This chapter is dedicated to _alcor09_.
Thamk you so much for your votes and comments, it made my day💞

Character;

Nicholas Dallas.

*

I felt relieved, like all the burdens of my problems had been lifted off me.

I feel like all forms of alcohols should be added in the first aid box because that stuff comes in handy during emergency situations.

I was about to take a gulp from my glass but got interrupted by the buzzing sound of my phone. I looked at the flashing screen and was suprised to see an unknown number.

I felt a bit relieved when I didn't familiarise it as Cheryl's number, I didn't save it but that didn't stop me from recognising it anytime and anywhere...

Even when I'm tipsy.

I just wondered who was calling, maybe someone else interested in shattering the already broken peices of me.

I ignored it but a few seconds later, the same number called again and I picked immediately out of annoyance.

"What the hell do you want?!" I growled at the person on the other end.

"Stella?" The faint but undoubtedly familiar voice called out.

Timothy.

I remembered our last encounter on Saturday, he had left in a rush, he had said that his dad was in a critical condition and I haven't seen or heard from him ever since, I think he was also absent from school today.

"Are you okay? How's your dad doing?" I blurted without even thinking it through. What if he wasn't even the one on the phone?

"Well....he's still a bit unconscious and isn't allowed to have any visitors yet so I can't really tell his condition," he replied.

"But....are you okay?" He asked.

I didn't reply, I just let out a hysterical laugh out of the blue.

"You're asking me if I'm okay?...You guys should really stop asking me that..." I said, in between my loud giggles.

"What's so funny?" He asked, a hint of confusion evident in his voice.

I burst into another laughter.

"Are you home?' He asked.

"No."

"Where are you?"

"Me?"

"Yes, you...ofcourse it's you..."

"Oh, I dunno....somewhere," I replied.

I could tell that I was already getting on his nerves.

"Is everything okay? Are you sure everything is fine?" He asked again before I suddenly losed grip of my phone, it almost fell so I tried to catch it and fumbled with it before putting it back on my ear.

"What the heck is happening....Are you drunk?"

"N....ooo...oo.." I slurred.

"You're definitely drunk," he confirmed.

"No....I'm no--"

"Yes you are! Just stay put and don't do anything stupid."

"Do you just call me stupid? Do you think I'm stupid?"

"Stella...just calm down, it's not what I mean."

I was about to speak out before I heard a loud sound from the speakers in the bar.

"It's the security control officer of the Greenfield resort and bar speaking, the owner of the car with plate number, 012539ACD, a black jeep, your attention is needed as soon as possible. Your car is obstructing the entrance path of the parking lot..."

"Then what do you mean?" I asked but he didn't reply, the call was disconnected.

*

I still sat on the same spot, sipping down a bottle of whisky bit by bit. I felt light though I was also weak at the same time.

Atleast I had none of my problems on my mind.

The door of the restaurant busted open and a familiar face walked in.

What is he doing here?

He looked around like he was searching for something...or someone.

His squinted eye widened immediately it landed on me before he started walking towards me.

"What are you doing here? How did you find me?" I asked in awe.

"What are you doing here?" He asked, completely ignoring my question.

"Isn't it obvious? I'm drinking away my problems..." I replied, trying to take another sip from my bottle before he yanked it away from me.

"Hey! Give it back!" I yelled, trying to get it back.

"No...it's enough," he replied, stretching the hand holding the whisky far away from me and the fact that he was way taller than me wasn't helping matters.

"No....it's enough," he said again, still stretching the hand holding the whiskey far away from me.

He dropped the bottle on the floor before looking back at me.

"Just calm down....everything is going to be fine," he said with a soothing tone.

I found myself calming down a bit. He dragged out the chair infront of me so that he could sit down across the table.

"Nothing is going to be fine, everything just keeps on getting worse and worse...It's just very frustrating and it feels like everything is happening at the same time...I dunno, it just makes me hate myself more with each day that passes by."

I looked up to his face, expecting him to atleast say something, but nothing...just kept on staring into space.

"Stop staring...you're just freaking me out!" I yelled out of annoyance.

"I can't say Stella....I don't know what to say right now, it's truly just getting worse," he started.

