Piece It Together - Gavin Reed

14

"There's a party tonight so I'm cuttin' off this study session early." The h/c raised an eyebrow, looking up from the text they were analysing.

"Seriously? You're blowing off the homework due tomorrow for some party you won't even remember in the morning?"

"Sounds like you want me to stay." The h/c rolled her eyes, highlighting another quote.

"You're a pain in my... backside. I'm only doing this for extra credit."

"Priss." He mumbled under his breath, reaching into his pocket to pull out a cigarette and his lighter.

"Absolutely not. You either put the cigarette back or you smoke outside." She hated when he smoked, especially in the house. The stuff stunk up the house and it wasn't even hers. 

He rolled his eyes, standing up before walking to the door. After putting his shoes on, she watched as he left the house, her body moving before she could think. She rushed to the door, throwing some shoes on and opening it to see him sitting on the doorstep taking a puff from his cancer stick. She watched as he blew the smoke out, some of it dissipating in front of him while the rest rose into the air, clearing after a second or two. It was only 7, and the sun still being prominent in the sky.

"It's going to be bright out until 9, why do you need to go so early?"

"Well, I wanna look good for my fuckin' date."

"Woah, you're dating someone?"

"I'm not datin' anybody, Priss. Jeez, why the fuck do you care so much?"

"Because we have sex, like, every other day!" He stands up, taking a puff from his cigarette. "That's practically cheating!"

He blew the smoke into her face, making her cough and turn away, "If it eases your mind then you can be my fuckin' date."

She let out an audible laugh, looking over at him. When she realised he wasn't kidding, she coughed again, "You're not kidding?"

"Nope."

"Are you insane? I don't even drink!" She crossed her arms in frustration, "What would people think if I came with you?"

"That you're not a complete fucking prude."

"God, you're unbelievable!" She walked into the house, grabbing his bag and packing his things away. She walked back to the door and threw his stuff at him, the man catching it as it hit his stomach, "Fuck off, you manwhore!" He watched as she slammed the door in his face, groaning.

It was beginning to turn 10. Rain had been fed and so had Y/n, a plate of spaghetti bolognese waiting in the microwave to be heated up for Gavin's return. Her heart felt heavy with worry, resisting the urge to call him to check on him. She tried to distract herself with an old TV show when she heard the phone ringing. Practically jumping, she ran to the phone, taking it and holding it up to her ear.

"Gavin, is that you?"

"So, the Priss does care." She could tell it was Gavin but something was wrong. His words were slurred and his tone was almost sarcastic, "Why didn't you love me too?"

"Gavin, you're drunk. Do you want me to come and pick you up?"

"ANSWER THE DAMN QUESTION!" Her breathing picked up, her hand gripping the phone tighter. Silence was heard from the other side of the phone when she heard him sniffle, "I-I'm so sorry, Y/n... I didn't mean *hic* to shout..."

"I'm coming to pick you up. Where are you?"

"Jimmy's *hic* bar..."

"Stay where you are, Gavin." Putting the phone back, she used it to order a taxi before she got changed.

She arrived 10 minutes later to see Gavin on the floor outside the bar. His gun was pointed to his head, using his mouth to imitate the sound of a gun going off. Running to him, she took the gun away from his hand, "Gavin, are you insane?!"

"Y/n...?"

Sighing, she puts his arm over her shoulder before helping him stand up, her body aching from the action, "Gavin, I'm gonna need you to work with me or I won't be able to make it home."

"Fine..." He made it a bit easier for her, sitting in the passenger seat of his car with the window open. He gave her his keys after a short debate, the man too exhausted to argue with her. She started the car and began to drive home.

Sneaking glances at the man beside her while driving, she managed to get him home safe. helping him to the couch, she placed his gun on the table and recoiled. He stunk of whiskey and cigarettes. "Gavin did you-"

"Yes, okay, I bought *hic* another pack..." The girl sat beside him, watching as his head fell into his hands.

"What's going on with you?" Just like that, he fell into hysterics. The sobs coming from him took her off guard. She had never had to comfort someone in a situation like this, especially not Gavin. 

"I thought I was done *hic* with you...!" He sobs, gripping his hair, "I thought that, after that stupid interrogation, we'd *hic* be done! But, noooooo, you have to come back into my life and fuck *hic* everything up!"

"Gavin-"

"And then you show up at my goddamn doorstep and it's like *hic* everything comes back...!"

"Gavin, I think you should go to bed. Come on, give me the cigarettes." Looking up at her, he saw a look in her eyes that he could only just read as regret. He handed her the sticks, watching as she put them in her pocket. He stumbled off the couch, managing to get to his room before he fell asleep after flopping onto his bed.

The glaring sun blinded his retinas, waking him up. He grumbled, walking into his bathroom to take a cold shower, the water sobering up his senses. His morning felt slow and quiet, the only sound being Rain's demand for food. He noticed that Y/n hadn't gotten up yet, sighing as he walked to her room and knocked on the door. When he got no response he knocked louder.

"Come on, wake up, Priss. We don't have all fuckin' day." His head pounded, the lack of noise coming from her side of the door making him panic. Hoping he wouldn't walk in on something that would make the morning drive awkward, he opened the door. There, on the bed, was no sign of the girl.