Louis's POV
My entire body was throbbing and vibrating, as if the music was going straight through me. My head was spinning and my breathing was coming in short pants. I knew it was just the pills kicking in, but it was probably still a good idea to sit down. I grabbed a random drink off a table, not caring whose it was, and plonked myself down in a corner, resting my head on my knees. I'd seen Amy disappear with Ashton, who looked as high as ever. I haven't said anything to Ams, but I really don't like that guy, he seems like a waste of space. I know Amy is only with him because it's convenient for both of them, but I can't help thinking she could do so much better. I suppose that's just her best friend thinking, though. Sometimes, I worry for Amy. She's so fragile and the slightest thing can push her over the edge. She's had stages of almost overdosing on drugs, barely eating or getting drunk all the time. It's not her fault, just her way of dealing with things. Fuck, if I went through half the shit she's had to go through, I'd be a mess.
Where was everyone? Niall had gone upstairs with some girl, no surprise there, but I hadn't really seen Amanda or Zayn since we'd arrived. I hoped Amanda wasn't off with that guy Callum again, he keeps fucking with her and she just doesn't get it. I've tried telling her, but she won't listen. Jeez, I worry too much. A flash of movement caught my eye on the other side of the room. Amy, coming inside from the garden. She spotted me in my corner and made her way over, walking quickly and pushing her way through people. She seemed agitated, stressed out. "Lou? What you doing down there?" I shrugged and looked up at her. "Dunno. Thought you were with Ashton?" Amy bit her lip. "Ashton is a prick." She declared, sitting down beside me. I studied her face. She was definitely hiding something, I knew her too well. "Amy, what happened?" She sighed and rested her head on my shoulder. "He's been doing coke, apparently. He was acting like a prick, so I told him to fuck off. He said he could do better than, and I quote, 'a fucked up little blonde whore'." Now that made me angry. Amy was worth ten times more than Ashton, she didn't deserve to be spoken to like that. "Do you want me to say something? 'Cause you know I will." Amy shook her head. "No, Lou. It's okay. It was the drugs talking." She smiled at me and grabbed my cap, putting it on her own head. She looked unbelievably cute like that. "Love you, BooBear. Dunno what I'd do without you." I grinned at her. "Love you too, but you're pissed. You've gone all soppy!" When Amy was drunk or high, she's much cuddlier than she usually is, especially with Amanda and me. I jumped up and pulled her to her feet, letting her keep the snapback on. "C'mon. Minesweep?" Amy grinned at me. "Minesweep."
Minesweep was a game we'd made up a while ago, when we'd gotten invited into this really posh club. The drinks were fucking ridiculous money, so we'd started drinking random drinks that had just been left around, without anyone noticing. It made pretty much all the parties we've ever been to a hell of a lot more fun. Amy got the first drink, casually picking it up off the side and walking away. This went on for a while, and ended with both of us pissed as hell and in hysterics. "I win!" said Amy happily, leaning against the wall. I rolled my eyes, but couldn't keep the grin off my face. I'd been caught by someone, twice in fact, and that meant I lost. Everything seemed so much funnier now we were drunk, and the fact that I'd gotten caught was just hilarious. Both times, we'd basically run away and made up some pathetic excuse, along the lines of 'Oh, sorry, thought I'd left my drink there.'
At that moment, Niall stumbled over. "You guys, finally. I've found Harry, he's fucked. He's like, passed out in the bathroom." Niall glanced at Amy and me. "Not that you two are much better. C'mon, we'd better get him home." Oh, fuck. I started following Niall along the hallway; he'd need help trying to sort Harry out. "Ams, see if you can find Zayn and Amanda!" I yelled over my shoulder. In the bathroom, Niall had been right about Harry's state. He was laid out on the floor, passed out. Niall crouched down on the floor beside him and nudged his shoulder. "Harry.Harry! Wake the fuck up! We're going." Harry twitched and moaned something that sounded similar to "Fuck off!" Causing Niall to push his shoulder harder, shaking him, until he eventually opened his eyes. "Finally. C'mon, Harry. Let's go." Niall and I held Harry up between us by putting his arms round our shoulders. "Try and walk, mate." Niall panted, as we made excruciatingly slow progress down the hall. Let's just say Harry wasn't the lightest, and being drunk ourselves was not helping. Amy and the others were waiting outside, with their arms round each other. I shivered and pulled the sleeves of my hoody down over my hands. Fuck this cold weather.
We made it about half way home before Harry began throwing up. Zayn held him up whilst he puked his guts up in a bush in the park, trying not to look, squeamish as he was. Harry seemed to be better after that, and we managed to make it home without any further incidents. Amanda had taken off her ridiculous heels and was walking barefoot, and Amy looked like she was about to fall asleep where she stood. Harry was staying at Niall's, so we said bye to them and continued down our road. I live at the end of the street, and the girls literally live a street away from me, so I walked them to Amanda's place.
*****
I woke up the next morning with a pounding in my head and the taste of alcohol in my mouth. I groaned and checked the time on my phone: 12:30. I texted Amy, asking if they were awake. We'd agreed to meet up to figure out some assignment shit we had to do for Music, a pastiche or cover or something. Not that I was really in the mood to be doing work now, but whatever. I vaulted off the top of my bunk bed just like I always did, and mooched down the hall and into the bathroom. My phone buzzed with a reply from Amy. 'Yeah, see you in 10.' I washed my hands and went downstairs. I couldn't be bothered with showering now; I just wanted food and something for my head.
I was sitting on the kitchen counter eating a massive pile of toast and jam, watching TV, when Amy knocked quietly on the door. "Iz open." I mumbled, mouth full. I heard the door open, and Amy appeared in the kitchen. She was wearing leggings and a faded old hoodie, which could've been mine at some point. Her face was pale and she had black rings around her eyes. "Please tell me you have painkillers?" I nodded and chucked her the pack of Ibuprofen. "Where's Amanda and Shelbey?" She swallowed a tablet and hopped up on the counter beside me, grabbing a piece of toast. "They wanted to stay in bed. still recovering. Where is everyone?" "Mumfth oufth andth..." Amy raised an eyebrow. "Louis, I can't understand a word you're saying. Didn't Joe tell you not to speak with your mouth full?" I swallowed. "Mum's gone to Nan's and dunno where Dad is... sisters have fucked off into town, I think." Amy nodded, then scrunched up her nose, as if there was a bad smell. "Lou, you stink! Have you even had a shower?!" I raised an eyebrow at her. "Does it look like I've had a shower?" Of course it didn't. My hair was sticking up in a million different ways and I was wearing my old PJ bottoms with trains on them, with no top. Amy shook her head and shoved me off the counter. "Go shower, you skank."
The rest of the morning was spent eating my sister's supply of pop tarts, playing guitar and singing. We managed to sort out our assignment though, with me playing keyboard and Amy her guitar, to the song Skinny Love by Bon Iver.
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