Wilting Flowers

16: The Price of a Bluff

Tw: References to underaged alcoholism/References to abuse

Viewer discretion advised.

(Note: I do not support underaged drinking of any sort. Please do not do this. Grim is unstable as fuck, this is not healthy.)

~~~

Grim tore the top off the Liquid IV packet, yawning.

"Oh my god. What did you do?" Immy's voice called from behind him. Grim sighed.

"Immy! You're up early." He greeted, turning to her and smiling.

"Mhm, and you've got a hangover."

"No I don't."

"What's that then?"

She gestured towards the packet.

"It's also a sports drink!"

"What's your sport? Running from confrontation?"

"Ha-ha. Very funny."

Grim turned back quickly and poured it into his cup.

"I- did you just put that in your coffee?"

Grim blinked. Sure enough, he had put it in his mug instead of his water cup.

"Huh." He shrugged and stirred it. He took the mug to his mouth and drank.

"How is it?" Immy asked.

"Disgusting." He stated. "It'll do."

"What flavor did you get?"

"Grape."

"Gross."

Immy sat down at the island, rubbing her eyes.

"How'd you sleep?" Grim asked, sitting across from her.

"Good. I'm assuming you did not, right?"

"Yeah."

"...Are you okay?"

"I'll live."

Immy put her face in her hands and groaned.

"I hate it when you do that." She said.

"Do what, exactly?"

"When you say shit like: "I'll survive.", "I'll live.", "I've felt worse.". I know you will, I know you have. I don't care. What I do care about is how you actually feel." She admitted. "Please. Tell me if you're okay."

"...I'm not."

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"No."

"Okay then."

Immy offered Grim her hand.

He drew in a breath and took it.

"I think I'll start a new book today." She began.

"Another one?"

"I already finished Hogfather."

Grim snickered.

"Wow."

"I get bored."

"I can tell!"

***

Flowers were budding in the afterlife. It was finally April, after their long winter. Grim hoped the changing of the seasons would make him feel better.