Rush

:::2:::

Alan

"Get over to Martin's house, now!" Andy says on the other end of the phone, sounding really panicked.

Before I can say anything he hangs up. I'm not too sure how to take it but Andy never usually calls me when he doesn't have to, so it must be important.

My head still hurts a little from the party last night and I find myself fighting to stay awake. I pull on some clothes and Jasmine, my girlfriend, wakes up.

"Where are you off to this early?" She asks, sitting up in bed.

"There's something wrong with Martin," the second the words leave my mouth she looks concerned "I'm going to sort it out, don't wait up for me if I'm back late." I say, kissing her goodbye.

Luckily the traffic isn't too bad driving to Martin's. The closer I get the more worried I'm becoming. I didn't see Martin before we left last night so I don't even know if he got back safely. Knowing him, he was probably so drunk that he's landed himself in hospital somehow.

I knock on the door nervously and within seconds Andy answers it. The strong smell coming from inside reminds me how long it's been since I've been over here.

"We didn't call Dave because he would worry so much but you'd know what to do Al." Andy mutters nervously, holding the door open for me.

As I step inside, Martin is lying on the sofa with Alex by his side, holding something to his head. I get closer and the cloth against his forehead is covered with blood and his hair is stained where it looks like he's hit his head.

"What happened?" I ask.

"When he woke up I think he had a seizure. I've never seen anyone have a seizure but the amount that he's drunk last night, I wouldn't be surprised." Alex says "He came stumbling over to me but I couldn't catch him before he fell and hit his head on the table."

"Andy, call an ambulance." I try and stay calm as and rushes to the phone.

I put my hand on Alex's shoulder and she stands up. We look down at Martin, his messy hair falling over his eyes slightly. He looks so thin and unhealthy.

"I've never seen him get this bad Al." Alex says quietly.

I know that Alex doesn't need any reassuring, it's andy and dave that will be the problem. Andy worries about everything constantly and it's hard to get him to have a good time, dave just cares about martin a lot and he won't want to see him like this. Andy comes back in, saying that the ambulance will get here in 15 minuets.

"Ohhhh my head." Martin grunts, trying to sit up.

"No, just lie down Mart." I put my hand on his chest and he sinks back into the sofa.

I'm still feeling a little dazed from the party last night but I can't even begin to imagine how bad Martin feels. It's not long before the ambulance arrives and two paramedics come inside to look at Martin's head. They take him into the back of the ambulance and the three of us follow in my car.

"We need to do something about this guys. This is the worst he's ever been with his drinking." Alex says just before we park up.

"We've tried literally everything. You know how stubborn he is." I say.

"I feel like we just haven't been doing enough to help him." Alex sighs.

We go inside and Andy asks for Martin at the desk at the front. A nurse points us in the right direction and we're on our way.

I hate hospitals. They make me feel uncomfortable and they always have this weird smell. I try and forget about that for Martin's sake. We reach the room that we were told Martin is in but he isn't here. Instead there is a nurse sorting out the bed.

"Isn't there someone supposed to be in here?" I ask the nurse.

"Mr Gore?" She asks and I nod. "He had to be moved to get stitches. He'll be back if you want to take a seat in the hallway?"

There isn't any point in chasing him further so we leave the room. I sit between Alex and Andy outside. I think about what Alex said before about us not doing enough for Martin. She's been hanging out with us for a good few years and she's definitely seen his decline.

Over the next hour, I fall in and out of daydreaming. Thoughts of the band ending and Martin never fully recovering flood my mind and a sense of guilt has set in. I haven't done enough for Martin.