All That Remains

[SnowStorm42]

Jimmy felt his nose with the back of his hand. Seeing the crimson that spilled onto his hand he grinned. "There ya are Neil me boy" Jimmy said now removing his shirt to reveal a single three leaf clover tattoo over his heart and a burned away coyote insignia on his lower hip. Two former coyotes brawling it out. Jimmy got into a fighting stance and punched for Neil's face. Neil ducked and hit Jimmy in the stomach three times in a row, almost as quick as a boxer. Jimmy felt it a bit but stood his ground, his eyes wincing in pain. He brought his elbow up and allowed it to crash down on the blonde in front of him sending him to the ground. The crowd exploded.


Neil laid on the floor almost lifeless just staring at the boots of the men who stood around him. He thought about if Rachael was still around and if Jimmy tried stealing her. He thought of Emily and how Jimmy basically swiped away a chance at Neil exiting his stupor of anger, but instead he had become worse. He thought of Gospel and Jimmy approaching her to talk to her after the fight. Neil could hear Jimmy's voice close to him, whispering almost, but the sound didn't reach his ear. Everything was muffled. He thought about that poor girl who had to witness what she did, and thought about how Neil didn't stop it until it was too late.


Rage pumping into his veins instead of blood his vision focused again and the crowd's boisterous sound entered his ear again. He pushed off the ground and flung his head up, head butting Jimmy in the nose. Jimmy held his face as Neil stood. He moved toward Jimmy and kicked Jimmy's side. Jimmy removed his hand from his face revealing the blood that rained all over his chin now. He grabbed Neil's leg after it made contact with his ribs. Neil though jumped and twisted his body while Jimmy held his leg, his other leg making contact with Jimmy's jaw. Jimmy feeling the full force of the kick released Neil's leg and fell back, dropping Neil onto his back as well.


As Neil hit the ground he tapped it allowing him the momentum to roll back up. He made his way over to Jimmy and grabbed him by his grayish hair. Lifting his head he kneed Jimmy in the face and walked away to another corner of the makeshift arena and allowed himself to cool down and let Jimmy get back up. He could kill Jimmy but he wasn't going to throw away respect and honor to kill him.


Chris watched this, wincing with every hit that Neil inflicted. Chris could feel the rage from over at the garage. His eyes then moved though to one of his men holding Gospel by the wrist. His own body now started filling with anger as he made his way over to the two. The biker saw Chris approaching but was too drunk to recall what Chris had said before. Chris looked at the biker almost touching noses with him. "I told you when I arrived..No one touches her Chester.."





The drunk biker didn't respond. The fear of God was put into him with Chris' tone. He stuttered an apology and made his way back into the crowd to watch the fight. "You ok?" Chris asked looking at Gospel. "I know they can be really obnoxious and pervy" he said sounding almost displeased with the fact.


Jimmy stood back up slowly, stumbling. He looked at Neil. "Looks like ya got some fight in ya this time" Jimmy said cracking his neck and moving toward Neil. He started picking up the pace and went to punch Neil. Neil side stepped and grabbed Jimmy's wrist with his right arm. He twisted left twisting Jimmy's arm and locking it. Neil lifted his arm and brought his elbow down on Jimmy's arm. The scream pierced the air, silencing the crowd and signifying the fight was over. Neil let go of Jimmy dropping him to the floor. Jimmy laid in pain as a few Irishmen rushed over to examine his broken arm. Neil made his way inside grabbing his stuff along the way and making his way back to the guest room.

 

[Hell0NHighWater]

Gospel's glare held level with the biker's, challenging him to act on any of the drunken fantasies he was currently thinking of. Her fingers curled into fists, struggling to hold herself back from starting her own spectacle. His grip on her suddenly went slack and it wasn't until Chris was in his face that she understood why. She was thankful for his interference, but that didn't mean he had to get all protective over her. A huff escaped her as 'Chester' hobbled off, still a little irritated with the premature rescue. Gospel glowered at the retreating biker before turning her glare on Chris, forcing her temper to simmer down. Her eyebrow arched, arms folding across her chest, and a weak smirk played across her lips trying to look thankful over the expression of aggravation.


"I'm fine, it was nothing that I couldn't handle."


Gospel looked him up and down, meekly amused with his comment.


"You're one to talk. Considering how much you seemed to hint at getting into my pants before."


She teased dryly, her own ego stepping aside a bit to accept his rescue. Gospel's eyes shifted away from Chris and flickered over toward the fight that had the crowd so pumped up. She hadn't been paying attention before so she had no clue as to who was actually winning. Which was a little concerning. The last thing she wanted was to be a second-hand witness to Neil losing by knock out..or worse. Her lips parted, the beginning sounds of words starting to formulate only to be overpowered by the blasting sound of a scream. Her already pale skin dulled to a ghostly white as the crowd became mute, the only sound was the slamming of her own frantic heart and the painful hissing of the loser. Her stomach plummeted, the sickening feeling returning with full force. Without a second thought she was moving around Chris and shoving her way back out of the crowd.


Her concerns were based solely on Neil and what had occurred between him and Jimmy. Gospel's brain was a scrambled mess, the world around her seemed to float by just as whimsically as it had before. Her eyes scanned through the coterie of bikers and Irish determined to find Neil before he slunk off to whatever place he deemed worthy enough to brood in. Almost tripping over a few people a couple of times, she finally spotted him heading into the building with his previously discarded things in tow. Without pondering the consequences of ramming into people in order to catch up with him, Gospel trudged after him ignoring the occasional curse as she stepped on someone's foot. It occurred to her briefly that running off without Chris or Neil escorting her wasn't the smartest thing she had ever done in her life, but the need to make sure he was okay outweighed any and all danger in her mind.


Pulling open the door, she stepped inside the establishment only to be greeted with the rated 'R' version of the party. It definitely hadn't become any more placid from when the two of them had previously ventured through the halls. He had disappeared by the time she had made it inside, leaving her stranded in the midst of a sea of sin. Chewing her bottom lip in a frustrated manner, she held back the urge to pull her hair out of it's bun in obvious annoyance. She didn't understand what had compelled him to fight in the first place, or what was going through his mind to just march off like that after breaking Jimmy's arm. She heard the crack so it didn't take a genius to figure out that it was probably Jimmy who interrupted her conversation with Chris. Letting out a small noise of exasperation, Gospel headed towards the guest room hoping that that was the place Neil was heading towards. She walked towards the stairs quickly, seeing a glimpse of Neil as he headed into the room and shut the door. Taking the steps two at a time, Gospel reached the bedroom door just as the one a couple doors down opened. A man stumbling out from the room with another guy behind him. She eyed them carefully, knocking on the door quickly shifting her weight uncomfortably when one of them noticed her. Gospel couldn't tell if they were high or drunk, but the vibe she was getting wasn't good.


