“BJ!” Chris cheered as he opened the door. His party was happening right now. I could hear the music exploding. Ali had decided to stay home with the boys. I had felt guilty at first, but I knew I needed to relax before I had a stroke.

                Chris led me inside where the strong, familiar smell of cigarette smoke and alcohol made me smile. “Where are your parents?” I asked curiously. “They let me have the house for this party,” he said joyfully.

                I laughed. “Nice dude.” He nodded eagerly. I could see his sister holding her son as she talked to someone. Her husband stood next to her with a beer in his hand. They were really nice. I had met them a few times.

                Chris held out a beer to me. I hesitated. “I don’t know Chris,” I said nervously. “Aw come on BJ! It’s just one night.” I could see the desperation in his eyes. The desperation to get his old best friend back. To get the old me back.

                I took the beer.

                Chris smiled widely and led me into the living room. “Benjamin Jarvis!” my two friends, Hanley and Johnny, cried and ran over to me. They also had beers in their hands. “You came!” Hanley cried happily. He and I were incredibly close. We had drifted over the years and I had become closer to Chris, but I would still give my life to protect Hanley.

                Johnny smiled at me softly. He was a broken kind of guy. Broken on the inside, scarred on the outside. His loving dad had died of cancer and his mom had attempted to give him a Chelsea Smile. One of his best friends, Hanley’s cousin, had been killed in front of him.

                And yet, he was one of the nicest guys you would ever meet.

                “Hey guys!” I said, excited to be back drinking with my group of friends. We talked, danced around, smoked, and drank. We were partying hard, games of beer pong going strong. Chugging and taking shots.

                I felt myself getting drunk and I didn’t care. I was so happy to get drunk. Chris was already beyond hammered as he continued to party. I wanted to get destroyed. I grabbed myself another drink.

                I began to chug it.

                                                                                ***Ali’s POV***

                Shane was feeling better. His fever was almost gone. But he had been incredibly attached to Ben lately. He refused to let go of Ben. Whenever Ben wasn’t around, Shane would start crying and screaming for him. It was scaring both of us.

                “Where’s daddy?” he was screaming as I desperately tried to calm him down. JJ and Claire watched sadly. “He’s not here right now Shane. He’ll be home soon,” I said for the millionth time.

                “Daddy!” he shrieked. I looked at JJ and Claire desperately. There was nothing I could do to calm him down. Shawn was sitting next to me frowning. “Daddy!” Shane yelled, crying.

                “Don’t cry Shane! Daddy will be home soon,” Shawn comforted, crawling onto my lap and hugging his twin brother. Shane continued to cry out for Ben though. Jeydyn came down to us and looked at Shane.

                “Why’s he screaming?” she asked. “He’s wants your brother,” JJ said, sighing. Jeydyn walked over and sat on JJ’s lap. He wrapped his arms around her lovingly. “Where is Ben?” she asked with a deep frown.

                “He’s at Chris’s birthday party,” JJ answered. “But he should’ve been home a while ago. I want to know what they’re doing there.” Not drinking. Ben had promised me that he wouldn’t drink. He had promised he wouldn’t even have a single beer.

                The front door opened and we all stared expectantly. Even Shane’s head whipped around hopefully. I waited impatiently as we heard someone making their slow way into the living room.

                My brother appeared basically dragging Ben along. Ben was still conscious but it was obvious he was beyond wasted. I had never seen Ben that drunk before. He smelled so strongly of alcohol and cigarettes that I pulled my shirt up over my nose.

                “What happened?!” JJ cried in alarm. Jeydyn jumped off his lap and he hurried over to support Ben. My brother, Pez, shook his head sadly. He used to be friends with Ben. When Ben got me pregnant, Pez had despised him. Then, over the past 3 years, they had fixed their relationship, becoming close friends.

                “I got a call saying that he was going to need a ride home. I didn’t think he was this drunk.” He bit his lip as JJ led Ben over to the couch and carefully sat him down.

                Shane crawled out of my lap and ran over to Ben. “Daddy!” he cried, reaching his arms up. Ben glared at him. “Go away!” he slurred angrily. I jumped up and picked up Shane. He started screaming again. “Daddy!” he yelled. I grabbed Shawn as well and pulled them upstairs.

                I did not want my 3 year olds to see their father like this.

                “Stay here!” I said angrily. Claire placed a hand on my shoulder. “I’ll watch them,” she said quietly and I ran back downstairs to my boyfriend.

                JJ and Ben had disappeared. “Puking in the bathroom,” Pez said, sighing. “I thought he changed Pez,” I whispered. Pez wrapped his arms around me tightly. He was home from college right now. He kissed my cheek and held me close. I heard JJ leaving the bathroom and closed my eyes as he carried Ben’s unconscious form up stairs.