Where Isak met Even 2: Even's story

Chapter 2

"What was that about anyway Even? Replacing you with my friends?" he asked confused.

Oh god. I knew I shouldn't tell him about my jealousy. "Nothing.." I said looking down. He wasn't convinced. "I know you're not telling the truth." he said with an encouraging voice. I didn't know what to say, so I was relieved when the bus stopped beside our apartment. We got off and went inside. 

When I walked inside I saw that my whole apartment had been changed around. The furniture was in a different place, and there were a few photos on the walls I didn't recognise. "So.. What do you think?" Isak asked excited. I knew my look was confused but I didn't want to be rude. "It's nice" I said enthusiastically. "That's why I've been out with the boys so much. I didn't want you to know what I was actually doing" he smiled. So I had just been paranoid...Typical.

***

It was the next morning and we had just woken up. Yesterday we did pretty normal things for a couple who hadn't seen each other in two weeks. I checked my phone to see the time, 10:01 am. I turned around and saw Isak sleeping peacefully. I didn't want to wake him up but I was too full of energy to just lay there, so I went to make breakfast. About ten minutes passed when I heard a knock on the door. It was weird because I didn't know who to expect. I looked through the peephole and was MORTIFIED when I saw who it was. It was my cousin, John. My cousin who was also an alcoholic, actually my cousin who got me into drinking when I was 12 years old and he was 16. My one and only cousin who was a huge trigger to me. He was checked into rehab around 2 months ago but he pretended to be clean and paid the guard off. I'm so glad I changed my number otherwise he would've texted me a bunch. I couldn't move. I was so scared. Scared of how he might trigger me, but also scared because I hadn't told Isak about him. John was a problem I had to take care of. Now that he was 22, he'd have to be more mature. I opened the door. John's face lit up. He brushed his short, brown hair away from his icy blue eyes. His jawline was sharp, like it always had been. He didn't have a beard but he had stubs. "Yo cuz!" he yelled going in for a hug. I pushed him away, harder than I meant to but it got the message across. "What do you want?" I said with the most serious tone I had ever used. "Chill cuz. I was just wondering if I could crash here for a little bit?" he smiled. Now I was pissed off. "John I've been good lately. Despite my little relapse, I don't even think about the alcohol anymore. You stay away and go bother someone else with your drunk problems!" I said while trying to slam the door. John stopped it with his foot and pointed at Isak who apparently had been standing behind me. "Who's this?" John said smirking. Isak look kind of scared and confused. I told John I'd call the police if he didn't leave and slammed the door. Even though I had been addicted to alcohol before and I knew how it felt, John has always wanted to drink. He's never tried to stop, and he always encourages people to join him. It's really toxic and triggering, especially after my relapse. 

"Uhh Even?" Isak asked as I was watching John leave through the peephole, "Who the hell was that?" he asked seriously. I knew I had to explain everything to him now..