I’m aware of Ted entering the bathroom although I’m not sure how long I’ve been in there. I feel like shit and as I stare at myself in the mirror above the sink, I realize I look like shit too. I splash a little water on my face, I think I might have puked in one of the stalls but that’s kind of fuzzy right now. It had to have been that takeout from the diner that did this too me.
Ted’s sort of helping me stand up straight. He turns the water off and he’s walking me toward the door.
“Our ride is here.”
I wonder why Mikey isn’t in here helping me get to the car. Ted seems to be doing a pretty good job though; I’ve got to hand it to him. Where the hell is Michael? I must have pissed him off too. I laugh at that and mumble to Ted.
“He can join the fucking club. They’re all pissed at me. Fuck ‘em.”
I lightly push Ted away and prove to him that I can stand and walk on my own as he opens up the bathroom door. I sway just a little but I think I’m doing quite well as I follow him toward the door.
“So where is he?” I ask as I scan the bar for Mikey.
“Our ride is outside.” Ted says as he hands me my jacket. “Come on.” I continue to follow him. I just concentrate on moving one foot, and then the other. I stumble just a little getting out the door, but I quickly recover.
“It’s fucking cold out here.” I grumble as we reach the sidewalk just outside of Woody’s. That’s when I hear someone laying on their horn. I look up and see Melanie sitting behind the wheel of her car.
“Christ! What the fuck does she want?” I start searching for my cigarettes and I watch as Ted starts toward the car.
“Good you go and get rid of her. I don’t want to deal with her. Where’s Mikey?”
I finally get a cigarette out and lit. Ted has stopped just outside of the car. He turns and looks at me apprehensively.
“She’s our ride. Come on.” If looks could kill I’d be guilty of murdering Ted right now.
“Jesus Christ! What the fuck Ted! Melanie?” He gets into the car and Melanie yells through the open door.
“You better get your ass moving if you want a ride.” I know I can’t walk home. I barely made it outside of the bar on my own. Driving would be an option, if only I could remember where I parked my jeep.
Melanie lays on the horn again and reluctantly I walk over to the car. I can’t believe Ted called her of all people to come and get us.
“Toss the cigarette. You’re not smoking in my car.” Fucking bitch. I take another hit before tossing the cigarette onto the ground, but I exhale the smoke into the car as I get inside just to piss her off. She barely lets me get the door shut before she pulls away from the curb. I lean my head back on the seat and listen to her and Ted talk while she drives.
“I couldn’t get a hold of Michael or Emmett. I’m glad you guys were home. I really appreciate you coming to get us.”
“We’re always home at this hour Ted.”
“I’m sorry. It’s late isn’t it?”
“It’s just after 2:00 Teddy. Shouldn’t you be home sleeping? Don’t you have some big jerk-a-thon happening tomorrow on your website?”
“Yeah, it’s not until tomorrow afternoon. My usual jerkers will be on until then. My staff can handle that without me. I didn’t wake up Lindsay when I called, did I?”
“No. She was up. She’s waiting for Gus to get home.”
“Thanks Mel. I’m sorry to drag you out at this hour, but…” I’m not sure I’ve ever understood why these two are friends. Wait a second. Did she just say that Gus is still out? After 2:00? Nice parenting.
“It’s okay Teddy.” Jesus, she’s practically sugary sweet when she talks to him.
“You should have called a cab, Ted.” I interject from the backseat.
“Shut up Brian.” The sugar voice is gone instantly, replaced with anger and hate.
I snort and we drive in silence for a few blocks.
“So why is my son out past 2:00 in the morning?”
“MY son is at the hospital with YOUR ex. Not that it’s any of your business. Now that he’s finally figured out what an asshole you are he doesn’t want anything to do with you. I wondered how long it would take for him to see you for what you really are.”
“Stop the car!” I yell. I’m sure that I’m about to puke again, the memory of being sick in the bathroom at Woody’s is finally clear as day to me.
