CHPTR #37

Chapter 37

After a tearful goodbye, Mandy left Nicky’s house, only taking the bare essentials. She could not wait to get away from there. She also didn’t want to clutter Brian’s room with her stuff if she was not going to be there permanently. She got to Brian’s house, using the spare key he had given her, and put her case in the room. The house was empty. Both Kian and Rachel were at work, as was Brian. She sighed, went to the kitchen to fix herself a drink. She was going to pour herself some coke, but a bottle of vodka grabbed her attention. She sighed, grabbed the bottle and poured herself a generous amount in her glass. She topped it up with coke and then went to the living room to sit and watch some daytime TV. She flicked through the channels, downed her beverage and went to get herself another one. By the time she was on her 5th one, Kian came home. He walked into the living room and saw Mandy sprawled on the sofa.
“Oh, hi!” he smiled, “You alright?”
“OH I am absolutely fine and dandy!” she grinned, “How about yourself?”
“Er….to I am ok thanks!” he answered unsurely, giving her odd looks.
“Well that makes two of us then. Here come and sit down and watch some tell with me!” she grinned, patting the seat next to her.
“Er…no sorry. I am going to have a shower and get ready to go back out again!” he answered. He had a very bad feeling to the way she was behaving. He did not know her well enough to realise she was actually drunk, though she had a strong suspicion.
“Oh yeah. Sorry, I forgot, I am too physically repulsive to be around anyone. Sorry my mistake!” she sighed rolling her eyes.
“What? No, I really have to go out. I have to meet Rach at the pub in 30 minutes. We’re looking for a house!” he insisted, shocked by her comment.
“Yeah, ok. Fine, whatever. Not like I care anyway!” she shrugged.
Kian stared at her, “Are you ok?”
Mandy laughed and looked at him, “What do you care?”
He sighed and carried on staring, “What’s going on?” he asked.
Mandy sighed and stared at the ground, “Nothing. I am fine, really!”
“How many of those have you had?” he asked, nudging his head to her drink.
Mandy sighed, “Not enough, mate. Not enough!”
“Are you sure you’re ok?” he asked again.
Mandy sniffed and nodded, “Yeah, I am positive. Just go and get showered. You don’t want to keep your lady waiting!”
Kian nodded and went upstairs. He grabbed his phone and dialled Brian’s number.
“Brian? Where the fuck are you mate?” he whispered when he answered.
“Just parking the car. Why?” he asked.
“Mandy is acting all weird.” he sighed, looking over the banister and to the living room, where Mandy was. He could see her taking more sips of her drink and leaning back on the sofa.
“Weird? IN what way?” he asked confused.
“Weird as in sloshed weird!” he whispered.
“Oh god. Ok Kian. I am here now. Just walking to the door. Thanks mate!” he sighed, hanging up. Kian relaxed when he heard the front door opening. Brian ran into the living room and looked at Mandy. She grinned at him and tried to get up, only to fall back down again.
“Mandy? What’s up?” he asked.
“Boy, am I glad to see you or what?” she smirked. It took all her efforts to finally sit up straight. Brian sat next to herm grabbed the glass from her hand, smelt it and took a sip. He pulled a horrid face and quickly put it back down after he gulped the bit in his mouth.
“Fucking hell. Do you want any vodka? Christ, babe, how many of these have you had?” he winced, as the alcohol burnt his throat.
Mandy held up 4 fingers, “Only 5!” she grinned daftly.
Brian stared at her and sighed, “Those are triple shots, easily. Mandy, you’re wasted babe!”
“Yeah but at least I am happy and not hurting!” she giggled.
She looked at him funny and tiled her head to the side, “God you look hot in a suit!”
Brian rolled his eyes, “Time for bed, me thinks!”
“Oooh Brian. That’s a bit forward of you, isn’t it?” she giggled, “God I love a man with a healthy sexual appetite!”
“I meant you go to bed. You need to sleep this off!” he sighed, helping her up.
“Sleep what off? I am fine!” she laughed.
“Yeah, of course you are!” he mumbled, helping her up the stairs.
When he got to his room, he lay her on the bed. He then grabbed a bucket from the bathroom and placed it beside her on the floor.
“The bucket is right here in case you need to throw up!” he sighed.
He walked to the door and was about to leave, when she called him back. He stopped and turned around to look at her.
“Please don’t go!” she begged.
Brian sighed and stared at her, He felt really sorry for her and slowly walked towards the bed. He sat down and grabbed her hand, “You know, drinking is not going to get you anywhere!”
Mandy shrugged, “Maybe not, but at least it takes away the pain!” she frowned.
Brian shook his head and he kept hold of her hand, “but then the pain comes back and then you are left with that pain all over again, and the pains from a hangover to add to it. Take it from me, sweetheart, it’s not worth it!” he rubbed her hand softly with his thumb.
Mandy bowed her head down, “I don’t want to hurt anymore. I am so tired of hurting!”
“OH babe. Why don’t you tell me what happened?” he asked.
Mandy told him everything Nicky had said and everything that had happened as the tears rolled down her cheeks.
“I just miss him Bri. I miss him so much. So fucking much!” she sobbed.
Brian held her in his arms and stroked her hair, “I know you do, darling. But it’s for the best, isn’t it?”
Mandy shook her head, “I don’t want him to be gay. I want things to be back to the way they were!”
Brian swallowed hard. Those words hit him like a ton of bricks and he felt the pain like he had never felt before. But he knew he had to stay strong for her sake. He sighed and held her closer against him, “I know you do sweetheart. But you have got to accept it. You cannot change the way he is!”
Mandy pulled away and looked at him through her tears, “Is this my fault, Brian?” she squeaked.
Brian pushed her back and placed his hands on her arms, gripping them tightly, “oh god, no. It isn’t your fault at all babe.!” He scolded, wiping away her tears, “This isn’t your fault at all. You did not make him gay!”
Mandy sighed and looked at the floor, “Saying goodbye was the worst feeling ever!”
“I can imagine!” he sighed, “but hey. At least you’re still friends, right?”
Mandy chewed on her lip and nodded. She sighed and lay back down on the bed, “I am so tired!”
“Yeah well. It has been a really long day for you. And the fact that you have been drinking is not helping much!” he smiled,. Brushing her hair back with his hands. Her eyes were slowly closing.
“Sorry Brian….I didn’t…” she didn’t get to finish her sentence as she fell into a deep sleep. Brian smiled, kissed her forehead and lay her back on the bed. He pulled the duvet over her and then went down to the living room to relax and unwind.