Well. That could not POSSIBLY have gone ANY worse if we tried. Highlight of the evening: Met Spot's boyfriend. Real tough guy named Itey. They are SO perfect for each other. Low point of the evening: Pretty much everything else. Dave flipped out and started shrieking, "I'm not gay! I'm not gay! Why the FUCK am I here?!"
I guess I should've seen it coming. He didn't look comfortable in his own skin, and his hands were shaking. So Spot gave him a shot of a downer he takes sometimes, and we hauled him out to Snitch's 'Stang. I called Spitfire and filled her in. She sometimes (OK, twice) does damage control, since she can restrain someone twice her size, and her mom's a P.A., so she has all these sample drugs we could use to calm Dave down.
"So…he flipped out, started yelling, and you gave him a downer? Alright. Am I doing damage control, or is it more like, counseling?" she asked, after I filled her in.
"More like counseling" I replied.
"OK. My place, 20 minutes?"
"We'll be there." I looked over at Itey, who had trailed out after Spot.
"He's not usually like this. I should go apologize to Medda."
"Medda says not to worry about it, she's seen this kind of behavior before. She says she hopes he'll be back in two weeks."
"We'll try."
"Whatever" grumbled
Spot. "If he does that again, I'll soak him! I can't believe he
embarrassed me like that!"
"Spot!" I said, in mock exasperation. "You sound so GAY!"
Spot swept off his hat and started bowing, going, "Thank you, thank you ladies and germs, I'll be here all week! Try the veal!"(Spot's favorite movie is Shrek.) Then he grabbed Itey and they started making out. Now, I thought Natalie and Jeans were bad. But they were all OVER each other. Sex with clothes on. Strangely fascinating. But also slightly frightening. "Spot. SPOT!" I finally ended up kicking him in the ass, and he looked up and glowered at me.
"What the fuck do you want?"
"Youse two wanna go with us to Spit's house, or what?"
"Only if Itey can come, too."
"Fine. You, Itey, Snitch, and Skitts can go in the 'Stang, and…" I realized that that was all the room in the 'Stang. Hee hee hee. I planned all of that. Clever me. Ha ha.
"I guess Dave's goin' with me."
Snitch raised his eyebrows at me, but that was the only reaction anyone gave.
"Alrighty then!" said Spot, totally oblivious to the silent exchange betweenSnitch and me. Sometimes I love the fact that Spot is extremely thick. I also love the fact that Snitch is very observant when it comes to all my silent little gestures. So I dragged Dave into my Taurus(with Skitt's help, he's strong for being so wiry!), buckled him in(THAT was fun, let me tell you!), and headed off toward Liz's house. I looked over at him every time we were stopped in traffic, he was beautiful even when he was half conscious. Now, if only he were my boyfriend, that would be HEAVEN on Earth! So, we got to Liz's house, Skitts helped me unload Dave, and we dragged him inside.
"Whoa. Dude, he is OUT! What the hell'd you GIVE him?!"
"Some really potent form of-of-I can't remember what it's called, but I gave him two normal doses."
"HOLY SHIT!" she yelled, and she morphed into P.A. mode. "Rapid heart rate, shallow breathing"-She opened his eyes-"Pupils fixed and dilated. I'm calling 911. You IDIOTS!" And she stomped over to the phone, cursing us in Spanish. I followed her into the kitchen.
"Spits…is he gonna be OK?" I asked, really worried.
She looked at me with big worried eyes. " I sure as hell hope so. Blink, go be with him. Right now he needs you more than I do." As I walked away, I heard her telling the paramedics her address. I walked in, sat down, and held his hand until the paramedics got there. They asked me if I wanted to ride in the ambulance with them. I wasn't leaving him for a second, so I climbed in without saying a word. Liz was right behind me.
"Gotta tell the medics what happened, ya know?" she said in response to the eyebrow I raised at her.
"Uh-huh."
She gave me her 'annoyed' look, and said, fighting back a grin, "OK, I'm actually going for two reasons, I'm really worried about him, but, also, my friends are volunteering tonight. Maybe we'll see them."
SPITFIRE
"¡Idiotas, perras, y todos mas ESTUPIDAS! I cannot BELIEVE they gave him that downer! I'm gonna let Izzy talk now. I'm gonna KILL them, I can't BELIEVE they did that!" walks away grumbling
SATURDAY
"Ain't it a fine life, carryin' the banner through it all!" I sang.
"Said it's a fine life, carryin' the banner through it all!" sang Coin in harmony. Yeah, we're dorks. But we love the Newsies in all of our dorkiness, so it's OK.
"Izzy…Izzy, watch where you're goin, girl!" came Coin's voice from somewhere near my elbow. I'm just kidding. Coin isn't that short, but she is 5'0", and pretty too. Hair like ebony, skin like ivory. Think Snow White, midget-sized. I guess I shouldn't talk, I'm only 5'2", with brown hair and hazel eyes. I know, kinda average, but I play ice hockey, that's not very average, now, is it?
"Izzy, you're a spaz!" laughed Coin.
"I'm in a Newsie induced spazzing fit" I said. "So it's excused."
"Whatever."
We got to the volunteer office, where we greeted Amie, the Teen Volunteer Coordinator.
"You guys, where's Liz? Didn't she come with you?"
"She said on the phone that one of her friends OD'd on a downer and she's staying with him."
"Oh. OK. She didn't call, though…" She broke off as her phone rang, and Coin laughed.
"That's probably her now."
"Probably. Hello, Volunteer Services, how can I help you?" She listened for a minute.
