The boys had been having a rather eventful evening, the bars in London were finally reopening and the whole gang had made a trip to the pub. Or should I say multiple pubs. The seven of them; Will, Mia, Fraser, James, Alex, Gee, and George have probably been to at least six alone tonight.
George was already an absurd amount of pints deep, but clearly had no intention of slowing down. Will and Mia were dancing in the middle of the floor, Gee and Fraser chatting at a table near the entrance. Alex seemed to be working his way through a round of shots James had ordered. It seemed as if everyone was enjoying this tiny taste of freedom after being in lockdown for so long.
It was now going on almost midnight and the place was getting close to closing. Most people had already gone home, the only signs the pub was once full of life were a forgotten pair of cheap sunglasses, or someone's id laid strewn about, abandoned on an empty table top.
These seven friends however showed no signs of lifelessness, each to intoxicated to realize that for most people, the party had already come to an end.
Alex slammed a shot glass onto the bar counter, the sixth one in a row. The vodka stung his throat, the pungent smell lingering in his mouth and penetrating his nostrils. James offered up a round of applause, he himself was pretty tipsy but not near as wasted as Alex or George. "I didn't think the little gremlin had it in him! Well in Dobby!" He joked, pushing Alex a little too hard. Alex swayed on his stool, steadying himself by gripping the bar. "Hah! Not getting rid of me that easy James" He slurred, his face flushed with drunk.
"Hey mate, where has George gone off to?" James questioned taking a quick glance about the room. Alex furrowed his brows, his mind clearly trying to process what James was asking him. "Um George? Where has he gone? Good question James, very good question." He fumbles trying to stand from his stool that was just a bit to high off the ground. He slips and fails to catch himself with his hands, face hitting smack dab against the floor.
James reacted very fast, even while drunk he had no problems hoisting up the small man, grabbing him by the hood of his pink hoodie and pulling him to his feet. "Are you alright Alex?" James hovers over the boy, tilting his head up towards the lights to better see his face. He would be lying if he said his vision wasn't a tad blurry but he could clearly make out a thick, red substance leaking from his nose.
"Oh mate your nose is bleeding! It looks pretty bad Al, are you okay?" James fretted trying to turn his head every which way to get a better look see. Alex on the other hand was not cooperating. "I'm fine!" He laughed it off, totally unfazed. James for a moment, was glad for all the shots Alex had done, seemingly numbing the pain.
"Let's go to the loo and sort you out mate." He grabs Alex by the elbow guiding him in the direction of the bathrooms. "Hey- hey James." Alex laughs as he swings the door to the Men's Room open. "Yeah?" James answers, more set on retrieving a paper towel than hearing whatever stupid thing would spill out Alex's mouth next. He was too drunk for this.
"So you know how we always say we would fuck buckbeak yeah-" He starts quite loudly, before his sentence falls short. "George! Georgie!" He calls across the room, suddenly spying George in his reflection. He had appeared behind the two men, his eyes were completely bloodshot, sweat dripping from his messy hair down the nape of his neck.
"Oi! George where have you been?" Alex quizzes him, pointing a finger in his face drunkenly. He doesn't respond and for a moment James wonders if he is okay. That is until he lurches forward, vomit spewing from his mouth to the bathroom floor. "Oh George, man that is rank." Alex laughs. James is already on the job, taking George by the arm and leading him into a stall.
He kneels next to him waiting on him to finish throwing up the liquid poison flowing through his bloodstream. "Alex, I need you to go and find Will for me. Can you do that?" Alex wasn't even looking directly at James but staring into space at something just above his head, a smile playing on his lips. "Alex!" He shouts, gaining the younger male's attention. "Al,please go and get Will or Fraser okay? Can you handle that?" Alex nods grinning, the stream of blood from his left nostril beginning to dry.
"Oh fucks' sake!" James mutters in annoyance watching his friend try and stumble his way to the door. He knew he would have to be the one to do something. "George? Where is your phone mate?" George, now dryheaving over the toilet bowl pats his left pocket frantically. James quickly fishes it out, and turns the screen on.
The first thing he notices is how many messages have piled up over the course of time since they had set out around..he thinks 7? Maybe 8? His brain was a little fuzzy. He unlocks his cell and hastily dials Will's number and it rings several times. Alex was giggling somewhat uncontrollably by the sinks on the floor, George still getting sick. James curses under his breath and tries Fraser's number instead.
