A/N: Hey everyone, sorry for such a late post. I've been kinda busy and tired and also running out of motivation for this story. But like I've said before, if you guys have any ideas/tips to make this story, feel free to PM me! Anyways thank you for reading this and I really hope yall enjoy it!
Within two weeks, Liv was back to where she was a year ago, slightly increasing the amount of oxycodone she was taking per day. She was probably in denial herself, assuming that she had only fell of the wagon temporarily. That there was nothing to worry about.
Liv came to school wearing a party dress that was so short everyone else wondered where the rest of the outfit was. She saw JJ walking down the hall and shouted, "JJ, party tonite. Your house, 7PM! Whooooo!"
JJ was surprised for a second but went with it anyways. He had already pulled out his phone and started texting everyone he knew, which was, in his case, A LOT. "Already done!" he said continuing to high-five the rest of his friends.
Liv was getting her stuff out of her locker when Asher showed up, snapping at her. "Liv, what are you wearing?" He took off his jacket and put it around her, looking around to see if anyone was watching them.
"Asher, you have got to learn how to chill out," she said, lightly tapping his cheek. "It's for tonight."
He shook his head, "What's tonight?"
"Party at JJ's house. You should already be getting the e-vites."
Asher's phone buzzed and he reached in his pockets and saw JJ's message. "Alright Liv, what's going on? What are you on right now?"
"Nothing. I'm fine. I'm just trying to have a little fun here."
"Olivia, you are not fine. Look at yourself. This isn't you."
"Yes, it is. For once, would you stop worrying about me? Instead you should be worrying about how you're gonna lose state championships. Especially since the rest of the team has to carry you..."
"Excuse me?" Asher said, trying really hard to swallow his frustration and hurt. He knew this wasn't the real her, but couldn't help feeling angry at the same time.
"Yeah, Jordan told me about it. Looks like you're wasting your time with me."
Asher spent the rest of the day, shoving down his resentment of the team. There's no way they would say that. He considered them his brothers, his family. Luckily he had football to work out all that anger. He started pushing himself harder then anyone else and calling out anyone who fumbled their ball or overthrew it.
Jordan came up to him while he took a break, "Hey, what's up with you? You're like way more energized today..."
"Well I guess I'm just trying not to let the team down," he said with a hint of sarcasm.
"What do you mean? Who said you were letting the team down?" Jordan furrowed his brows.
"You did."
"Wait, what? Asher, what the hell are you talking about?"
Asher scoffed, "Really, man? I thought we were friends. Brothers, even. People who have each other's backs."
"We are."
"Then why would you say that I'm dead weight? That the team has to carry me? And most of all, why would you say this to Liv?" Asher lashed out laying his hands on Jordan.
Jordan sighed heavily, regretting telling Liv. "Oh my god, Asher. This was a conversation from weeks ago. Look, I told her this when you were back on the team again and you hadn't shown up to a couple practices and you were a little bit behind. We were just worried because we had that game against Liberty High the next day. That's all I said."
Asher stood frozen, his face reddened with anger and embarrassment. He pressed his hand against his face. "God, I'm sorry man. I guess Liv got it in my head that the team was having second thoughts about me. Especially after I gave Malibu our playbook. We cool?"
Jordan nodded and gave him a fist bump. "Speaking of which, why did she tell you?"
Asher shook his head. "I don't know, man. Have you noticed anything different about her?"
"Not really. Things have kind of been crazy at my house with the state championships and all. We haven't had a family dinner in weeks because of that and my mom's campaign."
"Yeah, she's probably stressed out," he nodded, not wanting to worry Jordan yet.
The party started earlier than expected, with JJ bringing out the kegs and other essential party supplies. Liv walked in, wearing a one-strapped navy-blue dress that tugged at her waist and wrapped around her torso.
"Hey Liv, we're gonna start 'hide and go get it'!" JJ shouted drunkenly across the room.
She smiled and nodded, "Let's get it started."
Everyone gathered around JJ in the living room. "Alright people, the rules are simple. Guys can hide anywhere in the house. Girls you have to go find us. Ready, set go!"
The boys all scrambled, running around trying to find a good, making-out spot. Liv took the bottle of tequila laying on the counter with her as she roamed around the kitchen. If she was being honest with herself, she didn't feel like running around to have a quickie with one of the boys. Especially if the guy she was expecting wasn't even here.
She waited until everybody cleared out of the living room so she could sit down and enjoy her bottle of tequila by herself. Once she didn't hear or see anybody coming down the halls, she unscrewed the cap and was about to take a big gulp when she heard someone call her name. She turned her head to see Asher standing in the middle of the hallway.
"What the hell are you doing?" Asher said, walking towards her to snatch the bottle away from her.
Liv moved the bottle away from his reach, "Nothing. Why don't you go have some fun? They're playing 'hide and go get it'."
"No, I'm gonna stay here with you until you give me that bottle."
"No, Asher. Just give me a break, will you?"
"How long has this been going on?"
"What's the big deal? So what if I relapsed? It's just a minor episode," she tried to reasoned with him.
"What's the big deal? Are you kidding me? The big deal is that you could OD again. Do you know how serious is that? God, Liv. Didn't you learn anything the first time around?"
"What I learned is that everybody needs to mind their own business. Just leave me alone."
Asher groaned and then sat down on the coffee table, plastered with red party cups. He took a deep breath in and rubbed his face before trying to calmly talking her down. "Liv, we care about you. Your parents care about you. Jordan cares about you. I care about you."
"I don't need you guys to care. I just need you to let me be." Liv tried to take another swig of the bottle but Asher managed to snatch it from her hands. "Asher, give it back."
"This is for your own good. Now I'm gonna drive you home and you're gonna take a shower and go to bed and we'll forget this ever happened."
"I'm not going."
"Liv, come on."
"NO, Asher."
"If you don't, I'll call your parents right now. It's either gonna be me or them."
"You're bluffing."
"Alright, bet." He pulled his phone out and clicked on Coach Baker's contact info. "It's ringing."
She rolled her eyes and shook her head.
"Coach Baker?" Asher said. "I've got some - "
"Fine," Liv caved in. "Just hang up the phone."
Asher smiled and hanged up and slid his phone back into his pocket.
"Let's go."
Liv grabbed her keys from her handbag while Asher stood behind her. They walked inside the house and he followed her up the stairs and into her bedroom.
"Give me whatever else you're on," he said, looking around her room.
"I don't have anything else."
"Liv, I know you're lying. Just give me the bottle or I'll call your parents out right here right now."
"Fine," Liv said, walking into the bathroom and grabbing the bottle that she hid in the cabinet. "Here," she handed it to him. He still stood there waiting. "What?"
"What else? I know there's more."
"Asher, there's nothing left."
He continued to stand there until she gave in and walked to where her dressers were. She opened one of the drawers and pulled out a bag of goodies. "That's all I have left. I swear."
He eyed at her suspiciously "Alright, fine. Now go take a shower and get some rest. I'll see you tomorrow." He left her room and walked down the stairs, thinking about how he was going to wean her by himself. He ran into Mrs. Baker as she was heading towards the stairs.
"Hey Mrs. Baker."
"Asher, hey. Were you just coming from Liv's room?" she asked giving him doubtful look.
"Yes.. But it's not what you think." In a moment of what he thought was of love for Liv, he wanted to do something that he knew he couldn't by himself. "Do you have some time to talk about Liv?