The Other Us

Part 5: As Fate Has It

"Who was that?" My mother growls at me. My chest hurts and my head feels just as bad.

"Helen Sharpe."

"And who is she?" She raises her eyebrows at me and  I tiredly answer.

"My roommate and friend." Here's her line of interrogations.

"How old is she?"

"21."

"Was she the one who bought the alcohol?" Shit. I don't want anyone to get in trouble.

"No."

"Then who was?"

"Me." My mom smirks and shakes her head. I've never done anything in my life like this. Never went out on a limb. I've always been a good boy.

"Yeah- I don't think so. Max, who bought the alcohol?"

"Me! I got a fake ID and bought some tequila. I wanted to drink- I drank too much. Helen came in, stopped me- cut up the ID because I was being stupid and poured the tequila down the sink."

"Max this is ridiculous. You don't expect me to believe that."

"I've never lied to you before- have I?"

"No."

"So why would I now?!" I raise my voice a bit and she sits back in the chair and just stares at me. "I just wanted to try it and I took it too far. If Helen wasn't around I would be dead right now. She's an honest, loyal, sweet, and cool person and even though we only met two days ago- I trust her with my life because she's already saved it."

"Max, do you trust me?"

I hear Helen ask from the corner of the room.

"With my life."

"Are you two having sex?" Oh Dear God!

I want too.

"No, Mom. We're not. It's not like that."

"Based on how you two were when I came in- would say otherwise." She smirks and pushes her blonde hair over her shoulder and crosses her right leg over her left. "So- since you insist you did this all on your own: then a punishment is in order."

"Fair enough." I say and lay back in bed.

"You're going to live at home for the rest of this semester."

"Mom! That's so unfair!"

"Well, that's the price you pay for not only breaking the law but also being incredibly irresponsible." She stands up and shakes her head. "I'm really disappointed in you Max...but I still love you."

She kisses my forehead and leaves me there. Could've been worse. She could've pressed charges against Helen. After a few moments, Helen comes in and seems rather apologetic.

"Are you okay?" She quietly asks as she comes over and sits on the edge of the bed. She's sitting up near my waist. Taking my hand in both of hers, she squeezes it and then brings it to her lips- placing a kiss on my knuckles. It makes my stomach flop and my heart to race- the heart monitor picks it up and she immediately blushes and looks down and away.

"Yeah...you?"

"I'm not the one who briefly died today and then had their mother's fury." Helen plays with my fingers a bit and I just watch her delicate face shift into a small smile.

"Yeah, well- it wasn't all that bad."

"What happened?" She tries not to sound nervous, but I can hear it just below the surface.