Slipping Under

Chapter Five

The drive over to Ricky's is quick, and I've been sitting in my car for a good fifteen minutes, debating on whether or not I should even go in. I only imagine how mad drunk Garrett would be if he'd seen the text, but then again, he had promised that he wouldn't drink. I mean, how could he get better if he wouldn't address his problem correctly? Was it my place to step in? I didn't know, all I knew was nothing felt right about this, me, sitting here in my car about to what? Bust him? He was an adult for God sakes, before I know it I'm backing out of the driveway and driving to Garrett's place, only a couple miles away. If Garrett wanted to drink, I couldn't stop him, and fighting with him now would only complicate other things down the road. I only prayed that he'd realize what he was doing to himself before it was too late. I text Ricky,

Decided not to come by, have fun, take care of Garrett for me.

I wouldn't be sleeping tonight, not until Garrett came home if he even came home. I wondered if he would, or if he'd stay at Ricky's. Selfishly, I wanted him home, I wanted to nurse him back to health, I wanted him in bed with me. I'd finally come to terms with the truth, and that was that Shane was right, I did like him. A lot, actually, and it felt weird, we'd been so close for so long, what'd changed? I settle in the chair in the corner of the living room, I figured I'd wait up for a bit, just to see if he'd come home or not. I wasn't worried about him drinking and driving, no, he was too smart for that. Ricky texts back,

Come get him.

I stare at my phone for a minute, worry filling my body, I call Ricky.

"Hello?" 

"Andrew, are you coming?" I realize immediately that it's Caleb on the other end, only adding to the worry I felt.

"Caleb?" 

"What's wrong? What's going on?" I can hear Ricky and Garrett in the background, Garrett's yelling. "Is everyone okay?"

"He saw your text."

"Shit," I close my eyes, I knew I shouldn't have sent it. "Are you sure me showing up would be a good idea? I shouldn't have even sent that text, I'm such a dick."

"He was fine at first, we went outside to talk, but then he started going on about you, and I really think you should get him."

"Caleb, I don't think—"

"Just, come." He hangs up and I guess I had no choice now. Sighing, I stand up from the chair and leave the house, making sure to lock the door behind me before leaving. How did I manage to keep fucking things up? At this point, it almost seemed better for me to leave the situation completely, in the hope of saving him.

I try to think of ways to explain myself to him, coming up short each time. I prepare myself for his anger as I pull up to the house, he's sitting on the lawn, Caleb, and Ricky watching from the door. I open the door slowly, turning the car off.

"Of course, you're here."

"They called me,"

"Yeah, yeah." He mutters, tossing his red solo cup to the side. I walk towards him slowly, "I'm drunk, Andrew." I sit down beside him, leaning back on my hands.

"Oh really?" I chuckle at the obvious fact.

"I saw your text."

"I know."

"God, of course, you do! Is there anything you don't know?"

"I wanted to apologize. I had no right."

"I lied to you."

"What?"

"I told you I wouldn't drink tonight, I lied to you."