"Neil. Open the door."


She hissed, jiggling the locked knob for the second time. Gospel's hands searched every pocket she had on her, desperately looking for the second key Keith had handed them for the room.

 

[SnowStorm42]

Chris heard the scream pierce the air and the silence that followed gave him a chill. He watched as Gospel sprinted off into the crowd. Chris was a bit irritated by this feeling like Neil was more important. He knew that the scream was Jimmy's, or at least he figured it was. This was only confirmed when Neil was storming off into the garage his shirt in his hand and his bag flung over his shoulder. Chris went into the crowd and saw Jimmy on the floor, a piece of bone was sticking out of his arm. "Jesus Christ"





Neil stormed through the crowd of drunk, and high idiots who were banging even more drugged up women, or having small brawls or talks. The outside scream didn't reach the party just as the party didn't reach Neil. he got some looks, people perplexed as to why his shirt was off, some women debating on following him instead of staying with the fat biker she was with, but no one did. Neil walked to the guest room and slammed the door.


He stood for a few seconds and thought about that day. Neil stood and recollected the scene. He then punched the wall with enough force to leave a hole and his knuckles bloodied up. He let out an angry yell as he punched the wall. He took a pace around the room before flipping one of the several beds in the room. Having let off the steam he plopped down on a bed he didn't flip as one tear rolled out his eye. He held the rest back. and clapped his hands together rubbing them to try to calm down.


The knob jiggling and Gospel's voice snapped him to reality. He wiped the tear and moved to the door unlocking it and opening it so Gospel could come in. He looked at the bikers down the hallway who immediately backed off seeing his face filled with anger. Neil looked back at Gospel but didn't know what to say.

 

[Hell0NHighWater]

Gospel rushed into the room, shutting the door behind her greatful that he had opened the door before something else happened. The relief was short lived as her gaze took in the angry, distraut, looking Neil before her. She didn't say anything for a moment, instead choosing to step away from the door in order to be closer to him. Reaching up slowly, Gospel brushed her thumb across the bruse along his jaw. Her thumb coasted across his cheek, liking the feel of his uneven stubble against her fingers.


"Was there a reason for that or did you just feel like hitting someone?"


Gospel asked quietly, her voice carrying a softer tone to it then what it normally would have. She carefully pressed her whole palm to his cheek, uncertain how he would react from the anger and emotion that seemed to vibrate off of him. There was a part of her that was intimidated by the notion of him being angry, even if she knew he wouldn't hurt her purposely, it still felt like she was staring up at the mentor she had once known. At that thought, Gospel pulled her hand away unsure if she wanted to have a conversation with that preticular side of him at the current moment.


Gospel's blue gaze kept its focus on him for another couple of muted seconds before it shifted away to take in the damage around her. Not looking at him, Gospel blew out an exasperated sigh not completely sure what to say to him now that she had his attention.


Struggling with what to say, Gospel looked back up at him deciding to just not say much of anything. He wasn't being much of a talker either which would normally have had irritated the hell out of her, if this had been a normal circumstance. Throwing caution to the wind, Gospel flipped her switch from calm to realitive aggravation.


"I mean what the fuck, Neil! You could have gotten hurt or--or knocked out! You asshole! Do you know how worried I was!?"


Her irritation with him intensified thinking of the shit she had to push through in order to get here, not to mention that she now owed Chirs an apology. She hated apologizing for anything, but thanks to her worrisome heart she now had to. Taking an even closer step towards him, she closed the space between them. Reaching for his hand, Gospel grasped it lightly despite the murderous look on her face. She looked at his raw knuckles, frown deepening as she pulled his hand to her lips and kissed the back of his palm lightly. Gospel's frown deepened even more, the only bit of anger she was feeling was at herself because for some reason she just wasn't able to stay pissed at him. No matter what she told herself, it was like he always found a way to calm her down even without speaking. She just hoped that it was a shared feeling or this conversation might not end well.

 

[SnowStorm42]

Neil watched as Gospel came in and shut the door behind her, seemingly quickly. He assumed it was because she didn't want any biker trouble. he didn't blame her. The bikers viewed Neil as an enemy and Gospel as a piece of meet. The women hear view them the same way just swapped. Neil felt uncomfortable here and the quicker the day was over the closer he could be to going to visit the safe zone. He felt though it would be hard to leave and there would be consequences for breaking Jimmy's arm to the point the bone was sticking out. He looked at Gospel.


Her question went unanswered as he continued to just think about what he had done. Why had he even fought? It was hazy now. He just remembered Gospel being mentioned and his mind had trailed off to that day. The reason he left. He looked to the side at the wall just recalling the day. He was with a hit squad of three. They were going after a man who had stolen from the coyotes. Apparently he had a family. When they found him...


Neil looked at Gospel as her palm touched his face. He felt himself breaking inside. He had that feeling of emptiness inside. He was sad and angry beyond belief but happy as well, and the result was a feeling that would rip anyone apart. Her hand moved away from his face though and he could feel the switch flip. She began yelling at him, or scolding him really. Neil was half expecting to be slapped across the face where his bruise was. Instead she took a moment and then took his hand. Her kiss on the back of his palm changed the feeling in his chest.


He couldn't be angry now, but he couldn't push the memory out. However Gospel was able to push out the rage. he wondered if maybe she was part of the reason he had gotten softer. He always convinced himself that it was that event that changed him but he wondered if it was actually Gospel who planted a seed in his subconscious to change. Neil looked at her blue eyes, taking in their features. The rage had walked out the door, and only one feeling remained as a single tear rolled down his cheek. He embraced Gospel, hugging her tightly but not squeezing the life out of her.


Another tear rolled down but that was all he was going to allow. "I could've saved the rest of them. I could have stopped it" Neil said quietly resting his face on her shoulder. He flashed back to the full reel now. He had watched as the hit squad tied up the family. It was the man who had stolen from them, his wife, his roughly eighteen year old daughter and their young son who couldn't have been more than ten. Neil had simply watched as two of the members beat the shit out of the males in the family, slowly and painfully, using lead pipes, bats, anythingthat wouldn't kill them right away.


