A Change of Heart

Chapter 45

*Hey guys, so I probably should've said this sooner, but I'm not the best at writing drunk scenes. If you saw that chapter with Joanna, you know what I'm talking about. I haven't seen a drunk person in a long time and I don't drink. So I just write the way I expect a drunkard's thoughts to sound like. Just letting you guys know. God bless and enjoy the story*

As expected, the bar smells like beer and oak wood. Many of the seats are filled by bikers, but there are some respectable looking people here and there. We find a table for 6 and sit down.

"So, how many beers are we getting?" One of Calvin's friends (Greg) asks.

"Let's start simple, 2 beers each," Another friend (Carter) answers in a smooth, British accent.

"Oh, I don't drink," I answer.

"Well we do, so swig a bottle or kick rocks," Greg says, pointing at the door. There's a short moment of silence, but then everyone bursts into laughter.

"He's just playing," Ryan chuckles.

"Yeah, I'm playing," Greg cackles. I just laugh along with them.

"But seriously, would just a glass or two be fine?" Calvin asks.

"Uh... sure, but just a glass," I answer, they start cheering. Calvin gets up to get everyone's drinks.

"You know Howard, you look kinda familiar," Carter says.

"Carter, you thought an old lady was your grandma. You think everyone looks familiar," Dave laughs.

"Yeah, but you're like, really familiar," Carter says. I start analysing Carter myself. He does look familiar.

"Did you go to Michigan state?" I ask. Carter clasps his hands.

"That's where I know you from!" Carter cheers. "You should've seen this guy back then, he was an animal!" I may have done a couple things (and by that I mean a lot of things) in college that I regret.

"Got everyone's drinks, let's start this guys night right!" Calvin smiles. Everyone starts gulping down their bottles, while I awkwardly sip my glass of beer. It tastes really strong, these guys must be heavy drinkers.

Everyone is yelling and laughing and yelling and... I laugh with them. I can barely feel my face right now, but it's probably nothing. We play a few rounds of... what's the game? Oh, pool, and the room's gotten a bit... blurry. What do they put in that beer?

"Hey guys... Imma need to... head out," I say.

"Come one! We've barely started," Greg moans.

"Sorry guys..." I slur as I stumble to the door. A l-lady grabs my arm. She's small... but has a really strong grip.

"Can I... help you?" I ask.

"Did you like your drink?" she... What's the word? Ba... bats! She... bats her eyes at me.

"You... put something... in my drink?" I ask. She holds my face... like my mom used to... or my aunt... or my grandma. She's lean-leaning in. Are we gonna...

"What the hell are you doing with my girl!?" some guy shouts. Damn... he's big... and strong... and scary.

"Who?" I ask.

"The one you were about to kiss!" he yells. The guys... Calvin's guys come over.

"Hey, what's going on over here?" Carter asks.

"I did... nothin. Your girl... wanted a kiss..." I slur.

"I have no idea what he's talking about! He grabbed me I swear!" the girl cries. My ears.

"Too... loud. Listen... she's lying... she was holding me like my momma used to... or aunt... or gra-" Bam! I'm on the floor now. Taste... blood. Side... pain.

"What the hell man!" someone yells. I turn over. They're jumping... him. I crawl over... to the door. Gotta get up. Nobody... crawls on the... side-sidewalk.

I stand up, and open the door. Too noisy... too loud. I'm walking to... the road. Stop... you'll get hit.

"Taxi!" I croak out. Car lights... too bright. I call out again. Tax... taxi, parks in front of me. I go in.

"Where to?" he asks. I'm saying an... add-add-address. Who's? I... don't know. My eyes are... heavy. I fall asleep.

"Hey! We're here!" he says. My head... where am I? I look up... what a gate. I stumble out of the cab.

"You still gotta pay me!" He yells. I look in my pocket. Coins... cash?...

"How much...?" I ask.

"$28," he answers. So... cash? I take out some... cash from my wallet. I can't see the numbers, it's... too blurry.

"Is... this enough?" I slur. He takes the money and... chuckles.

"Oh, it's enough alright," he answers. Weird... he drives away. I look at the... stone?... stone gate. A box... no, a sc-scanner! A scanner... I go to it. Looks... like an eyeball... robot eyeball. It scans my eye... weird.

A rumbling sound thunders... too loud. The gate's opening. I walk through. Big house... really big. Mine?... I don't know. I get to the door. I... knock.

A woman comes out. Looks old... but has kind eyes.

"Howard, are you alright?" she asks.

"I don't know..." I groan. She takes my hand... like my mom would... or my aunt... or my grandma. She leads me through the house. So many doors...

She knocks... on one of them. Silence...

"Come in," someone says. She... opens the... door.

Wow! Jo-Jo-Joanna... She looks... wow.

"Howard, what are you doing here?" she asks.

"I... don't know," I answer.

"I think he's drunk," the lady answers.

"Howard, what happened," Jo... anna says.

"A woman... put something in... my drink," I slur. She looks surprised. I stumble over to her and fall on the bed.

"Howard!" she yells.

"Sorry... really tired," I groan. I turn my head... to look at her. I smile.

"You're so pretty," I say.

"Howard, how did you get here?" she asks.

"Taxi... told them your... add-address," I answer.

"Why?" she says.

"I guess... I thought of... you," I yawn. Her face softens. The... lady left. Now... I'm alone with... my girlfriend.

"You need to get some sleep, I'll call a maid to prepare one of the guest bedrooms," Joan... na explains. I sit up... and plop next to her. Plop... funny word.

"I wanna... spend time with you," I slur.

"I'd say we spend a considerable amount of time together," she replies.

"You're so... smart with your... big words," I say.

"Howard, you're going to sleep now," she in-instru... instructs! She gets up. I grab her arm.

"Don't... leave," I whine.