Sometime in the night, I fell asleep. I don't remember how many hours we were waiting before I physically couldn't take it anymore. I opened my eyes slowly, taking in my surroundings. I was in the living room. I had been sleeping in a sitting position with my head resting on my hand, which wasn't that great for my neck. I sat up and stretched, yawning in the process. I glanced around and my eyes stopped on Vic. He was on the opposite end of the couch, curled up in a little ball. His head was resting on the arm rest, and his arms were pressed against his chest. He reminded me of a child. I wondered how long he was awake waiting, longer than me I know. The guilt was back, gnawing at me. I wanted to tell Vic, I really did, but I couldn't. Not yet at least.
He stirred slightly, causing me to freeze. What was I supposed to do when he woke up to find that Mike had never come home? I mean surely someone had found Mike's body by now. The police would probably be calling anytime to inform Vic. What would happen then? I had killed Vic's only living family. I put my hands on my head, tugging at my hair out of annoyance.
"Kellin?" I brought my head up at the sound of Vic's groggy voice. He looked tired and confused.
"Yeah?" I said, sitting up a little straighter. Vic sat up a little too, looking around in the process.
"Did Mike ever come in?" He asked with a yawn. I shook my head sadly, lying to him about it yet again. I mean, I wasn't lying, he really didn't come last night, but I was lying in a sense. I knew Mike was dead and I wasn't telling him. He went from looking slightly relaxed to completely worried and on edge. I wanted to help, but I didn't know how. I was about to make a lame attempt at making him smile, but the phone rang before I got the chance. I tensed up, because I had a pretty good idea who was on the other line. Vic snatched the phone from the coffee table and stood up, walking into the kitchen. I watched him go and lean against the counter. I heard him say hello, and then he went completely silent. I watched his facial expressions carefully. By the end of the phone call, they had went from hope to disbelief to utter sadness until finally tears were running down his cheeks in two lines, leaving behind a trail for the others to follow. As he hung up the phone and set it on the counter, he just looked distant. Like his mind was far away but his body was stuck here. He walked back to the couch in a zombie-like manner.
"Mike's dead." He said rather bluntly. I tried to look surprised, but it was no use. He wasn't even looking at me. He was staring at the spot on the floor where his tears were forming a small puddle. I stood up and walked over to him slowly. I wasn't sure what I was doing, but I didn't like him being sad. I put my fingers under his jaw and gently brought his face up to look at me.
"Vic...it'll be okay." I said reassuringly. He shook his head and I dropped my hand.
"No, Kellin. It wont be 'okay.' It'll never be okay! Mikey was all I had. We were all each other had, and now he's gone. Forever. How is that okay?" He demanded. I knew he was trying to cover his sadness with anger, but the tears weren't cooperating with him. They kept on coming, and eventually he surprised me by leaning into my body and sobbing into my chest. I wrapped my arms around him, trying to think of what I could do. I wasn't the best in situations like these because I'm 'heartless' if you will. I don't ever cry or get sad, so it's hard for me to help people with things like this, because I just can't relate to their problems. I pushed Vic away slightly, holding him at arms length. He looked so defeated.
"Vic, tell me what they said on the phone." I demanded, sitting us both down on the couch. I just needed to calm him down.
"They said that...some guy found him dead in a stall at Tim's Bar. Kellin, we were at Tim's last night! We were there drinking and flirting, meanwhile, my brother was dead in a toilet stall!" His breathing was getting out of control. Asking that question probably wasn't the best method in getting him calm, but I needed to know everything that they told him. I reluctantly put my hand on his back and tried to be comforting while he cried a little more.
"Vic, this isn't our fault. Just breathe." I instructed, and he did. He calmed down and his breathing started to even out. I took my hand away from his back, and he wiped at some stray tears.
"They also said that they aren't sure how he died. The guy found him just sitting on the toilet, fully clothed, nothing out of the ordinary. He thought Mike was sleeping. I know he used to have a drug problem. What if he got into drugs again, and I didn't even notice?" He was starting to cry again, and honestly, I was mildly annoyed. I mean, yeah, his brother is dead, that's sad, but the crying really isn't necessary. I didn't know guys were even capable of producing so many tears.
"They're doing an autopsy or whatever, and I need to start planning his funeral. Will you...will you help me?" He asked timidly. I froze. I didn't know if I could handle helping plan the funeral of someone that I killed. "It doesn't need to be big, because I was his only family. Please, Kellin." He pleaded. I sighed and mentally cursed myself for being so easily convinced to do things. I nodded, and Vic smiled a little.
"Thank you, Kellin. It really means a lot, considering we barely know each other." He commented. I shrugged.
"It's fine." I said. Vic was right, we really didn't know each other. Well, kinda. He thinks we don't, but I actually know quite a bit about him, considering I was madly in love with him in high school.
"Well, today has been a bummer so far." Vic pointed out. It really had, for him at least. I needed to get him out of the house, show him a good time. Distract him from the Mike situation, for now at least.
"Let's go." I said, standing up. Vic looked up at me with a confused expression.
"Do you need a hearing aid? I said let's go." I said, gesturing for him to stand up. He did, cautiously.
"Where are we going, exactly?" He in an unsure tone. I laughed.
"Eager, are we?" I joked, slipping my jacket on. Vic did the same.
"Well excuse me for wanting to know where a might-as-well-be stranger is taking me." He shot back, but he was smiling. Much, much better. I didn't think it'd be this easy to get him to leave the house, but I was thankful for it. He followed me out to my car, and we both got in.
"Okay, seriously. Where are we going?" Vic asked again, causing me to roll my eyes.
"Relax, Viccy. You'll see." I said with a smug smile. He gave me another cautious look and stared out the window as I backed out of his driveway. I knew this wouldn't distract Vic for long, but it was really worth a try.