The mother had broken free somehow and attacked one of them. They shot her on the spot, and then they waited for her to turn. This is where the discomfort started in Neil. Two of the sick bastards said they should fuck the mother when she came back, made jokes about necrophilia and accidentally getting bit down there. The worst part, they started to go through with it, while the third member executed the man and his son. Neil had stood horrified at the picture, and then the thread in his body slowly started tearing. The one who was taking a break from doing unspeakable things to the undead mother walked over to the girl. Neil didn't remember what happened in his brain, but seeing the coyote touch the girl's chin with his index finger.


Three shots fired, and blood splashed everywhere. The girl shrieked even louder than when her family was killed in front of her, and she cried more than when her mother's undead body was... Neil had walked over to the girl and untied her. She had hit him repeatedly and he had to restrain her wrists so she'd stop. 'Run, and don't ever come back' And she did. She took a moment to look at the carnage and the corpses of her family, and she ran. Neil didn't know if she was still alive or not, but he remembered hating himself for not stopping the hit squad sooner. He ended up vomiting and throwing stuff, shooting the dead coyotes more. The rage he felt was something he couldn't put into words. He had wished he would wake up and it was all a nightmare.


But it wasn't a nightmare. It was real and he had watched it happen. he saved the daughter, and why? Her family was dead and defiled. Neil hated himself more than he ever had before. After hours of self hate, and rage, and mourning the family, he had processed that he killed coyotes. He was a traitor. Traitors would be executed. Neil couldn't recall now but he probably thought if he escaped execution he could somehow redeem his mistake. So that day he was going to quit. And the night of his escape had started.


Now he was here with Gospel, tears rolling down his face. he didn't make a sound though. The tears just fell in silence down his face. "I just watched Jess. I just watched" he said, his brain too wrapped in the memory to realize she probably had no idea what he was talking about. He would tell her eventually, but right now he just needed her to be there for him.

 

[Hell0NHighWater]

Gospel blinked, the feelings of irritation that she had felt previously were cast away by the expression on his own face. She didn't know what to make of the concern bubbling up inside her along with the splintering feeling in her chest. He looked tormented about something, she could tell that even before he had started crying. But whatever it was, she still found herself utterly perplexed as to how it related to him becoming so distressed over a 'simple' fist fight.


"Neil...?"





She whispered his name questioningly, stunned by his arms wrapping around her in a tight embrace. Normally she would have secretly loved the feeling of his arms surrounding her smaller frame, enclosed around her in a protective sort of way, but this wasn't one of those moments. Gospel brought both of her arms up in order to wrap around his neck lightly, holding him close to her while his head made it's home on her shoulder. She remained quiet after that, allowing her fingers to entangle themselves with the fringes of his hair. Gospel hadn't the slightest clue as to what he was murmuring on about. Closing her eyes, Gospel took a small breath in order to keep herself from asking any questions. She figured that there would be plenty of time for talking in the future anyway. Right now he seemed to just really need someone to be there for him and help him through with whatever memories had been dug up. It was only fair after all, no matter how much of a jackass he had been to her before, he always had listened to her when she struggled with the realities of the world that had brought them together.


Leaning back after a long moment in silence, she rested one palm against his cheek while the other pressed softly against his heart.


"Neil...look at me..."





She whispered, waiting for him to come back from wherever his mind had run off to. He muttered another thing about the unknown cause to his sadness, only using her real name with the voice of desperation that leaked out of him. Gospel had never felt so in love with her own name then when he was saying it, but now that it was drenched in the grief of phantom memories it was heart wrenching to hear. Swiping at another stray tear that deluged down his cheeks, she found herself staring into those perfect emerald eyes of his and having to remind herself that kissing him wouldn't help with what was going through his mind. Gospel paused for a while trying to think of what to say without hurting the situation, which was difficult because she didn't really know the situation. It was like walking through a mine field where one wrong comment or interpretation could lead to an outcome that she didn't want.


"I don't know what happened and I don't expect you to tell me this very second...I just don't want you to shut me out."


Gospel mumbled, her eyes still searching his in an attempt to figure out if her words were reaching him at all.


"A...friend...once told me that fear is what keeps us focused on the past and worried about the future, that if we acknowledge that fear we realize that right now we are okay. That right now, today, we are still alive..."


Gospel brought her hand from his heart in order to take his and place it on hers, still a little cautious as to how this little version of her trying to give a pep talk was going.


"...and are still able to see the beauty in the world around us despite the overwhelming darkness. That we are still able hear the voices of the people we love..."


Gospel said the last part quietly, leaning back up so that she could tenderly place her forehead against his. Waiting to see if he even understood the point she was trying to get across. That there was no reason to get caught up in a memory that would only cause him more pain then happiness and perhaps it was a little bit hypocritical of her to be dealing out such a point to him when she wasn't taking her own advice very well.

 

[SnowStorm42]

Neil replayed the memory once more but the tears had now stopped that he had Gospel's shoulder as comfort. He didn't wipe away the old ones but there were no new droplets. He found the thought slowly diminishing and himself slowly returning to the present reality. But the memory still lingered. Her words though snapped him to the present reality. He obeyed without hesitation and looked at Gospel. Her mere whisper was almost enough to fix his heart right up. His feelings were strong for her he wasn't going to deny that.


He then listened as she explained how though she didn't know what he was thinking of he basically couldn't focus on the future or the past. Only the present. And she was right. He thought back to the church. Rachael was a major portion of his life that he was fixated on for the longest time. It was a part of his past he just didn't get rid of. Being stuck there drew him to the coyotes and too many near death experiences to count, as well a temporary problem with alcohol and trouble sleeping.


That day at the church he decided to abandoned that past and move forward. It was still in his memory but he wouldn't let it hold him back. Gospel's words reminded him. He had to do the same thing now. The memory could stay sure, it was part of who he was, but Neil couldn't let the past kill him. He had to focus on the now.


Feeling her forehead press up again his, the feelings of despair and anger and sadness were gone. They were replaced by a small joy that was building up. He felt like kissing her, both because of his feelings for her and as a thanks but he felt like he would seem too bipolar. He looked at her blue blue eyes. "You're right..theres still a lot of beauty left in the world" he said looking her in the eyes and then taking her hand with his uninjured hand. "I just..Its hard not to blame myself for things in this reality you know?"

