vacancy

Making her way back to the bathroom with the two water bottles in hand, she had another big drink, feeling herself sobering more now. “Hey,” Lenny called out quietly, seeing Booker sat in the bathtub. “Do you feel any better?” She asked, crossing the short space until she could sit on the edge, not being phased by his naked self, her only thought was helping him in this moment. “Here, have some of this.” Handing him the second water bottle also filled with cold water, she looked over his wet face and hair for a moment, words being kept back that she wanted to speak, but she didn’t know if now was the right time, so she went for a simple, “I missed you.” She spoke quietly, moving so she was sitting on the bathroom floor, outside of the tub, bring her to his eye level as she leant her head against the side. “You been okay? You know, besides this?”

“I’m glad I went out tonight though,” He pushed some stray hair out of his face, “Even if I did get sick, I’m kind of glad we ran into each other,” Booker had known that, although he wanted it to be easy, it would be difficult not being around her. He had thought it would be best for himself if he didn’t see her but he was so wrong, “I missed you,” He repeated the words she’d said to him just minutes prior. 

The sight of Booker with his head in his hands on the edge of his bed brought out the carer in Lenny again, and quickly, she slipped off her shoes. Padding her bare feet over to him, her hands went for the hem of his shirt. “We have to get you in the shower, okay? It’ll freshen you up, you can just sit on the cool ground for a while.” She told him, slipping the material over his head and seeing his clammy skin over his torso, too. “Oh, baby.” She said in a sympathetic voice, finding his hands and helping him up. Inside the bathroom, she flicked the light on and went to the shower to switch the taps on, letting the water run out so the temperature would be good for when Booker got in. Turning back to him, Lenny finally noticed how pale he looked and her eyebrows became drawn in as she took his cheeks between her hands again. “Finish getting undressed, then get it and I’m going to come back with a water bottle, okay?”

Booker kicked off his shoes before unbuttoning his jeans. He peeled them off of his legs, along with his underwear, before he finished by taking his socks off. He ran his hands through his hair and raised his hands above his head for a second, stretching his back that was already aching from leaning over so much. After testing the water with his hand, he stepped into the bath-shower combination and let the water run over his body. He only stayed standing for a small bit before he carefully moved to sit on the floor of the tub, feeling the water pelt down against his clammy skin. He pulled his knees to his chest and rested his chin against them. 

“Thank you.” Lenorette told the driver after paying him and sliding out from the car behind Booker. “You know what I think?” Her voice was soft in the stillness of the late night as they walked side by side once more. “I think you’ve been slacking in your vitamins. You need me around to remind you to have them.” She told him, taking the last few steps up to his front door. “This reminds me, though, of when we were twelve and your mom rushed you to the hospital that time when you got really hot and you didn’t get home late, and I snuck out and ran down here. And your mom kind of told me I shouldn’t be out so late, but we all knew I was staying with you.”

Booker took his keys out of his pocket and unlocked the door with them, pushing it open and flicking the light on as he stepped inside wearily. He dropped his keys on the table by the door and went straight forward in the direction of the hallway, not wanting anything else but to get into his bed and lay down. He smiled a bit as he thought about the memory, “I also remember almost throwing up on you that same exact night,” He shook his head and laughed a bit at his childhood self, having been so panicked and concerned that she would hate him for the accident. He sat on the edge of his bed, feeling queasy again, and leaned his hands on his knees. He felt like he was burning up and his sweat was making his clothes stick to him like glue. 

Lenny only let go of Booker when the cab pulled up in front of them, but one of her hands stayed grasped onto his. “Come on.” She told him, walking beside him again, and when they reached the car, she opened the door for him and helped him inside, earning a funny look from the taxi driver, but her attention was on Booker and once he was inside, Lenny was quick to get inside the vehicle and position herself beside him. She leaned forward quickly to tell the driver where to go, reciting the address as well as she knew how to breathe, and when she relaxed back into the seat, her arm came up to Booker’s face once more. “You okay?” Lenny asked him once more, her hand then moving up and around to the back of his head, letting him rest against her again. “I’m right here.”

The smile that had found it’s way too Lenny’s face at the thought of being with Booker changed when her expression become concerned at his unsteadiness. “Come here.” She told him, though, she still crossed the space to him and slotted herself in at his side, her arm winding around his waist and her other grabbing his hand so she could bring his arm over her shoulders and hold it at her side. “Just lean on me, I’ll call a cab and we can get you home and brush that vomit taste out of your mouth, ‘kay?” As her fingers fished for her phone from her bag, she was struggling just the slightest bit herself from being half-drunk, but she’d sobered up an incredible amount when the thought of keeping Booker safe was in the forefront of her mind. Lenny stayed planted right next to him through the short phone call, her spare hand securely latched on his side and once she hung up and put her phone back in her bag after sending a quick text to her friends, she grabbed onto his other hand over her shoulder and took a step. “It’ll be here soon, babe, let’s go wait out by the street. Stay close.”

