My friend, Demise

Chapter 13

After staying so late at school for cleaning and then stopping by the hospital to apologize to the coach, I made it home at midnight. Demise was standing in my bedroom and pacing the floor up until the moment I opened the door.

"Where were you?" He glared at me.

"I told you I'd be staying late. My parents too."

"You didn't say you were staying this late! I was worried and you weren't answering your phone!"

"Sorry."

"You're still hurt." He quickly hugged me, pushing his head into my chest. "Don't go where I'm not. Please."

My body tensed with his arms around it, which only made him hold me tighter. "Demise what the hell do you think you're doing?..." my voice started to tremble, but even when I tried to push him off he refused to let go. "G-Get off!"

"Behave."

I relaxed as much as I could until he finally let go. "Why did you do that?"

"I think you needed it." He smiled weakly, which made my heart beat fasted. I scowled at him as my face turned red.

"I've never-....I mean I-"

"You've never been hugged, have you?"

"....no."

"Want to try again?"

Being around someone so loving made me realize how my parents kind of ignored me. They didn't seem to care much as long as I was fed. "Yeah."

He slowly wrapped his arms around my shoulders, standing on his toes and pressing his forehead against my shoulder. "Put your arms around my waist."

I did, pulling his body against mine.

He's warm...he smells like bubblegum and the shampoo my dad buys.

I leaned my face down to the top of his head, sliding one hand up his back and into his hair.

I don't know why. Maybe it was the smell of his shampoo or the warmth of his embrace, but I began to cry.

Tightening my arms around him, tears streamed down the skin of my cheeks. I'd been lonely for so long that I forgot what it was like to have someone just hold me. To smell them and feel them against me in a way that was content and loving. "I've been alone forever." I muttered, closing my eyes. "And now that you're here with me, I don't even know what to do."

"You don't have to do anything yet. You can always open up when you're ready."

"I'm just knew to this. I don't do well with people."

He let go and cocked his head. "Do you have anxiety or something?"

"No. I'm just used to being by myself." I grabbed his hips, flinching when I felt something beneath his clothes. He laughed and pulled a gun from his jeans.

"I keep it with me. Don't be scared."

"...can I hold it?"

"Sure." He placed it in my hand. It was heavy and somehow felt like it had already taken a life. "Want to try being around people?"

"No. People are too judgmental."

"No no no" he shook his head. "I'm talking about my family. They're home."

"Ah- what?! But your family sounds terrifying!"

"They'll like you, trust me. You're tall, sexy, and quiet." He wiped my tears and smiled. "All they do is drink and play video games....and dance when they play music."

"How many people live with you?" I asked hesitantly."

"Three. My mom, Aunt, and older sister. Aunt's visiting for the week."

I ended up going, hiding in the kitchen so I wouldn't have to introduce myself. After about twenty minutes though, a woman that looked exactly like demise walked in and poured herself a shot of fireball. She had long curly hair and the same clothing style as him. "So who are you?" She raised an eyebrow at me.

"Uh...Azriel."

"Oh shit!" She nearly choked on her shot, immediately slamming the glass down and hugging me tightly. "It's so nice to meet you! My brother talks about you all the time."

She didn't hug me for long, parting her hair off to the side and pouring three more shots. She handed me two and only picked up one for herself.

"Wait I've never drank before."

"Good! A first timer, I'll keep you safe. It's better you do it inside, you know?"

"Okay...why am I taking two?"

"To catch up to me." She winked and tossed hers back before motioning for me to do the same.

I did but the first one tasted the like acetone. Don't ask. The second, I didn't let hit my tongue. I just swallowed it and gagged. "Ugh.... you like this stuff?"

"God no, I like how it makes me feel." She grabbed my hand and dragged me into the living room. "Guys look who I found!"

"Did you make him drink?" Demise laughed when he walked over to me. "He smells like alcohol."

"Yes she did."

"You up to drink more?" The woman I assumed was his mother stood up and handed me a full bottle of what seemed to be vodka. "We're celebrating, it's Jasmine's birthday!"

"I'm 21 now." His sister smiled toward me. "Where'd Jane go?"

"She passed out like a loser" Demise sighed, afterwards whispering in my ear. "Don't drink more than six shots. You've already had fireball and I don't want you puking, got it?"

"Yeah."

"Good boy."

I drank more than six shots. With Jasmine, she made it seem like a game. It didn't feel like being at a party or doing something illegal it just felt like hanging out with friends. Both of us took a line of about 9 shots. 

And then we did it again.

I sat in the bathroom, kicking my feet together while Demise sat with me. "How you feeling?"

"I want to go home..."

On the walk home, I was drunk enough that he had to help me walk. My vision was doubled and I felt like I was dying. That is until I heard a gunshot and Demise's arm left my shoulders.

I turned to see what was going on but it was al a blur. Demise was laying on the ground, but I didn't know why.

"Hey..." I stumbled to my knees and shook him a bit. "Why are you laying down?"

"Fuck..." he tried to sit up but it was clear he was in a lot of pain. "Here take this and try to run, can you do that?" He pulled something from the rim of his jeans and placed it in my hand. It was heavier than earlier.

"You're hurt....what did you do?" I looked down to his chest, seeing blood soaking into his shirt. "Hey...What did you do?!"

"Go." My vision cleared as he locked eyes with me and cocked the gun he'd placed in my hand. "I can handle myself, I need you to go."

Horror filled my eyes, the gunshots I'd heard before ringing in my head. "No...no get up!" I stood up and tried to help him stand. He couldn't. "Demise get the fuck up!"

"Cut it out!" He glared at me. "I'm fine. Go."

I didn't leave. I sat with him until the police showed up and he fell asleep.