“No! I’m not stopping the car.” She presses down on the gas pedal harder and the car lurches forward along with my stomach. Ted turns around to look at me and he knows what’s about to happen.
“Melanie. Stop the car. Brian is about to be sick all over your backseat.”
I feel the car stop and I fumble with the door handle for a few seconds before finally releasing myself from the car. I look around and we’ve stopped near a wooded area. I head toward the closest tree and support myself on it while emptying my stomach out completely. I can hear Melanie bitching to Ted from the car. My head is pounding now and the last thing I want to do is get back into that car with her, so I just lean against the tree for the longest time.
I don’t remember getting back into the car but I know that I’m there. I can hear Ted and Melanie talking again.
“Maybe he could stay at your place.” She says.
“Do you think that’s really a good idea?”
“You’re right. He’ll be an asshole in the morning and you’d have to deal with it before you leave for work. We at least have the luxury of not working tomorrow and apparently now our Saturday will be ruined by an asshole.”
“I’m really sorry Mel. I guess we didn’t realize how much we were drinking.”
“Don’t apologize Ted.”
“I can’t believe he passed out leaning against that tree.”
“Did you see the knot on his forehead?” She laughs.
“He’s going to be pissed when he sees that.”
“Serves him fucking right!”
It barely registers to me when the car does stop. Melanie and Ted begin pulling me out of the car. I try to fight it but somehow I can’t even tell them to fuck off. They lean me against the cold door frame and my eyes flutter open for a second. I see Melanie unlocking the door, then Lindsay standing on the other side of it.”
“Oh my God! What happened to him?” She sounds frantic. My eyes droop closed again.
“He’s drunk. That’s what happened to him.” Fuck you Mel, I want to say. Instead I let them lead me to the sofa. I feel my shoes being taken off and an itchy afghan is thrown over top of me. I hear Melanie and Ted leaving, and then there is silence.
I wake up to the smell of bacon burning. I bury my head under the itchy afghan and try to block of the voices coming from the kitchen.
“Did Gus see him there last night?” I wince when I hear that question.
“Yes Mel. He saw him as soon as he got home.”
“Well what did he think of his drunken father?”
“He didn’t say anything. He just went up to his room.”
“What time did he finally get home?”
“It was almost four.”
“Lindsay I don’t like him staying out that late.”
“It’s not like he’s out, Mel. He’s at the hospital.”
“Well he should be home in bed.”
“Melanie…”
“I know I know… He feels like he has to take care of Justin now. That’s bullshit Linds!”
“Well we won’t have to worry about it in a few days. I talked to Jennifer last night; Justin’s going to be released soon.”
“When did you talk to her?”
“She called right before Gus got home. She always calls to let me know he’s on his way home.”
“She’s taking advantage of Gus. She should be at that hospital at night, not our seventeen year old son.” I hate to admit to myself that I agree with Melanie on that one. It doesn’t surprise me though, that’s typical Jennifer Taylor, always pawning Justin off on someone else.
I hear the sound of footsteps coming down the stairs.
“Shhhh… He’s coming.”
“Hey Baby.” Lindsay’s cheerfulness sounds completely fake this morning.
“Good Morning Gus. You’re up early.”
“Yeah.” I notice that he sounds tired.
“Let me get you some breakfast.” I can just picture her hovering over him like he’s an infant.
“I’m not really that hungry. Some juice maybe…”
“Coming right up sweetie.” God Linds, smother the kid why don’t you?
“Is your father still passed out on the sofa?” Bitch!
“Melanie!” Lindsay scolds her halfheartedly.
“Yeah.” Gus’s voice is emotionless as he answers her.
Melanie drops her line of questioning and things in the kitchen seem to quiet down. I’m not sure if I fell back asleep or what, but before I know it the house seems empty and I’m sitting up on the sofa staring at a painting Lindsay has hung on the wall. A few moments later Gus enters the room and sighs.
“You need a ride home Dad?”
I nod and stand up.
To Be Continued…