"But I don't know....you just keep on making silly mistakes...seriously stupid ones. Sorry to say....but it's all partially your fault, you should learn how to control yourse--"

"I'm always in control of myself....I use to be in control!" I said immediately, making gestures with my hands before one of them hit my phone and knocked down the glass cup causing the little remaining content to spill and my phone fell off the table, straight to the tiled floor.

He volunteered to help me pick it up and returned the glass that almost rolled down to it's original position.

"......You used to be in control of yourself, not anymore," he said  stressing the second word.

Used to...

I burst into tears.

"I.....hate.....myself, I....just.....hate myself," I slurred in between sobs.

"Okay....fine, don't cry....don't cry," he said smoothly, trying to calm me down but I just kept sobbing harder.

"I don't know....I just can't help it."

I just couldn't stop, I was just being fuckin' drunk and emotional at the moment.

"I'll try to help in anyway I can, we'll try to figure this out," he stated.

"You'll really help me?" I tried to assure myself.

"I'll try my best Stella, as I said, just what I can....for you."

My tears started drying out and my rapid breathing reduced.

"Thanks..." Was what I could spill before looking down to the table and fondling with my hands.

I suddenly felt so awkward around him. I mean he's there and I'm here but I didn't even know what to say to him.

I was already getting dizzy and my head was already aching a bit but I tried to endure it besides it was all my fault for drinking so much.

"So....your dad?" I blurted.

He looked up at me, a bit suprised look on his face before it was quickly masked up.

"I don't really know about him yet but I heard that we could come pay him a visit tomorrow."

"Can I come?" I blurted out immediately.

He stared at me with a dazzled expression on his face....again.

"Are you sure? Would you be able to come along?"

"Yeah....I want to, it's not like I have any better thing to do with my life tomorrow," I faintly replied, my voice almost as low as a whisper.

My head ache struck again and I winced in pain.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing....I'm perfectly fine okay? Just tell me if I'm allowed to go with you tomorrow."

There was a moment of silent thinking time.

He took in a deep breathe.

"Okay....okay, fine, just promise to be at your be at your best behavior, my family can be something else."

"Yeah....sure, I will," I replied, trying so hard not to show how much in pain I was. I felt like my brain was  doing triple foward and backward flips in my skull. I didn't want him to notice because it felt like I was being so much of a burden already.

"Okay then, I'll be at yout place by 1:00pm tomorrow, will you be able to make it?"

"Yeah....ofcourse," I replied before we got back to our uncomfortable silence.

"About your family.....Have you sort out things with them?" I asked.

"I don't wanna talk about it--"

"Just look for a way to patch things up, I don't think whatever they must have done can be a good enough reason to stay away and cut all ties with them.....they're still family afterall."

"Let's--not--just--talk--about--it!" He yelled at me, spelling it out word by word and I was taken aback.

"It's not fair! I talk to you about my problems almost all the time but you don't even share anything with me! You're making me feel like a burden! Making me feel even more useless than I already am! You really think I can't even be of help in any way....How do you expect me to feel?!" I poured out my words at him.

"You're just being drunk Stella...you probably don't know what you're saying right now," he replied.

"I might be drunk but I still have my senses intact, that doesn't mean I'm stupid....yes, I might be acting a bit foolishly but that doesn't mean I want all this happen....I might be losing my mind but don't take me as a mad person, I don't even know what I'm saying right now but I know I'm making out words....I...I'm just tired of everything....tired of everyone," I blurted before standing from my seat immediately.

"Nevermind though...I'm leaving, if I stay here, I'll just keep on spitting out trash and you'll be wondering what kind of crazy person I am...."

I fumbled with my phone and keys before throwing them into my bag.

I felt so weak and confused, I didn't even know where I was heading to but I didn't want to be around here anymore, neither did I want to go back home.

I grabbed my bag and headed towards the exit, I started feeling dizzy and held the table for support. My knees were jelly and my vision was doubled, I tried to take another step foward before I felt a slicing headache; like someone had hit me with a hammer on my head from behind.

The head ache was getting the best of me, I tried to take another step foward but I lost balance and a moment later, it felt like everything faded into darkness.

~~~~~

I just want to use this opportunity to say a big thank you to everyone that has read and supported my book.

Thank y'all soooo muuuch😘

Words can't describe how grateful I am.