Fly Away | Spruceworth 6.2

Chapter 9: Exhaustion

Chapter 9: Exhaustion

~Ollie~

       Ever since Grant met up with the three guys for a second time and they told him he had to pay them back even more money, he hasn't been doing do well. He was a lot more anxious and irritable, not to mention he barely talked unless someone was talking to him.

       I tried convincing Grant that he shouldn't pay them back but he wasn't listening. He was adamant on getting them to leave me alone, no matter what it takes.

       He was feeling a lot worse today, looking extremely exhausted with heavy bags under his eyes as soon as he woke up. He had a shift at work today and I tried telling him that he should just stay home.

       He didn't listen.

       "Ollie, I told you, I can't miss a single shift," Grant said as he got ready to head out. "I need to get the money to pay them back."

       "You shouldn't have to pay them back," I said. "It's not fair."

       "Well, that's life for you," Grant said. "It isn't fair. I know you said you're fine if I don't pay them back but I'm not. I just need to get them off my back."

       "You won't," I said. "They're taking advantage of you. You won't even have enough money to pay them back next week."

       "I'll just give them as much money as I do make and they'll have to accept that and get the rest later," Grant said. "It's my fault I'm in this mess. I have to get myself out of it."

       "Don't," I said. "Don't say it's your fault. They're the ones who are greedy for money and they're the ones forcing you to get them more money even though you paid them back for the drugs that you took. You shouldn't have to pay them over and over again."

       Grant sighed heavily and sat down beside me on the bed. "I know they'll eventually leave me alone. That's why I have to keep giving in to what they want."

        "How do you know they'll eventually leave you alone?" I asked. "Because from where I see it, they're just going to keep getting you to pay them because it's an easy way for them to get money every week."

       "I don't have a choice," Grant said. "I know you said you're okay with them using you against me to get it done and over with, but I'm not. I won't be able to stand seeing you get hurt."

       "And I can't stand seeing you stuck in this mess," I said. 

       "So I guess we're stuck in an endless loop," Grant said. "Ollie, I'll try to find another way to get out of it but until then, I need to pay them off until I could think of one way."

       "And how long will that take?" I asked.

       "I don't know," Grant said. "But in the meantime, I should be heading to work." Grant stood up and walked over to the bedroom door. He was about to walk out but then he stopped and turned to me. "This might be too much to ask but... Do you think we could stay at the diner while I work? At least for a bit? I'd feel a bit more secure if you were there. That's if it's not too much of a hassle for you..."

       I got up from the bed and walked over to him, gently holding onto his hands. "If it will make you feel better, then I'll stay there the whole shift if you want me to."

       Grant smiled softly. "Have I ever told you that you're the best boyfriend ever?"

       "You've told me once or twice," I said. "Now you should get to work. I'll be there soon. I just have to get ready to head out."