Overdose (BXB) Completed/Editing

Chapter 9 - Darkroom

Overdose - Chapter 9

-Nico-

Having my life threatened by a stranger was definitely the highlight of my week. All because you wanted to play the hero. Alex needed help and I couldn't, in good conscience, leave him alone at Taylor's. She and Tatum are practically never home so he'd wake up in an empty house, confused and in pain.

Last night, I asked him three times if he was sure he didn't want to go to the hospital or home. Though he barely spoke, the answer was "No." When we got to my apartment, I opened the car door for him and reached in to help him, but Chester's warning kept me glued several inches away from him. He slid out of the passenger seat drunkenly, holding on to the door to keep himself up. As I stared at him, struggling, I couldn't help but see myself years ago. I was there before, barely grasping to reality, in the clouds so I didn't have to face my problems. Surely our reasons are different, but I wondered what happened to cause him so much agony.

When we made it inside my apartment, I showed him the way to the bathroom. He threw up profusely which I guessed was a good thing. I had so many questions, but I figured he wouldn't answer them anyway. I gave him water and told him he could sleep on my bed. I went to grab him a change of clothes but when I turned around, he was already sitting on the bed with his legs hanging over the edge. The longer front pieces of his hair shielded some of his face, but I still found myself aweing at the parts that were uncovered.

I laid out a blanket on the couch, but I couldn't bring myself to fall asleep. I kept looking at him to make sure he was breathing. Usually, when someone gets that close to overdosing, they go to the hospital, but he didn't want me to bring him there.

Alex has a few hours to wake up and call whoever that Chester person is so that he doesn't show up at my doorstep for "headshots". He's been sleeping since I brought him up and I felt awful that he had to sleep in jeans but I'm sure he wouldn't take kindly to being undressed by anyone other than himself.

He looks less sad when he sleeps. His facial muscles relax which makes him look at peace. I'm not surprised that he's been sleeping for so long because last night was a close call. I'm pretty sure it wasn't just the heroin Daniel gave him.

Speaking of, Taylor called and told me that Daniel wants to meet up with me to talk. She says that he feels awful about what happened and wants to apologize to me. Daniel has a way of manipulating his family into thinking he's a good person who cares about others. He had me fooled for a while but I'm glad I know exactly who he is now. He'll probably try to convince me that we can work if we give it another chance. Us being together is as good an idea as setting fire to a gasoline tank.

I frown at the thought of everything we used to be. The way we'd make each other laugh until our sides ached. The way we held each other like water molecules; we were inseparable until we began to slowly suffocate each other with our presence. Our love turned into a wildfire; destroying everything in its path while leaving a barren wasteland in which love would never grow again.

Alex's loud gasp of air pulls me out of my train of thought, and I quickly get off my desk chair. He sits up and looks around with scared eyes before bursting into tears. Oh no. "Hey, Alex, you're safe. It's me, Nico. I brought you to my apartment because you almost overdosed. I gave you Naloxone, you're alright," I explain in hopes that he'll calm down.

He pulls his knees up to his chest and wraps his arms around himself. "You've been asleep since, I wanted to call your dad but...um...Chester told me not to and so did you," I take a careful step towards the bed and kneel so that I can make myself seem more harmless.

"Are you in pain? Is that why you're crying?" I ask with a frown. "Tell me, Alex. What hurts?"

He sniffles loudly before looking into my eyes, "everything." His voice trembles with fear and I begin to feel pressure on my chest. I wish I knew how to help. "Do you want me to bring you to a hospital now?" I propose worriedly. He shakes his head no.