Chapter 14; 

I sit in John's lap, secured by his arms wrapped around my waist. I smile at the simply gesture but it always seems bigger than it is. "What's this?" I ask Charlie, who handed me a tiny glass filled with an amber colored liquid.

"It's tequila. Drink it fast, it may burn a bit, but it'll get better with more and more." Charlie told me, as she poured herself her own and took it down in one sip. I didn't like the taste of beer and if this smelled anything like it, I knew it'd be a bust. But once I took a whiff of it, I knew it was much stronger and didn't smell like it at all. I threw my head back and poured the drink down my throat. It stung, hard, but the warm feeling that it left in my throat and stomach started to grow on me with shot after shot. 

"Careful there. Don't want to drink too much." Stu said winking at me and laughing. 

"I bet I could handle it better than you." I said, my voice slurring even though I tried to stop it.

"I'm not to sure about that. Anyways, I'm not much of a drinker. But John is and ye've 'ad the same amount!" Stu said, making John pull me closer to him. 

"Is that true?" He whispered, his hot breathe sending shivers down my spine. 

"I-I was just drinking what I was offered." I quivered slurring my words.

"Ye shouldn't drink much." John said, sounding much more stable than me, maybe he handled it better. "It's bad for ye, Eloise." 

"John! We've 'ad the same amount!" 

"And look at the difference between our voices and actions." John said calmly, even though he ran a hand through his hair. 

" 'cause I'm not sayin' anythin' bad 'bout you!" I said, louder than I expected. I ripped John's hands off me, stood up and took myself to the backroom to calm down. I sat down on the bed, the bed John and I were supposed to share tonight and for the rest of the week. I picked up a book and tried to read it, but my head was spinning more than I can handle. 

"Eloise?" A voice called, knocking on the door and came in.

"What'd ye want, Paul? Another dramatic exit." I snorted, I didn't know what to expect. 

"No? I wanted to see if ye were alright?" 

"Does it look like it?" 

"No. Not at all. Tell me what's botherin' ye." 

"Paul, you heard what happened. I almost drowned today. I almost died and then John yells at me for drinking too much. While, we don't even have any power and I'm staying by a candle and under a quilt because I'm freezing." I complained, and started to tear up, but held it back. Why is it everytime I have alcohol in my blood stream, I'm an emotional wreck? 

"Well, come 'ere then." Paul said, putting himself under the covers and pulled me next to him. I tensed up, why is he doing this? Then Paul's body started to warm me up and I was comforted. This is Paul, my friend. "And he's right you know? We all almost lost you today. If it hadn't been him, it would've been me to yell at you for drinkin' so much." 

"But we drank the same amount!" I said, my voice muffled because it was in his chest. 

"And I bet he's drank much more than you!" 

"That's not fair Paulie." I pointed out. 

"Ay'! It's true! Blame yer body, not me." Paul said laughing. 

"Thank you, Paul. For cheering me up and all. I'm glad yer a friend." I said, hugging him closer. 

"Yeah sure, what're... Friends for?" Paul said, and chuckled. Paul doesn't think, because even in my drunken state, I could feel his muscles tighten. But I didn't respond and just laid there, until my eye lids began to droop and I needed sleep. 

"What the hells going on?!" I hear, somewhere so close, yet distant. I could feel myself fall against the soft mattress and realized John's voice and realized it wasn't a dream anymore. I opened my eyes and John had pulled Paul up by his shirt, clenched in a fist. 

"Stop!" I screamed so loud it hurt my ears and throat. 

"Why so I won't hurt yer boyfriend?" John spit out, not looking at me.

"No John! So you won't hurt yer friend, nor my friend. And so you won't hurt yerself!" 

"How long has this been going on?" John asked Paul, pushing him against the wall, his voice slurred and he was so angry. 

"John, yer bloody drunk!" 

"I didn't ask you! Answer the question Paul!" 

"Nothing! Nothing has been go on! I was comforting her! She was hurt, because of you!" Paul said, saying the last sentence like it was venom. I wanted to curl up in a ball and forget everything. For everything to be how it should be. I should be happy. Don't I deserve to be happy. 

"Me?" John asked, his voice soft and let Paul go. John tried to come closer to me, but I backed away. "I did this? I made you cry? Eloise I'm so sor-" John said, looking so fragile, starring at his hands like he didn't think they belonged to him. The site made me want to cry, but I kept it in, I wouldn't give him a sense of reaction. 

"Leave. Both of you." I said my voice breaking, I couldn't hear any of them apologize because I'd just give in. 

"Eloise Please." John pleaded. 

"I'll see you in the morning. Leave." I said, pointing at the door. Once they left and I was alone, I curled up. Do I not deserve simple happiness? I sobbed, into the pillow making no noise. Maybe I'm the one who needs to leave, maybe that'll make it better.