Run Away Before You Drown

My arm moved up to shield my eyes from the sunlight pouring in through the window of my loft apartment. A loud snore sounded from behind me and I rolled over to see Dominic, sleeping soundly, his brown waves falling in his face. Not the first time he'd crashed here, and not the last. I slowly lifted myself out of the bed, heading for the bathroom.

My appearance in the mirror reminded me of a horror film; All smudged eyeliner and flecks of mascara clinging to the space underneath my eyes where it’d fallen from my lashes. The foundation that was matte and smooth last night, was now oily and had rubbed off in certain places. I knelt down to retrieve my makeup wipes from the cupboard below the wash basin, and wiped my face clean.

I looked younger without the ten tonnes of black and silver metallic eyeshadows clinging to my eyelids, my natural, fair brows in the place of the perfectly angular, fierce ones I painted on for a night out. My lips were a little chapped from the liquid lipstick that had somehow managed to make it through the night, through my devious acts afterward, and into the morning, before I finally wiped it away.

Well damn, Kat Von D, you done good...

I showered, in a vain attempt to wash away the sin of last night. Okay, more of an attempt to soothe the aches in my muscles from the vigorous dancing in my platform boots and... other such things. I wet and conditioned my hair, skipping the shampoo to prolong the colour and prevent it from fading. I'd only washed it last night, but it felt dry, the least I could do was add a little moisture back into it. Cleansed and refreshed, I stepped out of the shower and wrapped myself in a towel, pulling my fluffy black robe on over the top.



The bed was empty when I got back to my room, but I could hear someone downstairs in the kitchen. I quickly dressed myself in an oversized Type O Negative t-shirt and clean underwear, tugging some black knee-high socks on to keep me warm. Cute and casual; today was a lazy day.



I descended the stairs and found Dominic in the kitchen, slaving over the stove. I hoisted myself up onto one of the bar stools, reaching across the counter top to retrieve my cigarettes from my handbag, still dumped there from last night. I lit one and inhaled my first nicotine hit of the day, only one thing was missing.

"Dom." I cooed.
"Yes?" he cooed back.
"Coffee?"
"Of course, Princess." he chuckled. "Anything else?"
"A shot of whiskey?"
"Rikki, it's 11am."
"It's five o'clock somewhere."
"Shut up and have your smoke." he sniggered, dishing out the bacon and eggs he'd been cooking and serving me up a plate.
"Thank you." I sang, picking up a piece of bacon and tearing into it as Dom set to work making Coffee.
"You know, if I'm gonna play chef for you every Sunday morning, you're gonna have to start paying me." Dom joked.
"Dom, I Volunteer in a fucking thrift store." I snorted.
"Yet you have enough money to drink." he pointed out.
"Hey, I keep your ass in business, don't judge me." I scowled.
"As long as I still get to reap the benefits, I'll happily cater to your addiction." he winked, sliding a steaming mug of coffee across the counter toward me.
"Thank you."

The doorbell sounded, and I hopped off the bar stool, taking a piece of bacon with me. I opened the door to reveal Rayleigh, in an oversized army jacket and ripped jeans, her dark brown hair a frizzy mess.

"I assume my brother is here, again?" she asked, arms folded.
"You know it." I sang, ripping into the piece of bacon as I leaned against the doorframe.
"Rikki-Lee Taylor, you are a fucking trash whore." she teased.
"At least I can get some dick." I retaliated.
"I could get dick if I wanted to, but I don't." she stated, striding into my apartment. "Dominic."
"Rayleigh." he nodded in acknowledgement.
"Coffee. Now." she demanded, tapping the counter top.
"What's in it for me?" he protested, grabbing another mug. "Rikki sucks my dick, what do you do for me?"
"Okay first of all, ew." Rayleigh cringed. "And I put a fucking roof over your head, is what I do."
Dom rolled his eyes, sliding another mug of coffee toward her.
"Need I remind you that you have work tomorrow?" she continued. "Your know, your day job, at Starbucks."
"That's my cue to leave, apparently." said Dom, rinsing his now empty coffee mug and setting it aside.
"Smart Boy." Rayleigh nodded, ushering him out of the apartment.
"Lighten up, Ray." I chuckled, picking up my cigarette from where it rested in the ashtray.
"I'll lighten up when you stop fucking my brother." she snorted.
"Fine." I sighed, taking a drag. "Next time we go to Johnny's, I'll try to find someone else to play with."
"Thank you."
"I said I'd try." I smirked. "You know I have a specific type."
"Stretch a little." she nudged me. "You might actually find someone worth settling for."
"And be bored, and have mediocre sex, and a mediocre marriage?" I snorted. "No thanks."
"You're a lost cause, Taylor." Rayleigh sighed.
"Sex, Drugs and Rock n Roll, baby." I grinned, taking one last drag from my cigarette and snuffing it out in the ashtray.
"What happened to the little bubblegum goth I used to know?" she frowned, shaking her head.
"Men fucked her up, is what happened." I shrugged, picking up my empty plate and rounding the counter to rinse it in the sink. "But hey, No Requests, No Regrets." I smirked, winking at her.
"You know, you act tough, but I know it's just a front." Ray said, meeting my eyes. "You okay?"
"I'm great." I grinned.
Rayleigh's phone buzzed on the counter and she picked it up check it.
"What's up?" I pried.
"The Boss." she replied. "I have an interview to do in the morning."
"With who?"
"Avenged Sevenfold, apparently their Drummer passed away a few months ago." she said, reading the text.
"Oh no shit?" I breathed. "That sucks, dude..."
"I should probably go home and do some research and plan this out." Rayleigh thought out loud. "I'll catch you later?"
"Sure thing." I rounded the counter to give her a hug. "Take care, babe."
"Likewise."

