Chapter 8
Bye the time Xandria was done putting her purchases away it was dinnertime. So she headed downstairs. No one was in the dining hall. So Xandria debated just grabbing something from the vending machine. When Sarah came down stairs, followed by Kate. "Hey Xandria, the boys just called" said Sarah. Xandria was still looking at the vending machine. "Yeah what'd they want?" said Xandria. "They offered to buy us dinner since the dining halls are closed right now" said Kate. "Sure hold on let me get Bunny," said Xandria. She started to head up the stairs, as she did so Bunny came running down. "The boys made an offer of dinner" said Xandria as she approached her. Bunny looked shocked for a split second. "Really?" she asked. "Yep" said Sarah. "They said they'd pick us up outside in fifteen minutes," said Kate.
They were all standing outside when Tyler pulled up in his hummer. The girls reached for door handles. It was getting cold outside and they didn't want to be out there any longer than they had to. Xandria climbed in front and slid up close to Tyler. Annie climbed in next to her, when Reid stepped out of the way for her to do so. He climbed in and closed the door snuggling closer to Bunny as he did so.
He gave her an impish grin when she moved closer to Xandria. Sarah and Kate climbed in the back with Pogue and Caleb. Tyler waited a few seconds for everyone to get settled. Then pulled away from the curb. "So " said Kate from the back seat "where are we going?" Pogue kissed her cheek and said "its Tyler's pick tonight" Kate looked at Tyler who just grinned and didn't say anything. "So baby boy where are we going?" asked Reid. "You'll see," he answered with a grin.
Tyler hoped the restaurant his father had suggested wasn't too far away. Cause he was having a very hard time concentrating on the road. Very conscientious of a very warm sweet scented body up close to his side. He almost missed the turn off his dad had said to take because she shifted next to him. Her thigh brushed up against his, and for a moment he worried that he would show his appreciation way too visibly. He made the turn in time smoothly covering his momentary lack of composure.
He almost lost it again a second later when Xandria whispered an apology into his ear. "It's ok, I understand" he said back Absently reaching down and squeezing her hand. He turned and pulled into a driveway. It was an old lighthouse, which had been transformed into a seafood restaurant. Tyler shut off the car and undid his seatbelt. His hand brushed across a bare thigh as he did so. He froze his mouth suddenly dry. Then she smiled at him and then laid her hand atop his. He almost forgot how to breathe. "Hey lovebirds you gonna stop making googily eyes at each other or should we bring you some take out" said Reid.
He couldn't believe how baby boy was acting. Yeah she was hot, but geez gawd man get over it. You're acting like an idiot. Reid thought and climbed out of the vehicle, thoroughly disgusted and just a bit jealous. This was a first for him baby boy got the girl first. Of course it could be worse he reasoned. He could be here with the others and be the only dateless one for the night. Not that he would stay that way for long but for some reason he didn't feel like putting out the effort tonight. Ever since he mistakenly opened and read that damn letter from Annie he felt almost guilty for the way he had been treating women. Well as close to guilt as Reid Garwin would allow himself to feel. Not that he would ever admit to it, unless the persuasion involved torture anyways.
He was just too proud to admit to himself that the reason he felt so empty inside. Wasn't because the girl's he dated were shallow. It was him that was. Sure he was capable of a certain level of loyalty, even honor. Unfortunately he never let those qualities show. Baby boy had them in abundance, a fact that sometimes Reid found very irritating along with Caleb's boy scout attitude and Pogues angst ridden bad boy personas. Though he thought of the boy as a younger brother but sometimes he wanted to throttle him. This was one of those times.
He was more than relieved when baby boy and the girlfriend broke eye contact and got out of the vehicle. The further rolled his eyes when the guys started acting like gentlemen and held out their arms to the ladies they were with. He hoped Bunny didn't expect that of him. He turned to find the girl watching him. Like she expected something. He sighed and held out his arm like the rest of the idiots. At least Bunny cleaned up well. Tyler was already inside with Xandria. The boy was talking to a hostess about reservations. "Of course here it is Sims party of 8" said the woman. She picked up eight menus and said, "Follow me please". Before leading them through a maze of tables.
All of which held candles and a tasteful nautical theme. The woman stopped by some tables and put the menus at each of the seats. She excused herself and told them a waitress would be right with them. Caleb pulled Sarah's chair out for her and she sat down. Pogue did the same for Kate as did Tyler for Xandria. Reid just flopped down in a chair. Bunny sat across from him. "Wow this looks nice, however did you find this place Tyler?" said Kate. "My dad, actually recommended it," said Tyler. Reid snorted and picked up the menu.
