What Happened When We Met

Would You Like a Drink? II

It was that moment when I realized that combining vodka and whiskey wasn't a good idea. Its not like Brandon and Atticus weren't as drunk as us, but still I didn't want to make a mistake.
"So what do you do for a living?" Atticus asked me.
"I am a doctor" I laughed. Every time I got drunk I thought that it was ridiculous that a drunk like me could work in a hospital.
"Well, that's interesting," he chuckled, "I'm a graphic designer, and I also work in Brandon's barber shop" he punched him playfully.
"You own a barber shop?" Effie asked giggling. Yep, she was drunk too. The Effie we knew wasn't that giggly.
"Yes I do. Who do you think takes care of that beard?" Brandon said pointing at Atticus' beard and vowing a little.
"I must say that's a really nice beard" I laughed.
The conversation went on and on. Effie and I felt really comfortable around these guys, we felt like we knew them since forever. Effie kept challenging Brandon on drinking games. I was surprised to see her drink that much. That was the only time I had ever seen her like that. I mean we had gotten drunk together, a lot of times, but this time it was different. She wasn't trying to measure herself. And this time she was talking about the things she liked. I heard that Brandon was going to audition for one of her next projects. The only logical explanation to that behavior was that she was actually hurt too, our friends had left and we were still here, stuck on the same place with the same people. And Effie couldn't get her pain out in any other way. How did we get to this point? Where all we could do was get drunk to feel or not to feel.
My thoughts were interrupted by the ringing of my phone.
"You should probably answer that," Atticus pointed at my phone, "it's been ringing for a while."
I had not noticed that the phone had been ringing. I grabbed my phone and checked the caller ID. It was Jimmy. I felt the smile on my face disappear. Effie looked at me and nodded. She knew who it was.
"Guys why don't you come with me so I can introduce you to the rest of the group" Effie said grabbing the guys' hands and walking away.
"Hello?" I answered. He stayed silent.
"Are you there?" I asked ready to hang up.
"Yeah, I just don't know what to say" he said dryly.
"Then why did you call?" My tone came out a little more aggressive than planned.
"Seattle told me" he sighed.
"What did he tell you?" I asked annoyed and rolling my eyes.
"That you guys are in a bar, and you are really really drunk. I can hear it in your voice" he said worried.
"I'm fine. If you don't mind, I gotta go catch up with the guys" I tried to hang up, but something wouldn't let me.
"Seattle is out of the band" he said quickly.
"What?" I didn't feel drunk anymore.
"He said he doesn't want to risk it. He doesn't think he can take losing Alaska"
"Aww, that's cute" I turned around on the stool I was sitting at and saw Effie and the guys. Atticus waved at me telling me to go with them
"I gotta go" I hung up and walked towards my new friends.
"You're baaaack!" Brandon chants.
"We should all go home guys" Alice said looking at Emma who was dancing with some random guy.
"Yeah, that guy over there asked me to dance with him, I said no" Alaska rolled her eyes.
"Yeah, I agree man" Atticus patted Brandon's back.
"Hey what if we take you guys home?" Brandon asked, "you're not drunk Atticus you could drive!" he said excited.
"I'll drive Alice, Alaska, and Emma" Ronnie said. He didn't trust other guys around Alice.
We accepted the invitation and walked over to the guys' dark grey truck. Since Atticus was driving, he opened the front door for me to go in. Brandon and Effie got in the back.
"Do you like my truck?" Atticus asked me after he noticed me checking the truck out.
"You see, I have a thing for trucks" I giggled. Alaska's brother was a mechanic. He loved cars and he was always working on something in the garage. I spent too much time with Alaska and him, that I learned to love cars, trucks specially.
"That's hot" he said looking straight ahead. I chuckled. I hadn't heard anything from Effie and Brandon. Were there they kissing already? I turned around and saw Effie resting her head on Brandon's shoulder. They were both asleep.
On the way home, we talked a lot. He asked me more about my job and about trucks. We talked about birds and I even told him my obsession for Iron Man. The drive felt short, we were already parked outside of the house.
"Effie, wake up!" I tried to say it loud enough for her to wake up without getting scared.
"I don't want to work, let me sleep some more, I'm comfortable" she said still half asleep. Brandon smiled at her even though she couldn't see him.
"Effie you gotta go sleep in your bed" he said rubbing her arm.
"Oh shit!" She woke up startled, "I'm sorry. Thanks for the ride" she got off the truck really quick and ran inside the house.
"I didn't even get her number" he said a bit disappointed.
"Oh here, I have it" I told him smiling.
We all exchanged numbers. Brandon jumped to the front seat and closed his eyes again. Atticus walked me all the way to the door.
"It was really nice meeting you" I told him trying to break the silence.
"I really hope we can hang out some time, you are all really fun ladies" he smiled. We stayed there for like a minute without saying a word.
"Okay, time to go in young lady" Effie came out and dragged me inside the house.
"What the.... Are you my mom now?" I laughed.
"We said no more kissing guys when you're drunk" she nodded.
"I wasn't going to kiss him" I rolled my eyes.
"Yep, whatever you say" I was about to head to my room when my pager vibrated. Emergency Room 911. A big accident had happened and all doctors were needed at the hospital.
"I have to go!" I tell Effie running around the house trying to get my scrubs and everything.
Before I get out, I notice Effie sitting down with her face pale and her eyes wide open.
"What's going on?" I feared that she was about to relapse.
"They had an accident"