Wish you were Sober || Boat Boys

7: Coping Mechanisms

The home was scarily quiet without Jimmy.

Joel, no matter how much he didn't want to say it, missed his roommate. He was also worried and petrified that Jimmy would be hurt when he'd be found. Hurt and scared were the two main fears Joel had. Jimmy panics easily, screaming at every turn of the bumpy ride you call life.

Jimmy was too good for this world, this city. New York didn't deserve Jimmy and his services. Joel stared at his bedroom door, frowning. He hadn't eaten since he made a post on Jimmy's social media, explaining to Jimmy's audience why their favourite comfort streamer was gone. He had turned his electronics and himself off since.

Joel laid on top of his messy sheets, he hadn't showered either. He couldn't. The feeling of getting up made him sick to his stomach, if he got up, he'd be living. How could he be just 'living' whilst Jimmy could possibly be dying? No, he'd rather self-loathe in his thoughts. It was only fair.

Joel had a thought.

Grian told him about Jimmy's weird coworker. How the few times Grian's met the guy, he was always a red flag. He spoke very little, acting like he had something to hide. Joel quickly sat up. "What if it's that guy? What's his name—Etho! What if it's Etho?" His brain wasn't working well, considering he was intoxicated and going through the possibility of Jimmy being dead.

"Etho wouldn't, right?" Joel didn't know how Jimmy was at work, but knowing his best friend, he was probably at least tolerate to most people. But he doesn't know Etho. He's only heard of him through Jimmy, who could be filtering out all the red flags. Jimmy did that often, almost always trying to make others look better.

But alas... Joel wasn't familiar with Etho. The man could have Jimmy locked in his basement peeling potatoes for him and he wouldn't know. Joel set his mind on it. Would it hurt to at least visit? See the man for himself before making professional accusations. That'd be smart.

Joel wasn't smart with his informal interrogation. It was raining cats and dogs yet he still found it with the information he was given by Grian. The dirty blond was planning on visiting Etho himself anyways. The house was small, seems like the man lives on his own. Joel rung the doorbell, praying for someone to be home.

Joel's hero costume wasn't prepared for the cold evening rain. He was shivering, clutching his stomach. A man with platinum blonde hair opened the door. "Y-You're Etho, correct?" The man eyed him up and down, like he was evaluating Joel. "Yes? Why are you here?" Valid question, Joel peered behind Etho, his home's interior seemed normal.

"I'm here to interrogate you. About a coworker." Joel let out the breath he was unknowingly holding. Etho seemed to get it immediately too. "May you please come in? You're letting all the rain in." Joel entered, trying to leave all the rainwater on Etho's doormat. It didn't work. Joel awkwardly followed Etho, closing the front door gently.

"Please ignore the mess. You mean Jimmy right?" Etho was so calm. Something about his voice, how could he... hurt Jimmy? Jimmy and him were on good terms last time Joel's checked, no motive. "Yea, about him... have you ever been intimidated by him? His accomplishments? Huh? Have you?" Unless... he was jealous. Jimmy wasn't rich by any means, but he was happy. Happiness isn't something that grows on trees.

Etho put his hands ups defensively. Joel stared at him. "No? Why?" His weird comforting grin was doing something to Joel—Joel didn't like it. That stupid smile. It was so familiar, it was scarily familiar. Not his mouth... just the way his eyes just barely crinkled. "Spit it out, I know you have something to do with Jimmy's disappearance. He—They said so."

"I'm not. I would never do anything to hurt Jimmy, we're friends." Etho was right, his arms slowly lowered back down to his sides. Joel clenched his fists, sitting at the man's kitchen island. He had no search warrant, technically he wasn't even allowed in Etho's house by any means. Etho was just being polite. "But it..." Joel muttered, he was wrong.