 

[Hell0NHighWater]

Biting her bottom lip absently, she kept her gaze even with his trying not to mind the way she was practically up on her tippy toes in order to place her forehead against his. A tiny smile crept onto her face from his comment, elated that he seemed to be digging himself out of whatever funk he had been in previously. Gospel broke eye contact briefly in order to look down at his warmer hand engulfing hers, taking a moment to run her thumb up and down the side of his palm before looking back up at his face.


"I know..."


She whispered, a little flash of pain piercing through her at the thought of all the things that she regretted and blamed herself for. With her smile fading, Gospel looked back down at her feet as if suddenly finding them interesting. She pulled back from him, keeping her hand intertwined with his but putting a little more space between their bodies. Her expression remained distant, wrapped up with whatever memory that had forced itself to be relived. Her jaw clenched and her eyes shut, trying to keep her emotions from getting the better of her. This wasn't about her, this was about him and whatever broken thing inside him that needed to be patched up. When she finally peered back up at him with glassy eyes, she forced the miniscule smile back on her lips.


"But blaming yourself doesn't help anything. It doesn't bring anyone back and it doesn't correct the mistakes."


Gospel stared back up at him, alarmed with the pressing need to close any and all spaces between them. Hypnotized with the emotions swirling around, she started to lean up towards him making the obvious move to kiss him. The feeling was so compelling that she almost did, only to stop with an inch to spare.

 

[SnowStorm42]

Neil thought about what Gospel said. Her words were never so loud and clear before. Further fighting inside of him he was finally able to battle the thoughts that tormented him out. He couldn't live in the past. What happened had happened. It wasn't who he was now. It wasn't who he was becoming. He was pretty firm with who he was and he intended to keep it that way. He had Gospel now and he was really good person. He did what his personality allowed him to do back then but no more or no less. There was no taking back what happened. He had to accept it and not let it dig his grave.


Neil looked at Gospel who seemed to be bothered by her own thoughts. A minuscule smile though told him that she was keeping it out of her mind. He realized that he didn't know a whole lot about Gospel. He knew her real name, who her father was and that she had a sister named Grace. Was there anything else though? Not really. There were small things here and there from they were coyotes but he never really knew the big details. He wondered if she lived a simpler life than he did..or perhaps..a more adventurous one. She seemed like the type who would.


Getting lost in his thoughts about Gospel he was now feeling much better, though he hadn't realized Gospel had gotten a lot closer to him. She was an inch away from his face and the feelings came rushing in. The feelings that his little slump suppressed combined with new butterflies that emerged. He looked at her soft skin and her blue hair and her blue eyes. He decided to close that last inch of space, taking his lips and connecting them to hers. He put his hand on her hip and wrapped one arm around her back as his lips parted hers. He then realized he was still shirtless and turning a bit pink decided to stop the wonderful kiss there before his brain pushed for something they might later regret. He wasn't sure how she felt on the matter and to be honest he didn't know how he felt fully. His brain and his penis were playing a chess match and there seemed to be no victor at the moment. He took his arm from around her back but left his other one on her hip and smiled at her, though his features remained red.


Chris looked at Jimmy as he chugged some scotch. One of his Irish doctors had popped the bone into place and sewed up the wound as well as patched up the others. Now Jimmy was simply recovering and suppressing the pain.


"I'll kill 'im."


Chris contemplated this for a moment. With Neil out of the way he would be rid of the only thing that could bring him closer to Gospel. At the same time though he wanted her to be happy and Neil was currently making her happy. He wasn't going to lie that Neil was also a resourceful soldier and survivor. He would be valuable in the war. "We need him"


"He broke my arm"


"You initiated"


The Irishman remained quiet. Chris walked out of the room and back to the party where nothing seemed to dull. The best part was things were only going to get more hectic with the sun slowly going down.


Chris decided he would partake. He made his way upstairs to his room. He took a glance at the door to the guest room on his way but decided against it. Once in his room he decided to wash off the face paint and grab a bottle of Grey Goose as well as a bag of cocaine. He walked out of his room in his grey t-shirt and his black cargo pants. He was going to show his men how a party was done right.

 

[Hell0NHighWater]

Gospel's eyes fluttered shut at the feel of his lips on hers. She was instantly consumed by the protective embrace feeling one of his hands pressed firmly against her hip. Her heart erupted with a feverous beat, the kiss dulling out every confusing emotion that fought for her attention. She leaned into him more, both arms looping lightly around his neck. She was completely lost, too absorbed with the sensation of their lips locked together to realize that he, in fact, was missing an article of clothing. Gospel had been so set on comforting him that she had completely forgotten about it.


He pulled away just as quickly as the kiss lasted, her eyes still closed for another three seconds before they opened to look up at his pink face. Gospel pulled her arms back some, allowing space between them once again. A slightly loopy smile tugged at the corners of her mouth, still a little thrown off by his sudden iniation of affection.


"You're really good at that..."


She mused lightly, her cheeks becoming red as soon as her mind processed that the thought had just slipped out. Gospel looked away from him, embarrassed by her own blatant remark and the fact that he was litterily shirtless. Unable to keep herself from looking away, her eyes kept darting back to him and then away struggling with keeping them on his face and not the obvious eyecandy.


"I mean why wouldn't you be? I bet you're good at a lot of things-Uh ignore that, shit I'm babbling again, I'll Uh, shut up now..."


Gospel rambled, her face burning the darkest shade of red that has ever coated her features. Now would have been a good time to just slink away and bury her face into the nearest pillow of the nearest bed, but instead of running away she stood there in a half embrace looking anywhere but at him.


This had never happened to her before, she wasn't one to ramble or trip over her words...except apparently with him. She never had been able to think crystal clear around him, but now that she knew they both shared a mutual something her usual intelect was resorted to a pile of mush. Forcing herself to remove her arms from around his neck, she reluctantly stepped away from him trying to recover from her word vomit. Slipping around him with her face still tomato, Gospel grabbed her things by the door and moved them over towards a random bed, figuring that it would give her at least thirty seconds to clear her mind but no such luck.


Gospel turned around so that she could look at him, taking in the scars and tattoos that lined his torso. Clearing her throat, her gaze flickered back upwards.


"You want to do anything? There's a party outside...?"


She asked slowly, trying and failing not to associate 'anything' with something dirty.

 

[SnowStorm42]

Neil looked at Gospel with a smile after pulling away from the kiss. He watched as her face turned a bit rosey pink. He couldn't help but smile at her comment. He had experience with kissing since maybe 8th grade or a bit sooner. Neil was a bit rusty though since leaving the coyotes. And even before.


