"God, I need help," Zane breathed out, sensing a splitting migraine in his head.
"Why do you need God to help you? I will help you. Tell me what's wrong," Winter slurred, giggling.
Zane ran a hand through his hair. He felt like he aged forty years within the last fourteen minutes. "You are what's wrong. Now let go of that damn tree, would you?"
"No. Trees are lifesavers." Winter was holding onto a plum tree in the garden as if her life was depending on it. She refused to leave the tree and party at any cost.
"We need to leave. You said your dad would murder you if you crossed your curfew, and we are way past it," he reasoned out, trying to unwrap her arms around the big tree. It was a mistake to bring her out to get some fresh air. Who knew she would hug a freaking tree and refuse to let it go?
"I'm not done thanking Mr. Tree for giving us oxygen every day." She pouted.
"Thanking one tree won't do any good," he said, which only made it worse. Winter went to hug the apple tree beside it, gushing out words of gratefulness. "Trees don't like hugs." He frowned.
"How do you know? Are you an arborist?" She arched an eyebrow with her eyelids half-closed.
"Neither are you." He huffed.
"But I'm a tree lover."
"Fine, get married to a tree when you grow up. For now, let's get you home." Zane forcefully pulled her away from the tree. He had enough of her drink antics. Screw the theory that alcohol made a person acknowledge their deepest desires. Because a desire like marrying a tree was just ridiculous.
"No, Mr. Tree! I love you. Don't separate me from my love," Winter cried out as Zane dragged her out of the mansion. He pushed her inside the back of the car, which he borrowed from his sister for the night, whilst she protested.
Irritated, he pressed his index finger on her lips and said, "Be a good girl and stay quiet, or else I would cut off that tree with a chainsaw." It shut her up immediately.
Winter put her finger on her lips like a nursery student and nodded her head meekly.
Zane sighed and closed the door. If she went home in this condition, her dad would kick her out of the house for good, he thought.
He took out his phone and dialed Lucy's number. If Winter could stay over at her place, then he could inform her dad that she was having a sleepover with her friend, without knowing that she ever got drunk.
As soon as she picked up, he let out, "Hey, Lucy, can Winter crash at your place for the night?"
"I'm afraid Lucy won't be at home tonight," spoke up a male voice.
"Is she staying with you, Cedric?" Zane was now sure that he must have jinxed himself somewhere, otherwise, how could he always get so unlucky with everything?
"Yes, and she's drunk. She vomited over me." Cedric sighed over the phone.
Zane's stomach turned upside down at the mention of vomit and looked at Winter. "Well, that might happen to me as well."
"Then good luck—" There was some shuffling in the background before Cedric shouted, "No, Lucy, that's not a toy gun!" With that, the line went dead.
"I just hope neither of them gets shot." Zane let out a sigh of exasperation before getting into the driver's seat. "I will drive you to your home," he informed Winter, who looked like she wanted to say something. "If you want to say something, go ahead."
Winter pursed her lips and mumbled, "Zane."
"What?"
"Turn me on," she told him seductively and licked her lips.
Zane stopped fastening his seatbelt and looked at her through the rearview mirror, meeting her not-so-innocent green eyes. "Say what?"
"Turn me on!" she let out.
"And what do you mean by that?" he asked, cautiously watching her as she played with the edge of knee-length dress. Just what was she hinting at while playing with her skirt like that? It was out of his comprehension of how a girl could make him feel so weak on his knees.
"Have you gone deaf? Don't you know what turning on—"
He spoke up hurriedly, gripping onto the steering wheel tighter, "That I know," he paused briefly and gulped. "But how?"
"Seriously, Zane, you are eighteen. How can you not know such a thing?" She sighed sadly. "By pressing the button," she said.
Zane just smiled blankly and said, "Which button, Winter?"
Winter got up from her seat and leaned forward, bringing her face close to his. Zane gulped and closed his eyes. She let her warm breath linger on his skin before slowly whispering, "The button which makes me feel hot."
Zane hit his hand on the steering wheel, letting out a honk. "You mean the goddamn heater?" He was beyond frustrated. She totally played basketball with his heart.
"That's exactly what I said." Winter shrugged, and Zane gritted his teeth. She pulled his cheeks and cooed, "You are so adorable, Handsome Zane."
He immediately took off his denim jacket, leaving himself in the grey shirt, and threw it at her face. "Wear it."
Winter hesitated to take it, worrying that he would be cold. Zane couldn't help but smile at her concern, his frustration washing away. Even though she was not in her right mind, she was still caring about him.
"Don't worry. I'm wearing more clothes than you," he insisted, turning on the heater as well.
Winter finally took the jacket and put it on, the sleeves going past her fingers and the size was much larger than hers, which made her want to embrace it all the more.