The waitress chooses that moment to arrive and ask them if they were ready to order. They opted for just drinks while they decided. Tyler ordered her something called a coke. She went back to reading the menu. Baffled again by the food items listed she had no idea what to choose. When the waitress came back they gave their orders and when they stopped at Xandria, Tyler ordered for her. Tyler seemed to be ignoring the others in favor of talking to her this evening. "Would you like to try a redo of the other night, minus the ending of course" Tyler stammered. "It would be just us this time" said Tyler. The boys were watching him in amusement. Tyler was so into this girl and it was very amusing to watch. Tyler reached across the table and grasped her hand. Their eyes meeting like they had in the car. Pogue nudged Kate in the side. He was grinning at the couple, certain they would kiss this time. Kate smiled at them, when they noticed everyone was staring at them. They looked so sweet together.
Caleb was the only one in the party who looked worried. As he watched them he worried that this girl might turn out to be another Chase. She already knew Reid could use, which put them all at risk. He just hoped that Tyler wouldn't get hurt if his fears turned true. He would talk to the others tonight about confronting her. If what Reid said was true, he would ask for confirmation. If her using even felt the slightest bit as dark as Chase's had been, he would have to deal with her.
He doubted Tyler would be even be remotely pleased by that scenario. "I'd love to" she agreed to Tyler's offer as Caleb watched her. Tyler tightened his grip on her hand. His thumb absently rubbing the back of it. He was lost in the sensation of soft skin, so soft it felt like rose petals. When the waitress cleared her throat next to them. Tyler jumped and some of the others giggled. "Here ya go," said the waitress setting down their plates and Sarah's' and Caleb's "I'll have the rest for you in a second." She said. She came back a few seconds later with four more plates and handed them out.
Tyler smiled at her and reluctantly released her hand when the plate was set in front of him. She smiled at the plate in front of her; obviously Tyler knew her tastes now, because it was some sort of sample platter. She took a sip of her coke and picked up some sort of fish covered in breading. Dipped it in the sauce provided and took a bite. It was good so she ate the others and moved on to the rest of the food. There were several conversations going on around the table, and Xandria was absently trying to follow them. Reid was unusually quiet tonight and Bunny seemed content not to upset that balance.
Caleb was brooding again by the look on his face. Pogue and Kate were talking occasionally sharing bites of food between giggles. Xandria took another sip of her soda and kept eating. After drinking about half of it she began to feel weird. Slightly dizzy and light headed. She took another drink of her soda and another bite of food. The sensation didn't go away. She stopped eating and waited until it passed. "Are you all right??" asked Tyler. "Yeah just feel a little weird," she said to the question. Though she was unable to focus on who asked it.
"Is she ok" she heard what sounded like Caleb ask. "I don't know," answered Tyler. Sarah leaned over and asked her what was wrong. "Just dizzy for a second" she answered softly. "Would you like to get some fresh air" asked Tyler "it could be she's allergic to shell fish or something" said Kate. "Come on lets take you outside," said Tyler. He helped her pull out her chair and stand up. When she swayed for a second. Tyler barely caught her before she collapsed. "Easy baby lean on me, I've got you," he said guiding her towards the door. The hostess asked him what was wrong as he helped her walk outside. Caleb helped him when she started to collapse again.
Together they guided her outside and into the fresh air. They guided her to a bench outside and helped her to sit before she fell. Tyler kept asking her how she felt "Still dizzy?" asked Caleb. She nodded putting her head down and trying not to hurl up the food. The others inside were starting to wonder if it was food poisoning, so they opted to just pay for the food and go. Reid ironically picked up the bill, against Pogue's protests. Reid just didn't care; he wanted to get the girl to a doctor or something. Baby boy was worried sick he could tell. And Reid was getting worried himself, about the girl and about baby boys seeming attachment to her. His thoughts were also taking on darker turns worried himself that she was another Chase. After all she had sucked them all in, just like Chase had done. He stuffed the change into his pocket and started for the door as the others reached the cash register area. They followed him out and over to Xandria. The girl looked like she wanted to hurl. When she grabbed her mouth and leaned over the rail to hurl. Baby boy had it, "that's it we're taking her to a doctor" he said. She looked like she was about to protest. "No arguing," he said softly. They helped her to her feet and half walked half carried her to the hummer.