Neil looked at her as she continued and started to ramble. Her words made him chuckle and turn red. "I like to believe I'm good at a lot of things" he joked. Feeling her eyes on him he couldn't help but examine her too. He started to notice her more..physical features now. The thought made his face very red so he tried focusing on her hair and hers eyes. His mind was in the gutter now though. He just had to leave his shirt off.


He listened to Gospels suggestion about "doing anything" or going to the party outside. Neil was rusty but it wasn't hard to forget how to be dirty given he was a human being. Neil made his way over to her. "I like the idea of 'anything'...and besides the party is in here" Neil said slowly and smoothly. He put his hand on her hips and planted his lips on hers.


The feelings started to erupt inside him. It was the perfect blend of hormones and butterflies. He wondered if this was love. The thought almost killed him because he knew love came with repercussions. Ignoring the thought he decided to allow his tongue to slowly search its way to Gospel's mouth and he moved one of his hand more toward the backside of her hips.





"If youre ok with 'anything' that is"

 

[Hell0NHighWater]

Gospel stood transfixed, sapphire orbs watching him closely as he sauntered towards her, her heart skipping a beat with every step he took. Her feet were rooted in place, a feeling sparking inside her that was like nothing she had ever felt or experienced before. The new sensation terrified her, it made her heart beat irrational rhythms and it gave the rest of her the best high of her life. Her body tingled, his words stunning the retort right out of her. Gospel felt his hand grip her hip, holding their bodies close together as he leaned down to capture her lips with his. A tiny noise of protest slipped out just before she responded to the kiss and her eyes fluttered shut. Her own lips moving softly against his, her brain dissolving into a pool of useless mush. There was no way she was going to be thinking of anything when the mere primal instinct to return the kiss outweighed any of the logical repercussions of their actions.


Her hands found their way to his chest, her palms sliding up his torso slowly letting her fingers drift across every scar and tattoo. Feeling his tongue slip past her defenses brought another wave of the unknown feeling crashing into her, her own tongue darting out to tease his. After a moment, Gospel felt him pull enough away to murmur another remark against her lips. Her left arm snaked up and around his neck, eyes glissading open Gospel looked at Neil's face about a millimeter or less away from her. Their lips still brushing lightly while she smirked in response, projecting the only part of her that wasn't a complete babbling idiot.


"Anything sure is a broad subject, Mr. Hardwhick. I don't suppose you'd enlighten me a little as to what you mean."


Gospel mused lowly, feigning a bit of innocence as she ran her free hand back down his chest. She knew all too well what he meant by Anything, Gospel just wanted to see how far he wanted to go with this...how far she wanted to go with this. If Anything did happen, she knew she wasn't going to be able to convince herself that she wasn't falling in love with him any longer.

 

[SnowStorm42]

Neil's brain was starting to melt and he felt like soon enough it was going to evaporate. The feelings overcame his thoughts and whatever stray thoughts he could possibly have or whatever logical decisions that could be made were no more. As her lips moved against his his body trembled from the feeling, along with the feeling of her hands moving along his torso, examining every texture it seemed. When her tongue teased his his body felt something it hadn't felt in the longest time. A connection. Neil couldn't remember how long it had been exactly since the last time he had felt what he was feeling right now.


His stomach was inside out, his blood was rushing all over the place, he felt a tingling sensation all around. It was almost like he felt sick but at the same time it was like he was high on everything. Neil looked at Gospel when she moved away just enough to answer his question. He wasn't going to lie her words shattered his brain to the fullest and at that point he wasn't going to lie his penis had won the chess match. Grinning he moved the hand that was just above her butt to her back. He turned her and lowered her onto one of the beds.


"It would be my pleasure to enlighten you" he said with a sheepish smile. Laying diagonally next to her he started by kissing her cheek. Slowly after kissing her cheek a few times he started to move down to her neck, all the while his hand starting to find its way up to her torso. Neil's tingling was replaced by a need to..give. It seemed that his heart decided to take the win for the chess game, although it allowed his penis to take 2nd place. Just as his lips found the border between her chest and her neck there was a knock on the door.


The feelings in Neil dropped about 50% and he couldn't help but chuckle. "Looks like this lesson is just gonna have to wait" he said with a smile. He didn't seem annoyed though, and he wasn't. They had time. They had each other. He had a feeling that they felt more for each other than they would admit. Neil decided to sit up next to her and he just took the moment to admire her existence.





"It's Keith. I'd like to talk to you guys when you're ready" Keith yelled from outside the door. Neil didn't know why Keith was yelling but he figured the party was loud outside the door. "Should I put my shirt on?" Neil asked teasingly, looking once again at Gospel.

 

[Hell0NHighWater]

The moment she saw the grin stretch across his face she knew she was in trouble. Gospel was putty in his hands, her blue eyes widening a fraction as he pulled her down on a bed with him for the second time in the past 48 hours. Her cheeks flushed again, entangling her legs with his slowly as she gazed up at him. Her heart heaved a sigh, melting into the warmth of his body while her own smile curved her lips upward. The feeling of his own lips ghosting light kisses on her cheek was enough to make her go insane. Gospel struggled to keep herself from reaching over and grabbing him in the hopes for pulling his mouth back on top of hers.


Head tilting to the side, she gave him more access to her neck as he started to drift south. Quiet gasps escaping her every time his lips grazed across a sensitive spot that she had no idea existed. One hand curled around the satin sheets while the other drew delicate circles across his bare shoulders, her body twisting towards his touch as his slightly colder hand started to make its way up her midsection. Gospel's eyes closed lethargically, not genuinely caring at the moment about how far this went.


The temperature in the room seemed to increase, every kiss sending euphoric swelters of heat to sweep her off her feet. He had made it to where the collar of her tank top met her collar bone, her eyes opening slightly at the muffled sound of someone banging on a door. Snapped from the vulgar sensations that he was inflicting upon her, Gospel regained enough rational thought to sit up a bit. She hadn't realized that she was breathing a little on the heavily side until she returned her attention from the handsome man sitting beside her. Gospel bit her lip, moving a leg on the other side of him on her way to get out of the bed. Ignoring Keith's boisterous calls from the other side of the wooden door, Gospel straddled Neil keeping him in place so that he wouldn't get up to move to the door. Leaning down so that she wasn't hovering over him, she placed a trail of soft kisses from his jaw to his ear. "Leave it off."


