Taking Chances (Blackrock Book 2) (39 page)

I
still haven’t heard from my mom either not since the hospital
and that too is playing on my mind.

God
I miss Knox he is only gone three days and I am pining away for him.
Delving back into my schoolwork I go at it for a few hours then crawl
into bed after ten closing my eyes for a night of fitful sleep.

I hear my iPad ringing from the
pillow beside me, quickly answering it I see him smiling at me “Hey
darlin.”

“Hi” I croak and turn
on the lamp so he can see me.

“Happy birthday babe”
he grins at me.

“Thanks darlin but that was
yesterday here” I frown at him.

“Did you do anything for
it?” he nods smiling at me.

“Yeah I just went out with
my dad for dinner nothing fancy.

I
miss you beautiful,” he says looking at me making me sad all
over again.

“I
miss you too thanks for the notes they made me smile.”

We
make small talk for a while and he tells me about working with his
dad and the other interns his roommate, Adam who is cool even for an
Emo dude.

“I miss you babe I got an
email from the Andersons asking if I was going back to Grove on
Friday” he asks me why Friday and I give a sad smile. “It’s
Summer’s birthday and one year anniversary,” he groans
rubbing his face.

“Holy shit darlin I totally
forgot

Are
you ok?” I nod and shrug.

“Yes and no it’s
probably worse because I am missing you too” I can see the
sadness in his eyes as he looks at me he is so close but so very far
away.

“So are you finished work
for today? Is Richard a slave driver?” I ask joking with him.

“I
am done for today and no he is cool actually I think I do less than
the others” he winks at me.

I
hear a knock and he turns his head at whom ever is there “hey
Knox you coming to the bar?”

A female voice asks “maybe
later” he says then I hear another voice “let’s go
dude it will be fun” Knox turns to me smiling.

“Looks like you have to go”
he nods,

“Yeah I will catch you on
Saturday your day time I don’t even know what time it is there
now I am all screwed up.”

I check my cell phone “just
after three in the morning” his eyes pop wide.

“Damn darlin you should
have said I didn’t mean to wake you.”

“It’s
ok I don’t mind I like talking to you I miss our midnight
chats” he nods as his friends call out to him again.

“Ok
beautiful I need to go I love you get some sleep” we wave and
then he is gone. I don’t want to sleep I want to scream why is
he going to a bar when I am crying over him?

Missing
him like crazy feeling like one of my limbs have been ripped off,
after a while I can feel my eyes drift shut and my dreams begin.

Dreams
that start out of Summer and I then turn into a nightmare of screams
and fighting, a fight I do not win no matter how hard I try, I wake
up drenched in sweat as my mind replays the nightmare over and over.

After
class I find myself standing in the sitting room of the apartment
hands on hips looking around, at what? Nothing really just looking
trying to decide what to do with myself I need a distraction or else
I will let grief consume me and drag me back into that world of
blackness and pain. Grabbing my iPod I sit it in the dock, Nickleback
and Jack just what the day ordered, I text Paige to join me pouring
myself a drink while I wait.

By
the time she arrives I am on drink number two “Paige yay”
I call opening the door to a confused yet happy Paige.

“So what are we drinking
to?”

She
asks pouring her own drink.

“Remembering and
friendship” I say holding up my glass. We turn the music up
loud enough to rattle the walls both of us singing and dancing.

Grabbing
her hand I pull her into Knox’s music room she tries to back
out saying no, “Come on just don’t touch that guitar”
I point to his favorite one and pick up the one he uses at the bar,
slinging the strap over my shoulder I stand up on the crates and
strum.

Paige
laughs taking a seat behind the keyboard and we jam to Nickleback,
neither of us knowing how to play an instrument but we rock out
anyway. Both singing and dancing making all kinds of noise we drink
and play until we can’t stop laughing.

“Oh
my god we so rock!” Paige yells into the air with her hands
above her head, “Yes we do sing it sister” I shout over
the music as we start a new song.

When
the songs ends I am laughing so hard tears are falling.

“I don’t think my
brother will like you abusing his gear,” we both scream at
hearing Max’s voice looking up I smile.

“Don’t worry we
didn’t break anything” I say taking off the guitar
putting it back on the stand.

