Sorry for taking so long on this! But here it is! The next chapter!

I sit in my apartment, looking down at the paper with the scribbled letters and numbers. I hadn't yet programmed it into my phone. I wasn't even sure if I wanted to contact this Eren. He said he went to high school with Marco, but I wasn't really feeling up to talking to anyone. I had only been a couple days and I just wanted to wallow in the depression. It didn't feel real yet. It didn't seem possible that the light and happiness that was Marco Bodt was really gone. I pick up the bottle on the table in front of me, putting it to my lips and pulling in a deep drink of the amber liquid inside. I wince a bit at the taste. I wasn't really a beer person but it was all I had. The only thing I could use to numb the pain.

I crumble up the scrap of paper in my hand, throwing toward the garbage can. It bounces harmlessly off the lid and I frown at it. I set down the brown bottle of Budweiser. I lean down to properly throw away the ball of paper. As I stand up again, the blood rushes up and I have to grab onto the counter to resume my balance. I groan a bit and step on the pedal to lift the lid before throwing away the bit of paper. I pick up my bottle again and move down the narrow hall to my room. I down the rest of my beer quickly and lay down, covering myself with the thin layer of cloth that is my blanket. My phone buzzes. I look down at it.

[Connie:] Hey dude, wanna go out tonight? A new club just opened up off Main.

[Jean:] when?

[Connie:] Around 10..?

[Jean:] sure

I didn't particularly want to go, but I would be able to drink and maybe get my mind off things. I set an alarm and plug in my phone before I close my eyes, allowing myself rest after two days of sleeplessness. It had been too long since I last slept and lay in blackness until the shrill ringing of my phone wakes me.

I shut off the alarm and sit up, rubbing sleep from my eyes as I slowly stand, walking to the bathroom to quickly clean up before getting dressed. I check my phone for the time and see a new message, received just a moment ago.

[Connie:] Want us to pick you up?

[Jean:] are you over here?

Connie and Sasha share an apartment about half an hour away and I didn't want to ask that of them when it would most likely be a detour.

[Connie:] Yeah, just down the street actually.

[Jean:] sure, thanks

I turn off the screen of my phone and make my way down the stairs to the front of the building to meet up with the two.

"Thanks guys." I say as I slide into the back seat just a moment later.

"Sure thing bud." Connie replies as he pulls away from the curb and starts on the to this new club. I roll my eyes at the endearment and I know they only offered a ride because they knew I'd be drinking.

And drink I did. A lot.

The next morning I woke up with a throbbing headache, but I was in my own bed. I guess someone was keeping a close eye on me. I can't remember much of the night before, at least not after my seventh shot of tequila. I groan, pulling a pillow over my head to block out the light of the sun filtering through the window across the room. My phone buzzes, vibrating against the wooden floor, still trapped in the pocket of my pants. I choose to ignore it but it keeps vibrating and it's too loud, worsening my already throbbing headache. I groan again as I reach an arm off my bed and drag the pants closer to me so I can retrieve the phone. I manage to fumble it out from the cloth fabric before retreating back under my blanket as I look at the screen to answer.

"Hello..?" I whisper into the mouth piece. I hadn't bothered looking to see who it was.

"Jean! How are you doing?" Is the too loud response from Sasha. I groan in pain and hold the phone out away from my ear.

I continue whispering as I speak with her. "Completely hung-over. Please be quiet." I put the phone back to my ear as she lowers her voice with her apology.

"Do you need anything? Gatorade, coffee, ibuprofen?" Her voice is softer when she isn't yelling and I shake my head before realising she can't see me.

"I'm alright. Just going to sleep a bit."

"Alright… Let us know if you need anything though. You did drink a lot last night… You out-lasted Annie." If my headache wasn't so bad, I might have smiled. Annie was a tiny thing but she could drink with the best of them. Once Sasha has left me in silence again, I can't manage to fall back asleep. I make my way to the kitchen and start the coffee maker, brewing just enough. As the dark liquid begins to drip into the glass pot, I pull out the toaster to make myself toast. I was hungry dammit.

As I sit at the table with dead eyes, crunchy bread consumed and already on my second mug of coffee, my mind comes back to reality and I didn't like it. I wanted to escape this, that's why I went out last night. Standing with a sigh, I place the now empty mug into the sink before pulling on jeans, a T-shirt, my boots, and my black leather jacket before leaving the empty apartment behind.

There's a small convenience store close by so I decide to go for a walk, finding myself with a craving for the nicotine I had given up for four years because Marco had hated it. I end up purchasing a pack of Marlboros, a double pack of Bic lighters, and a couple energy drinks. After I pay and walk a few feet away, to the nearest ashtray, I open the Marlboros and pull out one of the lighters, catching the end of the cigarette before pulling the smoke into my mouth. I had almost forgot what the sensation of smoke filling your lungs felt like, what it was to blow it back out and expel the toxins. I breath in the tainted air deeply, smoking too fast, singing the back of my throat. Once the cigarette is down to the butt I crush it out on the cement tray before walking the short distance back to my apartment.

So that's all for now, but I will actually be updating again soon!