Here's To The Hopeless

7: Showering Together

"Thank you doc for taking all my ouchies away.. I feel better, so much better now.."

I sang along to the TV show I had been forced to watch with Marley since the sky began to set. It was 12 am and the house was dark, the only light on being the hallway, the only noise being the television. I was bored out of my mind, and I'm fairly sure Sebastian was too as he sat there, waiting desperately for Marley to fall asleep so he could leave the room. Even though Marley was the cutest thing in the world, she definitely hasn't changed my views on having kids. She's the only kid that's ever really taken a liking to me anyway.

"Shut up." The fuckwit sitting on the arm chair said harshly as I sang the tune to Doc McStuffins as it plays on TV for the thousandth time.

"You shu-"

"No. I mean it, be quiet. She's out." I looked over at the couch to see Marley sprawled over it, eyes shut and snoring quietly. I gave Sebastian a relieved look, receiving one back, before he shakes her a bit, to see if she's asleep. He then picked her up, holding her in both arms. I couldn't help but find it sweet how he looked after his niece. He moves her to the spare room, before coming back out moments later.

He turned on the lounge room light and picked up a pack of cigarettes from the coffee table before heading out the front door, lighting his cigarette on the way out, before chucking the pack to me as I stood up and followed him. I took one out of the pack, knowing I forgot mine back at home. He stood outside, and I sat down on the veranda, my body cold as I was only dressed in Sebastian's trackies and short sleeved top. I crossed my legs, catching the lighter as he threw it at me and lighting my cigarette, before I turned my gaze up to the bright moon and stars littering the sky.

"I didn't know you had a niece." Where I was going with the conversation, I didn't know. I'd heard Marley call him her Uncle, and I suppose that was enough verification for me.

"I didn't know you got into fights." Sebastian retorted quickly, referring to the whole reason I was here.

As we sat there, I came to the conclusion that I don't think Sebastian cared what happened before he picked me up, and although it sounds harsh to say it like that, it was different. I didn't want sympathy or a pep talk. Yeah, it sent chills of frustration down my body when I was accused for fighting with someone rather than having three crack pipes thrown at my head by my Mother, but this way, it was better than facing all that fake pity.

"Sister or brothers kid?" I asked, the curious side of me coming back out to play.

"Sister. Why'd you call Jack to come to your rescue?"

"Habit." I spilled, knowing my words were nothing but truthful. "Why'd she call you to get Marley?"

"Habit."

It was nights after my not-so sleepover at Sebastian's. It was almost peaceful there, not having to worry about Debbie, not being surrounded by her things.

Don't get me wrong, Sebastian was still a Fuckwit.

Now I was back in reality, where Izzy and I were sitting on my bed, chopping up a mix and talking about everything.

"How long has your Mum been gone, Aubs?" She asked, although her voice was half gone due to her being sick. I shrug and pretend to think about, but who was I kidding? Of course I know how long my Mum's been 'missing' for.

"4 days," and 11 hours and 34 minutes. Last time I checked, anyway.

She took off after the incident, probably with Mark, but it was just the way she is. When Mum gets back she'll tell me she was taking time away from everything to reflect on herself, or to become sober, and she'd keep up the story for a week or so. Then, I'll come home earlier than usual and she'll forget to hide the needles, or there'll be a point or two on the table she wants to finish off. It couldn't be fixed or helped or stopped. It was inevitable.

I didn't think it should bother me. I wasn't looking at the time every two seconds like I was the first few times she pulled this stunt, but to say I wasn't as worried as I was the first time, and 5th time, and every time following that would be a complete and utter lie.

I packed the cone, hardly listening to my best friend telling me that everything'll be alright. If by 'alright', she meant Debbie would come home, I already knew that.

I shook my head to clear my thoughts, "how's Jack going?" Unsurprisingly, I hadn't seen him since we slept together, or heard from him since I called him.

"This morning was the first time I've seen him since you were –" she cut herself off with a sneeze, then continued, "last over."

"Where's he been?" I asked, watching Iz wearily as I noticed her face get visibly whiter. Nothing was worse than knowing your best friend is keeping something they know from you.

"A friends." I stayed quiet until she elaborated. A girl friends, or a boy friends?

"It's nothing serious, Aubrey, he's just been hanging out with Sher-"

All of a sudden  vomit comes pouring out of her mouth like a waterfall before she can finish the name — all over my bed.

I marched through the doors of Iz and Jack's house, holding my best friend by the arm as I continued walking her to the lounge room, sitting her down on the couch. "Jack!" I yelled out. "Help me!" I heard footsteps running down the hall, and look up to see a sight. A very wet and naked Jack, wearing nothing but a white towel wrapped around his waist.

"What happened?" He asked, his eyes wide as he took in the totally calm scene in front of him. What was he expecting? A serial killer?

"Your sister's sick. You need to look after her while I go to work." I admired his upper torso while I talked to him.

I heard other footsteps coming down the hallway, my heart stopping as the owner of them entered the lounge room and wrapped her arms around Jack from the back, poking her head out. "Everything alright?" I recognised  the girl behind him from my school and I clenched my fists.

"What were you guys doing?" I asked, noticing her dripping wet hair, matching Jack's, my eyes moved down to see that she's covered sloppily by his top.

"Showering." Jack muttered, looking at me with alarm, but all I could feel was utter disappointment. I wanted to yell at him but I couldn't find the anger in me to do it. I was hurt.

"Together?" I asked, my voice obviously too quiet for either of them to hear. I mentally throw him out of his own damn house.

I just smiled, "so I've got to go. Yeah, look after Izzy for me. She's sick, like really sick, so you should probably get her to bed," I rambled, my eyes glued to them as I tried to keep them blank, before turning around, bumping right into a cabinet as I do so. "Don't wake her up, y'know?" I winced in embarrassment as I walked to the front door, my back to them although I still felt their gaze the whole way out.

You really know how to show him what he's missing out on.