“Hey
don’t stop on my account I was enjoying the show” he
smiles at us crossing his arms leaning against the doorframe. Paige
presses random keys on the keyboard then stands “ta da show’s
over” we all leave the room laughing. Paige and I top up our
drinks.

“What’s with all the
booze?” Max asks looking at us, and the bottles on the table
Paige grabs him around the neck and kisses him hard.

“We
are celebrating,” she says pulling back.

“What exactly?” he
asks holding her swaying body.

“Friendship
and who knows” she laughs again,

“Remembering” I shout
at her raising my glass in a toast.

“Remembering what?”

Max
inquires looking at me now.

“Remembering a time when
life wasn’t so awful and I had my best friend who would be
twenty today.

Happy
Birthday Summer” I sing looking up into the air “I love
you” taking another drink I finish my glass.

Paige
finishes hers too and Max just shakes his head at us “I was
going to ask you out to dinner but I think we should stay in”
opening the fridge I pull out lasagna Knox left me.

“Here
yummy food from Mr. wonderful” Max cracks up laughing at me.

“Holy shit you are drunk,”

“Hey
no talking crap about my boyfriend” I lightly thump his arm as
he digs around in the freezer.

“Eh
sis why is there a letter in the freezer?” Max waves an
envelope at me and I dive on it ripping it from his hand clutching it
to my chest as I grin like a maniac “It’s a gift.”
Smiling I walk down to my room and put it under my pillow to read
when I am not so buzzed.

We
eat lasagna while Max watches us chuckling and shaking his head every
few minutes, “Are you two drunks coming over to the bar
tonight?”

I nod enthusiastically while
Paige gives him a thumbs up “Wouldn’t miss you singing
for the world baby” rolling his eyes he plants a kiss on her
head.

“Oh
my god we have to get ready,” I announce wobbling as I stand.

“Maybe you should stay
here,” Max tells us to which we both scoff at his
ridiculousness.

“No
way bro we are coming to watch you sing” Paige joins me in the
bedroom as I swipe on some makeup and pull on my shorts with a blue
shirt and my heels.

“Now
better” I smile at myself as Max appears in the doorway.

“Ok let’s go,”
he raps on the wall with his knuckles and we follow him.

“Hey
Max will you be my DD tonight?” I ask him tugging on his arm.

“We are not driving
anywhere so I can’t be your DD.”

“Max”
I moan shaking his arm “I mean make sure I get home ok tonight
because I plan on getting totally shit faced for the a second time in
my life, tonight I need not to dream” I sigh as he looks at me
curiously.

“Why what do you dream
about?” he smirks.

“Oh you know the usual,
death, blood some guy kicking the crap out of me.

I
just want to forget” he doesn’t answer me and we walk
into the bar in silence. Paige and I race to our designated spot and
plunk our butts down.

“Hey Chase” I wave
getting his attention.

“Yes Bailey” he
smiles at me leaning on the bar with hunger in his eyes.

“Chase,
Paige and I are on a mission tonight” I tell him as his mouth
twitches to the side trying not to smile.

“Listen superman we are
getting drunk so don’t stop us and keep the drinks rolling”
Paige cuts in making us laugh.

“Yes Clark” I say
grabbing the front of his shirt pulling him close to me “Don’t
skimp on the booze and I’ll give you a good tip” I wink
releasing him.

Max
walks up behind me “am I goanna have trouble with you two
tonight?” Paige balks at him and I smile.

“No
Max keep your shirt on we promise to behave” I salute him as he
mutters about regretting bringing us here. Chase supplies us with
drinks and shots even partaking himself once or twice until Max
glares at him from the stage.

“Shit I wish Knox were here
he is way nicer” Chase moans leaving us.

Taking
Paige’s hand I pull her off the stool “C’mon les go
boogie for your boy,” we dance by Max both of us a little
unsteady, but I don’t care tonight I want to forget everything.

Forget my best friend should be
here celebrating her birthday with me, forget my heart is on the
other side of the world, and mostly forget about Ben and my
tormenting dreams.

When
Max breaks we head back to the bar “So how goes the
drunkenness?” he asks sipping his beer and I smile, well I hope
it’s a smile and not an evil grin because my cheeks hurt when I
do it so I say it’s a smile.

