CRAZY LIFE

Chapter 65

**  Here's wishing my sweet friend, ConnieGodfrey22 a very HAPPY 18th BIRTHDAY!! LOVE YA, GIRL!!

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The sun was beginning to set sending an array of colors across the Louisianna sky. The Cajun band had cranked up and people were dancing in the street.

The gang gathers on the front steps of Hattie's Cafe just to listen to the music, chat and relax.

"I've never been to one of these Cajun shindigs before. It's pretty awesome." Chance says. "The food is excellent, the music is......interesting."

"They have one of these every month. And I think more people shows up every month." Austin says. "I mean, Tim and I grew up here so we know everyone. But there're people here I've never seen before."

"Maybe people like me who came for the gumbo." Chance laughs.

"Well, hello dare, good docta." Joe Ben says with a chuckle as he sits a box on the porch. (hello there, good doctor)

"Oh, I know you. You came to the hospital." Chance smiles as he shakes the old man's hand. He suddenly snaps his fingers and pointed to Mark. "That's where I've seen you before. At the hospital and the lady, Hattie. I knew y'all looked familiar for some reason."

"Yep, we had to come see how our boy was doing. Makin' shore y'all be treatin' him good." Joe laughs rubbing Tim on the shoulder.

"So what's in the box, Joe." Jenika asks as she tries to peek in it.

"Dat, ma dear, Princess. Is a gift from ole Joe Ben to my favorite people." Joe Ben smiles a toothless smile. (that, my dear)

"Please tell me it's what I think it is?" Austin asks as he opens the box. "Alright!! I truly love you, Joe Ben."

Austin laughs as he pulls a jar of shine from the box.

"What is it?" Tim asks Adam in a whisper.

"Moonshine." Adam answers as he takes a jar being handed to him by Austin. "You want some?"

Tim shakes his head as he rubs his chin.

"You're not going to drink anything, Bro?" Austin asks.

"Naw, I don't need anything that might trigger one of these headaches." Tim says shaking his head.

"Well, that will definitely do it." Mark says.

Adam looks down at the jar of shine in his hands with a guilty look.

"It's alright, Baby." Tim says softly to his lover. "You can drink."

"You don't mind?" Adam asks.

"Of course I don't mind." Tim smiles. "But I would prefer you not getting to the passing out stage, please."

"I won't, I promise." Adam smiles as he kisses Tim on the cheek.

"We also need some designated drivers." Tim chuckles. "I mean. I could try but we might end up in the Bayou."

"I don't plan on drinking anything, Tim." Olena answers.

"Or me." Chris also speaks up.

"I drink so much of the sh*t it doesn't even affect me anymore." Mark laughs. "So if you need me, I'll be here."

"Wow, this is real homemade moonshine?" Chance asks as he takes a sniff of one of the opened jars.

"Yep, my Pa made it." Mark says.

"It smells like apple pie." Chance says as he sniffs again.

"It has apple juice and cinnamon in it." Mark answers.

"Be careful, Doc." Tim chuckles. "It may smell and taste like an apple pie but it has a kick like a mule."

"Well, we have a vacant upstairs bedroom now if you get too drunk to drive home." Adam laughs.

"And who's gonna get him up the ladder? Olena?" Tim laughs. "I can't see that happening. But we do have a couch that you can crash on." 

"I may just take you up on it." Chance laughs as he takes a swallow of the moonshine.

As the alcohol began to take over, the group started getting rowdy and loud. Tim being completely sober, just smiled at the others silliness.

He has starting to get a massive headache because of the loud music but he didn't want to spoil Adam's fun.

Jenika begins to pull on Adam wanting him to come dance with her.

"Do you care if I go dance?" Adam asks with a slight slur.

"Just stay with the group, alright?" Tim asks as Adam leans down and gives him a quick kiss before Jenika drags him away.

One by one they joined the dance party, leaving Tim and Mark sitting on the steps.

Mark eyes Tim carefully.

"Are you alright?" He asks over the noise.

"Not really. My head feels like it's splitting in two." Tim says as he leans over resting his head in the palms of his hands.

"Why don't you let me help you over to the truck where it won't be so loud." Mark suggests.

Tim nods, he definitely didn't want to start crying from the pain for everyone to see.

Mark helps him up and leads him over to his (Tim's) truck.

Tim sits down in the passenger seat and leans his head back, closing his eyes.

Mark closes the door to drown out any noise. He then leans against the truck, protectively, with his arms crossed over his chest. Waiting for someone in the group to look their way.

Tim reaches up placing his hands on his head and groans as the first tear rolls down his cheek. The pain was almost unbearable. But he didn't want to spoil everyone's fun.

Mark finally sees his dad walking through the crowd. Joe Ben glances around in the direction of the parking lot, his eyes meeting the eyes of his son's. Mark points toward the group that was dancing. Joe Ben nods and heads in that direction.

Joe Ben comes to Chris first and says something to him as he points in the direction of the truck.

Chris looks up to see Mark and Mark points at Adam. Adam looks around after having something whispered to him by his brother.

Mark motions for him to come there. He quickly glances around to the steps to see that Tim was no longer there.

"Oh, No." He whispers to himself as he begins to stagger slightly toward the parking lot.

"Hey, Adam? Where're you going?" Jenika giggles drunkenly.

"Tim's gone." Adam says.

"He probably just went to take a leak." Austin says draping his arm around the shoulder of a very drunk Chance.

"Not without telling me or not without Mark to help him through the crowd." Adam says as he heads over to where Mark was standing.

Mark never says a word but as Adam gets closer the big man opens the truck door revealing Tim, now lying down in the seat with his arms around his head crying silently.

The sight of his lover suffering in pain all alone was enough for him to quickly sober up.

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