Sober

Ch. 2

About twenty minutes later, Nick finishes yet another beer. I had lost count, which was worrying, but it also didn't help that everyone else here also scattered their bottles and solo cups all over the floor. I was only on my fourth and sure as hell wasn't sober or merely buzzed, but I was doing better than Nick, whose personality and reasoning did a complete 180.

Somewhere along the way, he threw his hoodie at me because he got hot, despite not wearing anything under it. He tried to take his pants off too, but couldn't master his dollar store belt.

He even went off and started talking to the other guys in the basement, and I often followed him around to make sure he didn't bust his ass, yet no matter what, he always came back to me. After mingling once, he returned to me with a lampshade on his head, and though that logically would've been the focal point, I couldn't stop staring at his chest.

He stumbles back over to me and falls into my lap with a curse since he might as well be walking around with blackout glasses.

"Nikki, do you want the last beer?"

He punches me in the arm. "Don't fucking call me that."

I chuckle and lift the lampshade a bit so I can see his expression. "Really though, do you want it?"

He shakes his head, and as he takes the lampshade off, his hair falls unevenly, though I can still see a good portion of his face for once. He stares at me for a good while, still sitting with his legs behind me. He looks so lost, but I feel the same way—like a warm, wet noodle.

Nick wraps his arms behind my neck and leans his head on my shoulder with a groan. I flinch, feeling his breath against my ear, not to mention he was radiating so much warmth that I thought I was gonna catch on fire.

"You smell good," He murmurs, pressing his face into my neck, and I tense up. I sure as hell didn't think this is what I'd be getting myself into when I asked him to drink. Then again, it'd been forever since I had a guy on my lap instead of a girl, and I forgot how good it felt.

"Thanks," I chuckle and rest my hands on his waist, though the action makes him groan again, and I freeze up.

"Can...you do me solid? Just sit here and like...be a pillow. I swear," He hiccups. "Only for a couple of seconds... D-Don't let anything happen to me... I just..."

The brunette continuously rubs one of his hands up and down my neck, almost holding me like he's trying to kiss my jawline.

"I'm just tired," He finally finishes, and I exhale.

For someone who's tired, he sure as hell shuffles around a shit ton. I scoot back against the wall, and Nikki wiggles some more, holding me tighter with his face still in my neck. Though, just as I'm about to tell him off, he starts snoring quietly in my ear.

It's the cutest yet most mildly obnoxious thing ever, and I chuckle to myself because of it.

I begin to zone out, staring into space in the basement, but then my eyes focus on Zeke walking over to me. His cheek is terribly bruised, and his eye is swollen and black.

"Don't say a word," He snaps, clearly embarrassed.

I chuckle in response and then he smirks.

"I see you've found my roommate, and he's drunk at that."

I nod.

"Want me to get him off you?"

"No, it's fine."

Zeke groans and kneels beside me, combing some of his mahogany hair out of his eyes. "God Kyler, I'm gonna let you in on a little secret. Nick has no substance. All he does is read and write, regardless of school, and has no interesting stories, hobbies—nothing."