Set Me Free

I was stuttering like mad, trying hard to think up of some excuse as to why I couldn’t possibly play that game. One: I didn’t want to get drunk; not now and two: I really didn’t want Andrew to get drunk. I know that when people are intoxicated, they tend to not think straight and others end up getting hurt. Though, I’m already in the hospital, what more could he do? Well, he could kill me, but I don’t think Drew would ever have the strength to do something like that...but then again...

“Dane!” He screeched in my ear, causing me to flinch away and look at what he was doing.

Drew was already pouring two shots in those little shot glasses that I despised. When I was younger, my mother would throw them at me when she was drunk (or sometimes sober).

“Um...I don’t know if I should be doing this; seeing as I’m in the hospital. And aren’t you supposed to play in with beer or something?”

“Doesn’t matter what you play it with, just as long as someone gets drunk in the end.” Drew smirked. Somehow I always thought he was the type of person to stay locked up in their rooms and read until their eyes bled. Does the fact that he drinks make me less attracted to him...not in the least bit. “So are we playing or not?” He asked. It wasn’t as if he was taunting me or demanding in any way; he actually sounded genuinely curious as to whether I wanted to play or not.

And with a face that gorgeous, how could I ever stand a chance to ever say no? It was such an unfair advantage that left me pouting.

Sighing in defeat, I waved my hand to him (as unenthusiastic as I could make it) to start the game. Apparently I’d have to go first, I already don’t like this...

“Um, never have I ever...sucked someone’s toe?” What the hell was I supposed to say? I didn’t want this to turn sexual in any way, seeing as I was already unstable when it came to Drew. And sucking someone’s toe was the first thing that came to mind; don’t ask me why, it just did.

“Please tell me you’re kidding.” He sighed, fighting back a smile.

“No, actually, I never have sucked someone’s toe and I frankly don’t plan on doing it anytime in the future.” I smirked.

“Whatever, my turn.” He grinned evilly; I don’t like where this is going. “Never have I ever had sex.” I could’ve sworn my jaw touched the ground.

How is it possible for someone who looks (and acts) like Andrew to never had sex? Before anything could even come out of my mouth, Andrew burst out laughing and took a shot himself...even though I’m pretty sure that’s against the rules. “You should’ve seen the look on your face.” He laughed, shaking his head to diminish the stale taste of the vodka.

“Shut the hell up and you’re not supposed to do that.” I pouted, crossing my arms over my chest, wincing as I hit my ribs too hard. Damn you dad.

The game went on for about another hour and a half and Drew was completely smashed. Almost the entire bottle of vodka was gone and Drew was half passed out on the couch and belting out some random Katy Perry song at the top of his lungs; I was on the bed trying not to piss myself laughing.

Three times during the game, my doctor came in and did some check-ups on me. He saw what we were doing and even though it’s illegal, he just walked away and pretended as if he didn’t see anything.

Apparently I was healing up very well and the doctor told me that I could go home if I wanted, but I’d have to keep daily recordings of my heart beats or some shit like that, that I didn’t pay attention to. I was also put on meds to help my breathing and I was supposed to go home and rest or I’d re-break my ribs.

Which leads us to the current dilemma; getting a half passed out, completely intoxicated Drew to the car (and I don’t know where he parked), drive and carry him to his house...with mending ribs and a current heart problem. Okay, I’m still right outside of my room. Drew was completely slouched over my left side as I tried turning the corner, which only made him lean more into me and a sharp pain to shoot through my entire chest. I grunted in pain, but none of the nurses bothered paying attention to me. It wasn’t that Drew was heavy, because I would’ve been able to carry him if I wasn’t in so much pain, but he was leaning on the side my dad had stepped down on.

“Drew, think you can help me out here? Can you just, try to walk on your own?” I grunted, trying not to fall, which proved harder than normal.

“I’m drunk.” He slurred before breaking out in a fit of giggles...guys don’t giggle.

Drew kept poking my nose and blowing raspberries in my face every few minutes. His breath absolutely reeked of alcohol and I was surprised he hadn’t passed out yet.

By the time I managed to find the car, it was already dark. Drew had finally passed out I was forced to actually drag him all the way across the parking lot until I found his car...which was parked horizontally across two and half parking spaces. How does he not get a ticket for that?

The drive home was pure torture. I couldn’t sit straight and kept bouncing every time I hit a bump (I wasn’t even going to attempt putting on my seatbelt).

As soon as I parked Drew’s car in his driveway, his parents were already running out to meet us. Drew was still passed out.

“Oh, I hope you’re okay.” Mrs. Connelly ran up and wrapped me in a lighter hug than before.
“And why on earth are you driving...where’s Drew?”

Mr. Connelly, being the smart man he is, opened the back door and Andrew came sprawling out onto the pavement, still snoring. I didn’t bother putting his seatbelt on either, seeing as it nearly killed me just lifting him up onto the seat.

“Found him. Do I get bonus points for saying what happened?” Mr. Connelly grinned like a three year old wanting candy. He clearly did not care that his son passed out drunk in the backseat of a car.

“Oh for heavens sakes! How does that boy keep buying alcohol? I thought I took away all of his fake I.Ds!” Mrs. Connelly bent down, looking down at her son. All she did was flick him in the Adam’s apple and he was up and spluttering like there was no tomorrow. So that’s all I had to do to get him up? “Um...do you want to stay over tonight?” Mrs. Connelly asked with a sincere smile on her face. “I mean, I know you probably want to get home and everything, but um...” I saw her eyes flicker over to my house for a second before she went back to looking at me; so she guessed too. Or did Drew tell her what had happened while I was still unconscious? “You can go to school with Drew tomorrow. That’ll be fun...right?” It was painfully obvious she was trying to stop me from going home; hell, I didn’t want to go home. Might as well accept, right?

