Looking Beyond

Chapter 30: You Make Me Sick

     Jacob stood by his door, waiting to open it. He wanted to make sure he didn't run into Brea. Hearing nothing but quiet, he made his way to the kitchen for something to eat. He had kept himself locked in his room in an effort to think through everything he felt. The past few days had been torture not seeing Brea at all. He had heard her yell at Erik, but nothing besides that. He reached the bottom of the stairs, stopping to listen to Dan having a heated discussion on his phone. Scarlett was sitting beside him, trying to calm him down.

     "Why don't you two admit it?" Dan argued into his phone.

     "We're in Florida! How the hell could it be us?" Erik's voice rang out from the device.

     "Yeah Dan. Besides, we take care of our shit." Savannah's voice chimed. "Have you asked Scarlett? She stays over too! Maybe that pregnancy test is hers!"

     Scarlett shook her head quickly. "Not mine!"

     "Well, whose can it be?"

     "Maybe one of Trevor's friends?" Scarlett suggested.

     "No way. His motto has always been 'I bag it before I tag it.' I think he owns stock." Erik commented.

     "Then who would leave a positive pregnancy test out?" Dan was growing frustrated.

     Jacob stumbled backwards. "Brea." He whispered. The thought of food forgotten, he raced back to his room and grabbed his guitar. He knew how he felt. How he's always felt.

* * *

     Trevor helped Brea up the porch steps. "You okay there?"

     "I'm fine Trevor. I know what I want."

     Trevor shook his head. He had never seen Brea drunk, let alone this drunk. "How much did you say you had?"

     "I had a beer and two shots." Her face scrunched up. "And a couple of those jello thingys. I was hungry." She giggled.

     Trevor put his arm under hers to steady her. "You're going to have so much fun tomorrow."

     "I wanna have fun tonight!"

     "You've had too much fun tonight. Let's go. Up to bed." He helped her up the steps.

     "Yes sir!" She giggled.

     Trevor walked her to her bed. "Okay, I'm gonna put you on your bed so you don't choke if you throw up."

     Brea acted offended. "I am NOT going to throw up." She pulled Trevor by his shirt. "I'll tell you what I will do though..." She kissed him.

     Jacob held his guitar, taking a deep breath before he opened his door. He had seen Brea's car pull up in front of the house, and he desperately needed to talk to her. He stepped out of his room and turned the corner into Brea's room. His hand fell off the guitar's neck as he watched Brea kiss Trevor.

     Brea shoved Trevor back in a brief moment of sober thought. "You're not Jacob!" She then proceeded to projectile vomit all over a bewildered Trevor. She covered her mouth, trying to contain the rest of it and stumbled quickly to the bathroom.

     "Brea!" Trevor went to follow her but was stopped by Jacob. "Jake! I didn't...she...she's pretty drunk. I was trying to get her to sleep it off."

     Jacob stared at him. "I've got this." He took his guitar off his shoulder and placed it beside Brea's dresser.

     "Jake, I swear, I wasn't trying to do anything! I was trying to make sure she wasn't going to choke..."

     Jacob held up his hand. "You don't have to explain it. I've got her." He made his way to the bathroom and Brea.

     Trevor looked down at his vomit covered shirt. "I told her she was gonna puke. Ugh." He took his shirt off and went to the downstairs bathroom to rinse it off.

* * *

      Brea groaned into the toilet. "How does Savannah do this?"

     Jacob rubbed circles on her back. "She's Savannah, that's why. She's also bigger than you."

     Brea jerked her head up, swiping at the vomit on her lips. "Jacob?" Her eyes began to tear.

     "I'm here. How are you feeling?"

     "Like shit."

     "Good." He stilled his hand on her back.

     "Why the fuck would you say that?" Brea swatted his arm away from her angrily. "Oh God..." She stuck her head back into the bowl to vomit.

     Jacob again rubbed her back as she emptied her insides. When she appeared to have stopped, he explained himself. "You shouldn't be drinking."

     "That's funny, coming from you. It's been a rough few days." She tried to focus her eyes enough to glare at him.

     "Were you going to tell me?"

     The anger left Brea's face, replaced with huge tears. "You know? It wasn't some bad dream?" She rested her head on the seat and sobbed loudly.

     Jacob took her into his arms. "Shh..." He closed his eyes and kissed the top of her head.

* * *

     After spending a considerable amount of time in the bathroom, Jacob managed to get Brea back to her twin sized bed. He squeezed himself between Brea and the wall. He gently placed his hand on her hip and slid it towards her abdomen. They were long overdue for a talk.