Paige
moans from her position on the bar she has her head resting on her
arm “I think I’m goanna be sick,” she says sliding
off the stool heading for the restroom.

“Thanks
sis” Max pats my shoulder as he follows her.

“Hey it’s not my
fault she’s a lightweight” I call after him, the second
half of the set is delayed while Max takes Paige home to bed Chase
and I indulge in a shot or two until he gets back.

My
world is swaying now so I decide to slow down I watch Max sing and
wish it was Knox, crap I miss him. After the set Max sits with me
drinking.

“Come on Max do one shot
then I will call it” he nods.

“Fine I’ll even make
them” I watch him move around behind the bar grabbing different
bottles and pouring them into a shot glass.

He smiles handing me one “Cheers”
we say knocking the smooth mixture back. As soon as I right my head
it hits me like a powerful freight train crashing into me at full
throttle “Now you will sleep” he smiles at me.

On
the way home he holds my hand but I am wobbling and singing ‘it’s
raining men,’ so he wraps his arm around my waist.

“Jesus Bailey you’re
way to pliable” he laughs at me.

“I know and I can bend in
ways..” he clamps a hand over my mouth to stop my words.

We
trip up the stairs to the apartment and I fall onto the bed fanning
my arms like I am making a snow angel, I try to kick off my shoes but
it doesn’t work so Max grabs my feet yanking them off “ouch
Max, Knox is much better at shoe removal.”

I
laugh shimming out of my skirt he grabs a t-shirt from the drawer for
me and turns his back. I try to open my blouse but my eyes can’t
see anything so I pull it over my head “ouch shit help” I
cry as the buttons catch in my hair.

Max
laughs for a full five minutes before helping me, he is leaning close
trying to untangle my hair when my iPad sings out.

Snatching
it I swipe the screen “Hi babe” I chuckle.

“Jesus Bailey hold still”
Max moans and Knox looks like he just burst a blood vessel “Max?”
he questions.

“Hey
bro tell her to keep still” holding the iPad away from my face
I show Knox. “What the fuck is going on? And why are you
naked?” he asks looking pissed off just as Max pulls me free
“yay” I sing laughing.

Max
pulls the t-shirt over my head “Now better” he says
grabbing the iPad away from me.

“Hey
give me back my boyfriend” I lunge for the iPad but Max pushes
me so I land sprawled across his waist.

“Hey bro you look good”
Max smiles to an unhappy Knox.

“Yeah I’ll be better
with an explanation” Max fills him in on my drunken state and
why I wanted to be this way.

“Max do you have a hard
on?” I ask trying to sit up.

“No
that’s my belt Jesus Christ are you trying to get me killed?”

Knox
laughs at me “darlin you ok?” I nod at him.

“Yeah babe hurry home cos I
miss you” tears sting my eyes so Max grabs me in a hug.

“No crying sis” Knox
watches me looking a little sad.

“I miss you too darlin”
we stare at each other for a few minutes then I lie on Max’s
chest while he strokes my hair.

“I
don’t know what you gave me Max but I think it’s working”
I yawn snuggling into him more.

“Eh
darlin you do know that’s not me right?” I nod smiling at
him.

“Yeah babe I know Max’s
chest is harder” I run my hand along his chest as he laughs.

“Get to the gym bro”
Knox flips him off then laughs.

My eyes feel heavy “Babe
call me in a while I want to talk to you ok” he nods tilting
his head sideways to match mine.

“Ok
darlin get some sleep I love you” my eyes glisten with tears
and I blow him a kiss then close my eyes for my alcohol induced coma.

I
wake up to a nice warm body wrapped around me my head pounds as I
bury my face in deeper between his chest and neck taking deep breaths
to smell his cologne, my head shoots up realizing it’s not
Knox.

Once my eyes orientate themselves
I see Max fast asleep in his jeans and t-shirt arms wrapped around
me, and the iPad lying on his chest.

He cracks an eye open “Mornin”
he whispers pulling me down to snuggle again “Hey how’s
the head?”

He
asks making me groan, “Thant bad huh?” “Yeah”
I whisper knowing the sound of my own voice will ricochet through my
skull.

Max
chuckles against me “Knox misses you” he says stroking my
hair “and you miss spike” I joke.