A month later…

I got back from working in the nearby cafe to find my housemates Carla and Tash sitting on the floor with about 7 other students, all wearing insane party hats. The music was blaring, there were numerous bottles of vodka and spirits and Tash was fiddling with a plastic bottle and was trying to spin it on the ground.

"Spin the bottle?" I ask a little surprised, "Very tasteful". I shrug my jacket off, as our friend Luke hands me a cup containing some kind of liqueur. I dare not ask what was in it.I sit down and slouch against him and he lazily puts his arm around me and stutters

"Char...Char...hic...leee...will...hic...play too"

I sip at the concoction...instantly recognizing the taste of Pernod and Jack Daniels.

"Luke, you know I hate bazookas"

He throws me his puppy dog eye look and I playfully slap him upside the head and wait for him to refill my cup

A couple of hours later and many many drinks, I've lost count of what I've had. Tash has stripped down to her bra and is dancing to Hey Mickey with Carla and the others are cheering her on and our friend Matt is telling her to strip further. I'm sprawled out on the sofa with Luke and I think we're talking about relationships; I can't be too sure

"Yesh...hic...butt right...yous...hic...meet a....girlie...hic... that...you likes...hic" I slur and pause and attempt to wolf whistle at Tash, it comes out more like a raspberry and Luke starts laughing uncontrollably

Wiping the tears from his eyes, he looks at me and frowns "I's...how...whether...hic...not...gonna do...hic...any...longgg...dis...dis...hic...stance...hic...shit"

I shrug "May...may...hic...be..it...is...hic...shit" I agree

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I was supposed to be relaxing... It had been a long day, with working in the studio and all.. I was tired but I couldn't sleep. My mind was on something else. I missed her. I wanted her here with me, in my arms. I hated the long distance between us, but if it meant keeping her, then I would endure it for as long as I could. I needed to hear her voice. I reached for the phone and dialed her number.

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As our argument continues, which I am certain I am winning, I hear a ringing and see my cell phone light up, however Luke gets to it before I do and answers

"H...Hallo?"

"Luke, gim...gimme...hic...my...phone"

"Hello, who is this?" I answered,confused... maybe I dialed the number wrong

"This...this...hic...is...Luke...holdonasec"

Luke hands me my phone "Some...some...hic...dude"

"Hello. Charlie?"

"H..Hallo?" I ask a little uncertain

"Is this Charlie Hart?" getting a little frustrated and impatient, wondering what in the hell was going on

"Yesh...who...who is...hic...this?"

‘Was she drunk? I thought "Charlie, it's Brian" pausing. "Are you drunk?"

"Oh...hic...Bri...an...hey...mebbe...jus...hic...a little"

I sat there wondering if she had gone back to being a party girl, partying almost every night. It didn't exactly sit well with me. I should have known it might happen, because she's still young. She'd be a perfect match for AJ then. God, what the hell was I saying? I really liked Charlie... hell, I might even love her... now that was a scary thought. But.. who knows what the future would have in store. Right now, for certain, wasn't the time to tell her. I sighed. "Charlie, I just called to see how you were and just to hear your voice... but I can tell your busy... just give me a call sometime tomorrow.."

I realize then who was on the phone...Oh God Brian! and Luke was here answering my phone. My head pounded.

"Wait...hic..one mo...I'll...go...up...hic...stairs"

Now that it was quieter, I asked "So, how are classes going?"

"Umm...they...they are going ok"

"Good... Oh hell.. Charlie.. I really called because I really miss you. I wish you were here.. " with a ting of sadness

"Oh" his words seem to have a sobering effect on me

"I...miss...hic...you too” pausing “It...it feels like...I...hic...gotta do this...it numbs the pain" I pause as a tear slides down my cheek. "I..feel like...I don't...belong...here anymore...and...and all...I...want is to...be...hic...with you"

"Oh, sweetheart. I wish I could be there to hold you right now..." I felt like my heart was being torn as her words sunk in

“I wish you could hold me" suddenly I feel this overwhelming threat of emotion. "I can't do this anymore. I can't stay trapped here. Brian please come and take me away from this nightmare. I don't care what my parents do to me, it's not right that they're punishing me for my brother's mistakes. I hate them"

It tore my heart out hearing her cry and how miserable she was. I wanted to jump on a plane out there right now, but I knew I'd have to wait. We had to be in the studio for the next two days. I would arrange a early flight out on Friday morning. I just hoped she'd be okay til then. But, was it really as bad as she made it sound? That I didn't know. But we needed each other, I would worry about the consequences later.

"Sshhh.. It'll be okay I promise. I'm going to get a flight out first thing Friday morning. "

"And then what? We say goodbye to each other a mere couple of days later?"

"If you want, you could just come back with me and screw what you're parents think. You're a grown woman. you can make your own decisions."

"Ok...I'll think about it"