Yellow eyelids awoke to the bright early blue sky. It took a few minutes to adjust from the sheer whiteness of the light to full color. The sponge was laying there confused as to where he was. He got up slightly while rubbing his eyes before turning his head. Sea grass was eloping in the wind while jellyfish strolled by unbothered. Memories rushed back to him as to what happened the night before and how that may have led to this moment. A thought suddenly hit.
"Where are they?"
He made his way up with a big ole' stretch and yawn. He had an idea of where he was, so he started back to the direction of his home. On the way over he started remembering some thoughts he had last night. Nostalgia, being a kid again, and the feeling of one with the earth. Part of him blew it off as just the drugs talking but another half fucked with it.
He arrived finally at his house and looked past his neighbors seeing no sign of life. He got his spare key from under the doormat and made it in the door to a hungry Gary annoying him.
"maaAAOOOoo"
"Ok Gary hold on"
He fed his snail and went upstairs to shower and change. He thought about whether he should bother working today. Maybe check his phone for messages.
Oh wait.
Basically, all of his personal belongings are still at Patrick's, and he has no clue if he's even home. It's worth a shot to check he guessed.
Spongebob finished dressing up and went back out to Patrick's rock. He gave a few taps with no reply. Maybe he left it open?
Sure enough.
Spongebob went inside to see the living room in chaos. Found his home keys and phone. A message from Mr. Krabs bitching about something but not anything from Squidward. Spongebob decided to check the bedroom and found a lump under the covers.
Thank God.
"Patrickkkk PATRCIK!"
Spongebob shook the bed.
Patrick shot up and blankets sunk to the floor. He seemed disorientated so Spongebob waved his hands and talked calmly.
"Hey hey hey it's just me…when did you get here?"
Patrick's eyes were still wide and veiny from both shock and lack of sleep. He rubbed his eyes while yawning, sitting cozier now.
"Uhhh I don't know…the sun was rising when the acid wore off and I went home to sleep"
He yawned once more
"Where didjyoo run off too?"
Spongebob shrugged his shoulders "I woke up in some field like an hour ago"
Patrick chuckled and laid back down again
"Ya…that was a real fun trip. We should do it again sometime"
The sponge looked around the room in worry and then back to the bed
"Have you seen Squidward?"
Patrick lifted his head again "Nuhuh I thought he was with you or something."
He continued as Spongebob turned around "I saw y'all walk off while I laid down in the grass last night"
Spongebob started getting a bit nervous and he went to his phone contacts to look for the squid.
Ring ring
Ring ring
It answered
"...h-hello?" A tired voice spoke
"Squidward? It's Spongebob. Where are you?"
Silence held still for a few moments
"Oh…I'm on my couch"
"Ok. You going to work?"
"What?! Why? You're there?"
"No no no I'm just asking…Mr. Krabs blew up my phone"
"Oh shi- well it's already eleven so I don't see a point"
"Me neither"
"Have an idea for our excuse?"
"Uhhh maybe a 24-hour stomach bug. We'll come up with something"
"Alrighty then. See ya"
Click
—-
A few more days passed, and it was already Sunday again. They told their boss about a stomach flu but were met with a stare that could kill and bared teeth. Mr. Krabs gave his two employees the ass beating of a lifetime for shutting the store down for about a day and a half. They had to make up time staying past nine pm doing miscellaneous tasks like re-tarring the parking lot and caulking the bathroom tiles. When Saturday hit, they were dead exhausted and just aching to get home and sleep.
The next morning the two neighbors awoke early for their weekly AA meeting. Squidward was a little slower today than weeks prior. He felt unusually groggy and unmotivated. Kinda sick too. He thought back to that introspective night earlier in the week. He hasn't felt the same since. He almost feels…smaller? Broken? Surprised?
It's kinda difficult to explain.
He had gotten a hold of his journal again and started writing pages and pages of the various revelations made that one starry night over the course of the week. There were writings about life purposes, goals, aliens, childhood, emotions, theories, suspicions, among others. The pen just wouldn't stop sometimes. Looking out the window, it's almost as if he's seeing the scenery for the first time. Like a background drop at a school play. The sand was glued on to the cardboard structure while little purple Styrofoam coral dotted around. The asphalt street is just a streak of paint. That pineapple is a prop. That rock is just tissue paper.
Squidward backed away and rubbed his eyes a bit. Is he going mad? He knows that everything is real. However, he can't help but sometimes see that everything around him, (the people, the buildings, the plants, the food) is fake. A setup. A show. There's a half expectation that the curtain will be thrown, and an audience will be clapping on cue. The six-legged creature was repulsed at this thought.
"Where's my pill?"
—-
Spongebob awaited outside the Easter Island head looking at his phone.
"Almost 11…I wonder what's up?"
Just then the door slammed open, and a slowpoke squid shuffled out onto the driveway. His eyes were heavy and were adorned with maroon bags.
"Sleep well?"
The squid shook his head "Not really…"
The sponge noticed the lackluster stare in his friend's eyes. It uneased him but didn't know how to approach asking.
They pulled up to the temple and they meandered all the way into the meeting room. Not a word was said between them the whole time. Once they got inside Spongebob pulled him back to him.
