Sunday night did end up being a chill night for both Patrick and Spongebob. They smoked some bud and watched Netflix for a few hours in silence. Not one of them was in the mood to talk about their friend and kinda wanted a few hours just to forget about the world. Spongebob headed into work early the next morning. He threw his keys in the kitchen and prepped some food for the rushes of the day ahead. Even Mr. Krabs was surprised at the promptness. The yellow kitchen sponge ran into the office to see Mr. Krabs sniffing money. He pulled out fifty dollars and threw it at moneyphilliac's hands.
"Hit me"
Mr. Krabs was taken aback at the aggressive nature but surely pulled out his drawer, weighed then bagged up the goods, and then proceeded to hand it off.
"Everything ok laddy? I'm glad ye back to sniffin' dope but…"
"I'm fine don't worry about it…"
Spongebob went to turn around and head back in the kitchen before Mr. Krabs interrupted.
"I got a call from Squidward yesterdee…he won't be coming back for little while…"
Spongebob turned around with his ears deafened from the blood running through.
"Why's that? What's wrong?"
Mr. Krabs sighed "They're putting him in one of those looney-I mean 'behavioral inpatient centers'...and then he may also be forced to go to rehab"
"Forced?"
Mr. Krabs' eyebrows lowered in empathy.
"Ya Spongebob. It's the law apparently that suicide attempts, especially mixed with addiction, will leave ya under forced mandatory supervision…the claws of the system" he pinched his claws for emphasis.
Spongebob shook his head "But he's not an addict…he's not that suicidal…I saw him a few days ago and we talked about it. There's gotta be some sort of misunderstanding!"
"Not according to the hospital and police reports"
Spongebob grabbed his head and looked down to the floor. "Did he say anything else?"
"Well, they're taking him to the mental ward tomorrow and uh…"
"And what…"
Mr. Krabs folded his claws and breathed sharply out of his nose.
"Spongebob…why didja sell to him?"
Spongebob jerked his head up
"What?!"
"Look lad…I know when someone's under the influence at work…I've worked with you for many years…it was easy to connect the dots."
Spongebob crossed his arms and looked up at the ceiling.
"Spongebob…I really think you need to talk with him before he's locked away"
"And why do I have to do THAT?"
Mr. Krabs' voice lowered, and his eyebrows furrowed.
"You know exactly what you did"
"I have no idea what you're talking about" Spongebob's eyes started tearing up and he resisted the urge to wipe them away.
Mr. Krabs sighed again "The blood panel came back and found traces of opioids in there, Spongebob…and you lied about to him didn't ya?"
The fry cook's eyes began to leak down his cheeks and he let out a soft whimper. He doesn't want to face the truth. He doesn't want to face Squidward. He doesn't want to face what he's done to himself, most importantly.
"Mr. Krabs…I…"
Spongebob shook his head in frustration
"I don't understand why YOU care anyways. You sell this shit too!"
Mr. Krabs stared and blinked for a few seconds before replying
"You're right, maybe I am not one to talk…but you interfered with my business AND you were lying. I at least tell ya what yer snortin' up"
The crustacean took a breath through his nose.
"After work today I want you to go and see him"
"I don't think I can..."
"Spongebob" His eyes torched the sponge's soul in contempt. It made his spine shutter.
SpongeBob turned again once more followed by an
"Aye, aye"
—-
Spongebob was tracing the outline of the passenger seat car window with his index finger. It was raining that evening and the condensation inside entertained the anxious sponge for the majority of the duration of the ride. Letting his hand draw out the trial of thoughts in his head.
"Don't smudge my ride, please"
The uber driver drove up to under the hospital canopy and Spongebob waved him off before heading back inside the sterile building. He checked himself in at the front desk and had his picture taken, placing the proceeding sticker on his tie again. Walking down the hallway to the elevator he replayed possible scenarios for what's about to come. Will he ever speak to him again? Will he press charges? How will life ever be the same now?
He took a deep breath as he elevated four floors until the machine dinged and he was let out. Walking past the nurse's station he nodded to one of the nurses looking at him before he inched down to room 408. His arm shook, reaching up to knock on the wooden door but finally found the courage.
Tap tap.
He opened the door slowly, finding Squidward reading a book under a warm-lighted lamp. The squid looked up with building eyes and sat the book down beside him.
"Spongebob…come sit" He motioned towards the chair.
Spongebob shut the door behind him and sat down in the pleather beige chair. The air conditioning was cool and drafty, blowing on his fragile yellow legs. Squidward sat up more straight with his arms crossed.
"I'm guessing Mr. Krabs told ya"
"Ya…" Spongebob looked to the tile floor and rubbed his arms. He tried focusing on the sound of the draft. Anything but this talk is what he wants to hear.
The squid took a deep breath before speaking. He was trying to control the whirlwind inside him. He was trying to be courteous.