However, much to her surprise, his arms wound around her middle, the feeling of his arms brushing the bare skin that was visible where her high waisted shorts and crop top didn’t quite meet, sent her heart into a frenzy. She didn’t hesitate to sling her arms over his shoulders, one hand rubbing over his back while her other brushed through his hair. It was still silent, but at least she wasn’t without him, she was feeling him and that was incredible. Lenny waited, not wanting to end this moment, but also waiting until Booker was okay, she would let him make the moves. And when he started, her blue eyes followed his steps as he stepped back from her and she brought her arms back to her sides. “Let me come with you,” Her reply was almost instant and her hand reached up to his face, using the back of her hand to gently wipe across his cheeks. “I..I don’t have to stay..or.. I don’t know, nothing has to happen… Just let me take you home?” Her sentence ended in a question and her hand dropped to his so she could hold just over his wrist that rested against his torso. “I just want to make sure you’re okay.. You know? I can help you to bed.” Lenny was being hopeful, her tone even wishful, giving Booker the chance to destroy that hope, but she was taking that chance, either way. “I do study medicine, and I get good marks.” She attempted a joke, but her smile was weak. “Can I?”

Booker waited until she finished talking before he let out a small laugh at her attempted joke. He nodded, “I don’t want to take you away from your friends,” He took in a deep breath, just trying to keep himself from vomiting again, “But, if you would, please,” He felt himself sway a bit on his feet but was able to steady himself quickly, “I would really like you to help me get home,” He nodded his head and took a few steps forward before stopping as his stomach started to feel queasy again. He swallowed the feeling down, along with a few words to her about really wanting her to be there, to help him. Booker wanted to reach for her hand or wrap his arms around her or something, not only to steady himself but to just have that contact. No matter how sweaty he was from being ill, he still wanted to have that contact with her. 

Booker’s voice was the first thing she heard before she turned to see him, and his face only made her heart lurch more so. He looked pale and Lenny could tell instantly that he wasn’t feeling okay. When he turned and finally met her eye contact, she could feel her heart come to a complete stop for a minute, but the moment was gone in a flash just like he was when he vanished back out the back door. It took Lenny a few seconds before she found movement, and it was when she noted Ronnie trying to make a move before her, and this time it was her hands on him as she used all the meek strength she had to pull him back. “I’m going!” She announced stubbornly and not a moment later was she out that back door, turning her head left and right until Booker came into her view and she took the few steps to him. “Books..” Lenny’s voice was quiet, timid even, as she came towards his side, but stayed more behind him to avoid the mess of vomit on the concrete ground. “Please let me help..” One hand moved up to comb through his long hair, pushing it back and holding it there so it would stay clear from getting his vomit in it. Her hands were moving with softness, her movements gentle as she didn’t want to startle anything in him anymore. “Do you need some water?”

A few tears fell down his face. As he looked over her shoulder he could see Ronnie standing at the door, looking out at them. Booker couldn’t read the look on his friend’s face but he didn’t want to. He tilted his head so that he could rest his face against her shoulder. His body was shaking with sickness and he was feeling woozy. He hadn’t said anything in response to her question and he finally took a small step back, careful to stay out of the mess he’d just made, “I think I just need to go home,” He rubbed his forehead with his hand and held his stomach, pushing his hair out of his face again and swallowing thickly. 

A few more drinks down and one more trip later to the bar, Lenny and her friends had moved to one side of the bar, where there was a space for an impromptu dance floor, which they took the initiative to take full advantage of. But no matter how many awkward kind of dance moves Lenny threw, nothing could clear her mind, and even now when she was intoxicated, all her tainted mind could think of was Booker. “I’ll be back, just going to the toilets.” She announced to her friends, her words a little slurred now that she was quite drunk. But as her feet started carrying her back, her eyes trailed over to where his friends sat, but when she couldn’t spot him, her concern grew. Think like Booker. She told herself in her mind, and when her eyes drifted to a back door, she thought she could take a good guess about his whereabouts. However, it was just as she reached it and her hand had just placed on it and she’d pushed it open the tiniest bit that her other arm was grabbed. “Dont, Lenny.” Her blonde hair fanned around as she whipped her head back to see Ronnie. “I’m just..I need air.” She tried explaining her actions, but honestly, she’d never been a good liar. “Funny, that’s what Booker said. Leave him.” His voice got more firm. “No..I just wan’ see him!” Her voice spiked, becoming whiny and when Lenny tried to take her arm back, his grip tightened, not enough to hurt her, but enough so she could see he wanted his point to get across. “He can’t be around you right now-” “Don’t say that! We’re Lenny and Booker! I’m not hearing that!” Her head shook back and forth, as she started becoming agitated by not getting her own way of wanting to go find Booker.

