Dysfunctional

Chapter 5 Sick

Luckily, I was allowed to come over to Ted's place. Anne and Simon happened to be hanging out there as well, and they all said I was more than welcome. Despite my anger, I was happy to have such good friends.

"Hey Lars, what's up? Why did you want to come over so late? Are you in trouble?" Ted asked worriedly as I stepped in.
"I'm fine," I said, "just wanted to get out of the house for a bit. Got anything to drink?"
"We have some soda", Ted said.
I rolled my eyes. Great, they were babying me again. I was the youngest of the clique, with all of them being eighteen and Matt and Nina even being nineteen. I was the only one who was still seventeen, and even though none of them were legally allowed to drink yet, they still always tried to only encourage me to stay away from the alcohol. Their excuse was that they would be allowed to drink already if we lived in Europe, and I was still underage no matter where we were. But, they also acknowledge that they weren't my parents and couldn't stop me if I really wanted to.
So, just like the usual, I told Ted I really wanted some booze, and because they too were all having a sip, he felt like he couldn't deny me.
Simon was a lot easier. He handed me my second glass without being difficult when I asked him.
They all chatted about some unimportant stuff, but having ended up with the bottle permanently in my hand and up to my lips, I didn't really hear what they were saying.

Matt POV

I just got out of the shower when my phone rang. With the towel still around my hips, I hurried to pick up.
"Hey there, Anne. How are you?" I asked. I always liked getting called instead of being send an impersonal text.
"Not great," before I could ask what's wrong, she continued: "We're at Ted's place. Lars got drunk, passed out, and now he's not waking up. We think he's just sleeping, but we're very worried about him and we don't know what to do. He's thrown up twice now, and already before passing out he was so far gone we couldn't speak properly to him. Do you know what to do?"
Anne sounded very panicked, so I knew I had to calm her first. "Everything will be alright," I assured her, "You guys are doing what you can, I'm sure he'll be okay. Should I come over? I'll drive him home, or to the hospital if that's really necessary."
"If you can, please."

As I slipped into my clothes, told my parents I'd be going out for a bit, and got into my car, I didn't feel panicked. I just felt... sad. Sad that this wasn't the first time this happened and sad that I was afraid it wouldn't be the last time either. It could make one feel so powerless, to see someone you cared about go down a road of self-destruction while all you could do was watch. Although I had the confidence everything would be okay that day, I feared for the day Lars would really drink himself into a coma, which, if things kept going on like this, almost felt inevitable. Only last week at a party, Lars had almost choked on his own vomit when he passed out after drinking too much, and if Violet hadn't thought about turning him on his stomach, things could have ended a lot worse. And the week before that, Wes had to babysit him all day because he took a way too large doses of LSD and ended up having a bad trip where he had panic attack after panic attack until the drugs finally wore off. I hoped that taught him not to just mess with drugs. Sure, a little pot on a party couldn't hurt if it was done with caution, and just like alcohol we also all drank a glass or two at a party, but Lars never knew when to stop.
"Matt, thank you so much for coming!" It was Ted who opened the door, and quickly stepped aside to let me in.
"How is Lars?" I asked as I took my jacket off.
"He's doing better. He woke up, but he's still shit-faced beyond reasoning. At least he's not throwing up anymore."
I grimaced.

Well, there he was, on the couch. It hurt my heart to see him like that, so breakable and broken. Because of his small build, I always thought he looked so helpless when he was intoxicated, like he looked more sick than drunk.
I crouched down next to the couch, and waved in front of Lars' face. "Hello, can you see me? You know who I am, right?"
He wiped his rosy cheeks as if trying to wipe the redness off it, and nodded. A hiccup left his lips. "I'm dizzzzzzyyy", he whined.
I tried to help Lars sit up straight, but it took way too much effort and left me panting. He kept whining like a tired child who missed his afternoon nap and felt miserable now. "It hurts, I don't feel good, everything is spinning", he groaned.
"I know, I know", I shushed him as I patted his back. "Simon, could you please get Lars a big glass of water?"
Ted had to help Lars drink like he was an incapable toddler, and still some of it spilled down his chin and onto his shirt. "This is hopeless", Ted sighed.
"I'll bring him home," I decided, "maybe his mom knows better what to do. Besides, she might be worried. Does she know he's here?"
All three of my friends shrugged.

