Rubble (Riders of Apollo #7)

Chapter Twenty-Eight: Asa Michaels

It's been two weeks since Eva left, she's due back today to tell us the results of her mission. Granted, from the newspapers alone we can easily assume that the Channings are struggling. I'm sure it wouldn't be so much of a problem if their jobs weren't so heavily based on making friends with rich, well-known people.

There have been exposés on their inner life, talking about Juniper and her abuse and a few on their poor parenting of their sons. The rest are ripping apart their finances, bringing the IRS into the fold about tax fraud. So much is going down at once and I haven't been able to comfort June through it.

I haven't seen her in three days, I've been locked in my room only moving from this corner to shower, pee, and refill my store of alcoholic beverages. Riley has tried to comfort me but no one can make me feel better about my sister's death anniversary and I don't want to burden June with something so heavy when she's struggling herself.

I heave a sigh and take a drag from the cigarette in my hand before gulping back some whiskey. I hear someone knock at the door but I don't respond, not even when the knocking becomes more insistent. I can easily assume it's Riley, no one else cares enough to irritate the living shit out of me even after being told to fuck off multiple times.

She gives up again, sighing and clicking away on her heels. I bang my head against the wall and swallow some more whiskey without flinching. I've been swapping between whiskey, tequila, and beer for the last two days so I can't even feel my body. The room smells like ash and alcohol which isn't surprising by the sheer amount I've consumed.

I have showered but that used up all my energy on both days, frustrating the crap out of me and leading me to chug half a bottle at once. It wasn't a good idea then and it's not a good idea now, I stare at the bottle in front of me and start peeling off the sticker haphazardly. The knocking starts again, softer this time and someone leans on the other side of it. "Asa, please open the door."

Only one person knows my name - besides Bear anyway - and I really don't want her to see me like this. So I don't respond, like the coward I am, I stay tucked in my corner with my new friends that cost thirty dollars a bottle. I start to panic when the door is unlocked and June steps in. Bear - the complete bastard - must've given her the spare key to my room.

It's dark in here, the curtains pulled shut over my windows so the sunlight doesn't disturb my pity party but I can see her perfectly. She's wearing a dress that hugs her so perfectly and her hair is down in curls, I just want to hug her but I don't want to see what she thinks of me. I hear the door shut and lock, her bag drop to the floor, and her slow footsteps over to me.

I refuse to look at her, even if that's the only thing I want to do now. She just moves a few of the empty bottles and sits next to me, not saying a word or doing a thing, just sits with me. Her legs stretch out next to mine and I find myself leaning towards her. I rest my head on her shoulder and take her hand in mine, relieved at the feel of her skin against mine.

She doesn't ask me questions, doesn't push me to explain what's going on, just holds me while I cry and drink over my sister. It takes me another hour or two, it could be longer as I have no real concept of time at the moment before I manage to utter a few words. "My sister died today... a long time ago but it hurts." My voice is hoarse and it sounds like a hurt whimper.

June just coos me and moves me to lay down with my head in her lap, stroking her fingers through my hair and caressing my face with her fingertips. "She died of cancer, I was there when it happened. I thought I was going to die too, the doctors had to pull me away because I wouldn't leave. My parents... my parents said that it was my fault, that I killed her."

Her eyes are soft but I see no pity, an emotion I've always hated, as she provides silent comfort despite her own troubles. "I miss her all the time." She kisses my forehead and starts humming a soft song as I cry harder, I've never had anyone just sit with me on days like this and it's mainly my fault. I don't want people to see me at my worst, sobbing and surrounded by alcohol, I remind myself of my father when I'm like this.

"I'm sorry, June. You have everything going on in your life, you don't need me piling on to it."

"Is that why you've been avoiding me and my phone calls?" I wince in embarrassment, even if her voice is understanding and retains its soft nature.

"I'm embarrassed." I sound like a child but I can find it in myself to care.

"Asa, I want to be here for you, no matter what. I don't care what's going on in my life, you're important to me."

I love this woman so fucking much it hurts.

"You're important to me too, June," I whisper, brushing the back of my hand on her cheek as I look up at her with adoring eyes. She kisses my hand and strokes my hair out of my face.

"Why don't you get in the shower? I can tidy up in here."

"You don't have to do that." I protest vehemently, she just smiles and kisses my forehead again. Somehow, I find myself in my bathroom with the water running while she dashes around my room with the bin and fills it up with all my empty alcohol bottles. What did I do to deserve her?

I have a cold shower, trying to wake myself up out of my funk before brushing my teeth and almost swallowing the mouthwash as I try and rid myself of the smell of whiskey. It was my drink of choice today unfortunately and it's always the hardest to get rid of in my opinion. When I get back into my room, dressed in all new clothes, June is sat on my freshly made bed in a spotless room with the curtains thrown back.

I love her.

I kneel between her legs and bury my face in her stomach, she returns the hug immediately and kisses my head sweetly. "Are you ready to go and see everyone?" I look up at her and decide that with her I can do anything. The bright smile she gives me when I agree has my heart racing in my chest.

I follow her out into the lounge where people take a few seconds to greet me before returning to whatever they were doing before. Riley takes a little longer and I can see the stress lines in her face that I caused. I apologise and she smacks me for it, telling me that mourning is always allowed no matter what.

I take a seat on the couch and bring June down to rest on my left thigh, she wraps one of her arms around my shoulder and the other rests on her thighs. I don't join in on the conversation but it's nice to be with everyone else, their happy moods uplifting my own. I still struggle to understand how we fit so many massive men in one room with the kids meandering through all of them and making a mess.

The whole room goes silent when they hear the front door open. Uh oh.