Crash and Burn

12. Caught

It's been a week since that eventful night. I haven't seen Demi since she left the evening after we hung out all day. She's been busy planning her tour and I've been busy studying for finals, which was just an excuse. Truth to be told, I've been drinking to help myself sleep every damn night since that day. After Demi left, I drove out to the same liquor store and bought 10 bottles of liquor. I've been smoking a lot more and I just felt guilty whenever I thought of Demi, so I avoided her as much as I could. Every text she would send, I would reply dismissively. It was a Wednesday and I had just swung my front door shut. I was home early today because my last class was cancelled and I couldn't be more relieved. It had been a long day. Beelining to the kitchen, I felt around the top shelf for my trusty bottles, frowning when I couldn't feel it the place that I left it. I turned around and grabbed a stool and stood to look for the vodka. I frowned and felt panic wash over me when I saw only 5 bottles left placed towards the back of the shelf. I know I haven't been drinking that much. Our parents came back for a day and left out of town again. There was only one person left. Mel.

I sat on the couch facing away from the door with the 2 empty bottles I found in Mel's room bedside me, watching as the clock ticked away. She should be home any minute now. I heard the front door open and Mel walk in. She saw me seated there and did a small double take. "You're home early." She walked into the kitchen without a second glance towards me. "You have some explaining to do." I heard her movements stop. "What are you talking about?" She sounded nervous. "Get over here, Melissa." She walked over to where I was sat and saw the two bottles I had beside me. "I know that I haven't been drinking so much. I always questioned why I had so little left in the bottles that you so nicely decided not to finish whenever I would grab a glass for myself." Her shoulders sagged and her head dropped. "I just want to know what's going on, babe." She stayed silent, almost unmoving. Her hands were trembling and her chest rose and fell with the heavy breaths she was taking. "Do you remember when you asked me what addiction was?" She nodded. "It was when Demi check into rehab and you asked me to explain to you. I told you that drugs were bad things and dangerous things that you could never try. I then explained to you what alcohol was. I said that it was something that you could try when you were 21. That you could enjoy it If you were careful to not let abuse the feeling it gave you." A tear slid down her cheek and she choked back a sob. "You said that if it was a bad thing that caused Demi to be sad and sick, you would never touch it. I didn't take you seriously since you were only 7 fucking years old and you wrote a letter of promise that's still slotted in the mirror on my dresser. I started drinking around mum and dad 3 years ago and you always told me not to. Every damn time I would drink, you would give me a disapproving look and you always said that you would stick by to what you said and never touch alcohol." Her shoulders started shaking as she stood there and quietly sobbed. "I'm not mad babe. I'm just worried. What's going on with you?" She shook her head vigorously and started sobbing loudly. "Oh baby, come here." I opened my arms and she fell into them, sobbing loudly.

It felt like hours before Mel's sobbing turned into small sniffles. She was still clinging on to my neck and my arms were still wrapped around her. "Baby girl, look at me please." She brought her head up from my shoulder and looked at me with her puffy and red eyes. "Are you ready to talk to me about whatever that's bothering you?" She shook her head and I sighed. "Okay bubs, but you have to stop drinking okay? I'm keeping them in my room." She scoffed and got out of my lap immediately. "I should stop drinking? What a fucking hypocrite." I sat there dumbfounded at the sudden change as she stormed up into her room and slammed the door shut. I closed my eyes and leaned my head back on the couch. I'll admit that I haven't been the best sister lately. Ever since Mel's admittance of being lonely, I drew up a withdrawal letter to the school to stop staying in the dorms so I would be home more with Mel. I got up and cleared the empty bottles before taking the remaining full and unopened bottles back to my room. I knocked on Mel's door after I was done but she only told me to quote on quote "fuck off". I was making my way to the music room two doors down when the doorbell rang. I rolled my eyes before walking down to open the door. I couldn't be bothered with anything right now if I was being honest. I stood behind the door listening, hoping that whoever it was would just walk away and leave us alone. Luck was not on my side. The doorbell rang again and it was followed by a series of knocking. A familiar voice then sounded through and dread filled my body. "Alex, I know you're in there. Your car is in the driveway. Open up!" Demi.

I should've parked my car in the damned garage.