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HUNTER
Istareupat the ceiling. My eyes blink and with each movement I feel their ache. The shadows of the night are slowly being replaced by the rays of sun. I can see the darkness fading away. Honestly, I don’t think I slept a wink. I can still remember last night vividly with Seth running and shouting while Alex chased after him, trying to tell him to shut the fuck up in the nicest way possible. It wasn’t until we finally made it to the bottom of our staircase that Seth finally felt the effects of his binge drinking. I think that first step is still covered with his vomit.
I close my eyes, pushing away the memory of Seth vomiting all over. Pieces of pineapple and pickles were mixed with the concoction of his bile. The smell made my stomach lurch. I stifle the need to gag as I recall the stench, wishing I had never gone out. Although, it was good I did, given what happened. I don’t think Alex and Rachel could have handled both that girl and Seth on their own.
What was the girl’s name again? Lori? Laura? Something like that.
With a groan, I heave myself out of bed. Thinking about the girl on our couch reminds me I should check on her, see if she vomited, see if she made another mess for me to clean up. Lucas was definitely unhappy when he came out last night to see what all the racket was, finding Seth puking his guts out on the staircase.
“You have to be fucking kidding me!” Lucas shouted at the top step, his gaze flicking between Seth and the girl in my arms, before reaching me, Alex, and Rachel. “I have been trying to text and call you guys all night!” Lucas scowled at Seth, drool dripping from his mouth. “What the fuck happened?”
I remember Rachel groaning as she stepped around Seth and his vomit. “I’m so sorry, Lucas. Tonight…” she sighed and tossed her hair back while Alex and I helped both Lauren and Seth up the stairs. “Tonight has been quite a night.”
“I can see that,” Lucas said bitterly while placing his hands on his hips, reminding me of something a nagging housewife would do. Of course, I would never tell Lucas that. That would only anger him more, and all I wanted to do was go to bed.
“You,” Lucas said while shoving a very pointy finger into Seth’s chest. “You ate the pizza, didn’t you? And the pickles and the cheese and the whipped cream. I would be happy if you hadn’t taken the bottle of vodka. Did you really think we wouldn’t find out?”
Seth didn’t say anything. His eyes were looking in opposite directions. It was safe to say Seth had left his body, replacing it with this other version of himself. Freud would probably be so intrigued by Seth. Sometimes I was intrigued by Seth, how he was able to be perfectly together one moment and then falling to pieces the next.
“Just get the fuck inside,” Lucas said while grabbing Seth. “We are so talking about this tomorrow. Tough love it is! I’m not pretending like everything is okay when you’re going to act like this.”
I wince as I recall Lucas’s words, hoping they aren’t for show. Seth does need someone to talk to. He reminds me of myself in a way. Although, in my case, I was punishing myself. I have no clue what this is, what Seth is doing.
I shove my sweatpants on before making my way toward the door, cracking it open and peaking outside. I hear breathing. It sounds hoarse. I’ll take that as a good sign. I pad out of my room and toward the girl on the couch. A trash can rests next to her, and there’s a small blanket over her tiny frame. She’s still in her clothes from last night, but her heels are on the floor near the front door and her leather jacket is on the coatrack. I nod in approval as I look into the trash, finding no puke in sight. That’s a good sign I suppose. My gaze shifts to the still full glass of water next to the trashcan. That’s not so good, but she has been sleeping all night. When she wakes up, I’ll urge her to drink some water. She’s going to need it.
Thumping sounds make me turn toward Seth’s door. He’s awake already? That’s a surprise, given how drunk he was last night. Maybe vomiting profusely has helped with his hangover. I pad toward the kitchen, grabbing a glass and filling it with water before searching the cabinets and fridge for something he can eat. I grab a brown and yellow banana and a couple slices of bread before moving toward his room.
I kick the door, my hands too full to knock. While waiting for him to open the door, I wonder what he will say, if he’ll apologize, if he’ll pretend like everything is fine. The door opens just a crack, revealing Seth’s bloodshot eyes, surrounded with dark circles. He looks so pale. He’s only in his boxers, displaying his too thin body. His face looks gaunt. He frowns at me and I worry he sees pity in my gaze.
Who am I to judge?
I also have my own issues. Last night was terrible. I have never wanted a drink as badly as I did at Mike’s party. It took every fiber in my being to keep me from grabbing a drink, from taking shots with Mike. I’m so glad I didn’t. Who knows what would have happened to Rachel and Lauren if I decided to get drunk instead?
“Will you let me in?” I ask. “I brought presents.” I hold up the water and food.
I frown when he shakes his head at me. “Not now, Hunter,” he says, his voice hoarse. “I feel like shit.”
I stick my foot into the door before he can close it and use my bulky strength to wedge it open. Seth groans, turning on his heel and briskly walking into his room. He dumps his body onto his bed, placing his head in his hands. His room is a pit. It’s like a tornado swept in, opened all the drawers, dumped his clothes on the ground, and then left. Doesn’t the guy know how to fold?
“What do you want?” Seth whines.
I sit next to him, offering him the water, which he takes immediately, guzzling it down instantly. He ignores me when I move the bread toward his nose.
“Stop,” Seth groans.
“It’ll help with your hangover.”
Seth doesn’t say anything, suddenly fascinated with his crumpled up shirt on the ground.
“Bro, you look like shit.” I nudge the banana toward him. “Please, at least eat one of them. It’ll help.”
“I can’t,” Seth whispers.
“Why not?”
Seth shakes his head.
I already know the answer, but I want him to say it out loud. Maybe it will help him, knowing that he has a problem, voicing it aloud and speaking about it openly. He doesn’t want to eat, because he ate everything last night, he lost control. And, of what I know of Seth, he has to be in control, because there’s something in his life that is so out of control. I have no clue what that is. His family? His career? His school work? It has to be something important to him to have him so upset.