"OK, Liz. Thanks for calling. Izzy and Anna told me about it, but thanks for calling. I hope your friend will be alright."
Amie hung up and looked at us. "Her friend Dave OD'd on a depressant, apparently. Said he flipped out, and her friend Spot gave him twice the recommended dose." Coin and I looked at each other.
"Spot did WHAT?!" Coin looked like she was gonna kill someone.
"Did she say what room he was in?" she asked.
"I think…" Amie paused in thought. "526. You can see him during meal trays. No sneaking off."
We will anyway, I thought.
We were the two busiest volunteers on our shift that day. I think Amie wanted to keep us from sneaking off to visit Dave, which she succeeded in doing. Oh, joy. I work for a slave driver. Anyways, at 6:20, we headed up to 5th floor, found his tray, and headed to his room. We knocked, walked inside, and found Spitfire, Blink, Spot, Itey, Dutchy, and Jack. The two guys present in Liz's life? The ironic tension was so thick you could cut it with a knife. Liz walked up to us and wrapped each of us in a one-armed hug. Her hands were shaking. She whispered in my ear, "Find a way to get Jack outta here. Please, Izzy?"
"I'll try" I whispered back.
Coin must've caught most of that, because she stood up and said, "Who wants to help me pass out these trays? How 'bout you, Jackie-boi?"
And Jack, being the half-assed gentleman that he is, accepted.
Took it hook, line, and sinker.
"Thanks, Wizard of Iz" Liz whispered.
"No problem. How's Dave doing?"
"Unconscious, but stable. Doctor says he should wake up soon. "
Oh, yeah. Must murder Spot now.(Just kidding. I'd never kill Spot. But I WAS gonna chew him out pretty good.)
"CONLON! I can't BELIEVE you DID that! You're a first-class IDIOT!" I yelled, out of anger, frustration, worry, and tension. Spot just looked at me, his arm draped around Itey's shoulders.
"I know I deserve that, Saturday, but don't get too mad. I was only trying to help."
Liz sighed. "I know, Spot. But that medication was meant for you and you alone. You're not supposed to give it to anyone else, let alone twice the recommended dose." She sank into a chair. Then she looked over at Dave, looking twice her age.
"I just hope he's gonna be OK."
These lines of light mean
We're never alone, never alone
Counting Crows, "Accidentally in Love"(Shrek 2 ROX MY SOX!)
Let the record show it is now 11:45, CST. I'm extremely tired, but also very wired, 'cause I drank a lot of those cool new 8 oz. Diet Pepsi cans. Cute, and good for a quick caffeine jolt, which I is just what I needed throughout the night. Off to sleep, as soon as I do shout-outs.
WOO-HOO!! I'm FINISHED!!! Took a lot of caffinated beverages, chewing gum, and bread-and-butter(comfort food, don't ask), but it was worth it.
(in a Sapphy mindset) Any who, here are all the shout-outs from the reviewers I can actually remember:
SATURDAY: If I ever meet you, I'll seriously faint. I would LOVE to meet ALL of my reviewers someday. I love you ALL! UPDATE THE ISLAND! Or I'll sic my bitch Dutchy on you.
Dutchy: Since when am I your bitch?!
ME: Since we reviewed that one story and you said you loved me.
Dutchy: Oh, yeah, right. gives her a kiss
ME: swoons Dutchy KISSED me! Aw, I LOVE YOU, DUTCHY!!
Dutchy: runs away in terror. again
(Ok, that kinda got outta control. Sorry.)
Minx-Hijinks: You rock 'n' roll, girl! If I wasn't so tired, I'd try to write more for ya, but I can't think of a whole hell of a lot, since my brain tends to shut down as it gets closer to midnight.
Turpentine chaser: thanx for the review, if I wasn't so damn tired, I'd remember what your review said. Hey, I have a small gaggle of reviewers now. Cool!
Cassie's grandma: my reviewers are too cool! I LOVE YOU ALL! I think that's the second or third time I've typed that, but I feel like shit, and I'm tired, so I don't care
Elvenrarehunter: I remembered you, even though I'm just about dead! Yeah, me! HAHAHAHAHAHA!! I don't get why your account buddy hates the Newsies, either. There's so much to love about 'em!
NEWSIES: LIKE WHAT?!
ME: Youse all're hot, you sing, you dance, and two words: Pelvic Thrust!
Jack: I KNEW doing this was a smart move!
ME: Well, DUH! I could've TOLD you that!
Dutchy: Yeah, she's funny, smart, pretty, creative, dedicated-why else would she be at a computer typing 'till midnight?-need I go on? She sticks up for people…
NEWSIES: SHUT UP, DUTCHY! YOUSE'RE MAKIN' US SICK!
Dutchy: OK, sorry! Geez, TOUCHY MUCH??!!
(can you tell I enjoyed writing that? Ha ha ha! Possibly my best dialogue yet!)
To all of my reviewers I forgot, all I can say is: I'm sorry! Please keep the rotten muffins and cookies away! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!! ducks as rotten muffins and cookies are pelted at her by neglected reviewers I would've put you in, but my 'rents put a password on the Internet, so I can't go on my page to see who reviewed. The ones who got a shout-out are the VERY lucky ones, I'm sorry to all y'all I forgot! BYE NOW! I'm gonna go sleep now.
(Didja know I listened to 'Accidentally in Love' TEN TIMES while typing and finishing this? My computer says so. I am SO lame. I'm REALLY gonna go sleep now. BYE!!!)