A slow fall

Chapter 16 - Caleb

    The weekend brought a much-needed reprieve from the house slowly suffocating me. My parents, albeit reluctantly, allowed me to spend Friday night at Marcus' and I planned to use it to my full advantage.

There was nothing I wanted more than to lose myself. Maybe it was wrong, a vice I hid my problems behind, but for a short moment in time it was enough.

The door held firm and I was let in a quiet empty room where nothing existed but me.

A burning need to feel something led me straight into the devil's clutch; My parents would be disgusted. My already corrupt soul further damned to the point of no redemption. Maybe I'm just digging a path further to hell. I belong there anyway.

Heaven is no place for sinners.

Yet when the alcohol enters my system, I no longer care about those things.

Shane and I had brought a change of clothes with us to school so we could all just head straight over to Marcus' place at the end of the day. It was easier that way, with both of us living in town and Marcus in the city. I also wanted to take every measure possible to avoid my parents when I had the chance.

Marcus' parents were in when we arrived and offered us quick greetings on their way out.

Their house was bright and colourful, with quirky trinkets dotted about and family photos smiling from the walls.

"There's food in the fridge that you boys can reheat." Mrs Keller said as she hovered near us. "Be good," she pointedly glanced at all of us, her tone stern whilst still maintaining that motherly care, "stay safe. Eve's at her boyfriends' so please don't destroy the house."

She quickly entered the room, giving all three of us a kiss on the head as a goodbye before Mr Keller ushered her towards the front door. "We'll be back late," he spoke.

They were both dressed to the nines, Mrs Keller in an elegant cocktail dress and Mr Keller in a blue suit. Both looked stunning, a picture-perfect couple, and I admired the love still shared between the two.

Mr Keller shot us a knowing glance as he opened the door, waiting until his wife stepped outside before speaking in a hushed voice, "I expect, if you boys go out, you either get back before we do, or -.

"We're gonna stay at Aaliyah's, if that's all good?" Marcus interjected. His dad nodded, telling us that he thought staying there would be a better idea before offering a final goodbye and following after his wife out the door.

Shane's parents knew we drank. They understood it was something done at this point in our lives and were accepting of it to a point.

They would get us alcohol only if we drank it under supervision. In a house with someone responsible nearby.

Aaliyah was part of the larger social circle the three of us resided in. My relationship with most in the group was almost non-existent now, but Aaliyah didn't seem to mind when I couldn't conjure up the effort to speak. When I avoided everyone, she didn't mistake it for rudeness and when I chose not to hang out with them, she took no personal offence. She was kind and caring and asked how I was in a way that told me she really wanted to know. Even though I'd distanced myself, she was still someone I would call a friend. I just hated that I couldn't be a good one in return.

Aaliyah was one of the excuses we consistently used when we planned to go out drinking. Shane's parents had met her as well and knew she was responsible— more than us three. This trust provided the perfect alibi.

Aaliyah would come out with us sometimes, but she doesn't drink as per her religious beliefs—hence why she was trusted so much. After incessant badgering though, today she planned to join us at the club. With Aaliyah not drinking, she and Shane decided he would drive us to the club and her on the way back, since they both had cars, and it would save on taxi fare.