Submerge

B R E A K

Since I was a kid, water has been my sanctuary, up until a year ago.

I would say the brain is very strange thing, capable of transforming something you once truly loved into something you despise, in the blink of an eye.

Losing my escape had led me into finding a new one, drinking.

Which isn't working out so well these days, since I'm suffering from a hangover on a Monday morning which happens to be the first day of school.

Looking at the clock besides the bed it reads.. 6:50 Fuck! I'm late.

The door slams open which scared the shit out of me. "Fuck! Don't you know how to knock?"

"Why aren't you dressed yet? Do you know what time it's?" Nathen says with an irritated tone.

"Stop screaming my head is about to explode" I say while pressing on my temples.

He sights and says "listen.. I came here for the weekend cause my mom begged me, since she doesn't know what to do with you anymore, and I'm just trying to help you.."

"I don't need your or anyone else's help"

"Mason.. please you reek of alcohol on the first day of school"

I lift the collar of my shirt close to my nose I didn't even drink that much it can't be that bad i scrunch my nose once the smell has invaded my nostrils "Ew..."

He lifts his eyebrows in amusement "Told you so" he moves closer to my bed and slaps the back of my head playfully "move your ass to the bathroom come on"

I dragged myself out of bed and move to the bathroom slowly "my head hurts cant I just stay home today?"

"Nope! Should've thought of that before drinking yourself to sleep"

"Asshole" I Whisper as I go into the bathroom.

"Hey! I heard that"

--

"Oh wow, you must really love me to get me Starbucks after this morning," I said as we approached the drive-thru.

"Not really, I just don't want you passing out on your first day of school," he smirked, "you could've taken an apple or something on your way out, but you seem to enjoy making me suffer."

My smile dropped at that sentence Yeah, I've been nothing but a bother to everyone these last few months...

Nathen seems to notice the change in my demeanor and ruffles my wet hair "Hey you know I'm joking right?" he gives me a sympathetic smile.

I push his hand away "yeah I know" I know there's a grain of truth in every joke.

"what do you want to get?"

"uh.. I'll get a double smoked bacon egg sandwich and a tall iced peach green tea" leaning-in to connect my phone to the car's Bluetooth " I'll also get the same sandwich and Sausage Cheddar Egg Sandwich, an oatmeal and also a grande cold brew"

"your a fucking monster" I say shocked at his order "what? You know I have to feed these muscles" flexing his biceps "ew stop doing that" I pushed him away.

"did you take your meds with you?" the same question as always, as if it's helping me in any way "yeah they're in my bag" he just nodes and pulls up to the window to take our order.

--

This school is just like every other high school I've been, yet strangely it's making me uneasy. I immediately regretted not bringing my entire bottle of anxiety medication.

Mom definitely picked the best school for me; it appears that this school is well-known for its swimming team as evidenced by the amount of swimming competition posters.

As I made my way to the front desk to get my school schedule, I noticed a woman who appeared to be in her early forties.

" Hi my name's Mason Hale, I'm new" I say smiling at the lady "Oh welcome dear! Did you get your schedule yet?"

"no"

"ok just give me a minute to print it out for you"

She gave me my schedule after approximately ten minutes; by that time, the bell had already rung, and I was, in her estimation, around fifteen minutes late for my class.

What a nice way to begin my school year to have to find my own way around the school alone.

I was too nervous to enter the room after finding my class, I don't like being on the spot light, not anymore.

Thankfully, the teacher appears kind; he merely smiles at me and gestures to an empty desk in the back of the classroom

I nod and make my way as quickly as I can to the back as I feel all eyes on me.

Twenty minutes later, the lesson was over, and the teacher was explaining the exercise we needed to do before class ended.

"Please try to finish it before the end of class" then he starts walking to my desk, and kneels down "Hello there my name's Mr. Stettner, did the front office give you a tardy slip?"

I nod and pull it out of my pocket, he takes it and smiles at me "Great, now... you must be new? Your face is unfamiliar."

"Yeah my name's Mason" He appears to notice me fiddling with the hem of my shirt.

"Nice to meet you Mason, if you have any questions about the lesson or the exercise don't hesitate to ask me" I nod, He stands up, looks at the other students before turning to me "I hope you enjoy my class"

At the sound of the bell, I turned my work in and began looking for my next class.

By fourth period, I was beginning to feel the affects of my hangover, which wasn't good. I could hear the pounding in my head and feel the burning in my throat.

As soon as I asked the teacher to excuse me, I quickly grabbed my belongings and left the classroom to rush to the nearest restroom.

I open the first bathroom stall and drop to my knees, vomiting on the toilet seat.

This is going to be a very long day..