Simon helped me carry Lars to my car and get him into the passenger seat. He immediately slouched against the door, with his cheek against the window.
"Watch out when I go over a bump in the road", I warned him, not wanting him to bump his head.
"Whatever", Lars mumbled.
It was empty on the road, no other cars to distract my mind that kept going to the boy besides me, worrying.
I sighed. "Lars?"
He didn't answer, but I knew he was listening.
"Why do you keep drinking so much? You know we're all very worried about you, right?"
"You shouldn't worry about me. That's your own problem when you do that, not mine", Lars mumbled. He sounded sleepy, but surprisingly clear-headed, like he actually heard and understood me.
"I think your mom is worried about you too. You know, if your reason for drinking is to drown out certain feelings, you should know that you can also talk to us about them, right? We're your friends. We don't like to see you hurt yourself like this. You really shouldn't be drinking at all at this age", I rambled. I really wanted him to know that we cared and that this wasn't a healthy way to cope with his emotions, if that was what he was trying to achieve with this over-drinking.
"Don't tell me what to do", Lars groaned.
"I'm just trying to help you. I really wish you would just open up to us for once. We can help you."
"Ugh, Matt, stop being so nosy! I don't need another unwanted father figure in my life!"
My grip on the steering wheel tightened, my lips pressed together in a thin line and I didn't say another word anymore for the rest of the ride.

I had to ring the doorbell of Lars' house with my shoulder when we arrived, with Lars hanging over my shoulder half-asleep.
"Um, hello miss", I greeted his mother when she opened the door. "Lars, um... got a bit drunk, so I came to bring him home."
The woman gasped worriedly and quickly lead me inside to put Lars on the couch. It had been a while since I'd been at his place, and I couldn't remember whether it had changed or not.
"Poor boy," Lars' mom muttered. She stroked his hair, and put the back of her hand against his cheek and forehead.
"I'm really sorry for having to bring him home in such a state." I meant it.
But Lars' mother shook her head, a heavy sigh leaving her lips. "No, it's my fault."
"What? N-No, really, we should've looked out for him more."
"Don't blame yourself. I know Lars only drinks a lot when he gets upset. I've been trying to keep all the alcohol in the house out of his reach, but I should know it doesn't help anything as he'll just go somewhere else to drink."
I was quiet. I didn't know what to say. Lars had his head on his mother's lap, and he seemed asleep. Peaceful, but only for now.
"You guys don't... encourage him to drink, right?" Lars' mother asked hesitantly.
Suddenly very aware of the seemingly intimidating impression I might be making, I quickly crossed my legs and intertwined my fingers. "No, never," I assured her, "we often try to discourage him, but he doesn't really like to be bossed around."
"Yes, I've noticed that", Lars' mother said with a rather sad chuckle.
"Is his relationship with his stepfather very bad?" I carefully asked. "In the car just now, I tried scolding him a little, and he said he didn't need another unwanted father figure in his life."
There was another sad chuckle. "You mean he doesn't complain about us all the time when he's with you?"
I shook my head, surprised. "No, not really. He rarely ever talks about how things are at home, just that his mom has a new boyfriend and that he doesn't like him very much."
"I think Lars has to tell you himself if he wants you to know all the ins and outs, but no, they don't get along very well."
Realizing that I was staying too long, and shouldn't be getting so personal about Lars with his mother behind his back, I quickly stood up. "I'm sorry for asking such a personal question. Is there anything else I can help with before I leave?"
"Oh no, it's okay, you should go home now. I'll tell Lars that..." she paused, looking for my name.
"Matt."
"...that Matt dropped him off, if he doesn't remember tomorrow."
"Have a good night, good luck with Lars", I wished her.
"Thank you, also for bringing Lars home and taking care of him. I'm sorry if Lars has insulted you. I'm glad that you're looking out for him."