The Story of Me and T - A Tanner Buchanan Fanfic

'Nine Months'

*Tanner*

'Shot, shot, shot' I heard as I downed my 8th tequila. I hated tequila but washed down with a beer, it wasn't so bad.

'Two more please' I shouted across the bar.

'Scrap that please' I heard Jacob's voice approaching. Through very blurry vision I turned to greet the voice from behind me. He was with Xolo, and they both seemed pissed off to be saving my sorry ass again.

'Come on Tanner, it's almost been a year. I'm sorry to say this man, but don't you think it's time to try and move on?'  Tanner?'

'Eight months and one week. It's been eight months and one week, almost two, so nearly nine months. Not a year. And honestly, I know you're trying to help. But don't' I said with my last breath of full consciousness before I dropped my head on the bar, defeated by too much tequila. In the distance I could hear conversation of far, the clink of glasses. Soft music, conversation of near....

'Maybe we should call Mary to come and get him. He usually listens to her'

'Dead end. Mary's gone to London for a few weeks to visit friends'

In a fog of chaos, and a totally drunk state, a couple of things managed to stick. Almost nine months. Mary's gone to London. I knew Mary well enough to know that she only knew one person in London that she'd go and visit. Almost nine months. Grace and Mary were close, but why would she fly over to visit her? Nine months...... Nine months.....

'Coffee' I managed to say but could hear how slurry and incoherent I sounded. I gently raised my head to see the boys staring at me in total confusion.

'I need coffee or water, or any fucking shit that will sober me up. Quick' Slurred and incoherent became laced with dread and panic, as the only viable reason for it all started to become clear.  She wouldn't do this to me. Nine months. Mary in London. The same shit running through my head. All intensified by too much alcohol

'Nine months. I can't believe she's done this to me' I said finally before completely passing out.

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Over the past ten hours I'd covered a lot of fucking ground. Got relentlessly smashed, lost my car and finally, passed out and woke up on Jacob's floor. Again. But, sobriety albeit overrated gave me reasonable and rational thoughts. I knew what I had to do. Although nine months was probably a coincidence, Mary being in London on the other hand, definitely was not, and her being with Grace was, metaphorically speaking, my key to get in the door..

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*Grace*

'Hey Mary, can you talk? I need to speak to you, it's an emergency. Are you home? Can I come over?  Please let me know as soon as possible. I really need you' Mary said, hands shaking from guilt as she read the text aloud from Tanner. She wasn't the only one. What was the emergency? The thought that he could be in trouble and needed help had us both in pieces.

'What shall I do Grace, I really wanna call him. He's never messaged me anything like this before. It must be bad. Can I call him?'

'Course Mary. What you do you think is wrong?

'Only one way to find out' she said holding up the phone revealing an incoming call. Tanner's incoming call.

'Tanner? Are you okay?' She asked maintaining eye contact which gave me an opportunity to mouth 'Is he okay' She responded with a simple nod, and instant relief wrapped around me like a cozy warm blanket.

'Okay, Tanner. What's up?' She continued, intently listening, with zero expression on her face, keeping their discussion private. Usually, I would be bothered by it, and I guess I was a little, but the fact that he was okay kept me satisfied. And excited for our pizza that I assumed had just arrived given the ping of my new door bell.

'Foods here' I mouthed once more before standing to go and get it.

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*Tanner*

'Hey Mary. I'm so sorry. I know you're not home. I know exactly where you are. Please don't tell her that I know' I asked, begging that she'd do me this one favour,

'Okay, Tanner. What's up?' She responded in short and totally emotionless, playing her part.

'I'm over asking you what's happening, I just need to know that she's okay. Mary, you owe me that at...'

'Tanner wait' She said interrupting me mid sentence.

'She's gone to get the door so I have to be quick. I am so, so sorry for not telling you that I was coming. I cant tell you how much it sucks to be in the middle of this....'

'Mary' I wanted to stop her and spare her the apology, but she ignored me and continued

'This is a really big deal Tanner, so I can't tell you what's happening. I promised her I wouldn't, but all I can say is that you really need to be here'

'Mary,' I repeated. Yelling a little to make sure she got the message.

'I know. I'm here. It's me at the door' I said in final, shit scared of the 'big deal' that would momentarily be revealed. Although I hoped and prayed she wouldn't do this to me, all the pieces fit together perfectly. Her morning sickness, change in her character, her body. Suddenly the prospect of nine months didn't seem so much of a coincidence at all....