***Alex’s POV***

I had just texted Seamus, demanding to know where he was. Daddy was not going to stop this relationship. He had stormed off on me, too pissed to talk. He’d get it through his head eventually.

This is Jeremy Reed. He’s at my house.

Who the hell was Jeremy Reed? I checked last year’s yearbook. Oh. One of the creepy emo kids. Why did he have Seamus’s phone? I texted for the address, saying it was important. He sent me the address and I hurried over there.
I knocked on the door and a young emo man answered. “Um, hello!” he said, kind of surprised. “Uh, is Seamus Fitzpatrick here?” He nodded and let me inside. He led me into a basement where Clifton, Jeremy, and Jay were.

Seamus was passed out on a couch.

My eyes widened. They had placed a bucket near him. Mr. Reed left me alone with the emos and I just stared at Seamus. “What happened?” I demanded at last.

“He said he wanted to forget. So he drank, puked, and passed out,” Jay said with a shrug. “And that doesn’t worry you?” I asked in shock. “He always does that when something is really bothering him,” Clifton said without looking at me.

Jeremy and Jay nodded. “You wouldn’t happen to know what’s bothering him, would you?” Jay asked suspiciously. “I came to talk to him about it,” I snapped.

“Sure, you bitch. Stop hurting him!” Jeremy hissed. “I didn’t hurt him!” I lied angrily. “Just stop. Shame doesn’t need this shit from you. He’s got enough shit to put up with. Why do you have to fuck with him?” Jay asked.

I shook my head. “I didn’t hurt him! I want to help him.” Seamus moaned and changed positions on the couch. He coughed a little and Clifton shoved the bucket towards him. He didn’t throw up, though.

“Bull shit! Get the fuck out of my house!” Jeremy exploded. “Hey, hey, hey! Calm down Jer,” Mr. Reed said as he walked in. “The hell is going on anyways?” Jeremy angrily pointed at me. “That bitch keeps hurting Shame!”

He eyed me and smiled sadly. “She doesn’t mean to Jer.” Jeremy stared in shock. “Dad how can you say that?” Mr. Reed glanced at Seamus before his eyes landed on me again. “My cousin and his girlfriend were the exact same way. Emo and prep. His best friend kept saying how bad she was hurting him. But he hurt more without her. And she really loved him.”

Sounded exactly like Seamus and I.

“It’s not the same!” Jeremy snapped. “You know what he said when he was wasted? He said he wants to die because no one wants him! He said no one loves him and the world would be better without him!”

He said that?

Because of me?

Well, maybe it wasn’t just me. He was in a fight with Lizzy too. “How’s he getting home?” I asked. “He’s not. He’s staying here. He can’t get home when he’s this wasted,” Jay said.

“Why can’t he get home?” I asked in confusion. I was fairly sure Lizzy didn’t care if Seamus got drunk. “Because his sister is the only one who will pick him up and they’re in a big ass fight right now,” Jeremy said coldly.

“Jer, lay off the hate. She’s concerned about him,” his father said sternly. Jeremy rolled his eyes and shook his head.

It was true though. I was concerned about Seamus. How could I not be? “I’ll take him home,” I blurted. I didn’t have a car and there was no way I could carry Seamus. They laughed at me. Mr. Reed shook his head. “Honestly boys! Shut up!” He smiled kindly at me. “I can drive you and him to his house if you want?”

I nodded. “Yes please.” He walked over to the couch. “Dad, no!” Jeremy begged. “Don’t let her just take Shame!” His dad sighed. “He needs to get home Jer. This isn’t good for him.”

Mr. Reed carefully lifted Seamus and carried him. I followed them upstairs and looked around the house a bit as we walked. “That’s a nice picture Mr. Reed,” I said, nodding at the giant family portrait he had. Him and a young woman smiled happily with Jeremy in between them.

He nodded and smiled. “Thank you! My wife absolutely adores that picture!” We led me into another room and picked up Seamus’s shoes. I held them as we walked towards the door to leave.

“Where is your wife?” I asked curiously. He sighed. “We’re separated. Just didn’t get along. We thought it was best for Jer if we separated until we could stop fighting.” I frowned. “Oh.” I guess it was kind of nice that he thought of his son before himself.

I got in the back of the car and Mr. Reed gently laid Seamus down. I shifted so that his head was in my lap and gently brushed his hair out of his closed eyes. Mr. Reed dropped us off at Seamus’s house, helping me carry him inside.

“Thank you!” I said. He smiled. “You two will make it.” He left and I sat down next to Seamus. He was laying on the couch.

“Seamus? What happened?” Lizzy asked in alarm as she walked in the house a while later. She dropped her grocery bags and rushed over to him. “Is he hurt? Sick?” She placed her hand on his forehead.

“Drunk,” I said with a sad sigh. She frowned deeply. “This is all my fault,” she moaned and gently stroked his hair.

“You really love him, don’t you?” I asked her with a small smile. She nodded. “Yea. I do. He can piss me off so bad though! But…I’ve never really hated him. I love him so much. I just want him to smile.” She smiled softly at him and kissed his forehead before standing up.

“Do you want to spend the night here Alex?” “Is that alright?” “Of course! I’ll have my boyfriend carry Seamus up into his room.” She went into the kitchen and that Josh guy came out a minute later.

“Little piss off,” he grumbled as he roughly picked Seamus up. I followed him up to Seamus’s room as he dumped Seamus onto his bed and left.

I crawled next to him.

I kissed his cheek and just laid with him for awhile. I felt myself growing tired and wrapped my arms around him. I buried my head into his chest and smiled.

Slowly, I drifted off to sleep.