Color

Twenty Five

"No, it's good for my back..." Alex stared at the ceiling. "I think I read that somewhere."

"Flat surfaces, yes. But I'd prefer if you lay on the ground, Allie.. Don't want you to roll off the table."

Alex pouted. "Nuh... Was supposed to wait here for Avi."

"So you have seen him..?" Scott responded quickly. He looked to Mitch. "I'm gonna change really quick, okay?"

Mitch nodded quickly. "Be there in a sec."

Alex turned and reached out for the wine bottle. "Mmmkay."

Mitch grabbed the bottle, holding it away from him. "Nuh uh, Allie. You've had enough."

"Please?" Alex whined. "Just a little bit?"

"Why, honey?" Mitch was still worried. "Is something wrong? Did something happen with Avi?"

Alex shrugged offhandedly, not meeting Mitch's eye. "Avi's fine."

"Alex, you're not making any sense."

"Yeah huh... You're the one not making sense."

Mitch just shook his head. "Alright, Al... That's enough. I love you, but you're gonna listen to me now, okay? We're gonna go to your room, and you're gonna lay down. Alright? I'm gonna grab you a nice glass of water."

Alex pouted, looking up at Mitch. "I don't wanna... I'm too tired."

"Then... I'll call Scott down here, and we can carry you there or something. Okay?"

Alex looked away from him. "I'll just sleep here."

Mitch couldn't help but get a little annoyed at him. "Damn, if there was ever a time I wish Avi's bossy ass was here..."

"I miss him..." Alex whined, before letting go of Mitch's hand to look around for his phone, finding it literally laying on the ground. He picked it up and grinned at his lock screen of his mother standing with Avi. "Come back to me, Handsome..." Alex mumbled to himself.

Mitch tried to pull on Alex's arm lightly. "Honey, come on... Please stand up."

Alex shook his head. "Gotta call Avi..."

"We can Skype him after you lay down in bed, okay?"

Alex finally lifted both his hands up to Mitch. "Carry me."

Mitch's eyes widened a little, as he paused. "Alex, as much as I love you, you're like twice my size."

Alex pouted, putting his hands down. "I'm gonna tell Avi you called me fat..."

Mitch shook his head slowly, and then turned to look at the hallway as he called out. "Scottie, can you come here?"

Scott took a few seconds, but walked out as quick as he could wearing only sweatpants and socks. He immediately put his hand on Mitch's lower back. "Everything okay?"

Mitch gestured to Alex. "Help me get him to bed? He's being stubborn, and I'm not strong enough to lift him."

Scott walked over to the other side of Alex, helping him sit up and then turn so his feet would be on the floor. 

Alex pouted at him. "Don't wanna..."

Scott completely ignored him, bending a little to press his shoulder into Alex's stomach lightly, before lifting Alex off of the table and carrying him over Scott's shoulder. 

Scott held onto Alex's legs as he turned to face Mitch. "You wanna open the door for me?"

Mitch's face was a mix of shock and confusion, but he quickly walked down the hall to do so. 

Scott hummed suddenly. "Should we give him to Kirstie so he's not alone?"

Mitch paused in front of Alex's door, and then nodded and walked to the last door. He gently pushed it open to see if she was sleeping or not. 

Kirstie was laying down, but her phone was still in her face. When she heard the door she peeked over the screen and smiled. "Hi, Mitchie."

Scott walked in the room then, Alex still hanging off of him. "I have a delivery for you..."

Mitch leaned on the door frame. "He's drunk and kind of upset, and I want him to lay down but he shouldn't be alone... Is it okay if he--?"

"Of course it is." She responded quickly, scooting over to make room for her friend.

Scott laid him down as carefully as he could, eyeing him up and down once he'd been placed on the mattress. "You okay, Al?"

Alex nodded slowly, not moving apart form that. "Mhmm."

Kirstie immediately got a little closer to him, and he turned over to rest his head on her shoulder while she lay on her back.

Kirstie immediately put a hand on Alex's back, running her fingernails up and down to calm him. "Babe, where's Avi..?"

Alex only hummed softly. "Don't know... Said he'd be back."

Scott quickly pulled his phone out, and rang up Avi. He turned to walk out of the room, so Kirstie could do what she needed to do to get Alex back on track. 

Mitch watched him, still leaning on the door frame. 

Scott exhaled loudly. "Christ, Avi. Where the fuck are you?"

Mitch then glanced back into the bedroom, at Alex putting an arm over Kirstie's waist as he spoke softly to her. 

Kirstie nodded at whatever he said. "He'll come back, it's okay... Why'd you drink so much, babe?"

Alex took a second to answer that, as if he couldn't remember. "Lonely..."

"Let me just... To clarify? Avi brought home alcohol so you guys could get drunk together. And then he left? And you just... Got drunk anyway?"

"I was already drunk, and then he was gone, and then there was more drunk." He muttered. 

Scott finally hung up his call, and walked back into the room, gently brushing Mitch's arm without meaning to. "So he'll be back any second. He said he didn't think Alex was gonna go drinking without him. Figured he'd wait."

Kirstie nodded, kissing Alex's forehead once. "Doesn't matter now... I'm just gonna let him sleep. Let me know when Avi comes back?"

**