As Bottles Call My Name

Chapter 4

(Brian's POV)

Johnny looked right into me. "Dude," he said. "I don't think we should wait to put it online.... What if the winner is Jimmy's biggest fan or something? We can't let them down like that..."

"I know, I know." I interrupted him.

"Just, I don't know, we'll figure it out. But right now, I'm really fucking exhausted. So can you give me and my girlfriend some privacy?" I said with my puppy dog face, still trying overly hard but failing miserably at pretending to be sober. Johnny didn't seem to notice.

He put his hand on my shoulder.

"I'm proud of you, man." He said.

I wrinkled my brow. "Why?"

He shrugged.

"If I lost my best friend, I would be way worse than you, Bri. Well, I don't know about smashing bottles or going COMPLETELY INSANE on everyone around me," He laughed. "But you're trying to improve for your buddies. I admire that, bro."

I felt bad for not telling him that I wasn't actually improving...

I decided to milk the situation.

"Aww, are you gonna be just like me when you grow up, Little Johnny Shortshit?" I mocked.

He rolled his eyes and flipped me off on his way out my door. He turned around to look at me. "By the way, dude, I'm still really fucking pissed off at your whole deal, but, I also have the most sympathy." He winked and then left.

I smiled and looked down at Michelle.

She looked beautiful.

I'm glad she understands, and she's a hell of a lot more help than the guys.

She gazed up at me with her big, piercing eyes and whispered, "That was close."

I nodded and yawned, stood up and said, "Hey, Chelle, I'll be right back, I'm gonna go get a drink. Want one?"

She nodded and said without looking at me, I'll have what you're having."

I went into the kitchen and opened the fridge. Ha, my whole fucking refrigerator was stocked with alcohol. I scanned all the choices and contemplated in my mind: Jack Daniels, Burnetts, Smirnoff, or Captain Morgan? Hmmm... Or, should I just grab a can of pop and save myself and my friendships?

I thought about this and realized that I was craving alcohol a lot more often than I used to. I was becoming an alcoholic.

I cringed at the thought.

I decided on a LITTLE bit of alcohol mixed with 7up. It wasn't as good as like a plain JD shot....

I poured Michelle a glass of 7up with no alcohol so she would think there was none in mine either. I felt bad but that's what I needed to do.

It was nighttime, and because of my alcohol intake I was starting to hallucinate.

"Place and time, always on my mind." I thought out loud. WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON WITH ALL THIS WEIRD TALK LATELY?!

Good lyrics though...

"You have so much to say." I heard a familiar voice say.

I spun around and jumped. "W-who the f-fuck is there?!" I whisper-shouted frantically.

 "Bri?" Michelle called from the living room. "Everything ok?"

I noticed I was breathing loudly. "I'm fine, I'll be right there," I croaked out. She sighed. "Okay, well, hurry up! I'm putting in Paranormal Activity."