Chapter 11 - Why is There Always a 'Good' In 'Goodnight'?
Shay
"How is he?" Danny asked me as I left the bathroom yet again. I plopped onto the couch, "An asshole."
"Whoa." Danny said, wide-eyed, "A little hostile, aren't we?"
"Does it matter? I'm trying to help him and all he does is push me away. Says he doesn't want it." I sighed.
"Shay, he barely knows what he's saying, have you seen how much this kid has drank tonight?" Danny said with a small grin. I just crossed my arms and let tears flood my eyes. I hated seeing Dougie like this. My dad drank a lot and I hated seeing him like that as well.
"Don't cry..." Danny said, "I'll go talk to him."
"Don't bother," I mumbled, "Do it tomorrow if anything. He won't remember anyway."
Just then, Dougie left the bathroom rubbing his eyes, shirtless and his hair was a mess.
"Dougie? How ya feeling, buddy?" Danny asked. He just grumbled something then kept walking. He fell forward but I shot in front of him to steady him. "You, my friend, need sleep. Come with me."
I slung Dougie's arm around my neck and half dragged him into the guest bedroom. When we got there I set him down on the bed and he laid his head down on the pillows. I helped him get his shoes off, then I tossed them on the floor.
"Now go to sleep," I said, feeling like I was babysitting a nine year old. Dougie looked at me, "Shay?"
"Yeah?" I sighed.
"Thanks, Shay," his words all slurred together, "I love you."
I rolled my eyes. As much as I wish he meant it I knew it was the alcohol talking. "Sure, Dougie. I love you too. Now go to sleep before I have Danny come in here and beat you up, got it?"
"Yes ma'am." he mumbled. I switched off the light then shut the door behind me.
"He okay?" Danny asked. I nodded, "He'll be fine."
I sighed and fell back on the couch, "Danny, I'm worried about him."
"Shay, he'll be fine in the morning. Just let him sleep." He said, obviously not getting what I meant.
"No." I shook my head, "Not just that. I mean....everything. He seems...I don't know, like he's depressed or something. He's gone through a lot in the past week and I'm worried."
"Yeah." Danny sighed, sitting next to me, "I know what you mean. The poor kid's been through a lot, not just this week, but his whole life."
We both sat in silence for a few seconds before we heard Dougie singing loud and off key from the next room, "Ohhh I don't wanna be told to grow up! And I don't wanna change, I just wanna have FUN!!"
Danny and I started laughing by this time. When we finally caught our breath Danny sighed, "Yeah, he's been through a lot. I just don't want to see him end up in jail. You know if we do..."
"yeah." I nodded. None of us needed to say it. 'If we do get caught.'
Danny's phone started ringing after a few minutes. He checked the caller ID. Tom. He answered, then set it on the table in front of us on Speakerphone so I could hear.
"Danny?" Tom asked from the other end.
"Hey, Tom, what's going on?"
"Your mom's a mess, man. She's called my mom and Haz's mom a few million times in tears wondering where the hell you were. Neither of us cracked, but when she heard about the murder and then you two went missing well..."
"Don't crack." Danny warned, "I love my mom to death, but don't crack."
"I won't. Harry won't either. We wouldn't do that to you." Tom assured us, "But...well the cops have been trying real hard since last night to come up with anything. You're lucky Matt and James are scared of you because they haven't turned you in."
Danny smiled, "Excellent. Well, we're safe then, right?"
"I guess. I mean, until things die down, you gotta stay up with Elliot but so far the cops have no leads." Tom said.
"Good. Thanks man. I miss ya," Danny said.
"Me too," Tom said sadly, "Tell Dougie and Shay I say hi,"
"Hi Tom!" I said into the phone.
"Hi Shay. How are you holding up?" he asked. Tom was as much of my big brother as Danny was. I smiled, "Fine. I'm the only sane one in the place right now."
"Sane?" Tom asked.
"Doug's drunk," Danny explained. I could just see Tom slowly shaking his head. "Oh."
"Well, thanks for the info man, I'll call in a few days, alright?" Danny said.
"Sure. Good luck guys. See ya." He hung up.
"Well," I sighed, "I'm going to sleep." I walked to the closet and found a blanket then spread across the couch, "You staying up?"
"Y-yeah...I'll be up for a little bit. Night Shay." Danny said slowly. I nodded, "Sure. Goodnight."
Goodnight. Probably a bad thing to say at that time considering this night was anything but good.
