I'm Going Slightly Mad: Chapter Seventeen

When his last day finally came and went, Aaron felt free. For the first time since he started working, he felt full of energy by the time he got home, and celebrated with the bottle of pinot grigio that was still in his fridge.

He took his time with it, the way you were supposed to, swishing it around his mouth to enjoy the bitter flavor, and savoring the burn as he swallowed.
He didn’t intend to get drunk. It happened anyway.

Apparently, he was even more of a lightweight than he’d been before, as it only took a couple glasses for him to get a nice buzz going. Of course, once he was buzzed, he wanted to get more buzzed, so, after he’d emptied his glass for the fifth time, he put it in the sink and started guzzling straight from the bottle. Then it was gone, and Aaron was drunk
.
In the back of his mind, he wondered what had happened to turn him into such a lightweight. He’d only lost thirty pounds. And he had eaten today, even if it was only a cup of yogurt. Actually, never mind. This wasn’t a mystery at all.

Fully intent on enjoying himself to the highest degree possible, he plugged his iPod into the stereo and turned it up as high as he could stand. Chances were, his neighbours would complain, but Aaron did not care. He queued up his favorite song, and started singing along to the best of his ability.

He sprawled out on the couch, crossing his feet at the ankles and propping his head up with a pillow. Everything was good.

Just as he was getting into the chorus, someone knocked on his door. He sat up, trying to ignore the way his head swam, and didn’t bother pausing the music as he went to see what was going on.

To his surprise, and great delight, it was not the neighbours coming to complain, but Miles.

Aaron’s face lit up. “Hey! What’re you doin’ here?” He stepped aside and waved Miles in, still grinning.

“Just wanted to visit,” Miles explained, all but shouting in order to be heard over the music. “Having a party, huh?”

“Yep! Quit my job; got drunk; listening to Queen. Life is good!” He bobbed his head in time with the music, and began to sing again, though he stumbled over most of the lyrics.

Miles laughed. “You and I have the same idea of fun! You got any more booze?”

Aaron shook his head. “Only had a bottle of wine, and that is gone.” He tried to dance, and only got a few steps in before he stumbled. Miles caught him, careful not to agitate his ribs, which were still a little sore.

“Easy there.” Miles held him steady with an arm around his waist.

Aaron giggled and nuzzled into his chest. Miles was warm and close, and Aaron liked him and liked being with him, and suddenly all he wanted was to be even closer. As he cuddled nearer, he resumed singing.

Miles sang with him, closer to the tune and spot on the lyrics. He didn’t seem to mind Aaron’s sudden affection, in fact, he seemed to revel in it, holding Aaron tighter and leaning into him. He guided them over to the couch, keeping his arm around Aaron even as they sat down. Aaron didn’t mind; he squirmed until he was all but sitting in Miles’s lap and kept on singing.

They sang together for the next few songs, but when ‘Somebody to Love’ started playing, Miles abruptly stopped. It took Aaron a little while to notice, however. He kept on singing blissfully.

When he finally realized that Miles had fallen silent, he stopped too. “Something wrong?” he asked, peering up at his friend.

Miles’s cheeks were bright red. “Um, no. I’m fine.” He nudged Aaron away and slid over to the other end of the couch, still looking embarrassed.

Had Aaron been sober, he might’ve noticed that something was up. However, he was definitely not sober, and so he dismissed it, not thinking of it again.

After a couple hours, he passed out, in spite of the music. When he woke, the music was turned off, he was hungover-- but not as hungover as last time-- and Miles was asleep on the couch, lying opposite of him, their legs tangled together. It took him a few minutes to reorient himself, and even longer to figure out what Miles was doing here. He’d expected him to leave as soon as he realized Aaron had fallen asleep.

Aaron prodded him, curious.

Miles muttered and squinted and squirmed, but opened his eyes, blinking hazily at Aaron. “Oh, hey! Sorry we had to share the couch. I’m not strong enough to carry you to your room, it felt wrong to sleep in your bed, and there isn’t really any room to sleep on the floor.”

“Well, that’s fine, but why didn’t you just go home?”

Miles frowned. “Did you want me to go home? I knew you’d have a hangover later, and I thought it would be nice to hang out and take care of you or something.”

Aaron rested his head on Miles’s shoulder. “That’s... that’s actually really nice. Thank you.”

“It’s no problem.” Miles tilted his head so they were leaning against each other. “I’m really happy that you’re done working. I missed spending time with you.”

“Me too. It’s even better since we’re sharing a bunch of classes this semester, too.” He sighed, and rubbed at his forehead. “I need so many painkillers.”

“Okay, where do you keep them?” Miles stood, pressing Aaron back when he went to follow. “Don’t worry about it, just let me.”

“You really don’t need to--”

“I want to. Where are they?”

Aaron smiled. “Kitchen cupboard, all the way to the left.”

Miles left, and Aaron heard him rustling around in the kitchen. When he came back, he had a bottle of ibuprofen and a glass of water.

As Aaron downed the pills, the tightness in his chest came back, accompanied by some sort of swelling in his throat. He decided it was from the hangover.