Troubleshoot Chapter 6

“Hey, are you ok?” I say as I rap my knuckles on the bathroom door. Micheal’s been in there for a few minutes now, I…might’ve gotten carried away with the drinks earlier. Not like I’m gonna let him know that though.

”Honestly, how much of a lightweight ARE you?” I ask.

”Last time I listen to you…” is the only reply I hear over the pop music blaring throughout the place. I sigh and lean against the wall, feeling the full effects of the alcohol myself. With nothing better to do I people watch, you can learn a lot about people just by watching them like this.

No one here really recognizes me, I didn’t exactly choose to do this to hang out with friends. I needed to get Micheal out into a situation like this. It’s clear he likes my best friend, Amy, but can’t make a move. His fears aren’t unfounded, he’s not her type. They’re friends, but I’m sure she can see it. He’s not a bad person, but he is a hollow one. Something’s…missing. It’s not hard to see why he fell for a girl like Amy, she’s the spark he can’t find for himself. I can help him, and she’ll have someone who would never hurt her. She won’t have to worry about some douchebag just waltzing into her life and THEN-

The sound of the bathroom door opening knocks me out of my thoughts, that alone knocked Micheal a few points up for me. Don’t think about him, he doesn’t deserve it.

“How’re you feeling?” I ask as I turn to look at Micheal. His short brown hair looking disheveled and his eyes down cast, still holding his stomach. He didn’t look good so my expression and voice softened mid sentence.

”I wanna go home…” he mumbles, raising his eyes back up to meet mine, like he’s waiting for approval. I sigh, no more alcohol for him.

”You could’ve left at any time, you don’t need my permission or anything. Or…did you just want us to leave together so everyone thinks you’re getting the best piece of a*s here tonight?” I say with an impish smile on my face. Watching his cheeks go from pale to light pink is worth it every single time.

”I…I…NO!” he says, probably more forcefully than he meant to by the way he shrinks into himself afterwards. Without another word he turns towards the door and starts stumbling for it. I quickly move to walk beside him. My own steps shaky but normal in comparison to his. I get to the door before him so I don’t have to watch him fumble with the knob. We go to step on the front porch and…it’s raining.

Ok, I did NOT plan for this. Walking back was the plan, neither of us have cars. We’re safe for now, the porch has a roof, we’re not getting wet. I quickly pull out my phone and scroll through my contacts. I don’t exactly have many friends here, I COULD call Amy but well, I take a glance at Micheal beside me. I think he would kill me when he sobered up if I did that, and as he is now he’d ruin any chance of actually getting those two together before it even started. After looking at him for a second I realize he’s looking at his own phone, staring so hard it looks like he’s trying to burn a whole through it.

”You know staring at it isn’t gonna help us get a ride any faster.” I say

”I know, but uh…I don’t think I should…”

”Do what?”

”I have a friend but…he’s having company over tonight and last time I went to the dorms when he said that…well…” his face begins to go pink again and I get the picture. However that also means his guard is down so I lean over and tap the call button for him. He seems to panic a bit for a second, alternating glances between me and his phone, but he calms down and puts the phone to his ear to talk. I only hear half of the conversation.

”Heyyyyyyyyy…so it’s kiiiiiiiinda raining. Do you think you could…ya know…pick us up? Yes, us! No, I don’t need you to drop me off at her place. No I don’t need the dorm for myself tonight! 10 minutes? Ok thaaaaaaaanks you’re the beeeeesssstttt” he slurs his affections as he hangs up the phone.

I think after that neither of us felt like talking anymore, both knowing we were too drunk to keep ourselves from saying stupid if we opened our mouths. We just let the sound of the raindrops help us pass the time.

A few minutes later our ride is here. The window rolls down and a lanky black haired man motions for us to get in. Micheal’s face lights up and moves as fast as his alcohol impaired legs could move towards the car, I do the same, I’m faster so I can rush around to the passenger seat. Micheal pouts a bit like a kid at this put hops in the back behind our driver. I mumble a thank you as I slide into the seat, lucky that I didn’t get more wet.

The first few minutes of the drive pass by in mostly silence, then I notice our host, who did introduce himself as Brian, look in the rear view mirror at Micheal. I do too and notice he’s sleeping.

”So, first impressions?” He says as he nods over his shoulder to make it clear he was referring to Micheal.

”What do I need your approval to talk to your friend or something?” I reply, maybe a bit too defensively.

”Oh, whoa, no. Just curious why a girl like you has any interest in him at all. Especially since you’ve invited him to your room in the middle of the night. Gave the kid a scare when he saw that text, don’t need you scaring my best friend to death, ya know?”

A small chuckle escapes me at that. “Well, let me assure you that my intentions with your friend are pure. He only has eyes for one girl anyway, I just want to help him with that.”

”So you’re what, trying to play matchmaker?”

”Something like that.”

His expression turns a bit more serious. “I told him that you sound like the kick in the a*s he needs, and I believe that. But don’t break him, I don’t think I need to tell you how he is, he’ll be easy to push into something that’s not a good idea, something that’ll get him hurt. I’m just looking out for him.”

”You worry too much.” I say as I turn to the window. Watching the raindrops hit the glass, thoughts from before start to intrude upon the car ride, thoughts of my own mistakes, thoughts of him. God I wish I had another drink.