"Squidward, is everything ok?"
He turned around and looked down as he spoke. "I don't know…"
"C'mon you can tell me"
"Well…I just feel very empty inside"
"Why?"
"I-I don't know, Spongebob. It started the day after we tripped in the fields. Something about that stupid drug has made me more depressed and paranoid…I feel like…"
"Alright everyone let's gather around," Shouted Taki
SpongeBob and Squidward both looked at the circle and then back to each other before heading that way.
Everyone made it to the circle and sat patiently waiting for Taki to speak. Spongebob looked around and saw the newbies and the usuals along with Juney sitting across from him. She seemed put together at least.
Taki introduced himself again and then had one of the new people stand up and talk. Some other drunk or something, Spongebob didn't pay attention. After a while, some of these stories run into one another like a piece of yarn. Everyone just has a different color.
Taki thanked him and then another man stood up, clearing his throat before speaking. The sponge looked up.
"Hi everyone, my name is Fred. I'm not an alcoholic no.I…uhh" He started shaking
"I'm a pill popper. Oxy's, vic's, xannies…whatever…but the opiates are what really got a grip on me for about a few years now."
The room stood silent before Taki spoke
"And what brought you into the meeting today?"
Fred looked down and crossed his arms
"Well…there's been this new pill running around for a while now. Percocet, I think? Well, I don't know much about it, but I had a pretty close call to heaven's door the other night. Had to be resuscitated and all."
He continued "I don't know what was in that…I thought it was safer than at least the ones you shoot up. Maybe I took too much. I don't know. Anyways…laying in that hospital bed really woke me up to the fact and now I'm here…"
Fred sat down and a neighbor of his put her hand on his back. Taki nodded.
"Thank you for sharing that, Fred. I really hope you find what you're looking for and get the help you need"
Taki then went on to call on others in the room to speak. Spongebob just sat in frozen horrification. Did that guy say Percocet? Was it the same stuff that he himself sold? Oh no. Are Squidward and that one girl gonna connect the dots?
He glanced at Squidward to see a stone-cold look. Nothing giving away that he is upset or anything. Turning to Juney, she looked dazed and confused as always. A wave of relief washed over him. He thought to himself maybe he only saw the connection because he knew the secret. Why did he have to leave 'perc' in valerian perc extracts? Ugh. Not his brightest moment.
He tuned out the rest of the meeting. Didn't even notice that Squidward had spoken about some depressing revelations. Spongebob's blue eyes just kept still on the floor beneath him.
The meeting adjourned and people gathered around to talk and get some food. A couple people went up to Squidward.
"I hear you; I see you…"
The sponge just made his way back to the snack table. He saw Juney.
"How've you been?"
She looked up from the cookie in her hand.
"Pretty decent. Those extracts you gave me have worked like a charm."
"That's good, That's good. Say…you wouldn't happen to know anyone else who could use help? In private of course…"
She looked around and stopped at her sponsor, Shalissa.
"Well, I may know someone but she's very skeptical of new age woo-woo stuff"
Spongebob followed the gaze and landed on the person of interest. Shalissa seemed like a sweet woman, but someone with an important role as a sponsor, it may be too risky.
"Uh…is there anyone else maybe?"
"What's wrong with my sponsor?"
"You said it yourself, she may not be open to it, and I don't want to be ostracized for using alternative medicine. Y'know?"
Juney stared in confusion for a second but nodded her head in agreement.
"You're right…I wouldn't want to get berated either"
"Ok then. Who else?"
She thought for a moment and then her eyes brightened up. "I know a few others who might need your help…"
Juney had Spongebob meet some other AA friends after the meeting in the parking lot. It was only three fish, but it was good enough for him. Juney swore that they would be lowkey about it. All three of them were drunks and have been in recovery from ranges of three months to two years. Every single one stated how cravings still come about from time to time and are desperate for relief in stressful situations.
"Is it safe?"
"All safe my guy, ask your friend over there!"
Spongebob made good money that morning alone. He was giddy from knowing he's doing well with himself. He just hopes it lasts long enough to really support himself, pay his debts, and live his dreams.
The rest of the day he hung around his home with a beer, jerked off, and went to sleep. Kinda like every night now it seems. He also got a call from his parents. They were worried he hadn't called back in a while and figured to give him a ring. His relationship with his parents is still good but far more distant than in the past. Nothing really triggered it per se. Over time, Spongebob just felt more angry and bitter towards the world and sometimes partly blamed the way he was raised. Raised to sit still and be quiet and not cause ruckus in the home. To keep a pseudo-peace even when there was obvious turmoil. Sometimes he just didn't want them to see him like this. Part of him yearns for that kind of closeness again but knows it's all too messy right now.
"...you're eating well? Need any money?" Questioned his mom
"No no I mean yes I'm fine, thank you…"
"When will you come up and see us? It's been an awfully long time and I miss you. Maybe we can come there…"
"Gosh I don't know. How about this? I'll ask my boss when a good weekend for me is to get off and I'll text you ok?"
"That sounds great sweetie…I love you so much"
"You too. Buh-bye"