Brooks Scott

"You know what I think you wankers need?" Callum said, tying his shoe on the end of Kai's bed. "A fucking night out." He dropped his foot down roughly on the floor. I looked down at my outfit for the night. Straight jeans and a black hoodie with a basic white muscle tee underneath. The boys are also in casual fits as the three of us stare at the kid in front of us.

Rowan is surprisingly sober, staring at Cal like he's an idiot. "Well isn't that what's about to go down?" he questioned. Cal shot him a smile and walked past him, patting his huge shoulder. He fixed his blonde hair in the mirror before turning back to look at us.

"Correct. Not even a month into the semester and we're going out a second time because you fucks," he pointed to Kai and Ro. "Not you," he looked at me, "have been all kinds of fucked up and downright stupid since coming back to Havenpoint." Cal smiled, stepping forward and putting his hands on our shoulders, pulling us in closer. "So that is why we're in dire need of a boy's night!"

Ro smirked. "Hey, I'm not complaining. Any excuse to drink." Kai rolled his eyes. He seemed to be a little less keen on Cal's idea. I was also a bit worried just because getting caught was always a possibility. We had formulated a plan earlier today without the help of the girls. They didn't even know we were leaving campus tonight.

Cal returned a grin and patted Ro's shoulder extra hard. "Good lad." He turned his head over to Kai and me. "You both are drinking too. We're getting absolutely hammered tonight. Understood?"

Kai's brows furrowed. "Someone has to be DD, idiot. Actually two of us."

Our blonde friend gave him a look. "You think I'm that big of an idiot-"

"Yes," Kai cut him off, earning a rare flare from Cal.

"We're not taking the bikes. I'm going to order us a car once we get into town," he offered. "And coming back into Haven isn't as hard as leaving so we'll be fine. C'mon boys, we have to leave soon. You know the drill."

Callum and Rowan took off in front of us and I looked over at Kai. He shook his head and sighed deeply. While we hadn't known each other for that long, I was getting an idea of the type of guy Kai was. He was moody. Quiet and laidback. Reserved and definitely not a happy dude in general.

The thing I was curious about was if he had always been like this or if something changed and made him like this. There was a situation that went down between him and Emerson. Was he like this before? Or did this personality just appear after that situation? From Cal's words, it seemed to me like Kai and even Ro were different.

I don't think Callum, as close as we've gotten, would tell me anything about them. Their past, I mean. Not yet at least. It was going to take a while for me to figure them out. Every single one of them.

I patted Kai's shoulder lightly. "Let's make sure these idiots don't get themselves into any trouble, yeah?" I told him. He looked over at me, his dark hair almost covering his eyes. Kai had those sad eyes, the ones that Emerson had. They were a lot more similar than I once thought and I was upset that they couldn't confide in one another.

Maybe their similarities were what pulled them apart from each other.

Who knows.

"Man, we can only try," Kai sighed.

***

I don't know how it happened.

I don't know when it started.

My mind is in a foggy haze and my head lols back but I pick it up. I close my eyes tightly as they burn.

Why do they burn so badly?

When I open them again, I turn to the side and see a blonde woman dressed in the tiniest lingerie set ever, grinding on Kai's lap. I can't tell if he's trying not to push this woman off of him or if he's trying not to come. My eyes widen slightly and I frantically look around for Ro and Cal. Callum sits on the further end of the couch with a brunette sitting next to him. She's rubbing his back as he quickly talks to her about God knows what. That woman also wears lingerie.

"What the..."

My eyes do a double take to the huge rugby player in the corner of the room. He's making out viscously with another blonde woman. The only difference between her and the others is that she's naked. I look away from that scene quickly.

Nope. Not doing that.

"Need some company?" A seductive voice whispers in my ear. Her voice sends shivers down my legs and I realize it's the same woman who's still on Kai's lap. His eyes are closed now and his head has fallen forward. Oh God.

"No, thanks," I replied, my voice coming out extremely hoarse. I clear my throat and it burns to do so. My body lifts itself and I'm only starting to realize that I might be the wrong kind of cross-faded. Which is paranoid. "Do you mind?" I asked the blonde, grabbing her hand and helping her off Kai.

She looks mildly confused but also irritated as she walks away. "Hey, buddy," I whispered, shaking Kai to wake him up. "Cal!" I shot out to my only other friend who seemed to be coherent. Rowan was also good enough to be dry-humping that woman in the corner.

Fuck.

Kai and I said we would be the ones taking care of those two idiots, not the other way around.

I grabbed Kai's shoulder before we walked into the bar down the street from Gypsy Fish. We didn't know if we were allowed back in there after the altercation a few weeks ago so Torrid it was. "Stick with me, okay? We have to be sober enough to know that we'll get them home okay," I told him.

He nodded. "Yeah, that's okay with me, lad. I'm not in the drinking mood anyway. I'll focus on Ro and you on Cal?"

How could we fuck it up this bad?

"One sec." Cal held his index finger up and got talking to the woman.

I rolled my eyes and shook Kai again. "Kai, c'mon man. We're getting out of here." His eyes fluttered open slowly and he looked around as if he was confused by his surroundings. That's how I felt a couple of minutes ago. Now I was just on high alert. How the fuck did we end up at a strip club? And what time was it?

I swallow thickly hoping that nothing too bad happened while we were incoherent. "I'm tired," Kai mumbled and I grabbed his arm to lift him from the couch. He didn't try helping me at all, his body as limp as a wet noodle.

