Alcoholics Anonymous | phan |

cigarettes and acrylics

dan groans and downs the rest of his dry margarita, before answering his ringing cellphone.

"this is dan," he says while lighting a cigarette, raising it to his lips while observing his champagne nails.

"hey danny, i just need a fill. are you busy right now?" louise says from the other line, he breathes in the nicotine.

"yeah, i'll just redo them lou. at fill price, it's been a while since you've came by." he breathes in another deep nicotine laced breath, and watches as the smoke falls like satin ropes from his mouth.

"thanks danny, see you soon." she says before hanging up quickly.

dan stands to set up his nail desk, and stumbles a little while his sister comes bounding down the stairs.

"you're already drunk? god. it's 10 in the morning dan," adriana says with disgust dripping from her words.

"shut up. you dont understand what i go through," he mutters as he makes himself another margarita.

"i dont know what you go through? you're such a dick, dan. i was right there with you when he left. i miss him too, y'know."

he scoffs and sips his drink slowly. adriana comes up beside him and pushes his glass upwards, causing it to spill all over his face.

"what the fuck adri?!" dan shouts wiping his eyes.

"maybe that will help you wake up and see what you're doing. god dan. you're reminiscing about a boy who left. get over him, maybe then you'll actually start caring about the people who stayed," she snaps and grabs a couple of strawberries out of the fridge, "ive got ten minutes til work. i'll see you later i guess." she walks out the front door and in a few minutes dan hears her piece of shit start up and groan out of the driveway and down the road.

his heels click as he walks over to the sink and washes his face, as much he hates to say it-she's right.

it's disgusting what hes doing to himself. he ruins his body everynight with this numbing poison and prays that it will help the hurtful memories fade. but it doesn't, maybe that's why dan doesn't believe in god.

as he begins to pour himself a glass of lemonade the doorbell rings, signaling that louise is here.

he makes his way quickly to the door and opens it after readjusting his skirt and wiping liquid droplets off of his shirt.

"hey lou!! it's so good to see you, come in come in! i havent got the table set up quite yet but please- sit down!" he puts on his best housewife smile and leads her inside.

once he starts pulling out his kits he tries to make small talk, asking her how pj was or how her family is and stuff like that. when the conversation slowly died down he had gotten his whole station set up.

"alright, you can sit over here now, im ready," he smiles at her, when she sits down he takes her hand and begins to shave down the old acrylic.

"so how've you been?" she asks him over to quiet hum of the tool hes using.

"alright, could be better but im not one to complain," he smiles and she chuckles lightly.

a few minutes go by and he wipes off her nails and begins to put the powder acrylic onto her nails with a paint brush.

"have you heard about ms. lester?" louise asks quietly, dan could hardly hear her to be honest.

his heart skips a beat at 'lester' but he acts as if nothing had happened, "no, what about her?"

louise moves slightly in her seat, "she died this morning.."

dan stops pressing the acrylic onto her nails, "really?"

she nods, "yeah. pj was the officer that had to call phil and tell him, didnt go over too well."

dan nodded slowly and started the acrylic on her other hand, "so what does this mean?"

she sighs, knowing exactly what he means, "he's coming back dan. he owns the house now, so he's going to be living here again."

his eyes begin to blur and he doesnt even understand why, it's his fault that phil left without him anyways. if he wouldve just been a good boyfriend he wouldve went. after many hours of talking to adriana, she admitted she wouldve rather have went with phil than stayed here.

"o-oh." was all that came out of his mouth. he pulled a cigarette from his pocket and lit it quickly before restarting on her nails.

"dan...its not my place to say this but, you need to get help. the whole town knows about your alcoholism. adriana is going into high school, she needs you more than ever right now," louise says and dan's tears fall lightly onto the table.

"i know lou, i just..dont know where to start." he mutters under his breath, pulling the stick of nicotine away from his mouth.

"i'll help you, after we finish my nails of course. i think its casper who runs the aa meetings around here...talking to him may be a good first step."

he nods at her words and sets his brush down, taking a hit from his cigarette again.

"did you want a color?"
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
the mother we all know and love is baaack people!! bless louise tbh, also. i still have her with pj because...well who doesnt love a good highschool sweetheart story lmao.

anyways yeah, stay safe sweets🖤
- kam