Chapter 4
"And you've got a smile that could light up this whole town…"
It's another week later, and Gaila and Jim are back together, dancing out on the dance floor of a loud pizza bar in the middle of town, all smiles.
All's well that ends well.
I'm sitting on the opposite side of the room, in a dark corner near the bar, nursing a glass of the famous Slusher Mix.
You're fucking jealous, a voice in my head says.
No, I'm not, I think, angrily.
You wouldn't be drinking yourself under the table if you weren't.
I'm not jealous of that redheaded bitch.
You're completely in denial.
I'm not jealous.
Then what is it?
I'm not jealous. Not, not, not. I sound like a goddamn child. Dammit.
I slam the rest of my drink and order my usual poison, watching Jim and Gaila dancing along with all the other couples on the floor.
It's gonna be a long night.
I wake up to find Jim tapping me on the shoulder.
"Bones," he says, "Bones. Wake up."
I lift my head off my arms to see his blurry face swimming before me.
"Hey," I croak.
"Hey, man. Usually it's me having to be dragged away from the booze. You've outdone yourself."
Somewhere in my messed up excuse for a brain, I recognize his tone as sympathetic.
"Come on," he says, "Let's get you home."
Slowly, I node, and get out of the booth, standing dizzily. I try to take a step forward and sway dangerously to the right.
"Whoa, careful," Jim cautions, catching my shoulders.
He pulls one of my arms over his own shoulders, and we start off back to the Academy.
All I can remember of the walk home when we arrive is a bunch of people asking if we needed any help, and Jim declining, saying no, we're good.
Straining slightly under my weight, he walks to my side of the room, and sets me down on the bed, none too gently.
"Can't believe I just had to do that. You're the responsible one around here." He smiles, amused.
I turn away, feeling a blush creep up my face for no particular reason.
And then the words are out of my mouth before I can stop them.
"I love you, Jim," I blurt out, turning back to him. It's getting damn hard to focus on his face.
Shockingly, the smile stays in place. He gives a kind of wistful sigh and rolls his eyes. "Go to sleep, Bones," he says. "Lights."
Yawning, I lay down, and am soon out like a light.
