen again." I was planning on never returning.

His handsome face stared down at me and those perceptive brown eyes melted mine. I was dangerously attracted to him.

He didn't move out of my way, he only stared down at me as if he wanted to say something. The room was quiet and the air was thick.

I dropped my purse and my shoes from my hands and wrapped my arms around his neck. I hopped up on him, wrapping my legs around his waist. "I'm sorry." I said for the third time. He held my securely, unmoved.

"You're very impulsive." he acknowledged.

"No, I just do what I feel like in the moment."

"Without the thought of the consequences." he replied.

"I can think of a few consequences that I would gladly endure." I flirted.

"I'm still upset, Kimberly." he peered at me intensely. I tried to leave his arms but he held me there against his body.

"Okay, then let me leave."

"Leaving isn't going to fix anything."

"It will. You wont have to see me again. Problem solved."

"For who?" he wondered.

I paused as I watched his lips and how sexy they were. After a long minute, he sighed.

"Shawn called." He muttered as he released me.

"You answered my phone?" I asked, embarrassed.

"Call ID," He muttered, stripping his bed sheets.

"Well, it's complicated." I muttered.

"I have enough complications right now," he muttered.

"What? Your bartending job too hard for you to manage?" I patronized.

"Not as hard as it is to sit on my ass and spend daddy's money." He retorted.

"You don't know me." I wanted to crawl into a ball and cry. I picked up my bag for effect, emptying everything on the ground. It scattered in every direction, ruining the moment.

"Shit." I whined. He bent to help me. "I don't want to keep arguing with you." I muttered.

"And I don't want you going home with the wrong person the next time." we finished and stood up. He passed me his sweater to put over my dress.

"It's who I am." I half smiled.

"No, it's not." He shook his head ashe left the room. "Let's go. I have a few errands to run."