Falling Apart

Chapter 13

Katherine's POV

We pull up to a loud bar after driving for almost half an hour. I keep trying to remind myself that this is all to find out more about David. If he could just be truthful with me for once, I wouldn't have to go to such extreme measures. I know it's a school night and it's late, but everything will be fine.

"Let me carry your purse, babe." he grins and before I can protest he takes my bag and brings it under his leather jacket in his hands.

When we walk into the pub, a loud round of applause breaks out as the drunken faces notice Ian. He flashes a smile back at them and leads me to a stool in the back. I get the feeling he's been here before. He orders two shots and I awkwardly swing my feet under the high seat. "I don't really drink." I tell him.

"Oh come on. It's just a drink. You've never had a shot before, have you?"

"No, no alcohol at all actually." I admit and look down.

"Why not?" he spins in his chair to face me.

"I don't know. I guess I was just always concerned with my grades, I've never had time for drinking or for parties."

"Until tonight." Ian pushes the small glass towards me, "It'll loosen you up and maybe I'll even answer some questions."

"So you do know something about why David acts so overprotective?" I can't help the smile that grows on my face. If this is the way I'll get the information I need, I'll do it. It's just one drink.

He nods and looks down at the drink beside my elbow. I bring it closer to my face, stare at the clear liquid below me, taking in the smell. The glass reaches my lips and I gulp it down until its empty. My throat burns for a minute but I feel a swirling sensation inside of me. The feeling us unfamiliar to me but I find myself wanting to feel more. "Wow. This is really good!"

Ian laughs and he orders the bartender to bring another round. I wait impatiently for the drink to come, and when it finally does I down it immediately. I've only been in college for about two weeks but I feel like a new woman. "So tell me what you know." I raise an eyebrow.

"Tell me what you want to know." he grins and shoots his head back, taking in every last drop of his drink.

"Have you ever met David before knowing me?"

"Yeah I knew him. We were," he waits a second and continue, "lets just say we were friends once."

I don't know if it's the alcohol or what he just said, but I find myself bending over laughing in the high stool. I almost fall over, but Ian catches me, bringing me back to reality. "What's so funny about that?" he smiles after ordering more drinks.

"I just can't picture the two of you ever getting along." I continue laughing and reach for the next drink. After swallowing, I begin to wonder if the bartender knows I'm under age. I grunt to clear my stinging throat and to my surprise, Ian asks the next question.

"Why is he so overprotective of you?"

"He just cares about my safety. I don't know why though, since we only met two weeks ago. He doesn't trust you after what happened at the party."

"Why are you both so hung up on that still? Nothing even happened." he growls.

The slight buzz goes away as I recognize the familiar anger in his eyes and my heart begins beating faster. "I have to go to the bathroom." I lie and grab my purse from the back of his stool before leaving the back of the bar to try to find the restrooms. After wandering around for a few moments, I enter the small stall and dig through my handbag to look for my phone. Seconds pass by and my frustration grows, as I can't find it. My head starts to pound and I feel as if the walls beside me are coming closer.

There's a knock on the stall and I'm reminded that there's only one stall in this small bathroom. I pull my hair back and step out, letting the dark woman take my place. As I wash my hands, I get the feeling that I've seen her before, but I remember that the alcohol I just consumed could be playing tricks on me. I walk back to the bar and sit down next to Ian. "Miss me?" I find myself asking. I might've had too much to drink.

"Yeah, I ordered us another round. Drink up." he demands and slides the small glass towards me. This drink looks and smells different from the other two, or three, that I had before. I don't know the different types of alcohol but I bring it to my lips anyway while Ian smirks at me. "What kind is this?" I ask as I feel it make a path to my stomach.

"Scotch. Do you like it?" his voice sounds raspier.

"I don't know. Can we go now? I'm getting tired and I have to get up early tomorrow." I tell him. Truthfully I just don't want to be here anymore.

"Sure." Ian stands from the stool and downs his last drink. He grabs his jacket and my purse and we walk back out to his van. With every step I take, my head pounds further and I feel as if the ground is moving.

"Woah, you okay?" Ian catches me as I nearly fall onto the street. I didn't even realize I was falling.

"Uhm, I..." my mouth stops moving and I finish the rest of my sentence in my head. How much did I drink? I never should've come here. I only got one question out of Ian and now I can barely stand. The next time my eyes open I'm staring up at the dark starry sky and Ian's jaw. Is he carrying me?

I attempt to say something to him but it comes out as a moan. His body moves forward as he opens the door to his car. Instead of lightly placing me down in the passenger side, I'm thrown into the back of the car. Another moan escapes my mouth and my head feels as if it'll explode any moment. I try lifting my head up but it falls back down as Ian slams the door shut. I watch in confusion as he starts the car and begins driving.

Ian starts talking and I try to make out what he's saying until I hear a woman's voice. Everything sounds blurry and I feel as if my body is betraying me. We hit a few bumps in the road and my stomach lurches, making my body reject some of the alcohol from before. "Fuck!" I hear someone yell. The same voice mumbles something to the other, and a few seconds later I feel a hand grab my arm. My eyes fight to stay open as the shadow in front of me comes into clear view. The same woman that Ian was with when he confronted me at the restaurant few days ago, the woman who I ran into in the bathroom at the bar, kneels beside me.

I feel something inside me panic as the car stops. Through the side window I notice trees surrounding a small dark house. The woman rolls up my sleeve and my eyes flutter shut. "Don't worry. You won't feel anything after this." I think she says as a needle is pushed into my vein. Moments later, I hear a car door open and everything goes black.