I Think I'm in Trouble {Reimagined}

CXXIII.

~ The Year Previous ~

August 21, 1994

Robert groaned as he opened his eyes from the dead sleep he had put himself into after smoking weed with Shannon that mid morning before she took off for work.

"Shit," he mumbled, standing up only to feel a little wobbly as he did so.

He then made his way to the kitchen, instantly pulling down a glass for some water considering he had cotton mouth.

Jeffrey and Nicholas trailed down the stairs.

"Oh, good, I was coming to wake you," Jeffrey mentioned as he watched his father chug some water like his life depended on it.

"Where you guys off to?" he wondered, never looking at the clock nor his watch.

"To see mom at the Greek..." he furrowed his brow. "You know it's going on three-thirty, right?" he wondered.

"Oh, shit. Really?" he grew nervous as he glanced at his watch. "Fuck, I gotta go get Shannon from work."

Nicholas was unimpressed that he hid his smirk and opted to wait in the car without a word.

"Nick and I were gonna grab something to eat on the way and head over to beat traffic," he explained. "You know how mom's shows get."

"Yeah, good thinking. I'm gonna go wash up real fast, change and be on my way to get your sister. She's not off till four so hopefully we'll get there only a little bit after you," he cleared his throat.

He nodded.

"If you do beat me there, reassure your mom we'll be there soon after you," he assured, patting the side of his arm before jogging up the stairs.

Jeffrey shook his head and sighed as he made his way to meet his little brother.

---

Pulling up at the bar that Shannon worked at, Robert left the car on and he jumped out in order to make sure his child knew he was there.

Often times she just hung out and or just worked longer if she was bored, but he knew they really needed to get on the road to The Greek Theatre in Los Angeles. It wasn't a far drive, but among others, they'd be caught up in the traffic jam Stevie Nicks' concerts always caused.

As soon as he entered, he was taken by the wave of spilt beer, cleaning products, the drunk people partying around the Dodger game playing and he was taken aback by the lack of bartenders when that never was.

Suddenly, Becky and Cassidy emerged in a frenzy.

"Hey, girls," he kind of yelled over the crowd as he approached the bar.

Knowing that sound of his voice, Becky looked up and her heart rate went up in an instant.

"Where's Shannon?"

"Um... She's in the back," she pointed, filling up a beer for a customer as she spoke, happy to avoid eye contact.

"I see you're busy, but can you grab her?" he asked, knowing he couldn't go to the stock room or back. "We have to go."

"Sure," she agreed hesitantly and after giving her orders to Cassidy, she ran to the back.

Entering the room, she saw both Scott and Amber exiting; both of them kind of smirking as they stumbled out.