"I've been in this hospital for a few days now. It's often quiet and lonely when the staff ain't here...it gets a man thinking a lot."
Spongebob nodded silently.
"Maybe I always had a feeling something fishy was going on with those pills...I don't know...it worked, and you said it was helping you so-" His eyes started to look heavy with emotional pain.
"I trusted what you said was true. I went against my gut because I actually thought of you as a friend."
The sponge rubbed his hands together. Sweat was starting to build up ad he was trying to dry them. The vinyl coating of the seat didn't help how uncomfortable he was.
"...but that day you and Pat came to visit me...something about your words, your demeanor even, was really...off." Squidward looked up for a second.
"No... UNSETTLING is a better word for it..."
Spongebob froze in place upon hearing the tone change. He knew he was in deep shit now.
"What the fuck Spongebob?...Who the hell even are you anymore?"
The sponge started vibrating "I'm so sorry Sqidwar-"
"Why did you lie to me?! Did you know this whole time!?" The squid was louder now and started ruffling his sheets. He rubbed his face and shook his head in frustration.
"I'm really sorry…"
"Fucking answer, ME!"
Spongebob started tearing up a little. "I needed the money…"
"Ah so you decided the best way was to trick me into addiction? Dope me up on your own shit? You seriously couldn't have any other ideas?! I've been experiencing the worst withdrawals…they had to put me on suboxone just to not suffer anymore!"
Spongebob let a tear fall down to the vinylic coating of the seat.
"I said I'm sorry…"
"Spongebob what the fuck is SORRY going to do? You've assaulted me, robbed me, doped me up knowing I was recovering from an addiction I might add, lied to me, used me, landed me in a hospital, and now fucking broke my TRUST! And you think 'sorry' CUTS it?!" Squidward balled up his fists before settling them on his face and rubbed his forehead.
"Squidward…please hear me out…"
Squidward continued while looking down to his lap.
"I even gave you a second chance...I dropped all of those damn charges..."
"And I'm grateful but-" SpongeBob choked
"This was the thanks I get. If I remember correctly, you gave me the pill right after that talk? Am I right, Spongebob?!" His eyes were moist and full of disgust as he turned towards the yellow sponge.
Spongebob tried speaking but nothing came out of his throat.
"Oh my god...it IS true..." Squidward looked back to his lap again before continuing.
"You had no intentions of making up with me. No real desire for a clean slate..." He swiveled his head back towards the sponge and pointed at him.
"You were trying to get me hooked from the start. You KNEW how much of a vulnerable state I was in. I see that clearly now!"
"Squid-"
"Fucking bastard! I should KILL you!"
Spongebob started pleading.
"Squidward, please PLEASE listen to me!"
Squidward lowered his voice and peered straight ahead of him.
"You probably never knew this about me, but I've never had a lot of positive relationships, Spongebob. Why do think I was so angry at the world? It was a SHIELD...to protect myself." he took another deep breath.
"You have no idea what my childhood was like...growing up fucking sucked for me"
Spongebob shook his head while his eyes welled up again.
"...and you..." Squidward faced the sponge "YOU reminded me of why I needed to protect myself in the first place...I was too stupid to believe someone actually fucking cared about my wellbeing!"
"Squidward-"
"What? What the fuck could you possibly say now?!"
Spongebob raised his head and wiped his face.
"Squidward…I wanted to tell you the truth…honest. I just. I don't know…I was desperate, and I needed buyers…I didn't know it was this addictive."
Squidward scoffed.
"Are you fucking kidding me? No idea painkillers were addictive? Were you raised in a bus? I think you knew EXACTLY what you were doing to me…I can't believe I fucking trusted my crackhead of a neighbor…"
Spongebob shifted a little in his seat. He didn't know what to say or do to make this situation lighter. The guilt had already shot up from his chest to the center of his head. Lips, throat, eyes...everything was restricted by the fear and shame he felt inside.
"What do you want me to do Squidward? I fucked up and I apologized! I swear I really do cherish you as a friend…I REALLy want to get better…"
"REAL friends don't lie and drug their FRIENDS Spongebob!"
"I know I know…please is there anything I can do to make this right?"
Squidward shook his head.
"They're taking me to the behavioral unit tomorrow morning, then a rehab program soon after"
He took a deep breath then continued.
"When I come out, whenever that is, I don't want to see or speak with you outside work ever again…"
Spongebob froze in his seat while Squidward stared directly in his eyes.
"You're dead to me Spongebob"
Spongebob forced himself to get out of the seat and walked straight out of the room. Pacing down the hall towards the elevator, he let his mind go blank. Trying anything, desperately, to keep his mind off what just went down. His mind went numb and could only felt the soles of his shoes as he high-tailed out of the tile-floored hospital. His eyes focused on the rhythmic motions of his feet.
"I need to find more customers…"