Do Me a Favour - Alex Turner

47. Sick

The sound of Alex throwing up filled the small space, and I quickly got up, my heart sinking at the sight of him so unwell. I hurried to the bathroom, finding him hunched over the toilet, pale and sweaty, his eyes bloodshot.

"Oh, Alex..." I murmured, my voice filled with concern. I knelt beside him, placing a comforting hand on his back as he continued to be sick.

"I'm sorry, Lana," he mumbled between heaves, his voice strained and weak.

"Shh, it's okay," I said softly, rubbing his back in slow, soothing circles. "I'm here."

We stayed like that for what felt like an eternity, me holding his hair back and trying to comfort him as he emptied the contents of his stomach. My heart ached to see him like this, knowing he must have had a rough night.

When he finally stopped, he leaned back against the wall, looking utterly exhausted. I helped him clean up and got him a glass of water, which he sipped gratefully.

"Thanks," he whispered, his voice hoarse.

"Come on, let's get you to bed," I said gently, helping him to his feet. He was unsteady, and I had to support most of his weight as we made our way back to the bed.

I tucked him in, and he immediately curled up, looking more like a vulnerable child than the confident, charismatic man I knew. I climbed in beside him, wrapping my arms around him protectively.

"I'm sorry," he repeated, his voice barely audible.

"Shh, don't worry about it. Just rest," I whispered, pressing a kiss to his temple.

He drifted off to sleep quickly, and I stayed awake for a while longer, watching over him. I couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt for not being there with him tonight, but I was also determined to make sure he was okay. As I finally closed my eyes, I silently vowed to take care of him and help him feel better in the morning.

*

I was jolted awake by a persistent knock at the door. I blinked groggily, trying to gather my bearings. Alex was still sound asleep beside me, looking peaceful for the first time since he'd come back. Reluctantly, I slipped out of bed, careful not to wake him, and made my way to the door.

Breanna stood there, looking like she hadn't gotten much sleep. Her eyes were red and puffy, and she seemed hesitant, almost like she didn't want to be here. Something was definitely wrong.

"Hey, Breanna," I whispered, trying to keep my voice down. "What's up?"

"Can we talk?" she asked, her voice low and strained.

I nodded, stepping out into the hallway and closing the door quietly behind me. "What's going on?" I asked, feeling a knot form in my stomach.

Breanna took a deep breath, clearly struggling with what she had to say. "Lana, I didn't want to tell you this, but you need to know... Last night, after you left... I saw Alex sniffing coke."

My heart dropped. "What?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper.

"And that's not all," she continued, her eyes filled with sympathy and regret. "He went into the bathroom with some girl. When I went in to check on him, I found him kissing her... and kissing her neck. I assume they were planning on doing more."

The words hit me like a punch to the gut. I felt the room spinning, my vision blurring as the weight of what she was saying sank in. "No," I whispered, shaking my head in disbelief. "No, he wouldn't..."

"Lana, I'm so sorry," Breanna said, stepping closer and pulling me into a hug. "I wish I didn't have to tell you this. I just... I didn't want you to find out another way."