my friend.”
“ I know I do.” I continue eating my dinner slowly. Mills and I made enchiladas before we get ready to head to the bar for a while. My plan is to get a good enough buzz on so I can deal with this epically big shit storm coming my way tonight.
“ Well I guess the only thing we can do now is get some liquid courage in you before your shift. What time do you have to be at the frat?”
“ Midnight.” I tell her glumly.
“ Well that gives us approximately four hours to get you rip roaring drunk enough that you don’t care what happens at fire watch. So go get ready.”
“ Alright.” I stand up and put my dishes in the sink and head toward my bedroom to get ready for what I know will be one of the worst nights ever.
True to her word, Mills helped get my buzz on before I had to head over to the dreaded Chi Sigma Rho house. Holden and Brooks even showed up at the bar. Holden helped me relax a bit. The four of us shot pool for a couple of hours and I continued to self-medicate with rum and diets. I had not worked up enough courage to tell Holden that Cutter was on fire watch with us but he probably saw it for himself on the schedule. I decide avoiding it and pretending like it wasn’t happening is a better approach.
“ I guess we should be heading over to the frat for our shift.” Holden says as he watches me suck down the last of my fourth rum and diet.
“ Yeah I guess.” I search around the pool table for Millie. I want to say goodbye to her before I leave. I finally spot her at the bar getting another drink so I wonder over delaying my inevitable departure.
“ You out girl?” Mills asks me holding onto two beers.
“ Yup.” I give her a half fake smile.
“ Maybe he won’t show up? Maybe after the other day he decided to just leave it alone?”
“ Let’s hope.” But I know better, Cutter will be there. He will not miss this opportunity to have me and Holden as a captive audience.
Mills gives me a hug while juggling her two beer bottles.
“ You will be fine. If shit gets out of hand just leave.”
“ Will do.” I hug her back and walk over to where Holden is waiting for me.
It’s a short walk from the bar to Chi Sigma Rho. When Holden and I get to the front lawn Cutter is already sitting next to the fire in the recliner. He is wearing a thick black jacket and his favorite Seahawks baseball hat. He doesn’t look at us as we approach him; he just keeps staring at the fire almost as if he is in a daze. I notice next to the recliner is a half empty bottle of whiskey and I assume that is his.
I don’t really want to break the peaceful trance he is in but I feel like I should say something to him.
“ Hello Cutter.” I say settling in the couch across the fire from him. Holden sits down next to me.
His head snaps back and his eyes lock on me. “Oh hey.”
I can tell he is in a bad space in his mind. It is written all over his dark and brooding face. I have no reason to feel bad for him but I can’t help it, he looks miserable. What was he thinking about when we walked up? Was he thinking about us? Or was he thinking about Laney?
“ Hey man, I’m Holden.” I am broken out of my silent meltdown that is taking the form of twenty questions in my head by Holden who has decided to stand up and go over to introduce himself to Cutter. What the hell is he doing? Is he insane? Does he not remember this is the guy that full on attacked him on the cruise?
I brace for the worst against the back of the couch like I am watching a scary movie. But surprisingly Cutter doesn’t hit him he shakes Holden’s hand and introduces himself. I am in utter shock. I was prepared for world war III or something. Cutter however, remains calm except for a steely gaze he shoots in my direction as Holden returns to sit beside me. As Holden sits down next to me I instinctively move closer to the arm of the couch not sure at how Cutter will react to seeing me with Holden.
We sit with a safety buffer
“ I know I do.” I continue eating my dinner slowly. Mills and I made enchiladas before we get ready to head to the bar for a while. My plan is to get a good enough buzz on so I can deal with this epically big shit storm coming my way tonight.
“ Well I guess the only thing we can do now is get some liquid courage in you before your shift. What time do you have to be at the frat?”
“ Midnight.” I tell her glumly.
“ Well that gives us approximately four hours to get you rip roaring drunk enough that you don’t care what happens at fire watch. So go get ready.”
“ Alright.” I stand up and put my dishes in the sink and head toward my bedroom to get ready for what I know will be one of the worst nights ever.
True to her word, Mills helped get my buzz on before I had to head over to the dreaded Chi Sigma Rho house. Holden and Brooks even showed up at the bar. Holden helped me relax a bit. The four of us shot pool for a couple of hours and I continued to self-medicate with rum and diets. I had not worked up enough courage to tell Holden that Cutter was on fire watch with us but he probably saw it for himself on the schedule. I decide avoiding it and pretending like it wasn’t happening is a better approach.
“ I guess we should be heading over to the frat for our shift.” Holden says as he watches me suck down the last of my fourth rum and diet.
“ Yeah I guess.” I search around the pool table for Millie. I want to say goodbye to her before I leave. I finally spot her at the bar getting another drink so I wonder over delaying my inevitable departure.
“ You out girl?” Mills asks me holding onto two beers.
“ Yup.” I give her a half fake smile.
“ Maybe he won’t show up? Maybe after the other day he decided to just leave it alone?”
“ Let’s hope.” But I know better, Cutter will be there. He will not miss this opportunity to have me and Holden as a captive audience.
Mills gives me a hug while juggling her two beer bottles.
“ You will be fine. If shit gets out of hand just leave.”
“ Will do.” I hug her back and walk over to where Holden is waiting for me.
It’s a short walk from the bar to Chi Sigma Rho. When Holden and I get to the front lawn Cutter is already sitting next to the fire in the recliner. He is wearing a thick black jacket and his favorite Seahawks baseball hat. He doesn’t look at us as we approach him; he just keeps staring at the fire almost as if he is in a daze. I notice next to the recliner is a half empty bottle of whiskey and I assume that is his.
I don’t really want to break the peaceful trance he is in but I feel like I should say something to him.
“ Hello Cutter.” I say settling in the couch across the fire from him. Holden sits down next to me.
His head snaps back and his eyes lock on me. “Oh hey.”
I can tell he is in a bad space in his mind. It is written all over his dark and brooding face. I have no reason to feel bad for him but I can’t help it, he looks miserable. What was he thinking about when we walked up? Was he thinking about us? Or was he thinking about Laney?
“ Hey man, I’m Holden.” I am broken out of my silent meltdown that is taking the form of twenty questions in my head by Holden who has decided to stand up and go over to introduce himself to Cutter. What the hell is he doing? Is he insane? Does he not remember this is the guy that full on attacked him on the cruise?
I brace for the worst against the back of the couch like I am watching a scary movie. But surprisingly Cutter doesn’t hit him he shakes Holden’s hand and introduces himself. I am in utter shock. I was prepared for world war III or something. Cutter however, remains calm except for a steely gaze he shoots in my direction as Holden returns to sit beside me. As Holden sits down next to me I instinctively move closer to the arm of the couch not sure at how Cutter will react to seeing me with Holden.
We sit with a safety buffer
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