Mini Sides

Kai's First Drink

   Ivan had gotten fed up with what I didn't know about I did know about. Of course growing up on the streets, I haven't experienced much so far in life. As Ivan was learning more and more about me, he seemed pretty okay with what I did and didn't know. But apparently, never drinking alcohol set him overboard. 

   So that's why sixteen year old me and twenty-two year old Ivan are in a liquor store right now. I'm following him around confused as shit and he has a very serious, concentrated face as he browses through the assortments of booze. The basket he has is loaded with beers, rums, whiskey, and vodka. All this stuff looks expensive to me - then again everything does - and I'm surprised he has the money for this.

   I look at my surroundings and see nothing but white walls and hear nothing but the buzzing of the lights and the soft clank of bottles from people picking up and walking around with their alcohol. The smell makes me cringe a little from the mixture of strong drinks and a faint smell of barf lingers around.

   I pinch Ivan's jacket and look up at him with big curious eyes. "Why are we here?" I whisper, afraid that if anyone here heard me, they'd come after me. Even if I have Ivan's protection. 

   "I'm getting drinks for tonight. We're gonna drink and watch movies," Ivan answers in a mutter as he reads a bottle he has in hand. I nod, knowing he can't see me, and stay close to him as he continues shopping.

   Finally he's done and we walk back to the apartment with all our drinks. Opening the door, I shut it behind me with my foot and head towards the kitchen to set all the bottles down on the counter. Meanwhile, Ivan is in the living room picking out a couple of movies for us to watch.

   Once he puts in a Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, he comes into the kitchen and grabs a few bottles and a couple of cups to bring into the living room. I follow and sit down on the beat up couch that I sleep on. As Ivan pours a drink he says, "Lets start you off on something simple." He hands me a cup and I smell it first, backing away in disgust. "I know the smell is strong at first, but you get used to it. If ya can't handle it, hold your nose and tilt your head back." I do as told and drink some of it, this time gagging at the taste. Ivan laughs and takes a drink of his now.

   "It's gross," I tell him.

   "At first, yeah. Once you get into it, you'll like it."

   The night goes on and I start to become a little immune to the smell and taste. I don't feel any different though like Ivan said I would. He on the other hand is all kind of screwed up right now. Ivan's slurring his words, his movement is wacky, and he's saying such random things.

   "You hhhhhave chaaangeed everrrythiing foooooor meee. I-I-I-I knew there waas a reason I piiicked ya up!" He drags his words out.

   "Um...okay then. Are you okay Ivan?"

   "Of coawrse I'sss am. You ARE MY BESTIE! How CouLD I noT BE OkAy?" Ivan now starts to yell randomly. "I-I-I-I-I-mmm gettin' tired..." stuttering as he falls over onto my shoulder. Within an instant, he's asleep and drooling all over to me. I get up and hook his arm over my shoulders to try and take him to his room. As soon as I stand up and take my first step, his weight overcomes mine and I fall his him on top of me. As we land he slurs in his sleep, "Oh~ Rachel~ You're ammmazing-g~" Who the hell is Rachel? What the fuck is he even dreaming about?

   Forgetting about it, I phase my body through his and get up from underneath him. I stand to the right of him and grab his arm, then begin to drag his body down the hall. Arriving at his bedroom door, I open it and start to pull him in but hear a 'thump' and look around. I ignore it and start to pull him when I hear a 'thump' again. Looking around I see nothing and go to pull him once more, then hear the 'thump'. I look in the door way and see that the 'thumping' sound was me accidentally hitting his head on the door frame. Oops.

   I move him around and get him over the bed. Managing to get him into the bed, I just leave him there and go back to the living room to clean up the drinks and turn the movie off. I lay down on the couch and go to sleep.

~Timeskip~

   In the morning I wake up to aggressive vomiting in the bathroom and hurry in there to see Ivan bent over the toilet throwing up his insides. "Oh god! Are you okay?" He looks at me with dark eyes and confused.

   "How-...how are you not hungover? You drank as much as me. And we drank a lot."

   "I don't feel anything. I'm completely fine. Do I need to get you anything?"

   "Somethin'.....somethin' for my headache would be fine."

   "Okay Bestie!"

    Looking  me confused, Ivan asks, "What'd you call me?"

   "Bestie. That's what you called me," I smile and leave to get him the pills. Unbeknownst to me, he's smiling as well, happy to see one of my rare smiles.