MY NEW NEIGHBOR

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FOUR

I woke up to 'The Fallout' playing by Crown the Empire. 

I groaned and lazily pushed myself towards the other side of the queen bed where my phone happened to be. 

I looked at the screen and didn't recognize the number flashing on it, but I decided to answer it anyway.  "Hello?" I said into the microphone, my morning voice evident.  "Hey," I heard from the other line. 

Umm who is this?  I didn't know who was calling and I don't think they realized that, so I decided to play along. 

"Hey, what's up?" I replied.  "Meet me outside at 8," said the voice.  "Umm, okay, yeah," I said, confused.  They hung up without so much as a goodbye or name.  I looked out the window to check if I could see anyone, but my yard was empty.

I decided to take a shower since it was only 7:05.  After I was finished, I got dressed. 

I wasn't feeling the greatest today and I dressed like it.  I pulled on black, skinny sweatpants; a blue tee; a black pullover hoodie; and black converse.  I hadn't meant to dress in almost all black, but those just happened to be some of my most comfortable clothes. 

I put my hair into a messy bun and walked downstairs to get some breakfast.  I poured cereal and a glass of orange juice, which tasted a little funny. 

When I finished stuffing my face, I walked Carly then got my backpack.  It was still a little before 8, but I decided to go ahead and wait outside. 

I pulled out my phone and plugged in my earphones to hear 'I Knew You Were Trouble', a cover by "We Came As Romans".  This song was just what I needed to help wake me up, which was ironic, because I suddenly had this strong sense of tiredness overwhelm me.  I sat on the porch steps to wait for the person to come meet me.

The next thing I knew, I felt myself being carried, but I didn't know by who or where we were going.  I couldn't open my eyes, they felt so heavy.  My head was really hot and my stomach was churning.  I felt like I was going to throw up. 

I tried to speak but nothing came out and I started to get scared.  I made some kind of muffled noise and I guess the person carrying me heard it because they spoke to me.  "Sam?  Are you okay?  Can you talk?  Damn, you don't look so good.  We're going to your room.  I found you on the steps and couldn't get you to wake up," said the voice.  Who is this person?  I felt as if I've been drugged. 

I could feel myself being lowered, almost as if I was falling.  My back came into contact with a softer surface and I was finally able to open my eyes. 

They flickered open slowly to find a worried look on Alex's face.  "What's going on?" I ask, finally able to speak.  "I found you on your porch and you wouldn't wake up.  I tried shaking you but you still didn't wake up.  I was close enough to smell alcohol on your breath and I figured you were drunk," he informed me. 

Panic overwhelmed me.  "But-but- I didn't drink anything!" I sputtered.  "I don't drink!  I swear!"  "Well did you drink anything this morning, like with breakfast or...?" he questions. 

I think about it.  Orange Juice!  Wait, that's not alcohol.  "Well, I had Orange Juice, but-"  I was cut off by Alex running out of my room and down the stairs.

When Alex returns, he has the Orange Juice in his hands.  "Do you mean this orange juice, hon?"  I nod.  "No no no no no no.  How much did you drink?" he asks with wide eyes. 

"A full glass, why?" I ask, confused.  "Babe, my mom gave this to your mom as a gift.  It's O.J. with alcohol.  Adults seem to like this stuff.  I can't believe no one told you.  Oh my god, I'm so sorry.  How do you feel?  You can't go back to sleep.  You'll go numb from that much.  It's some strong alcohol," he says really fast.