It's All Just Chemicals

Six

  "Hey, uh, is Maxx there with you guys?" Cody asked, sipping at his beer, his head spinning.
"Uh, yeah, why?" Alex questioned.
"Just makin' sure he's al'ight..."
"Dude, are you drunk? It's, like, 10 AM."
"Shit, seriously? I didn't even sleep." He laughed.
Alex sighed before replying, "Look, I'm gonna send Pete over there to take care of you, okay?"
"No," Cody whined. "Pete's a dick."
"Too bad. I have shit to do, and Jack's staying here to take care of Maxx."
"Can you tell 'im to bring some DMT or somethin'?"
"You're fucked up enough, man."
Cody pouted before giving an exaggerated, prolonged "Fiiiiiiinnnne."
"He'll be over in ten. Unlock you're door and drink some water."
"Okay."
"Bye, Cody."
"Bye..." Dropping his phone, he sighed before dragging himself off his couch. Nearly losing his balance, he caught himself on the coffee table.
"Shit..." Feeling bile rise in his throat, he couldn't stop the flood of vomit escape his stomach and mouth. As his body attempted to get rid of the excess alcohol in his system, he collapsed onto the floor, clutching his stomach with one hand and holding himself up with the other.
Suddenly, the doorbell rang and Cody groaned as he crawled painfully toward the door, unlocking it.
"Cody?" Pete called from the other side.
"Come in." The younger boy groaned.
The door creaked open and Pete poked his head in, finding the brunette on the floor. Rolling his eyes, he let himself in and kneeled down beside Cody.
"Christ, what the hell happened to you?"
"Mm." Cody frowned, flipping him off.
"Right." Pete sighed, running a hand through his hair before lifting Cody up onto his feet. Lacing one of the younger boy's arms around his shoulders, he helped him to the bathroom, dumping him next to the toilet.
"There. Now I'm gonna get you some water and strip your house of all drugs and alcohol. Then. I'm calling Patrick and the two of us are going to watch over your dumbass until tomorrow. Got it?"
"Mmmm..."
"I'll take that as an 'I understand. Thank you, Pete." (don't even fucking say it)
Cody responded with his middle finger once more before lurching over the toilet. Pete looked down at him, pity in his eyes before he left to get a glass from the kitchen. Filling it with water, he brought it to Cody who gently sipped at it.
"Thanks..." (Don't. Say. It.)
"No problem. I'm gonna go clear your apartment now."
"Don't worry about it. I'm pretty sure I don't have anything left that's not Maxx's."
Pete gave him a look before rolling his eyes again.
"Whatever. I'll go watch TV and call Patrick."
"'K..."

     *     *     *     *     *

"You guys wanna go out?" Alex asked.
"Where?" Maxx asked, looking up from the Disney movie on the screen.
"I dunno. Wherever I guess. I'm getting kinda cooped up doing nothing in this stupid apartment."
"Can we go to Pot 'o' Gold?" Jack asked excitedly.
"I mean, it depends on if Maxx is up for going to a bar."
"Yeah, sure, it sounds fun." The blonde smiled up at Alex before getting up. "Could I maybe borrow some clothes and shower before we go, though?"
"Yeah, of course. Go ahead."
"Thanks."
Maxx headed down the hallway to the bedroom and dug through Alex's dresser until he found some clothes that seemed like they'd fit. Across the hallway, he closed and locked the bathroom door.
The second he finished washing himself, he slowly sat down, hugging his knees to his chest. Tears spilled from his eyes and he buried his face in his knees. Holding in his sobs, he bit his lip, sniffed and stood up, turning the water off and snatching his towel from a hook on the wall.