Compassion and Oblivion

Chapter Twenty-Four: Victoria

Author's Note

Hello, loves!

I wanted to mention that this chapter will take place from Shane's POV. Some heavy topics will be included in this chapter, including major depression and the loss of his best friends. I don't want to give away any spoilers, but if the chapter gets to be too much for you, feel free to leave a comment and I will provide a summary for you!

TW-Alcohol Use, Depression, Death of Loved Ones

It's so cold...

I...can't see anything.

***

"Hey, you still coming?" Shane spoke into his Razr flip phone. "I have a beer with your name on it!"

"That offer is pretty enticing," Victoria cooed in response. "I'm a little tired, though."

"Come on, Tori!" Shane pleaded. "It's New Year's Eve! We have to celebrate!"

"I'd love to celebrate by getting a full eight hours of sleep," she laughed. "This chemistry class has been kicking my ass. The prof is a total perv, too. I swear, he only paces around during his lectures so he can look down all of the girls' shirts."

Shane chuckled. "Yeah, I've heard that Dr. Warren is no joke. Is that why you've been wearing that scarf all the time?"

A muscular, tanned arm wraps around Shane's shoulders. "Did she say she was coming?"

Shane nudged his best friend away from him and shushed him silently.

"Well," Victoria drawled, "Jason got this for me, and it is pretty soft. But it has been pretty effective in keeping Warren's creepy eyes away from me. Was that Jason talking, just now?"

"Yeah," Shane answered. "Jason's here, too. We're waiting for you!"

Tori sighed, "I guess I'm out-voted then. I'll be there soon. The usual spot?"

"Where else?" Shane teased.

"Hey, order some pretzel bites for me, will you?" she asked, the sounds of her getting ready to leave coming through the phone as well. "With the beer cheese!"

"Yeah, anything for you," Shane answered earnestly.

She will be here soon. Just the thought made his heart beat a little faster.

"Great! I'm leaving now. See you guys soon. Bye!"

"Mm-bye," Shane grunted, before clapping his silver Motorola shut and stuffing it in the pocket of his worn out khaki pants.

"Hey, man, you did it!" Jason cheered, clapping Shane's shoulder proudly. "That wasn't so bad, was it?"

"My heart feels like it's going to pound out of my chest," Shane replied honestly.

After flagging down the bartender and requesting that she place an order of Tori's pretzel bites under his tab, he turns back to his best friend. "Why are beautiful, intelligent women so difficult to talk to?"

Jason sighed, and propped his prominent jaw into his hand, resting against the dark cherry stained bar top. His messy, black curls haphazardly draped across his forehead, threatening to cover his bright blue eyes. There was a certain sparkle behind his eyes that Shane never caught onto, until much later. "Not only can they make you feel stupid with little-to-no effort, but they can make you feel ugly while doing it."