"Matt, wake up."
I nudge his head with my shoe.
"Come on," I say, then squat down and slap his face a few times. He groans and sits up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. He looks around at all half-naked people and the empty beer bottles littering the floor. Then he looks back at me.
"Dude, what happened?"
"You passed out." I stand up. "Again."
I hold out a hand and help him up. He yawns and asks, "What time is it?"
I take out my phone. "6:30."
"Shit." Matt raises his arms over his head and stretches. "I have football practice before school today."
I tuck my phone back in my pocket and make my way to the door. Matt follows me but stumbles half way. "I feel like puking everywhere," he says. I swing his arm over my shoulder and sigh.
"You shouldn't drink so much."
Matt laughs as we approach the front door. I open it and nearly drag him down the driveway. He slumps against my car as I go to the driver side.
"Get in," I say, "I have asprin."
Matt shakes his head and mumbles something. I stand there, unsure of what to do.
Matt says something, but I don't catch it. "What?" I ask.
"I said, help me into the damn car."
I walk over and open the door. Matt looks at me then slumps into the passenger seat. I start walking back when he shoots me another look.
I stop. "What now?"
"Close the fucking door."
I shut it then get into the driver seat, starting the car. I turn on the radio and roll down my window. Matt punches my shoulder.
I look at him. "Yes?"
He sighs, annoyed. "Jesus, Tom, do you ever think? Give me the asprin. I'm dying here."
"Oh." I find the bottle and hand it to him.
"Dude, I need water."
I ignore him and start driving.
_____________________________________
By the time we get there, Matt is screaming along with the radio and shoving potato chips down his throat. I pull into the school and park as he throws the empty chip bag into the backseat.
"Thanks man," he says as we get out of the car. I wave and he starts jogging to the locker room.
I put on a hoodie before locking the car, zipping it up and pulling on the hood. I shove my hands in my pockets before heading toward the building.
I enter through the side door and walk towards the auditorium. The janitor opens it up about a half-hour before school starts so the theater kids can come in, but no one ever does. Only me.
I pass a few kids having a smoke. I wave at them; they wave back. Apparently, I'm a friendly person. Or maybe that's just Matt.
Matt's my best friend, or whatever you wanna call it. I've always stuck by his side, and he's always stuck to mine. I'm not sure why though; whenever he talks to me I kind of space out and/or ignore him completely. He doesn't seem to care. I think he likes that he can talk to me about things that other guys would think were "gay" - music and theater. He's been playing flute and watching plays ever since he was kid. You'd never know that, seeing as he was all brawl and absolutely no brain.
