A Highland Wedding

It Should End

Mack

Some small part of me wanted to go with Alexei. I should have fought harder to go with him. Instead, I ran and hid like a coward. He called me earlier to tell me that he had found Anna and I was thrilled.

Why couldn’t I have just stayed with her instead of tucking my tail and fleeing like a coward? I could have stood up to Claire. I didn’t though, I went along with whatever she wanted just because I didn’t want her to hurt Anna.

Look how that turned out though, she still kidnapped her and hurt her. I couldn’t believe that Sheeps Lodge was gone, there was nothing left and what was left could not be salvaged. That broke my heart as well. The place was like a home to me.

Glancing around I got unsteadily to my feet and swayed as I tried to get my bearings. Maybe Alexei was right and I should sober up. Closing my eyes, all I could see is the fire and the betrayal on Anna’s face, and that made me want to dull the pain.

There was a loud pounding on my front door and I ignored it. It was probably just my imagination or my pulse throbbing in my ears.

I started toward the kitchen and tripped on a bottle of whiskey. I slipped and landed on my ass nearly smacking my head on the counter. That was close and it could have been horrible. Maybe that would be for the best though.

It isn’t like anyone would miss me now. Everyone hated me and for a good reason. I was the one that was responsible for unleashing Claire on them. If it wasn’t for me then she would never have come back into the picture.

I lay on my back and stared at the ceiling. Wishing for the haze of drunkenness to slip me into oblivion. I don’t want to be awake anymore. At least in my dreams, I am happy and everyone else is happy. I’m with Anna and I never hurt her in the way that I did when I was awake.

“Smells like a frat house in here.” What was Jer doing here?

“How would you know what a frat house smells like?”

“Honey, I had a life before you. I was in college and went to my fair share of parties.” There was more murmuring and I just wanted them to leave, they didn’t need to be here.

“Where the heck is he?”

“Probably upstairs in the kitchen come on. For crying out loud how much did he drink?”

“Just go away, I don’t want ye here.” Was that really my voice? It sounded so scratchy and muffled.

“I was right he is upstairs.” They were coming up and they sounded like a stampede of elephants. Groaning, I buried my head under my arms and wished they would just go away.

“Oh my God, is he ok? How could he drink so much and still be breathing.” They were wading through the sea of liquor bottles and stomping on every one of them as they came over to me.

“HEY, ARE YOU ALIVE IN THERE GREGOR!” I reached out and swatted blindly at Daniel.

“Aye, I am drunk not deaf ye idiot.” There was a huff and curse as another bottle went skittering across the floor.

“Stop stomping around ye fools.” Why were they here?

“Well he is still alive; I don’t know how this is possible. Where is his coffee we were told to sober him up.” Jer was moving around in the kitchen and slamming cabinets. I moaned in pain and wished the ice picks in my brain would just stop stabbing me.

“I’m sure he is hungover and feels like his brain is going to explode.” Daniel has to stop screaming at Jer. I needed more whiskey and to crawl into bed. Maybe I will get lucky and not wake up.

“Will ye two stop bickering and shut up!” I coughed and felt bile burn its way up my throat.

“Are you going to throw up? It would serve you right you i***t. Do you know how worried Alexei was?” I flipped Daniel off and sat up blinking and wincing. Someone had turned on the overhead lights and they were blinding me.

“Turn off the bloody lights!” Sighing, Daniel waded through the bottles and hit the dimmer switch.

“Coffee is going, get him into the shower and wash him up. Then let’s bring him to your place. There is no food here and Alexei doesn’t want him to be alone.” Daniel was trying to help me up and I pushed him away.

“I am perfectly fine getting up on my own.” I wasn’t but I was not an invalid.

“Sure you are Gregor. I need to ask you something are you trying to drink yourself to death?” I stared at Daniel and his face was blurry.

“Yes, I am because if I am gone everyone would be happy.” Jer and Daniel stared at one another and Jer cleared his throat.

“No that isn’t true, we don’t really hate you, Mack. Disappointed and angry, but the hatred was temporary.” Jer sat down next to me and wondered why he was being kind to me. I was the one who destroyed the life of his best friend.

“Maybe in the beginning there was some hatred but that is to be understood. Things were kind of messed up and while logically we knew that you weren’t going along with Claire because you wanted to.” Jer looked away and was glancing at Daniel for him to swoop in and salvage the situation.

“Logically we knew you didn’t intentionally do what you did to set out and hurt people. However, you still hurt someone we care about, and after cooling off and finding out what Claire did.” Daniel picked at the hem of his sweater.

“Aye ye should blame me, I was an i***t and it was because of me that Claire attacked Anna. Now if ye would kindly leave me alone.” I dismissed them and staggered to my feet. Swaying unsteadily I made my way to my bedroom and fell face-first on the bed.

If I fall asleep this will all go away and maybe I will get lucky and not wake up in the morning.