"The Cut"

Chapter 41- Netflix & Chill?

Chapter 41- NETFLIX & CHILL?

When Steve Vaughn made his subsequent trip to the pharmacy for Chase's painkillers, he was confident that anything would serve as a better substitute for the toxic waste that had consumed his son's body (and mindset) for the last six hours.

Grace was certainly named appropriately, as she was the epitome of patience and good manners from the get-go. She was also very mature-minded for her seventeen years.

It took a special young woman to tolerate his son's temperament since the injury and Steve was convinced she was deserving of a trophy or award for her decency in Evan's time of need.

Both he and his wife already approved of the relationship based on her caring demeanor in itself. He was certain that they would be able to count on Grace to support them through the hurtles of the upcoming weeks involving Evan's care.

Grace was binging on The Hunger Games with Evan when his dad returned with a bottle of Vicodin. She had made herself at home in her pineapple pajamas while awaiting his arrival.

Evan had faith that Vicodin might be a more suitable alternative to Oxycodone, a product clearly manufactured in the outskirts of hell. When Steve met Justine in the kitchen from the garage entrance, she informed him that Evan's pain level had increased significantly in the hour that he'd been gone.

She twisted open the brown bottle and refilled a pitcher of ice water while her husband reviewed the side effects that Evan might be subjected to. Hopefully, groping his new girlfriend wasn't listed on the bold-printed pamphlet in front of him!

Grace had refreshed her soda and popped a bag of popcorn per Justine's suggestion. She had already been kind enough to invite her to spend the night. Grace planned to remain by Evan's side after the condition he was in just a few hours prior.

She knew this was merely an adjustment period for him.

Treating the situation as if it were another night sitting for Joey was the best strategy she could surmise; this was potentially more challenging due to the manhandling factor. She was grateful that her parents had taken the whole event with Evan in stride.

When Justine handed Evan his tablets and plastic tumbler, she took a quick peek at his technicolor bruise and scowled immediately. It looked horrific by this point. Grace quivered as she placed Evan's drink on a coaster in front of them and muted the volume of the television for a few moments.

"It's God-awful, isn't it?" she asked with concern, and his dad joined them in the living room.

"I do believe it will get worse before it gets better." he commented. The mere sight of his son's ankle made him squeamish. Steve was a gentle giant who didn't do well with blood and gore, especially when it came to a member of his own family.

Evan turned to Grace and smiled as he stroked her forearm.

"Don't fret, Red. This one's bound to be a bit kinder to my system than that Percocet shit. I hope it takes just a small edge off of the pain and doesn't leave me feeling so loopy." he predicted.

"Loopy?" thought Grace. "That's ONE word to describe it!" Several other adjectives had crossed her mind when she was reminded of the blazed coon that had been sitting next to her on the sofa only three hours prior to this conversation.

Doped.

Geeked.

Krunked.

Flame-broiled.

Grace figured he had about forty-five minutes before the medication revealed its true results. She slid her phone across the coffee table and opened the picture texts that Bailey had sent earlier. She tried to focus on something positive in the meantime.