Flowers || [T.K.]

Chapter 37

Brandon's POV

It must have been four in the morning when the shenanigans of the party woke me up. I panicked when I realized Abby wasn't next to me.

Quickly, I hopped out of the bed and looked around the top floor for her. She was no where to be found. So with a deep breath, I made my way downstairs.

The first floor was covered by a blanket of smoke from cigarettes and other drugs. Everyone I saw was drunk and it scared me, if I'm honest.

I went into the living room, which was the room filled with the most people, and finally found Abby who was sitting on the couch with Bradly...

...drinking a beer.

I genuinely thought I was dreaming and tried to wake up. As I was trying to coax myself away, I spotted a football player holding Dave upside down as he drunk from a large canister with a tube.

I was so confused that I actually thought maybe the smoke was getting to me.

Still baffles by Dave's actions, I made my way to Abby. "A-Abby," I managed to choke out as I stood in front of her.

Her expression sank, "oh God, Brandon, what are you doing up?"

"I-It got really loud -- I-I dunno. What are you doing? Why are you drinking? Your breath smells like beer, angel," I sputtered, then I noticed that I was trembling and I wasn't exactly sure why.

"Oh, my lil' flower, it's just a beer with my brother, no problem," she assured softly.

"Are you gonna get drunk like the other people here?"

"Of course not -- here, c'mon, sit--"

"--on your lap?"

"Sure."

So I sat and she kind of cradled my head and ran her fingers through my hair, automatically calming me down.

"Jesus fuck, what's his problem?" Bradly hiccuped.

"Don't talk, you're drunk, high and dumb!" Abby barked at him.

Suddenly the creepiest grin stretched across his lips. "You know, I wish me and Andrew were like you guys -- happy, cuddly...free."

Abby frowned, "Bradly..."

"I know, I know, I'm fucking dumb," he laughed (and it was the most terrifying laugh I've ever witnessed). "You know what, Brandon? Since you're here...you should have a beer--" he giggled "that rhymed."

"Bradly, don't be like this," Abby groaned.

"No, no," Bradly insisted, picking up a can of beer and handing it to me.

"Brandon, you know you don't have to," Abby sighed as I looked at the can in my hand.

Slowly, I opened it. It was no different than opening a can of soda, but I was still shaking.

"Brandon..."

--And then it was bottoms up.

It was like a soda made of bitterness and gross. Yet -- I kind of liked it.

"Oh great, look what you've done, you've ruined a completely good flower," Abby scoffed.

"How's that beer, Brandon, hm? Do you like it?" Bradly grinned at me.

I hesitantly nodded.

"Oh great," Abby huffed. "That's the last beer for you, okay? I don't want to know what drunk Brandon is like."

"Oh yeah, the nice kids are always the violent drunks," Bradly sighed, staring off blankly.

"What's wrong with him?" I whispered gently to Abby.
She just looked up at me and shook her head.

I went on to finish the beer as quick as I could because Bradly was starting to scare me.

"Can we go back to the room now?" I asked.

Abby sighed then nodded. She looked at Bradly, "don't do any stupid shit, okay?"

"I'll try, no promises!" Bradly grinned, voice cracking.

Abby gently pushed me up then stood up and grabbed my hand and lead me upstairs. When she opened the door to the room we were initially staying in, it was--well -- occupied.

Two people were going at it like no other, kind of loud and sloppy. I squinted and was shocked to see it was Andrew with another boy.

Abby slammed the door. "Goddamnit," she growled under her breath. "God-fucking-damnit."

"A-are you gonna tell Bradly?" I muttered.

Abby shook her head, "he knows -- fuck, he knows! He saw them making out -- that's why he got so fucked up tonight."

I wasn't really able to say anything. All I could really do was feel the waves of anger that came over me. I wanted to storm into that room and beat the hell out of Andrew. All that fighting that he and Bradly did for each other, all of that just so they could end with Andrew fucking another dude --

Abby must have seen how angry I was growing because she grabbed my wrist and dragged me to another vacant room. I sat on the bed as she shut the door behind me.

"Are you okay, baby?" She said softly to me after sitting down next to me.

"Just pr-processing what I just witness," I huffed sharply.

She ran her fingers through my hair, "don't worry -- this isn't the first time it's happened."

I looked at her as if she was batshit insane. "Are you fucking serious? This has happened before?!"

She nodded sadly. "It's just what happens when you hide your love for so long."

I frowned before laying my head on her shoulder. "That's so sad, angel."

She wrapped her arms around me and squeezed me tight. "They'll be okay, they're strong."

With that false hope in mind, we laid down and feel asleep again.