She muttered coarsely, letting her lips waver across his jaw as she leaned back again only to kiss him quickly before getting off of him so that he could answer Keith. Another grin painted itself on her face while she moved over to her bag in order to abandon the hair tie in a pocket, finding no point to having her hair up if it was just going to get messed up anyway. Her grin faded slightly, looking at the silver chain that hung out of her bag a little. She had broken her promise, whether she was willing to admit that out loud or not was another matter, somewhere inside her she knew that the unbearable feeling of leaving him in that bed was just the beginning to something she didn't think existed.

 

[SnowStorm42]

Neil was going to get up and go talk to Keith. A force however kept him down on the bed. The force turned out to be Gospel who had straddled him to keep him down. He wasn't going to lie, the position alone had brought back a problem that Keith's voice had solved just seconds ago. When she leaned in and began kissing his jaw he got that tingling in his body again. As she trailed to his ear he let out a quiet sigh. He never knew his ears could be so sensitive. It was only worse when she muttered for him to leave his shirt off right in his ear that his body froze up and went into shambles. The vibrations of her voice at such close and soft volumes to his sensitive ear drove his body insane.


Before anything could be done he felt the quick kiss and the weight that was Gospel disappeared from on top of him. His hands turned into fists and he stretched his legs trying to release the tingling a bit, with little success. His face was red hot now as he sat up and he looked at Gospel with a smile. "You are just...wonderful" he said making his way to the door. Unlocking it and opening it he witnessed Keith's face bearing the look of surprise.





"Sorry did I..."


"No no. It's ok. Whats up?"


"I wanted to discuss some war plans when you are ready seeing as Chris is a little "occupied" at the moment"


"Alright I'll stop by when I have time"


"Alright thanks. Come find me whenever before the day ends, I don't wanna interrupt anymore so I'll just wait on you"


Neil nodded and closed the door. Turning back to Gospel, all the tingling sensations and other feelings had disappeared now. He looked at her with a smile. "What now? Party time? Nap time? Exploring? War plans?" Neil asked. He tried avoiding the topic of doing dirty deeds seeing as he was a bit out of the mood now, although the butterflies still bounced around his stomach at the sight of her.

 

[Hell0NHighWater]

Gospel's gaze flickered towards him for the briefest of moments, a mischievous grin flashing across her lips before it faded again. Her fingers idly messing with the bit of metal chain that hung from the pocket. The tiny hoops so delicately woven together kept her distracted as Neil got up to answer Keith. Pulling the chain out completely, Gospel's cobalt orbs stared at the swirling circular piece of jewelry. Worn words sprawled across the dulled metal, the ring was something that might have been pretty a long time ago with words of a promise that never held true. Her ears caught the resonant timbre of Neil's voice, breaking her mesmerized stare away from the ring.


Gently placing the pool of metal down on the end table she turned to look at him. She watched as he shut the door, her arms crossed over her chest and her left hip cocked slightly. She studied him for a little while longer, thinking about his question at the same time.


"You might as well go run off and play War. It sounded like Keith was a little desperate, besides I'll be okay with drinking at the bar."


She chuckled lightly, knowing full well that he was aware that she had never gotten drunk in her life. Drinking slowed people down, made them impulsive to whatever feelings were in their chests, and was just generally not a good thing to do in a zombie apocalypse. Walking over towards him, she smiled lightly back at him. Tapping his chest playfully with a single finger she watched him with amusement.


"You might want to get a shirt on first though. God forbid the ladies get distracted."

 

[SnowStorm42]

Neil looked at Gospel blankly trying to argue with his brain that he didn't hear her right. He replayed her words in his head. She wanted him to go plan the war with Keith. And she was going....to drink? Neil knew very well that Gospel wasn't a fan of drinking. Then again though they were in a moderately safe place at least from the dead so she probably felt more secure drinking now.


Neil looked at her and couldn't help but worry about the bikers who would be trying to take advantage of her. Then again though she was a very capable woman who could kick ass even if drunk. Neil also figured by now the party would be less boisterous given that most of the people who were partying hard were probably unconscious. The ones who were still concious were probably not going to be a problem.


He looked at her with a smile now as she poked his chest with her finger. Just that poking alone felt so soft that he wanted to just kiss her. He chuckled at her comment. "Wouldn't want them slamming into walls or falling down stairs right?" Neil said jokingly. Taking her comment seriously he went over to his bed and grabbed the T-shirt that he had thrown off when he fought Jimmy. He turned and and moved to Gospel. He had a serious face on now. "Careful with those hogs down there"





Neil took a step forward and kissed her forehead. Flashing her one last smile he left the room and made his way to Keith's, ignoring the high man sitting in the hallway and the half naked girl who was laying passed out by a door. Entering Keith's room he saw the man who owned the room.





"Glad you could join me. Sorry if I interrupted anything"


"Nah you're fine. So. War plans. Whatve we got?" Neil asked moving toward a couch and coffee table with maps spread across it.


Chris moved around the room talking here and there to those who were still awake and conscious. A lot of people layed on the floor or had gone to their rooms but those who stayed had just started partying or were only halfway through it. Chris walked around, sweating a bit and moving around, not being able to sit still. He made his way to the bar and took a shot of whiskey. After the shot he decided to go back and talk to a few Irish gentlemen who were standing with beers in hand. The entire time Chris' vision was a bit quick and blurrish.

 

[Hell0NHighWater]

A light giggle escaped her, finding his joke funny enough to warrant it. Her eyes followed him as he slipped his shirt back over his torso, hiding her source of eye candy. Her smile turned smirk faltered a little taking note of his serious expression, his eyes on her while he meandered in her direction. Gospel arched her eyebrow at him, arms crossing instinctively over her chest while he bent to place his lips against her forehead.


"You say that like you don't know me."


She whispered in reply, closing her eyes for a second to memorize how it felt to be in such a close proximity to him now. Her eyes opened once again, grinning lightly may him before watching him walk out the door first.


An exasperated sigh left her mouth in a gust of air, heading out if their shared room after him only she closed to door behind her. Stepping carefully around the trash littered halls, Gospel made her way towards the bar in the main party room. It didn't seem as crowded, but less people didn't always mean less trouble.


Finding the bar after five or so minuets of aimlessly walking around, Gospel grabbed a stool. Her fingers strummed against the oak countertop, reaching behind the bar and grabbing a glass along with a bottle of some brown liquor. Gospel studied it for a long moment, twisting the cap off to pour herself a hearty serving of Jack Danels.


Tilting back the glass, Amber liquor cascaded down her throat leaving a lovely acid like burn in it's place. She almost felt the effects instantly, pouring herself another glass as all feeling in her body seemed to numb to a degrees.


