Bittersweet Endings

Chapter Four

I re-entered the gym and attempted to ignore the feeling in my gut screaming at me that something bad was going to happen. How much worse could it get, the guy I loved even if he didn't know it was suddenly back in my life and my dad also reappearing. Something was going on and no one wants to tell me what it is.

Shaking my head, I looked at the boxing bag, then to the door that led into the back. What the hell, I will have something to drink. I would probably regret it in the morning. I walked back towards the door, as I reached for the handle two people came flying through it. They mumbled a quick sorry and continued on their way to where it was they were going. It was most likely the room Max has out the back. I rolled my eyes and walked through the now open door, making sure I shut it behind me. I started scanning the crowd looking for someone familiar.
 
After scanning the room several times, I finally spotted Jesse. I started making my way towards him, as I got closer I noticed the others guy there as well. They were having shots, hopefully, they wouldn't mind if I joined them.
 
"Got enough room for one more?" I asked when I was close enough that one of them was bound to hear me.
 
"JOEYYY, of course, we do," Jesse shouted back at me. Like I was on the other side of the room instead of right in front of him. I shook my head and smiled.
 
Many people thought he was crazy when sober and they weren't wrong, but he was even crazier when he was drunk. I slide onto the stool next to him, as Caleb grabbed another shot glass out of the cupboard behind him. Sitting it next to the others, he poured well actually I'm not sure what kind of alcohol it was. Once all the glasses were filled he slid it over to me, picking it up and on the count of three I drank the lot, it was clear, and it burnt as it ran down my throat. Caleb sat a glass filled with something in it and I quickly took a sip from it to settle the burning sensation.
 
After a few more shots I could feel the alcohol beginning to take effect. Shaking my head to try and clear it, I wouldn't be having any more drinks tonight. There was a point I reached when drinking that I knew if I passed it, it wouldn't be good. I was already beginning to think why on earth I let myself drink. I looked around and noticed that everyone well looked pretty gone. Jesse was pouring yet another shot. He held the bottle over my glass, but I shook my head at him signalling I was done, that I'd had enough. I really shouldn't have had as many as I did.
 
I felt someone move closer to me and I peered over at Jesse. We slipped into an easy conversation and I apologised for not been around. He had seen me at some of my worst times when I didn't want anyone near me. Looking over the group of us standing here it was difficult to work out which one of us was even remotely sober. If it was going to be anyone it would be John, he enjoyed a good time as much as the rest of us but only when there weren’t so many people. I'm sure there's a story to go with that but we didn't push it.
 
Walking over to him, I reached up and whispered in his ear that I was going to head home and to let the guys know I would call around tomorrow when we had all sobered up. He simply nodded and watched me walk out the door. No one else noticed my departure which was good. I didn't need people trying to talk or touch me. I knew John would make sure the others knew where I had gone as needed. I just wanted to get home to my nice comfortable bed. Most people would have probably been concerned that he let me walk home but the gym wasn't very far from my house and I wasn’t going to let any of them get behind the wheel of a car in their current state. Plus, despite been slightly intoxicated I was still very much in control of myself.
 
I pulled my hoodie up over my head and put my head down as I started walking home, it had cooled right down from earlier and I was grateful I remembered to put my hoodie on before leaving the house. The streets were empty, and I was grateful for that. The walk home seemed much quicker than normal, as I approached the house I could see the lounge room lights were still on.
 
Just great I thought. This will be another unnecessary conversation or argument depending on how you wanted to look at it, one I didn't need. Shaking my head, I was still surprised by the fact he thought he could waltz in here and just be my father all over again. I walked up the front path, pulling my keys out as I went. Unlocking the door, I had taken all of about three seconds before the lecture started.
 
"Where in the hell have you been? Do you really think you can away with going out all hours of the night, partying and carrying on without any consequences? I don't think so young lady." He yelled.
 
I looked at him, my face plastered with surprise and anger of my own. It still hadn't registered with him that I really couldn't care what he had to say and that I wasn't going to listen to what he had to say unless it was about what the hell was going on. I shook my head at him and took my shoes off. I walked straight past him and up the stairs. I heard him yelling him at me to get back down there he wasn't done with me or something. I couldn't believe him. I was in no mood to deal with his shit. The alcohol was wearing off and my head started to pound. I think I drank more than I thought.
 
Locking the door behind me, I changed out of my jeans and jumper and into some comfortable pajamas. Climbing into bed, I looked at the clock 2 am. My alarm would be going off in five hours, I groaned but snuggled under the blankets. Closing my eyes, I began to wonder if I would get any sleep tonight with everything that's on my mind, the alcohol helped with that and I drifted off.