The line rings twice and then he hear's someone pick up. "Ello?" James takes a breath and runs a hand through his dark hair. "Listen Fraser, Alex, George and I are in the bathroom. Alex has a bloody nose and-" James voice cuts out, the loud pumping of club music overpowering it. "I- Hello, Fraser? Are you there?" He waits for a brief moment before hearing his voice again. "Alex has done what in the bathroom?" He asks, a few drinks down the hatch as well.
"He is in the bathroom! We all are, he has a bloody nose and George has been sick!" Fraser mumbles into the line, "Mkay will be right there." before he hears another familiar voice. "James has given Alex a bloody nose?!" James could hear Will ask, his voice a mix of worry and confusion. "Will? Is that you? You lot just come to the bathroom!"
He hangs up the phone, deciding it was probably best for them all just to keep it. He pockets the device and turns his attention to George who was now done throwing up. He leaned his back against the stall, slumped over trying to catch his breath. The room felt quiet and loud all at once James noted. A faint hint of sick filled the air between them, for a moment James though me may be too.
Five minutes later and Will and Fraser come stumbling through the door. "Finally! Fraser get Al please, the stupid idiot fell off his stool!" Alex laughs loudly at this, his head leaned back, eyes shut. Fraser sighs, bending down to pick Alex up off the floor. Apparently he thought this was hilarious. He swung his feet out pressing all his body weight against the ground. "Alex! Stop it, the floor is dirty!" Fraser shouts, just earning more laughs in return.
"Is George okay James" Will asks, shielding his eyes from the harsh lighting with his hand. He squints at the spot where they were sat trying to make out George's face. "He's pretty sick guys, I think we should be heading back." George raised his head at this. "I'm fine guys!" He protests trying to stand. He trips over his own sneakers, James breaking his fall. He groans loudly, his stomach not happy with the combination of vodka and George's somewhat limp body lying across him.
"I'll send a text to Gee to call a cab or two. She's waiting with Mia outside anyways." Will searches for his phone, haphazardly typing up a text to his room mate. She responds almost instantly, informing the boys she already had and it would be here soon.
Alex, who had tired himself out fighting off Fraser, was leaning against him for support. James and Will were walking with George inbetween them, shoulders slung around each other. The five me made their way outside into the warm May early morning breeze. The rush of air was enough to make George feel a little bit better.
The cab came rather fast, Mia, Will, Gee and Fraser in one and Alex, George and James in the other. Once they were situated Alex slumped over onto James on the left and George with his forehead pressed against the window on the right.
When they finally arrived home dawn had just began to break and the sky was a gorgeous fade from dark to a pale blue with orange streaks. The three guys clambered out of the taxi and followed James inside Alex and George's Flat.
James made up Alex's bed, and did his best trying to coax the younger boy into it. It didn't take long before he finally became so tired that he climbed underneath the covers. He peeled off Alex's light pink hoodie and untied his shoes, chucking them into a corner. As James flipped the light off and was about the leave, he heard Alex call him softly. "James? Can you stay? Please.." He was sitting halfway up gazing at James with heavy lids. "Please." He chimed again.
James considered it for a moment, wondering if he should stay with George instead since he may get ill again. But looking at Alex like this, so obviously wrecked and pleading he couldn't tell him no. "Alright just give me two seconds okay?"
He re-emerged moments later with a pale looking George by his side. He was holding a bin in one hand and a bottle of ibuprofen in the other. He set the bin on the Left side of Alex's bed and George climbed in next to Alex wordlessly. He removed his glasses and James helped him take off his shirt and shoes. The two of them fit snuggly next to each other just enough room to sleep comfortably. After seeing to it that they were both properly tucked in he made a pallet for himself on the floor next to the bed.
Silence filled the room for a long while before George spoke. "I love you guys." He says sleepily, slightly muffled by the pillows. "Me too mate. And I fuckin' love you James. And Will. And Fraser." He add's happily. George murmurs in agreement. James could feel his heart strings tug. "I love you all too, you absolute melts." He laughs at the two, finally closing his eyes allowing the warm feeling to lull them all to sleep.