Caleb unlocked the door for them and they sat her by the door. Reid rolled down the window for her and sat in the back with her. Caleb drove them back into town. "There's an urgent care at the clinic on the west side" said Kate. Tyler climbed in the back with her and wrapped his arms around her. She put her head on his shoulder. Sarah Kate and Bunny sat up front with Caleb. Pogue sat in the back with Tyler and Reid. Caleb drove them into town quickly and found the clinic. They pulled into the clinic and piled out. Tyler, Reid and Pogue helping Xandria get out of the hummer. They supported her all the way to the front door and inside to a seat. Caleb and Sarah went to the front desk and told the nurse that she was having some sort of allergic reaction. The woman checked Xandria in and told them they would be right with them.
After a few minutes and some discreet using on Tyler's part her name was called. The nurse ushered her into the back and gave Tyler the paperwork to fill out. Unfortunately all he knew was her first and last name.
The nurse looked in her eyes, down her throat, in her ears and then asked. "How much have you had to drink?" Xandria looked confused the only thing she'd drunk all day was spites and some water. "Drink?" she asked confused "don't play coy with me sweetheart I know you've been drinking, you have all the classic signs of alcohol poisoning" said the nurse. "Alcohol poisoning?" said Xandria sounding really confused. The nurse rolled her eyes. "Here" said the nurse handing her a packet of pills. "Take these and sleep it off, and don't drink again," said the nurse sternly.
Xandria took the packet and walked back out of the examining room. Downed the two pills and went back out front. As she walked out the door she heard the nurse say to another nurse "can you believe the nerve of those rich brats they drink themselves sick and try to play it off like they haven't had a drop all night"
Xandria frowned and walked out to her friends. "You ok" said Tyler "yeah they gave me some sort of pill for it, whatever it was" said Xandria she stuffed the wrapper in the trash as she walked by. Reid following behind her picked up the wrapper and shoved it in his pocket. They got back into the car and Tyler drove them back to the dorms.
After they dropped the girls off at their dorm. Reid pulled the wrapper from his pocket and said. "Hey guys what do you make of this?" Pogue took it from his hand and looked at it closely. "I don't know what's it for?" said Pogue. Tyler who was still in the back took it and shook his head before handing it towards Caleb. Caleb parked the car and turned on the overhead light to read it more closely. "Well what is it?" asked Reid "it's a charcoal pill they give them to you to stop alcohol poisoning" said Caleb. 'Where did you get it Reid?" said Tyler. "Your girlfriend threw it away," he said "what, she wasn't drinking," said Tyler. "Hold on I'm going to call the girls," said Caleb. He dialed Sarah's number. "Hey, miss me so soon" she teased. "Sarah I've got to ask you something, did Xandria have anything to drink when she was out with you guys?' he asked. "No the only thing she drank was sprite or lemonade" said Sarah. Kate was looking at her questionably and mouthed what's going on? "Hold on Caleb I'm going to put you on speaker so Kate can hear." said Sarah "Fine I'll do the same here," he said back
"What's going on Caleb?" said Kate "Reid dug the package of pills the nurse gave Xandria out of the trash, they were for alcohol poisoning" he said levelly. "Well I don't know where she got alcohol because we only bought closed containers from stores when we were out" said Kate. "Yeah and she mostly drank sprite" said Sarah. "Come to think of it that's all I ever see her drink," said Kate. "Yeah us too, wonder what's up with that" said Pogue "come to think of it I never see her drink anything with caffeine in it period, even at breakfast" said Sarah. "Then where the hell could she have gotten it from?' said Tyler. "I don't know maybe she just has a weird metabolism, I used to have a cousin who got headaches from taking Tylenol" said Kate. "That could just be allergies," said Reid. "I don't know maybe she's just weird," said Pogue.
"Look if it will make you feel any better I can snoop around her room see if she's hiding a bottle or some thing" said Sarah "would you, if you get the chance" said Caleb. "All right out with it what's wrong?" said Sarah. "I'm just worried is all" said Caleb. "Your thinking she's another Chase aren't you?" said Sarah. Caleb winced wishing now he hadn't put it on speakerphone. "I'm not sure," said Caleb calmly. He was very aware of the glare he was receiving from Tyler. "I'll talk to you later, babe love you bye" said Caleb and hung up.