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My plans to call in stick for work today are foiled when I wake up to a text from Jack.

Jack: when you get to work, come to the back IMMEDIATELY. I need to talk to you.

I'm curious as to what this is about so I forget my hangover and decide to head in to work today.

My head thumps as I get ready and I can only hope that today's shift is quick and easy.

I head downstairs when I'm dressed and go into the living room to find my keys, but instead I find Vic asleep on the sofa. I vaguely remember him coming over last night. I don't know. I was way too drunk.

Part of me is ashamed for drinking. But a larger part of me wants to get drunk again. I haven't felt more happy, more relaxed and more at peace in a long time.

"He stayed the night." Jenna says startling me as she appears behind me. "He was worried about you."

"He's so cute when he sleeps." I sigh, trying to change the subject.

But in all honesty, he's fucking adorable. His hair is all messy and he's drooling slightly, yet he still manages to look beautiful.

"Kells, what happened last night? You swore to never drink." Jenna asks softly.

"Nothing. I just had a few drinks, like a normal person would. I thought it was about time I had my first drunken experience." I shrug, brushing it off like I wasn't trying to numb my pain.

"Babe, you were completely wasted. Vic had to carry you up to your room because your legs gave out and then you started crying about god knows what." Jenna explains.

I don't remember a lot of that so I just shrug.

"It's not the first time someone has done something weird while they were drunk. I'm fine, Jen. It was just one night." I assure her.

"That was the last time? Because I don't ever want to see you that out of it again. If you need help, come to me. Self-medicating is never the answer." she offers.

"I wasn't self-medicating!" I snap a little aggressively.

Jenna just sighs sadly and looks down at her hands.

"Do you want something for that hangover? I could fix you up some breakfast." she offers.

"No, I need to go to work." I tell her.

"Okay, just drive safely. We'll have a relaxing afternoon when you get home." she says soothingly.

"Just go to Tay's. We all know that's where you'd rather be." I mutter.

Jenna looks instantly aggravated.

"Her grandmother just died! I want to be here with you. But I can't support my girlfriend that way." she snaps.

"You don't want to be here with me. You were never around even before her grandmother died." I growl.

I storm away from her and snatch my keys off the counter.

"Well maybe I'd want to spend time with you if you'd stop moping around like its the end of the world! Vic is getting married and that sucks, but there are worse things that can happen." Jenna shouts.

Tears flood my eyes and I turn back to her, both angry and hurt.

"Why does everything have to be about Vic? Why can't this be about me?" I scream.

But maybe she's right. Maybe this is about Vic. This is Vic's fault after all. He's the reason Carter is in my life, and he's the reason I can't make Carter stop. It's all his fault.

"Is there something else going on, Kellin?" Jenna sighs, her tone softening.

She can't just yell at me, tell me my feelings are invalid and then decide to be a caring friend.

"Fuck you, Jenna." I choke out then turn around and leave the house, slamming the door in the process.

I get into my car and don't bother wiping my tears as I drive off, heading to work.

When I arrive, everyone working seems to stop what they're doing. I guess they're shocked that I managed to make it to work on time.

"Hey, is Jack out back?" I ask Gabe who's barristering again.

He just nods, not meeting my gaze.

I walk into the back room and find Jack, waiting for me.

"What's this about?" I chirp.

Maybe I'm finally being promoted.

"You're fired." Jack says coldly.

I blink a few times, unsure if I heard right.

"Sorry, what?" I snap.

"There's been money missing, on your shifts. An employee claims that they saw you take it. Given your behavior lately, there's no reason to think otherwise. I want the money paid back to me by the end of the month or I'm taking you to court." Jack mumbles.

"You can't be fucking serious?" I snap, shocked by the ridiculous accusation. "I didn't take your money. Maybe start with the person who framed me. And you know what? If you just got the security system instead of renovating the bathroom like I told you then we wouldn't be in this situation!"

"You need to leave. Come back when you have my money." Jack says calmly but I can't help but to blow up.

"I have worked my ass off for you for a whole year! And this is how I'm repaid? You accuse me of shit I didn't do? I don't need your money!" I scream.

With everything that's happened these last few weeks, I have so many emotions and so much anger, and it's coming out here and now.

"Kellin, leave." Jack says sternly.

"No, fuck you! I did nothing wrong!" I yell.

"I have customers in the next room and you're causing a scene. Leave!" he growls.

I grit my teeth and glare at him but decide there's no point in me staying.

I turn around and storm out of the back room. I angrily stomp through the cafe then stop to push the tip jar from the counter. It smashes on tiles.

The cafe goes quiet.

"I don't need your fucking money!" I shout again, ignoring the fact that there are kids around.

With a fire in my chest and an ocean of tears in my eyes, I then finally leave the cafe, slamming the door on my way out.

I angrily get back into my car and my tires screech as I pull onto the road.

I don't want to go home right now, yet all I want to do is go to bed and sedate myself so I don't have to feel anything.

As I'm aimlessly driving around, I soon spot a liquor store and then get the sudden urge to get drunk.

So I park my car, go buy a case of beer then I drive home.

I sit in the driveway, not ready to go inside so I crack open a beer and start drinking it.

It taste horrible. How do people like this shit?

Despite my disgust for the amber liquid, I don't stop drinking. My intention is to get drunk, not to enjoy a drink.

I sit in the car just thinking until a knock on the window startles me. It's Vic.

I wind down my window so I can hear him.

"Seriously, Kell?" he whines judgmentally, gesturing to the bottle in my hand.

"I just got fired, give me a break." I mutter rolling my eyes.

"Fired? Why?" Vic asks alarmed.

"Stealing money from the store." I huff.

Vic's silent for a second. He just looks confused.

"Kells, if you needed money, you could have asked me." Vic says softly.

"Thanks for thinking so highly of me." I say sarcastically. "I didn't fucking take the money."

Vic looks immediately ashamed.

"Do you want me to talk to Jack? Vouch for you?" he asks.

"He wouldn't believe it. Don't waste your breath." I mumble, taking a swig of my drink.

"Addiction can be genetic, you know?" Vic says softly.

"I'm not an alcoholic!" I snap.

"I'm just saying, both your parents are addicted to substance abuse. Just be careful, Kells." he murmurs.

I just roll my eyes.

Vic reaches through the window and gently touches my face, causing me to look at him. He just looks sad.

"I miss you." he whispers.

Then he drops his hand and walks away.

An overwhelming sense of shame washes over me as I look back down at my drink.

Am I really that different of a person when I drink? 

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