Lionblaze Stole the Stars
Chapter 12: Dirt and Flowers
"I got us all a round!" Lionblaze said in a voice much louder than necessary. "TEQUILA FOR EVERYONE!"
"Thanks, Lionblaze," Hollyleaf smiled a toothy smile, red cheeks and blurry eyes indicating that she'd already had quite a few rounds already. Lionblaze set down the tray with the three shot glasses on the table, looking quite proud that he didn't spill any.
"So, Dovewing doesn't mind tending the bar?" Jayfeather asked, looking behind him to watch Dovewing awkwardly pour a large bottle of vodka into a tiny shot glass. It spilled over the top, but the person picked it up and drank it anyway. Jayfeather rolled his eyes as he realized it was Firestar, with no shirt on and a pair of pants that had one of the legs cut off.
"This is the best surprise party ever!" Hollyleaf slurred, swaying slightly in her seat. "I can't believe you'd all go through all this trouble just for me."
"Well, it wasn't much of a surprise," Jayfeather said. "You figured it out before anyone even showed up."
"That's because all your excuses were totally dumb," Hollyleaf giggled. "So freaking stupid!"
"Well, we tried," Jayfeather said, turning to look at his brother. "We tried, right Lionblaze?"
Lionblaze didn't respond, and Jayfeather was disgusted to find that he had someone acquired a sausage and egg sandwich from A&W.
"Where the hell did you get that?" Jayfeather asked. Lionblaze shrieked and hid the sandwich behind his back.
"YOU CAN'T HAVE IT!" He bellowed, stuffing half of it in his mouth. "IT'S MINE!"
"I didn't… want it," Jayfeathers voice trailed off as Lionblaze streaked into the crowd, clutching the sandwich so hard it looked like he was strangling it.
"He's such a fucking goof," Hollyleaf laughed, fumbling around in her purse in search for a lighter. Jayfeather watched her aimlessly throw lipsticks and receipts out in attempts to find it before handing her his.
"Don't steal it, it's my only one," Jayfeather instructed. Hollyleaf nodded her head one too many times before lighting her cigarette.
"Why aren't you drinking?" Hollyleaf asked after she had finally lit the smoke. "You've been sipping on that one beer all night, don't think I haven't noticed."
"Um, I'm just waiting for Cloudtail to show up," Jayfeather mumbled awkwardly. He felt his face turn red as he lied, wondering why he couldn't stop thinking about the boy he had met at the gas station a couple days ago.
Scourge
Even the name sent shivers down Jayfeathers spine. He felt a sickening rush of guilt. What am I doing, thinking this way? I'm in a happy relationship… the last thing I need to fuck it up by thinking of someone else. Jayfeather sat still, clutching his half empty lukewarm Budweiser, and tried to think of something else. It took all of two seconds for Scourge to push his was back into Jayfeathers mind, and he groaned.
Fuck
Fuck fuck fuck
"Jayfeather, drink this," Hollyleaf broke his thoughts as she thrust one of the three tequila shots into his face. "It'll make you feel better."
Jayfeather didn't know how anything could possibly help his hideous guilt and anxiety. Not to mention tequila fucks me right up.
"DO IT!" Hollyleaf screamed, poking him in the nose with the glass. A drop of the poisonous alcohol burned Jayfeathers nose, and he found himself reluctantly wanting it.
"Fine," he said. He squeezed his eyes shut and downed the glass, smiling as the fiery burn of alcohol run through his body. He looked up after, and was distracted by something in the corner of his eye. He turned his head to see Lionblaze and Firestar dancing in the center of the kitchen, music blasting way to loud. Both of them were waving their socks around as they hollered and danced in a pathetic circle.
I'm not nearly drunk enough for this.
Jayfeather grabbed the second shot and downed it too, this one slightly harder to swallow. He sucked on the lime that was wedged in the side of the glass and looked up. Lionblaze and Firestar had stopped dancing, and were looking up at the ceiling. Jayfeather followed their gaze, and sighed as he realized they had both thrown their socks in the air. This resulted in them hitting the ceiling fan, making it sputter and spit out of control. The socks were then catapulted across the room, landing on top of the toaster.
By this time the alcohol had started to burn through Jayfeather, and he found himself laughing involuntarily.
I'm so
I'm so fucking drunk
I'm so damn, drunk…
Jayfeather stumbled into someone he didn't recognize, and he apologized feebly with a giant grin on his face. The person glared at him and didn't respond. Jayfeather shrugged and rolled his eyes. He was acutely aware of how intoxicated he was, but it didn't matter anymore.
"HOLLYLEAF!" Jayfeather called as he spotted his sister. He made his way over to her, feeling his drink sloshing over top of the cup as he moved.
"Hi, Jayfeather!" Hollyleaf smiled, her red face indicating that she'd drank too much. "Have you like, seen Lionblaze anywhere?"
"No," Jayfeather shook his head one too many times. "No, I haven't seen him in a while."
Hollyleaf waited for Jayfeather to finish, but it was apparent he had forgotten what he had called her over for.
"What?" Hollyleaf slurred, giggling for no reason. It took Jayfeather a minute to remember, and then he felt awkward.
"Uh, have you seen Cloudtail?" He asked, sloshing his drink around without looking at her.
I was going to ask her if she had seen Scourge. But even Hollyleaf would know that would be weird, even if she's drunk.
Ugh. I wish he'd just fucking show up already.
"I haven't seen him at all," Hollyleaf replied, looking confused. She looked at Jayfeather, clearly puzzled. "Wait, you guys aren't like, broken up, right?"
"No," Jayfeather mumbled, pushing past her. I knew she'd be useless. Why did I even come over here?
"Where are you going?" Hollyleaf called as Jayfeather walked away. Jayfeather didn't respond, just held up his cigarette he was holding as an indication of what he was doing.
"Just smoke in here!" Hollyleaf screamed after him. Jayfeather continued walking, pretending he hadn't heard her.
By now, Jayfeather was starting to feel very stressed. He looked at his phone.
No messages or calls.
Is Cloudtail mad at me? Did he somehow read me thoughts and knows about Scourge?
Jayfeather was so lost in thought he stumbled into a table with a plant on it. He tried to catch it but failed, dirt and flowers spilled everywhere.
"Fuck!" Jayfeather swore. He stared at the plant, and then shrugged. Way too much effort to pick that up. He stepped over it and forgot about it almost instantly. He could hear shrieks coming from the living room, and by the sound of it, Lionblaze was the one making most of the racket. He walked back in the living room, and rolled his eyes at once.
Lionblaze was jumping up and down on the couch, screaming and throwing pillows around.
"Lionblaze, get down from there," Jayfeather slurred. "You're gonna break it!"
"NO I'M NOT, NO I'M NOT!" Lionblaze bellowed. Two seconds later there was a crack and Lionblaze stumbled to the ground as the couch broke.
"For god's sake!" Jayfeather cried. He grabbed his brother by the arm and dragged him to his feet. "Alright, you are officially cut off. If you want something to drink you can have water."
"NO!" Lionblaze cried out. "No, seriously Jayfeather. I'm fine. I'm not even drunk and-"
He passed out in the middle of his sentence. Jayfeather pulled a blanket over him, not bothering to move him up from the floor. A noise suddenly distracted him, and Jayfeather looked up.
The door to his house had opened, and Jayfeather felt his heart drop painfully.
It was Scourge.
"Oh my god, oh my god my hair looks terrible," Jayfeather whispered. He looked over at the window, staring at his reflection. He used his fingers to awkwardly comb his hair, feeling so self-conscious he could barely move.
I swear, this guy is going to be the death of me.
