Sober Up

[4] Sirens

Marissa's P.O.V

"Demi, sweetheart, listen to your mom." My eyes clouded over with tears, to the point I could barely make out her face, just a blur. She looked at me with such guilt and pity in her eyes, as I struggled to maintain eye contact with her. I continued on, she wasn't listening to what anybody was saying but I knew I would get through to her. As her best friend, I cannot sit here and say nothing, I had done that for far too long.

"We're just trying to help, because we care about you and we love you so much. We know when you are not being yourself and I'm not sure I know who you are anymore."

I cleared my throat and bit my lip to try and hide how I was feeling but by now it had came apparent that I was incredibly emotional and on the verge of tears.

As I looked across at her in despair, she unwillingly stared right back at me. As much as she tried to keep it all back, I could see the tears in her eyes. Thats when I knew I had gotten through to her, by the way she looked at me. A look only a young child would give their mother after a telling off. A look I had not yet been a victim of, until now.

I completely lost it at that point, scrunching my eyes closed, praying to God I wouldn't let a single soul see me cry. I was supposed to be the strong one, the one that kept it all together. I was their shoulder to cry on.

I buried my head in my hands, trying to hold it in, when I felt her tiny, frail hand cupping my cheek as the tears began to fall. As she wiped them away with her thumb I stared up at her, before pulling her in closer and resting my head on her shoulder. She nestled her head deep into my chest  and the tears continued to fall, echoing from ceiling to floor, breaking the silence of the room.

●

We'd been in each others arms for a good few minutes. The room was no longer silent, whispers began to circulate the table, but all I could hear were the rapid gasps for breath, as we both continued to cry, her's a little less heartfelt and a little more guilt ridden.

I felt a weight lift from my chest as she raised her head. I pulled away suddenly, as she planted a kiss on my forehead. I wiped away my tears as they continued to frame my face, before burying myself further into the chair, pulling my knees up to my chest and hiding my face with the sleeves of my shirt. I closed my eyes and started to drift off to sleep, still huddled up on the swivel chair.

●

About 15 minutes had passed and wiping my eyes dry, I slowly sat myself up. It was only a light nap and I was still aware of what was going on around me.

Demi was no longer opposite me and I was frightened, but nobody else seemed at all phased by it.

"Where did Demi go?!"

"Oh she went to the bathroom about 10 minutes ago, I'm sure she'll be back soon. Are you okay?" Dianna answered with a questionable smile plastered across her face.

"Oh okay. Yes, I'm fine." Even I knew that didn't sound very convincing. I felt a tight knot form in my stomach and I suddenly felt extremely sick. This wasn't a stomach bug, this was worry and I did not like it in the slightest. I tried to push it aside, but this intense feeling in the pit of my stomach, was trying to warn me that something wasn't right and a part of me believed it.

"Do you mind if I grab a tissue from the bathroom? I'll check up on her while I'm at it." I didn't wait for a reply before pushing my chair backwards and heading for the door. I looked back as I grabbed the handle in a hurry and Dianna finally nodded in consent.

I slammed the door shut behind me, stumbling on the corner of the wall. I regained my balance enough to start running for the bathroom. Everything was spinning and I wasn't sure whether I was even heading the right way.