The Neighbor

two

Two weeks, it's been two weeks since Matthew and I spoke, ever since then I found myself hoping that I would see him outside instead of his mom. But I've been unlucky, very unlucky, I-"where are my booze?" "Not telling you." I opened my door to see Andrew, for once, not drunk, and not smoking who knows what. "And why not?" He trudged behind me, sounding odd, not his usual self, but maybe that's because I've become used to him having all sorts of things in his system. "Because, Andrew." I sighed, reading the note dad left on the counter. I crumpled it up and threw it in the garbage, "called in early." I mimicked his voice horribly.

"Andrew!" I gripped his arm, forcing him to stop before he walked into the wall, "what's wrong?" I lifted my eyebrows as he leaned out to touch the wall, he looked surprised that it was there, his other hand went out to do the same thing, but missed by a decent amount. "You can't see that?" Suddenly I felt more and more of his weight leaning on me, "mom?" He mumbled before falling down to the floor. "Andrew!" I dropped down, shaking him furiously, "Andrew!" I cried out, rushing to my phone, "911, fire, ambulance or police?" This lady seemed like she shouldn't be doing this job, considering she sounded ready to choke me. "Ambulance." She continued on by asking me a bunch of questions.

I scrambled to my feet, as someone pounded on the door, paramedics came barging in as they saw Andrew laying on the floor looking pale. "What happened?" I shook my head, tugging at my hair lightly, something my dad always told me not to do, saying it drove him mad, which made no sense but I never questioned it. "He was walking and all of a sudden he couldn't see the wall right in front of him and then he passed out." I rushed, making sure my car keys were in my pocket. Normally Andrew and I act as if we don't care about each other, well at least I do, he seems like he might not actually care, "has he recently quit drugs or alcohol?" They asked, wheeling the stretcher out of the front door, I followed closely behind, "yes." I didn't do this to him did I?

"Alex!" I heard faintly, glancing to the right of me I saw Matthew pushing his younger siblings in the other direction, not wanting them to see this. I looked away, not caring if it seemed rude, "what's-" I couldn't hear him anymore as my car door slammed shut.

***

"Withdrawal?" I asked, clarifying with the doctor he nodded, looking over his papers. "This is my fault." I mumbled, pushing my head into my hands, "I made him stop, a couple of days ago, and now he's like this." I pointed at him, seemingly peaceful he was laying on the hospital bed, but according to the doctor there's a good chance he'll be "agitated" when he wakes up. "It's not your fault, he would've gone through this one way or another, now is there anyone we can contact?" Suddenly the doctor was gone and a nurse was in his place, "um, no, no, I'll handle it." My mind raced with the possibilities of my dad's reaction, will he blame me just like I did.

"What is it? I'm about to go into a meeting." My dad sounded frustrated with me, "Andrews's in the hospital." The words raced out before another thought could cross my mind, "well, I'll have to come after the meeting." Is he serious? "Dad-" "I have to go now Alexandra." He hung up, this is pathetic, I jumped to my feet as Andrew started thrashing around, now I see why they put the restraints on him well he was out. "Nurse!" I called out into the hall, frightened of Andrew as he looked like a totally different person, I was moved out of the way as multiple nurses ran in, along with a doctor. Walking into the hall I took deep breaths, "someone should be here with him in an hour or so." I told the nurse behind the desk, pointing my finger in the direction of his room, his shouting could be heard from down the hall.

~~~

"Hey, Alex! You're not gonna jump off the roof like your brother right?" Matthew could be seen in the same spot by the fence from a few weeks ago, "not purposely!" I leaned back against the shingles, "may I ask you something?" I chuckled, "you just did!" Looking down I saw him grinning up at me, "good one." I heard him say faintly, "hang on." I held up a finger before climbing back in through the window in my room.

"Oh, boy, I'm special enough to get you off the roof." His lips fell into their normal lopsided smile, "that or I don't feel safe leaving myself to my thoughts?" I challenged, realizing how horrible that sounded, "I didn't mean it like that." He nodded, "is he okay?" I pursed my lips, do I answer truthfully, or not say anything at all. "My dad would be angry if I told anyone." I simply shrugged, he was about to speak when headlights coming up my driveway blinded us. "You should really go." I told him, rushing back inside, quickly sticking my head back outside, "bye, Matthew." I caught a final glimpse of his dark hair and green eyes before sliding the door shut and making myself look pre occupied.

"Did you stop and see Andrew?" I heard grumbles coming from behind me, "sure did." "And how was he?" My eyes shut as I prepared for an answer, "he was being an ungrateful little-" "Dad!" I scolded, turning towards him, his eyes narrowed at me, "this is hard for him, he clearly didn't decide to go through withdrawals." I added softly, not wanting to anger him anymore. "You're just like your mother." It felt like the air was knocked out of my lungs, "and what's that supposed to mean?" I heard him suck in an abrupt breath, either realizing what he just said, or he was shocked that I talked back.

"Neither of you knew when to shut your mouth and keep your smart comments to yourself." My eyes burned at the hostility in his voice, "also," his footsteps got louder, "I'm having a friend over for dinner." A container of takeout was placed next to me, "and I'd prefer if we were alone." I nodded, yanking my food off the counter, I made sure to prove my mood towards him by shutting the fridge loudly, and stomping my feet as I went up the stairs.

Shutting my bedroom door, with a sigh, I wandered over to my bedroom window, sitting in just the right spot to see the lake in between the tree branches. I ate my food in piece, not caring that it wasn't even anything that I enjoyed, I just didn't want to go back down there. My gaze moved to the left when I heard a voice, I saw Matthew, swimming in his pool, he looked peaceful, relaxed, where as I was so mentally exhausted that I felt like I would pass out any moment.