Back, Exit

Feeling a Soft Touch for The First Time

   Kenneth and Xandra came to The Cozy Cabin Bar with Delgado for his birthday after traveling to places. "I can't carry him to the apartment. He's too tall." she says.

   "You know he's insecure about that." says Kenneth.

   "Not when he's drunk."

   "Yeah, I know. But how are we supposed to take him home? It's too late now to tell him to slow down."

   "Hmm... heh, watch this...". She turns to Delgado. "Hey, big guy! Del!"

   "Ye..." slurs Del.

   "Wanna go for a ride?" she asked.

   Delgado nods.

   Xandra then turns to Kenneth and asked, "You driving?"

   "I'm the only one sober with a license."

   They arrived at the door of his apartment. Kenneth with Delgado's room key opens the door.

   Delgado was clinging on the back of Xandra.

   Xandra was holding onto his wrists as they were flopped over her shoulders.

   "R u a ghost?" asked Delgado.

   "What?"

   "Cuz damn gurl u lift up my spirts."

   She chuckles. "Okay, tall and handsome. Let's go in."

   What did you just call him?" asked Kenneth.

   She starts to scream internally. 'He's going to remember that! Oh, wait. He's drunk. You can't remember anything after a hangover. I think... I mean I never been drunk before, the only  thing similar was dehydration and I know THAT'S NOT THE SAME THING--okay, breathe and just carry him inside...'. Xandra sighs and they all walk into the room. She scooches him up  to a more comfortable spot on her back by gently, but firmly pulling his arms a bit more. "Shut up..." Xandra muttered.

   'He's like a giant sloth. Very clingy.' she thought.

   After of some time struggling to put Delgado on the couch to sleep, he pulled Xandra right next to him. 'Yep, very clingy.'

   Delgado groggily wakes up. He finds himself on his couch. He glances over to his left to see... Kenneth and Xandra on the floor. Kenneth was leaning his back on the chair in front of  him and Xandra had her head on his stomach.

   Del slowly went back to sleep.

   Delgado woke up to the smell of breakfast being made. He sees an empty paper plate placed on the coffee table in front of him with splotches of syrup. "Good Morning." said Xandra,  who was standing in front of him. He rubs the sleepy off of his face, even though the hungover feeling stayed. He looks over to see Kenneth in the kitchen.

   Kenneth walks into the living room and places two more plates of pancakes. "You look horrible." he says.

   "Ugh... I feel horrible..." Delgado groaned.

   The tow-headed man gestured to a bottle of maple syrup. "Syrup?"

   Delgado pauses for a moment, then nods.

   Kenneth pours the syrup on Delgado's pancakes. "Y'know this has to be my favorite breakfast item." he said as he picks up his plate and takes a bite out of his pancake.

   "Mhm... my first foster mom used to make these..."

   A there was a few seconds of silence, until Xandra piped up, "The way you phrased that sounded depressing."

   Delgado places his hands on his face. "I know, I'm sorry." he whined.

   "S'all, right." she says as she pats his back.

   "Well, I learned to make these from my own mom." said Kenneth. "Maybe, I can teach you sometime."

   Really?". He had a tired smile on his face that Xandra found adorable. He almost spits-up.

   "Kent--" Xandra said.

   Kenneth nods and quickly gets the trashbin from the kitchen.

   Xandra takes it over to Del and watches him partially vomit into the bin.

   "I'm sorry."

   "You're okay. It happens." she says, passing the bin to Kent. "Why don't you get yourself cleaned up?"

   He nods. He then gets up to the bathroom.

   "Was he crying?" asked Kenneth in a whisper. "Or about to...?"

   Xandra nods.

   Delgado comes out of the bathroom, feeling a little bit refreshed. "You doing alright?" Kenneth asked. Delgado nods with a slight smile and heads to the couch to sit down.

   Xandra rubs his back.

   He sighs contently. He liked that. It felt...

   "Kitty!" Xandra squealed.

   A Siamese cat jumps onto the arm of the couch.

   "Hehe, hey there, Cardigan!". He pets the cat of the head. He looks back to his employees. "I'm okay for, now. I just need time to relax." said Delgado.

   "Okay..." said Kenneth. "Call us if you need anything."

   Delgado nods. "Thank you for being here."

   "Xandra..."

   She wanted to stay, but...

   "Girlie, you can pet the cat next time."

   She sighs and hugs Delgado.

   He hugs back and pats her, telling her to let go.

   She gets up to follow Kenneth, waving goodbye to her boss.

   He waves back and smiles.