Miserable at Best (Sequel to Our Never Ending Melody) (NateWantsToBattle)

Chapter 27

Nate spent the next few days, in an unusual way.

He spent it cleaning. Not sure why, but Nate said it would distract him. He started in Briar's room, and worked his way to the kitchen.

Morgan's concerned, but she still hasn't questioned him.

His mother got a little iffy, after he started cleaning again. She didn't want him to spend another day cleaning, but.. he did it anyways.

I did find him in the kitchen, wiping down the counter, while warming up a coffee... A coffee he won't drink.. Or a coffee he will drink, but will make him sick later.

"Thought you were sleeping, Nate." I say, giving him a look as he glanced to his phone.

"I tried. I tried to sleep, though lying down really hurts." He told me calmly.

"So... You're cleaning instead?" I ask.

"Yeah, the house is a flipping right off. Alex is here, my mom is here, Morgan is taking care of the baby, and that's not a clean task." He said to me. "Also, you and Phoebe live here."

"Valid point." I answer him, sitting on a bar stool. "Heh, I'm surprised the smell of the cleaner isn't making you sick."

He looked at me, shooting me with his famous glare. "Don't Jynx it, asshole! The smell is worse then Vinegar mixed with Oranges." He told me. "I fighting every urge to--" He cut himself off, closing his eyes, grasping his head.

"Woah, what's wrong?" I ask, getting up.

"Nothing." He said to me.

"Nate --"

"Unless you consider the feeling of being shot in the head, nothing." He snarled, giving me a glare.

Yep, even in pain, he's a sarcastic little prick.

"Alright, just wait it out. Don't fight yourself to get rid of the migraine."

"I can't just wait it out, Brett!" Nate opened his eyes, looking at me. "Morgan's home. So is my mother. If one of them sees me like this, they'll freak." He told me.

I fell silent, as he looked away.

"Look, this shit ain't working." Nate muttered madly.

"What isn't working?"

The voice made Nate jump up. The young musician looked over, making me look over. I see him tense up.

Morgan's sister was standing there, with her phone. Did she hear this conversation? Worse, did she record it? "Oh, hey Alex!" Nate attempted to lean against the counter, keeping his balance.

"What are you talking about Nate?" She asked, giving him an off look.

"D-Does it concern you.." He stuttered with his words.

"No.. No it doesn't, everyone's just concerned about you, so I thought I'd try and figure this out." She started.

"Well.." He stuttered.. "We were just talking about.. Uh.. Uhm.. We were talking abou--"

"Clearly you don't have an explanation for your strange behavior, Nate. But, know this.." Alex started, holding her hand up. "There's something up, and I know your hiding it. You won't say anything, and that's okay. But my sister is worried about you. Really worried."

Nate looked at her, then sighed calmly. She only narrowed her eyes, before turning away. I shuddered after the young girl walked away. Nate only stood there calmly. "How are you not scared?" I asked. "She basically just threatened you."

"Oh please, she's still mad at me because Morgan got Pregnant," Nate sighed. "I'm sure that's the worst of it. Besides, she won't harm me." Nate answered. "She's all bark, and no bite."

I took a second to register what he said about Morgan. Did she really get mad at him for that? Shaking the thought from my head, I look at him. "She'll go through your stuff, Nate." I tell him.

He shrugged, looking over. "She's related to Morgan, she might. But she has respect for me." He told me.

"Besides," He started, his eyes narrowed. "I have what she might be looking for." He added, holding the papers from the doctors.

"But... What about the Prescription Bottle?" I ask him, concerned.

"You mean the one, I keep in a locked drawer, in my office?" He asked me.

"Yes, that one."

He looked at me, with a slightly narrowed eye. "She won't find it. I promise you." He told me, before coughing into his sleeve again.

"More blood?" I ask him calmly.

"Mhm."

With a quick sigh, I grab a handful of his hair, pulling him with me.

"Ow, Brett! Hair!" He hissed at me, as I drag him to his office. It only took a gently shove, to push Nate into his Whisper Room. He's kind of frail.

I close the door to his recording booth, cornering the frail young musician.

"Whatever made you think this isn't working Nate, throw it away!" I hiss at the young man in front of me. "That's your depression talking. In the back of your mind, you want to die! But I won't let you! You can't just give up so easily!" I hiss at him.

He only look at me, blinking in confusion at me.

"You're still alive, are you not?" I ask him.

He seemed to hesitate.

"Well... Are you?!" I ask him, challenging him.

"Uh.. Yeah.. Last time I checked, I was still alive." He told me calmly, his voice soft.

"But they can't give me anything stronger, if these pills stop working. The day these pills stop working, is the day everything reverts back. Every symptom these pills were preventing will come back ten fold." He told me.

"Give me an estimate." I start.

"Heh?"

"If these pills stop working, what is the estimate they gave you?" I ask.

"Uh, I dunno.. Two... Maybe Four months..." He answered, glancing at the purple light in his Booth.

"So.. What are we going to do?" I ask.

With a sigh, he looked over. "I don't know, hope for the best, I guess." He told me. "I'm going to try my best, not to let this kill me.. I make no promises."

Giving him a look, I grab his shoulders, shaking him roughly. "You need to try, Nathan Smith. God damn it, you need to try!" I almost yell at him, startling the young musician.

I felt myself calm down, as I saw that scared look in his eyes. "Please.."

He didn't seem to answer me as he leaned against the wall, defensively.. "Did Alex actually get mad at you about the Pregnancy?" I suddenly ask him making him look over.

"Hmm?" He tilted his head. "Oh, yeah! She blamed me because I  laid a hand on her sister. So, she basically blamed me, and only me for Morgan getting Pregnant! Cause, you know, it's only my fault," he explained.

I couldn't help but laugh a little as he explained the lesser dilemma in his life. "You, my friend, have an interesting family!"