The car ride was almost quiet with occasional giggles from Winter. Only God knew what she was laughing so much about. But one thing Zane knew for sure, he was never letting her get drunk ever again. It was too risky for his frail heart.
Stopping right in front of her house, Zane got out of the car. He glanced at all the windows to find no lights on. He gulped. Her father would definitely kill him for disturbing his sleep. Taking a deep breath, he was about to ring the calling bell, but the door opened even before he could do so.
A woman in her early forties with light brown hair came out of the door and said in a hushed voice, "I heard your car pull over. Is Winter with you?"
Hearing her voice, he realized she was the owner of the voice that asked if he liked Winter. "Yes, and she's drunk. She's in the car right now. Is her dad home?"
"He's asleep. Bring her in quietly."
Zane nodded and went to open the door of the car. Winter came out but was unable to stand on her wobbly feet. Her vision was glazy, and there was a silly grin on her face. Zane put her arm around his shoulder and supported her to the threshold.
Winter looked up at Carla with her half-closed eyelids and started giggling, pointing at Carla. "Zane, you know, I don't like this woman at all." A look of hurt crossed Carla's face.
"I told you to stay quiet, didn't I?" Zane told her, but her voice only got louder.
"No, I want to speak up—"
"Shut up." Zane pressed his hands on her mouth.
"I will take her from here," Carla volunteered and tried to take Winter from Zane, but Winter slapped away her hand.
"No, you ratted me out to Dad!" Winter yelled, clinging onto Zane.
"Who the fuck is making a scene this late at night?" shouted David, coming out of his bedroom.
"It's me, your goddamn daughter!" Winter hollered.
"Fuck my life," Zane cursed.
"What do you think you're doing, coming back to this house all drunk?" David pushed Carla out of the way, standing in their way like an angry wall.
"It's my dad's house. I can come whenever I want. Who the fuck are you to stop me?" Winter stepped up, her feet staggering and hands shaking. She felt light on her feet and she could fly with no boundaries. She could say whatever she wanted, without having to give any explanation, leaving the consequences in the care of her sober self.
"This petty little brat—"
"You are the petty one. Otherwise, why would you vent your anger towards Mom at me? What have I done? Where was my fault?" Tears brimmed her eyes as she spoke further, "Did I ask Mom to steal your money and run away? Did I ask for Mom to die that way? Did I ask you to take me in?"
David fell quiet.
Winter was out of breath, but Zane rubbed her back, encouraging her to let out every poison that was brewing in her heart for so long. She sucked in a large breath and continued, "What? Cat got your tongue?" She laughed humorlessly, tears streaming down her face. "Don't act like you own my life just because you are letting me stay at your house. One day, I will pay back every penny of yours that was spent on me, also the money that my mom took from you."
There was a pin-drop silence, only the sound of Winter breathing heavily resonated; awkwardness so thick it could be cut with a knife. Zane felt like he was in some sort of live family drama, where he didn't belong.
After a few moments, David cleared his throat and said before walking away, "Take her to her room." He closed the door of his bedroom with a thud.
"I need to calm him down. The first room upstairs belongs to her. Can you please—"
"Sure thing."
Carla flashed Zane a small smile and ran after David.
Zane sighed and dragged Winter to her bedroom, upstairs. Winter had almost lost consciousness by then, so he just made her lay on her bed after taking off her shoes. He put the blanket on her and placed her purse and phone on the nightstand.
Winter was mumbling something in her sleep, so out of curiosity, Zane leaned closer to hear what she was saying. "Don't...please. Don't do this. I...love you so much. Please. I beg of you." His heart sank hearing her broken voice.
Zane stroked her hair, whispering, "It will all be okay."
"Nothing would be okay," she said, a tear slipped out of the corner of her eyes.
"Believe me, someday it will be okay. You will be okay." He placed a light kiss on her forehead, which made her stop struggling in her sleep. Her breathing stabilized. He smiled in satisfaction as soon a calm expression was on her face.
Before he could leave, Winter's phone rang up. He glanced at the screen to see the name 'Kimi' flashing on it. He was going to silent her phone but remembered that she was Winter's only best friend.
He cleared his throat and picked up the call. "Hello?"
"Hello? What happened to your voice, Winter? Did you get a cold? You sound like a dude," chirped the feminine voice from the other side.
"Winter is asleep right now. I'm a friend of hers," Zane replied.
"Zane?" Kimi asked, and he hummed in response, staring at Winter's peaceful face. "Did something happen to Winter?"
"Yeah, she got drunk and blew up on her family," he said. "How did you know?"
"No, I just got a feeling something was wrong with Winter. Anyways, how did she get drunk?" Kimi inquired.
"That's a long story." He rolled his eyes. "If you don't mind, can I ask you a question?"
"Sure."
Zane pursed his lips, still wondering if he should be asking such a sensitive question. But he wanted to know more about Winter so that he could help her heal up. "How did Winter's mother die?"