Her brain was fuzzy along with the disorienting tilt to her world. Still, as she gulped back another shot she couldn't help but think of everything that had happened between Neil's return and now. The thought of her Father made her pour herself a third drink, feeling pretty invincible at this point.

 

[SnowStorm42]

After walking around for a bit and making conversation with a lot of people, Chris decided to hit the bar. His high was starting to wear off so it could only be replaced with drunkenness. Approaching the bar he saw a familiar shade of blue that looked bluer than normal although that was probably because of the coke. Sitting on the bar stool next to the blue haired one he saw that it was Gospel, who was drinking some Jack by herself. "Well. Ms. "I don't drink" has finally joined the dark side" he said reaching over the counter and grabbing a bottle of Johnny Walker. He didn't even bother getting a glass but drank straight out of the bottle. He looked at Gospel after two swigs.


"How's senor hot head upstairs?" he asked. He immediately regretted it because a thought flooded his brain of them doing things like kissing or making love. However Chris, being as high as he was strayed off to other thoughts not being able to focus on one subject for two long. As a result he was also glancing around the room a bit while also glancing at Gospel taking in all the features of everything. The wall, the people, the people's facial features, Gospel, her facial features. "I wouldn't want to get in a fight with him"





Chris took another swing at the Johnny Walker. He usually drank slower but he wanted to make sure that he wasn't sober when the high wore off. He started wondering if he had a problem. But then he realized that if he did he wouldn't have been able to survive without coke for that long while they were off meeting the Irish and leaving scientists for dead after battling their man made demon from hell. Chris thought about that and wondered if karma would strike them down for leaving those scientists there. Or were they agents of karma who brought justice upon the scientists' evil doings? Chris' brain was all over the place.


Going back to Gospel he looked at her with a smile of amusement at the fact that she was drinking. It was unlike her and he wondered if maybe Neil had fucked something up. Chris was hoping. He realized now that he was jealous of Neil for having a closer connection to Gospel. If she had met them at the same time then Chris felt he would win with ease. History though had a way of influencing things.

 

[Hell0NHighWater]

Gospel tilted her head back, the crisp feeling of the cool glass against her lips contrasting with the burning tingle of the amber liquor. Her head felt light already, a foggy feeling creeping its way into her brain. Placing the shot glass on the bar, she reached for the bottle again pouring more of the addictive drink. She hadn't drunken anything that could have impaired her senses before feeling that it was an unnecessary hindrance to her abilities of defending herself. Or maybe she just didn't feel like wallowing in her own grief long enough to pick up a bottle. Either way, she was drinking now and to her surprise she was finding the numbing feeling rather enjoyable.


Piercing beryl orbs swiveled in the direction of a man sitting beside her, taking them a second to fully adjust to the shape of the man to her right.


"...well....I figured it was about time I saw what all the fuss was about..."


She slurred out, taking in every detail about Chris beside her. In her buzzed mind she could see the attraction she may have held towards him at one point. He was handsome, she'd give him that, but the obvious age difference was a little upsetting. Not that there wasn't an age difference between herself and Neil, but the one between her and Chris was more noticeable if not disturbing. Turning back to her shot glass, she lifted another glass of chestnut colored liquid to her lips. Her thoughts wondered back to what had happened up stairs a little under twenty minuets before, the memories themselves had her wiggling in her seat uncomfortably. Her skin could still feel the pressing heat of his mouth on her neck and the way his hands had just started to shimmy up....


Downing another shot quickly, Gospel let out a short laugh glancing back at Chris beside her.


"No you wouldn't....I remember...this one time......he broke a man's nose over a card game....don't exactly remember what the whole bloody thing was about only that he wasn't happy..." Gospel giggled out a bit, reaching out to pour herself yet another shot of whiskey. Crossing one leg over the other, she leaned against the bar top trying to stop the world from spinning around her.


"Perhaps...I shhould leave the drinking....to you idiots...I don't seem too good at it....."


She stated loudly, grinning foolishly at the thought of how drunk she was already with just a few shots.

 

[SnowStorm42]

Chris watched Gospel with amusement. She was really cute when drunk. Just the way the words came out in intervals. He couldn't help but admire it. The cocaine he realized was not wearing off. Chris still felt really antsy and jumpy his eyes all over the place. He had never really mixed alcohol and cocaine before only because he had known that the use of both together raised the chances of sudden death eighteen times. The only reason he was drinking now was because he just didn't want to be sober. He also wanted to spend time with Gospel and given she was drinking he decided he would drink too.


Molecules of salty water started coming out of Chris' pores, a effect of the cocaine that he had come to pretty much ignore from all the times he had used it. He took another chug out of the johnny walker. He started thinking about why he did this to his own body. Maybe it was to erase the past, or not think about the future. Either way he was starting to feel like he should stop the party life style. He was getting old enough as it was. That thought made him look at Gospel.


Her skin looked so soft, and she was so adorable and young. She was very pretty too. And then there was Chris. he was handsome sure, but he was pretty much an old fart. He was no competition for the younger Neil. Or was he? Before he could try to encourage himself she ironically mentioned Neil and how he had gotten into a fight over a card game once and broken a man's arm. "Rage can get people killed in this life" Chris said his words coming out a bit slurry and sharp.


"But it can bring people together" he said looking at her with a cheesy smile as the sweat picked up. As she said she should leave the drinking to him and his "idiots" he couldn't help but grin. "You should stop" he said with a laugh. He put a hand on her shoulder signifying he was gonna pull her away from the bar to lead her away from the booze, but as he tried to stand up he swayed a bit and fell on the floor, laughing at impact. "I wonder who is worse. You drunk or me on drugs?"

 

[Hell0NHighWater]

Gospel felt his hand slide across her shoulder, forcing her blurred gaze to focus in on him sitting beside her. A dry chuckle escaped her, grasping the chilled bottle and pouring herself another shot despite the overwhelming feeling that the world was one of those tea cup rides.


"I'll stop.... when you can stand straight yourself....Druggie. At least I....can walk a more decent line than you..."


She grinned, the euphoria of alcohol was making her all rainbows and sunshine if not a little more brash then usual.


Gospel chugged her shot swiftly before sliding off the bar stool and squatting down beside Chris who was still laughing lightly at his own failure to stand. Her smile widened, extending her hand out towards him in order to help pull him up. Staring at him for a good long minute, her smile faded a little as she lost her emotions in the train of thought that had enraptured her so. The longer she looked, the more confused her influenced mind felt about her attraction to the older man. She remembered kissing him the night before they had gone to get Neil back from the Irish. Gospel remembered it like it was only a few hours ago when it had happened and not in the time frame of almost two weeks.


