Stardust // Reggie Mantle (3)

Chapter Twenty-Three

Archie Andrews was becoming a minor alcoholic. His stress had manifested itself in an angry and frustrated boy who's only solace was breaking things, picking fights, and drinking.

Caia knew plenty about the last option. And she knew someone with that kind of problem when she saw them. So, at the speakeasy one night, while she sat at the very end of the bar trying to avoid eye contact, with Reggie, she noticed Archie downing shot after shot.

Archie held up his shot glass. "Reggie," He called, gaining the boys attention before setting the glass back on the bar.

Reggie sighed as he made his way over to Archie. "I think you've had enough, bud," he suggested. "Let me get you a cab."

"I'm a paying customer, Reggie," Archie shot back, his words slurring together. "I'll leave when I'm ready to leave."

Reggie leaned forward. "Dude. Veronica's dealing with enough crap. She doesn't need you making a scene."

Archie didn't seen to like Reggie's suggestion. He began banging his shot glass on the counter. "Can I get another bartender in here, please?" He demanded loudly. "Another bartender!" When Reggie held his hand up and motioned, Caia jumped out of her seat, knowing where this was going.

Toby, the bouncer, grabbed Archie by the shoulders. Archie tusseled with the man. "Don't touch me!" He demanded.

Caia scurried over to where the two were. She reached them just as Toby slammed Archie's head to the counter.

"Toby!" She exclaimed, attempting to separate the man and the boy. "It's okay! I know him." Caia hoped this would get Toby to back off, because he knew who she was. He also knew he wasn't supposed to mess with Caia, as she was friends of the owner. "He's our friend." She spoke this pointedly, glaring at Reggie.

Archie, who was still pinned to the counter, spoke up. "It's okay," He informed. "I'll go." Toby roughly let go of Archie, who groaned in pain. He stood all the way back up. "I'll go."

Caia grabbed Archie's arm to steady him. "I got him. I got him," she informed. "It's fine." As she spoke, she set Archie's arm around his shoulder.

Reggie watched Caia and Archie exit the speakeasy before making his way down the bar to Caia's glass. It was half full, but he sighed anyway. He knew Caia wasn't much better than Archie with her drinking problem, she was just better at hiding it. Reggie flashed back to the bottles he had found under her sink and shook his head. He wished he could help Caia, but he knew she would never accept his help. Not now.

Meanwhile, back at Archie's house, Caia was shoving an almost unconscious Archie into his bathtub. She rubbed her bisceps and sighed. About halfway home, he had become pretty much dead weight and her arms were now burning. Caia picked up Archie's legs and rotated them so that they were also in the bathtub.

As she did this, Archie began to talk. "Caia, you can't tell Veronica about this," he pleaded.

Caia leaned over Archie, breathing heavily. "Listen up, Andrews," She began as she grabbed Archie's chin and forced his gaze toward her. "You are in freefall and I am not having it. I may have messed up my own, but I'll be damned if I let you ruin your life. It's time for a literal and a metaphoric," Caia paused to lightly pat Archie's cheek. "Cold shower."

Caia turned to face the faucet. As Archie saw what she was doing, he tried to stop it. "Wait, Caia, stop it!"

However, it was to no use. Caia turned the handles and the shower powered to life, raining down all over Archie Andrews.

A few minutes later, Caia set down her hangover cure in front of Archie. She took a seat next to the boy as Archie studied the glass.

He looked over at Caia. "What's this?" He inquired.