Beer, Spaghetti, and Pharmaceuticals ||COMPLETED||

One

Chapter One

When did life get so bleak?

This was a question Alice Black repeatedly asked herself, but she found herself asking it even more as she peeled the soggy napkin from her brother's beer can filled kitchen counter. How could someone who once had so much potential, so many aspirations, find themselves trapped in the monotony of working a dead-end, minimum wage waitressing job? Being a doctor at one point seemed like a possibility...or at least the creator of the new hot social-media application. Unfortunately, at the age of 25, it appeared reality stomped out those dreams.

"Alice, get me a beer," barked Alice's brother, Simon, as he button-smashed his video game controller from his living room.

Soggy napkin in hand, she scowled as she observed the filth around her. Fruit flies hovered above the sink, something must have been rotting in the garbage, and pizza boxes were strategically piled as high as the refrigerator. Hands on her hips, she marched towards her brother. "It's two in the afternoon. Do you really need another beer?"

"Oh, let the man have a beer, he's heartbroken," said Mark, her ex-boyfriend and brother's roommate, making himself comfortable on the couch with a large bag of potato chips. "Live a little!"

She bit her lip, trying to decide whether or not she wanted to be Cool Alice or Nagging Alice in front of Mark. God, he was so cute. Even with crumbs of potato chips stuck to his lips those shining green eyes, shaggy dark brown hair, and that trail of freckles sprinkled along his nose got her every time. And those dimples! Despite their insanely complicated and drawn out relationship, she still found herself having trouble being stern around him...she wanted to appear cute and happy-go-lucky.

But Simon needed someone to keep their house afloat. Mark certainly wasn't doing the best job.

"Have either of you seen the state of this house? If your landlord stopped by you would be evicted," she said as her foot stepped in a sticky puddle on the floor, causing her to grimace.

Simon shrugged. "Doesn't really sound like your problem."

Biting her tongue, choosing to ignore the rude response, she asked,"When are you planning on going back to work? It's been a month."

Reluctantly, he tossed the video game controller to the ground, squaring his shoulders to her. Jamming his thumb into his chest with each syllable, he said. "I'll go back to work when women stop breaking my fucking heart."

Crumbs of chips flew out of Mark's mouth as he laughed, clasping his hand on Simon's shoulder. "You might be waiting a while, buddy."

"You need to go back to work, man," Alice said, taking a seat next to Mark. She hated being a nag but Simon was getting ridiculous. "You need some form of structure. Pizza and beer isn't going to make you happy."

"Pfft, like you're one to talk," said Simon. "You're the one who dropped out of school. Eight months away from having your computer science degree, but nope, you couldn't handle it."

"I dropped out because I couldn't afford it! It had nothing to do with not being able to 'handle it'," she shot. After all she was doing to help him out he had the nerve to rub her biggest insecurity in her face? "Either I finished my degree or I would be homeless. Besides, at least I have a job."

"I have a job, too," Simon said as he crossed his arms. "I'm just taking an indefinite leave of absence."

Knowing she wouldn't win the battle, Alice surrendered the conversation to resume cleaning up her brother's mess in silence. She loved her brother, she really did, even if he was being a miserable jerk these days.