That’s when he heard the small sound of the door starting to click open, before stopping. It wasn’t long before he could hear shrieking and yelling from the other side of the door and he panicked. The world was whirling around him and he was almost certain he’d had more to drink than he thought he did. However, Booker moved towards the door and pushed it open, almost smacking the two people standing by it when he did. He saw Ronnie and looked at him for questioning, “What the fuck is going on in here?” He wiped his sweaty forehead with the back of his arm and ran a hand through his hair. Then his eyes turned to one who the louder yells were coming from. When he saw Lenny, any composure he had gained completely left his body. He could feel it coming up his throat, actually, and turned right back around. Booker made it out the door just in time to throw up, yet again, in the alleyway behind the bar. 

“Who was that?” Kasey asked as Lenny found her place back next to her friend. “It’s Ronnie..one of Booker’s friends. He’s here, Kase.” She explained to her friend, but the way Ronnie had spoken to her lingered in her mind, she didn’t understand it, she’d expected that when she was finally reunited with the people that had become her friends through Booker, it would be good instead of feeling like she was the enemy. “Are you okay?” Kasey’s voice pulled her back and she looked at her friend and just shrugged a shoulder, the smile on her lips very weak. “Well have a shot. Shit, have three shots! We gotta get you smiling again, lady!” The shorter girl announced and Lenny took the shot glass handed to her before throwing her head back and downing the burning liquid. After taking back the next two, and with a cringed face, she turned as she got ready to walk across to where her friends sat at the table, but as she was on her way, her eyes couldn’t help but to do a sweep over the area. And as soon as her eyes locked on Booker’s familiar side profile, she stopped and sucked in a quick breath, her feet almost started to walk in his direction, but the sound of her other friends calling out to her grabbed her attention and with a heavy heart, she turned away and made her way over to them.

At one point, his friend must have noticed, because Ronnie came over and sat down in the chair next to him, “You’ve been burning holes in my head with your eyes. What’s up?” Booker took a large swig from his beer bottle before setting it down on the table and leaning back against his chair, “Maybe it’s none of my business but who were you talking to, over at the bar?” He ran a hand through his hair again. His leg was still bouncing under the table. “Nobody important,” Ronnie told him, but Booker didn’t buy it. He raised a brow at him and Ronnie sighed, “It was Lenny,” Booker felt his heart drop to his stomach and he swallowed thickly, “But before you get your panties in a bunch, you should know that she’s out with her friends, she’s having a good time. She’ll do her thing.. You do yours.” Booker didn’t like the sound of that. No matter how mad he’d gotten at her, they didn’t do their own thing. Their things were each other things. They might as well have been one person. If they were in the same place, they were usually always together, doing the same thing, with the same people. He was suddenly very uncomfortable, “I need air,” Booker told Ronnie before pushing himself back from the table and darting out towards the back exist. The fresh air hit him like a smack in the face and he took a deep breath in. He pressed the heels of his palms against his closed eyes and took deep breaths as he leaned against the wall. It was quieter once the door shut almost completely, muffling the music. The cool air felt good on his hot cheeks. With nothing to keep him distracted he could feel tears pooling in his eyes at the thought of Lenny. He felt a mess all over again and wanted to kick himself for it. 

After the cab had pulled to a stop and the driver had been paid, the girls started to climb their way out from the large car. The faint noise of music could be heard from inside the bar they were planning to go and get some more drinks inside of, and as they walked inside after presenting ID to the security at the door, a few comments came from two of her friends about now the boy hunt was on, leaving the blonde to giggle in response. Though, her laughter did falter a little when the next thing to be said was about how that wasn’t the case for her, due to her being engaged. “Me and Len are gonna go get drinks, you guys go find a table.” Kasey had already taken ahold of Lenny’s hand pulled her towards the bar and the group was then split, as she reached the bar, she wasn’t complaining, she was happy to throw back a couple more drinks and when she heard Kasey order tequila shots, she knew this was going to be an interesting night. “Lenny?” Looking to the other side of her, she was surprised to see Ronnie, but then, she shouldn’t of really have been that surprised, she used to come here with Booker and his friends when they were together. “Oh..Ronnie..hey.” She dumbly replied, because really, only one thought was going through her mind. “How..um..how are you? Who’d you come here with?” She asked him over the music, but she thought he could probably guess her real question was if Booker was there tonight, as well.

“I’m going to get another beer!” Ronnie announced, “Does anyone want any more drinks?” The girls were the only ones who gave any requests before Ronnie shuffled off to the bar. Booker could just see him at the bar through a gap in the crowd. He could see him talking to someone, although whoever it was, Booker couldn’t see. “I’m fine. We were all a little surprised when we heard you were engaged,” He ordered the drinks he’d come over to retrieve, “The usual gang,” He paused, “Yes, Booker’s here. We brought him out to try and get his mind off of you, though, so if you could keep away from him tonight, that’d be greatly appreciated,” There was a bite in his tone that almost made his words sound like a threat.