“Um...sure.”

Mrs. Connelly squealed like a thirteen year old girl in the presence of Justin Bieber. I could’ve sworn she popped an eardrum.

While Mr. Connelly was busy carrying Drew inside the house (slung over his shoulder), Mrs. Connelly was trying to make sure that I didn’t impale myself on the grass.

“I know it’s a little late, but would you like some dinner? I just cooked it! I can only imagine how terrible hospital food is.” She didn’t even wait for an answer before running off to the kitchen and telling me to sit in the living room to watch TV.

Even though the Connellys' house was almost the same as mine; the nice furniture, the fireplace adorned with photos, decorated...everything; their house had a certain warmth that mine lacked. That could be because in here there was a family that could tolerate each other and whose lives didn’t revolve around money, and...it felt really nice.

Being the somewhat nosy person that I am, I went up to the fireplace and looked over all of the pictures. The first was Mrs. Connelly holding what looked like a three year old, smiling Drew in her arms at the park. He still has the same color hair. The second was one of Felicity, running around being chased by what looked like...some guy. It definitely was not Drew. This boy was blond and looked a lot like Mr. and Mrs. Connelly, but they don’t have any other kids, do they?

Before I could look at anymore pictures, Mrs. Connelly walked in with a steaming plate of lasagna on a tray with a glass of juice beside it.

“Do you have another son?” I blurted out before she even took three steps into the room.
Mrs. Connelly didn’t seem at all sad or even fazed that I brought it up, she actually laughed while setting the tray down.

“I see you’ve been looking at the pictures.” She smiled. I brought my head down in shame; she made me sound nosy (well, I am, but I don’t like it being pointed out). “Oh, don’t worry; that’s what the pictures are there for. And yes, I do have another son, I told you about him when we first went to your house, remember?” No. “Well, his name’s Sam and he’s my oldest; turned 19 last month.” She beamed, only the slightest trace of sadness in her eyes.
“I’ll leave you to eat, turn on the television, make yourself at home and if you need me, I’ll be in the kitchen.”

She literally skipped off into the kitchen.
Drew never mentioned a brother before, but then again, we haven’t talked about any serious issues, other than his sister’s epilepsy. Where is Felicity anyway? Most likely asleep, since it’s almost eleven.

Mr. and Mrs. Connelly said that I’d be sleeping in the guest room for the night and that I could just borrow some of Andrew’s clothes for school tomorrow. I could also expect a seven thirty wake up call in the morning. I already loved these people more than my own family and I’ve known them for less than a week!

By the time Mr. Connelly trudged into the guest room to wake me up, I’d already taken a shower and had fresh clothes on; I took the liberty of sneaking into Drew’s room and stealing his clothes while he was passed out the night before instead of waiting until the morning. Mr. Connelly was happy that at least someone in the house got up on time.

Mrs. Connelly came back into the guest room, not five minutes later, and told me to go wake up Drew because he’s being a lazy ass with a hangover that will murder whoever dares talks to him...fun.

I haven’t lived with my brother for over seven years, so I wasn’t quite sure what to do to wake someone else up, so I acted like I would when I was still ten and I jumped on Drew’s bed...and he pushed me to the ground, causing me to land on my side and scream out in pain. Through my pained slits for eyes, I’ve never seen someone with a hangover jump out of bed so fast in my life.

Mrs. Connelly burst into the room at the speed of light; I don’t think I even finished screaming before she was by my side. Mr. Connelly was next, with an ice pack and the phone in his hand. Then came Felicity, a little slower, with an inhaler in one hand and some Advil in the other. Damn you again father!

Mr. Connelly drove me to the hospital while Mrs. Connelly forced Drew to get ready for school.

Thankfully I didn’t break my ribs again, but I was over an hour late for school (which would go on my records) and it was already second period, which meant that Andrew wasn’t in any of my classes, which also meant that for all he knew, I was still in the hospital. Oh wait, I have a phone...ha, I’m stupid.

As soon as I walked into second period, Jenny was strangling me in what she liked to call hugs (I called them death traps). The teacher didn’t even care that she had bolted right out of her seat during a lesson; half the class was asleep anyway. Echo was even snoring a little in the back.

“Where were you? Why didn’t you, like, answer any of my texts? I called your house and your dad was like, ‘oh, he like, moved out’ or something. Ugh, you couldn’t have the decency to like, call me?” She said ‘like’ four times and her voice was enough to make me grit my teeth. Why can’t I just leave her? Life is so unfair.

“I didn’t move out, Jenny.” I said, detaching myself from her. “I got into some stupid fight and landed in the hospital again.”

She didn’t even ask me if I was okay. What kind of girlfriend is that?

Not even bothering to hide my phone under my desk (because honestly, the teacher doesn’t notice shit), I set straight away to texting Andrew. I could’ve called him, but I didn’t know what class he was in.

‘I’m back…did u miss me?’

I only had to wait thirty seven seconds for his answer.

‘Dude, r u okay? What did I do? I’m so sorry man, DX I didn’t know that was going to happen!’

‘Don’t worry about it; I didn’t break anything, if you wanted to know. Alls is fine! Still have a hangover?’

‘Yes and your girlfriend’s a bitch! She kept squealing in my ear and asking me out…DUMP HER!’

Drew and I spent the rest of the class texting and since we had lunch, fourth period and art together as well, we spent all of those together too.

I can honestly say that it was the best day ever!