The pounding on my door got louder the longer I ignored it. I pulled the blanket up over my head, then sighed as the knocking stopped. Unfortunately, it was followed by the sound of my front door opening and slamming closed again. Damn it, that had to be Ariel and Maeve. Why did we all agree to share entry codes with each other?
I listened as they headed straight for my bedroom. Maybe if I stayed completely still they’d think I was sleeping and go away?
Sadly, I wasn’t that lucky.
“Oh for God’s sake!” I heard Maeve say as she came in. “It smells rank in here.”
I didn’t move. Maeve opened the curtains with a snap, bringing bright sunlight into the room, while Ariel gripped my comforter and tore it off my body.
“Get up!” she ordered.
“Go away,” I grumbled, trying and failing to keep her from separating me from my comforter.
“You’ve been moping in this bed for four days now,” Maeve said.
“I have not,” I replied. “I also was on the couch for a while.”
She leaned over me, then grimaced. “Holy shit, you need a shower. The dumpster behind the building smells better than you do right now.”
“Go away,” I repeated.
“And you desperately need to brush your teeth. Jeez.”
I glared at her, but she didn’t go away.
“Come on, get up and take a shower.”
“I want to be alone,” I said.
“Too bad,” Maeve shot back. “You’ve wallowed long enough.”
Before I knew what was happening, Ariel grabbed my ankle and dragged me down to the bottom of the bed. She was stronger than she looked. It was all that yoga she did with Sadie.
“Hey!”
“If we have to drag you into the shower we will,” Ariel threatened.
When I didn’t respond, she pulled by the legs until I landed on the floor with a thump. I was suddenly grateful that I’d gone with the extra thick padding underneath the carpet.
“You’re an asshole, you know that?” I yelled up from the floor.
“You’ve got five seconds to get your perky ass up and into the shower or I swear to Christ we will rip those rank pajamas off you and bathe you ourselves.”
I glanced between my friends, knowing that they weren’t kidding.
“Fine.” I got up and spread my arms wide. “I’m up, are you happy?”
“Not while you’ve got your armpits open we’re not,” Ariel said. “Get in the fucking shower before we pass out from the stench. And put on some deodorant when you’re finished.”
Ignoring them both, I stomped into the bathroom. Dropping my clothes on the floor, I walked into the shower and turned on the hot water. I had to admit it felt kind of good. I started to perk up as I scrubbed my body and washed and conditioned my hair, then exited the shower and brushed and flossed my teeth.
When I came back into the bedroom I saw that all my bottles and food containers were gone, and my friends had stripped my bed. Knowing I wasn’t lucky enough to be alone again, I threw on some clothes and headed for the kitchen. Maeve and Ariel were at the table, sipping coffee. Without a word, Ariel went to the machine on the counter and made a cup for me, before pointing at the chair across from them.
“Sit.”
Maeve slid me a bag. “Breakfast sandwiches. Eat.”
I started to say that I wasn’t hungry, but then my stomach growled, telling me I was wrong. I unwrapped a sandwich and took a large bite. It was delicious.