"Cal!" I screamed again and he looked up. "Get Ro and let's get the fuck outta here, man!" He looked at me like I had ruined his fun. Even the woman next to him glared holes into me but I ignored her completely. Callum quickly got up and walked over to Ro who had the naked woman pinned against the wall as he sucked on her neck.

He pulled him by the shoulder causing Ro to groan. "What the fuck?" The latter pushed Callum but he barely flinched. The two of them were about the same size. I didn't know how Cal put on that much muscle considering he doesn't play any sports. Ro's size comes from playing rugby his whole life.

"Let's go, lad. You're not sixteen for another couple of days, don't give this lovely lady a case," Cal deadpanned, looking at the naked woman in the eyes with a smile. That was obviously a joke as Rowan was turning eighteen soon. Her face paled but I didn't look at her for long.

She's naked, Brooks.

Why did looking at her feel like I just committed adultery against Amelie?

Rowan's eyes were red and I could tell he was drunk. Cal, on the other hand, I had no idea. When the two of them appeared by my side, I threw Kai on them to hold while I called a car. It only took about five minutes for the car to arrive but the three of us had to hold up Kai the entire time. "How much did he have to drink?" I slurred.

My body still buzzed with alcohol and I felt high but it had all turned into paranoia now. The thought of getting caught returning to HP was filling my brain. Everyone else seemed like they were alright. Somehow Callum looked the least drunk but maybe I should have figured that out considering he was having a goddamn conversation with the stripper.

"A lot," Ro answered, laughing. He was drunk too and Callum smiled like he succeeded in his mission for tonight. What even happened? How could I have already forgotten? Wait... is this what happens to alcoholics? Do they start forgetting things more quickly than casual drinkers?

Oh, God. Oh, God.

"He almost fucked the pussy right off that stripper!"

I cringed at his words. "Cal, please."

He laughed like an idiot and so did Rowan. Those two were more alike when they were drunk. "Oh." Ro perked up, digging inside his jacket. He pulled out a full bottle of grey goose. "I managed to seal this from the bar." My eyes widened and so did Callum's.

"You dirty dog, give me that shit!" Callum snatched it from him and took a large gulp of the alcohol. Just watching him do that made me want to throw up. Our driver looks in his rearview mirror at Callum, shaking his head.

"Sorry about him," I said, a staggered breath escaping my lungs when Cal shoved the heavy bottle against my chest. "What the hell?" I coughed.

"Drink it bitch."

"No thank you."

"Drink up arshole! You haven't been drinking this whole night."

"That's a lie and you know it. I drank mor-"

"Drink or I'll seek revenge!" Cal threatens.

I look at him like 'really'? He raises his brows at me. "Fine one chug and that's it. Please." Ro nodded like he agreed with Callum. "Drink! Drink! Drink!" Cal started to chant.

"Fine, asshole. Just shut up please?" Cal smiled victoriously and zipped his mouth. I removed the cap and threw my head back with the bottle. The warm liquid burned down my throat but I drank a good enough amount to make my friends shut up. It took a huge power in me not to throw up all over this poor man's back seat.

One large gulp is all it took for me to suddenly feel dizzy again. My stomach bubbled and I felt warm all over again. It felt good and bad all at once. Being drunk was kind of one of the best feelings in the world for me.

Everything felt lighter.

Not just the weight of everything around me but also me physically.

I didn't have a care in the world which was my favorite way to live life. The worst part of being drunk was eventually getting sober. Because then everything was real again.

Being drunk should be a default mode in life.

Callum handed me the bottle again and I didn't even realize that I was asking for it. "Good lad," he said, opening the bottle for me this time. The alcohol still burned but not as badly as the first time. Both Cal and Ro patted my back as Kai lay semi-unconscious next to me. A smile tilted my lips as my brain fogged up again before shutting off completely.

My eyes opened slowly and I wiped them with my fists. I had no idea where I was but familiar voices floated into my ears. It sounded like bickering but I couldn't tell who it was until my sight finally cleared. Emerson, Callum, and Asher were standing over me. She had her arms crossed while Callum flung his arms around arguing God knows what point.

Asher just stood between them watching.

"Kai will be fine. You know he's a lightweight! Plus, Rowan's alcoholic arse is watching him tonight. And do not open your big mouth to Mina about this, Emerson Jenkins!"

"What's going on?" I questioned, my voice coming out hoarse. Both of them turned their head toward me.

"Brooks, are you okay?" Emerson asked, planting her ass next to my head on the mattress and touching my cheek with the back of her hand. She looked almost worried for a second. Is this a fucking dream? Since when does Emerson Jenkins give a shit about me?

Asher squeezed by Cal and pulled Emerson's arm, lifting her from the bed. "The little prick is fine. Just a little too much alcohol is his system, right, Brooks?" Ash said. Emerson flinched away from his grip on her arm but kept her eyes on me.

"Yeah, sure," I replied, sitting up slowly. I swallowed back saliva that came up with the movement. Fuck. It usually never started this early.

"Alright now you two, get going. Let him sleep it off, he'll see ya tomorrow." Asher forced both Emerson and Callum out of the room quickly.

"Text me!" Callum shouted before Asher closed the door behind them. He looked me up and down, making a face of disgust. "Don't go throwing up all over the floor now. I won't be the one cleaning it up."

He turned the light off, the room going dark. I let my body fall back onto the bed and closed my eyes again. Hopefully, the hangover wouldn't be so bad in the morning.