Collide

II

Bottle in hand, the street lights above him like stars. The soft touch of the grass under him, trees blowing in the heavy drifts of wind that would stream over with the Californian breeze.

Another mouthful, two...Three. There was no control over him, the kid crying out for help telling him to stop, while his demons tell him to continue. Four. Five. Six.

They kept coming, each mouthful of the high percentaged alcohol burning deep within his chest. Seven...Ten.

''Alright there buddy?'' A low voice called from above him, his eyes squinted to keep his vision stable.

''I'm fine.''

''You don't seem fine.'' The bottle now pulled from his grasp, his head falling back slowly. ''Fucking hell kid, this is 151.''

''So.'' He slurred, trying to focus on the bottle as he reached out only to miss. ''Give it back.''

''You've had enough, two times too much than anyone should be drinking.''

''I said, give it back.'' He warned, stumbling to his feet while he shook his head, the world spinning.

''Kid, sit down. You'll benefit.'' Shoving him back down onto the floor, his head hitting down against the ground, the nights sky swirling around in his sight, a sigh escaping his lips.

''I've got him.'' A familiar voice spoke, now tugging him up but efforts receiving a small outcome. ''Get up, you're embarrassing yourself.''

''Nope.'' He laughed, pulling his arm around and sending the familiar person to fall back onto the curb.

''You're a mess. Get up!''

''Not going to happen.''

''Why did I ever agree to the promise of looking out for one another.'' The familiar person huffed, now pulling Zac up onto their shoulder only for him to fight back. ''Stay the fuck still.''

''Get off of me!''

''Zac, calm down.''

***

His head buried in the bucket, with his shirt just hanging onto him up his neck. ''That's it, get it up. It's alright mate, get it out.''

Zac cried, now living out his worst nightmare. His breathing picking up while he spat out into the bucket once more, taking the paper towel to wipe his mouth and look on at Dan. He smiled, the scar on his cheek had faded from the last time the two had met.

''You look like shit.'' Zac spoke between breathes, feeling another wave about to hit as he attempted in calming himself. No use. The panic attack began, his head back in the bucket as he couldn't find a single second to breathe.

Dan's hand rubbed his upper back region, his other hand against Zac's chest while he talked him through his attack, it took several moments but he had managed to calm his old friend down.

''And you say I look like shit.''

''I'm fine.'' He shot back, shrugging Dan off of him as he laid back.

''How long have you been lying to yourself about that?'' Dan waited, Zac's nostrils began to flare while his eyes became darker in comparison to just a few minutes ago. Pulling the water bottle away from his mouth, Zac sat back up.

''Like you give a shit, Dan. You fucked up Keana's life, you played with mine for fuck knows how long. I said I forgave you, I lied. How the fuck could I forgive some piece of shit like you?''

''What's going on?'' Dinah spoke sleepily, rubbing her eyes as she slightly squinted.

''This piece of trash was found on the side of some street, drowning his sorrows in alcohol. So much for not wanting to be the image of your father.''