She left and I went to the fridge to pull out a bottle of Coke, opening the kitchen cupboard and retrieving the bottle of Jack Daniels I kept stashed there. My chosen poison when I was at home. I made up my drink, snatching up the box of Marlboro's from the counter, and climbed the stairs back to my bedroom in the loft.

I turned on my iPod dock and set Danzig's self-titled album to play, taking a sip of my drink before flopping down on my bed and lighting another smoke. I zoned out watching the wisps of smoke swirl above me. There was a time when I never would have put one anywhere near my lips, but what can you do? I was a different person back then.

Seven months had passed since the person I counted on most had let me down. Sure, I'd had my heart broken plenty of times, but that bastard had promised me he would always be there for me. Cole Pierce had been my best friend, and I had fallen absolutely head over heels in love with him.

I'd loved him from afar for a long time, two years to be exact, whilst I waited for him to be Single. His girl finally left him, and I took my chance, finally spilling my guts after a few too many Ciders at our friend's house party, and had kissed him. Despite gently telling me he didn't feel the same way, we'd had a nice little makeout session in Jerry's backyard. Which later turned into more makeout sessions at my house over the following weeks.

We finally slept together, and I'd felt like I was floating on cloud nine. I thought if I just stuck this out a little longer, maybe the tables would turn and Cole would fall for me. But I'd let those dreaded three little words slip a few too many times during the act, overwhelmed by my emotions. Next thing I knew, Cole had disappeared right out of my life.

Two years of friendship, two years of confiding in one another, of staying up with him until 3am when he was struggling with his anxiety and couldn't sleep. Two years of partying together, going to gigs together, of supporting him at all his shows and helping him gain the confidence to put down the Bass and pick up the Microphone.

So much for "I'll always have your back" and "truly valuing my presence" in his life. He'd stopped responding to my texts, started bailing on me whenever I tried to make plans to hang out. When I finally ran into him at the bar I used to hover around, I had found him grinding all over and hooking up with a skinny little goth, who he later started dating, despite claiming to want to "Stay single for at least a year".

My stomach had twisted and my heart had shattered into a thousand pieces that night. I ran to the balcony and bummed a smoke off the first person I saw, despite never touching a single cigarette in my life. Several Captain Morgan's and Coke's later, and I was throwing myself at every guy in the nearest vicinity.

When I finally emptied the contents of my stomach into the toilets, I'd called for Dominic to come and pick me up. He'd carried me upstairs and put me to bed, he'd kept me hydrated, and I swore never to set foot in The Anarchy Library ever again. I'd felt humiliated, betrayed, and my heart was in tatters.

Cole and I may never have dated. But I had never felt so connected to a person, not even my first love, until him. I'd thought he was the be all, end all. The Best Friend who I fell in love with and got my happy ending with. I'd thought wrong. Cole was happy now, happily living without me. Totally unaffected by my absence in his life.

And Me? My walls were sky high
Never again, would I let someone in...

Notes

Chapter Title Credit: Roam - The Story So Far

Still not entirely sure about the long-term vision for this story, but hoping it'll take on a life of its own this time around. There'll be more Brian soon, I promise. I know that's what ya'll came here for.

Until next time xx