Snapping herself from the confusing conundrums of the present world, the free-spirited version of Gospel was back with a grin at full power. She staggered herself a bit, giggling as she tried to keep herself from toppling over.

 

[SnowStorm42]

Chris continued to laugh profusely. "I...take offense to being called a druggie" he said raising one finger into the air. "I use only... once in a while" Chris said with a chuckle. He looked at Gospel and despite the mix of coke and alcohol time became lethargic. Chris looked into those blue orbs and thoughts rushed his mind from romantic to dirty, to silly, to ridiculous. He got lost in those eyes for a moment longer than he would've liked. He felt like he was being awkward. Snapping out his daze he took her hand and pulled her on top of him laughing the entire time.


Fortunately for the both of them no one was really paying attention to them as they had their own little fiestas that they were attending in the room. Chris looked at Gospel and started laughing. "Hey look..you can't walk either..guess you're no better than me" he teased. To avoid the questioning glances of other he helped her up and helped himself up too. He looked at her again with a smile. "I like the floor but I'm not a fan of cr-....owds" he started before hiccuping a bit. "Whats say we take the party..." he said taking the johnny walker in one hand and the jack daniels in the other. "...to my chambers" he said with a really cheesy and high look on his face. His eyes squinted shut and he grinned his pearly whites at her looking like some sort of gerbil or one of those animated squirrels on tv in pre-apocalyptic world.


His gesture to go to his room wasn't one of lust. He actually didn't want to look like any more of an idiot than he already had. There were the two sides of Chris when he was partying hard. One side of him was the one that was living the "single" life. He became the king of the party and people surrounded him as he drank shots out from between womens' breasts and snorted lines of coke at the bar with his fellow brethren. Then there was the side he was showing now, a side he hadn't released at a party since Crystal was around. This was the side that was caring, secluded and focused on one person. His high didn't involved jumping onto tables, shattering them, or getting into fights. His high involved the amusement shared between him and whoever it was he was with, in this case Gospel. With a less gerbil like smile he offered his arm at the base of the stairs, in a sort of old gentleman like fashion.


Neil and Keith stood on the roof watching the sun make its finally peace with the day. Keith was surveying the city with his binoculars and Neil stood admiring the view, eyeing a joint that Keith had given him. "You ever smoke before?" Keith asked his eyes still glued to the binoculars.


"A bit here and there both before or after the apocalypse, usually as a method of calming down rather than socially" he said putting it in between his lips and sucking in the fumes that brought with them euphoria. "Same here. Its hard to come by in the apocalypse but I think that just makes it better. Your lungs don't wither and the effect is the same each time"


Neil didn't muster a response. His green eyes looked at the sunset that was aligned so perfectly in between some of the taller buildings in Dranesville. The view was beautiful. Neil always enjoyed these views. Often times in Yorkstown he would sit at the edge of a roof and enjoy a beautiful view.


He took another puff. The THC started to kick in as his stresses about the war and the scientists and even the dead vanished little by little. Keith handed Neil the binoculars and pointed in the direction of Yorkstown which was just a line from where Neil saw it. Handing Keith the joint and taking the binoculars he looked through them surprised how strong they were. Yorkstown was now visible, faint, but visible. Neil saw smoke coming up from within the city, but due to the distance over the water it was hard to tell what part of Yorkstown he was looking at. "What do you make of it?"





"Nothing good" Neil said taking the joint back and taking a puff. Neil was glad that Keith had convinced him to smoke the joint. His brain couldn't allow him to worry about whether it was his safe zone that was in flames or not.

 

[Hell0NHighWater]

Confusion rewrote her amused expression, his hand clasping warmly around hers in order to use gravity to pull her seemingly weightless form down on top of her. Air floated from her lungs, leaving her briefly without the ability to breathe. Her drunken mind felt lost, swirling around the edges of reality until finally being pulled back by the faint sound of his laughter fading. Just as quickly as she had been pulled down her body was lifted right back up with a sort of upper arms strength that she could only dream of acquiring. Stunned from the initial contact, Gospel stared at him for a long moment trying to come up with some sort of reason for the offer without conjuring some dirty retort. Her eyes shifted to the bottles in his hands before moving back to the Cheshire grin that had ignited across his lips. Gospel smiled lazily, figuring that it was only some drinking between friends and nothing more. Even in her drunken deliria she was more then aware of the emotions swirling in her chest, perhaps it was just more clear now then it was than when she was sober. She was in love. And unfortunately for Chris, he didn't quite fit the bill.


"Why not. Lead...the way, once-in-a-while Druggie."





She mused quietly, following after him as he headed off towards the stairs. Gospel's legs carried her to the base of the stairs, biting her lip as her hand shot out in order to grip onto the railing. It was hard to move up a small flight of stairs with her vision doing cartwheels. Teetering at the top, her opaque eyes cast their drunken gaze upon him in order to make sure that she was, indeed, going the right way. Pacing wobbly down the hall she wondered what Neil was talking with Keith about and what he was doing at the moment. Wavering, Gospel turned to look over at the other end of the hall where she and Neil had been not even a full hour before. Reaching out, she swiped the bottle of Jack from Chirs's clutch. Entranced by the swirling motion of the amber liquid it took her a moment longer then necessary to twist off the cap and take a giant sip of the fantastically strong liquor.


"You know."


Gospel started, turning so quickly that she almost knocked herself over.


"I can't fathom why.....I didn't do this earlier....the drinking, I mean...not the sex thing..." Gospel rambled, bringing her arms up to make a sloppy 'x' shape. "..that I tooooaaaaaatttttttttttttllllllllllyyyyyyy remember....and I'm not drunk enough if I remember." Gospel slurred, bringing the cold glass bottle back to her parted lips for another swig.

 

[SnowStorm42]

Chris moved up the stairs, trying his best not to move back and forth from one side of the stairs to the other. He tripped up the stairs at one point but caught himself on the railing. He laughed a bit. Suddenly the alcohol kicked in and started adding to his high. Voices began to echo as he passed bikers and women. No actual nouns or verbs or adjectives reached his ear. Everything was slurs now and they bombarded him from every direction. When he reached the hallway he opened the door to his room/office and walked into it the sound of the door echoing a few times.


Chris was surprised when he felt one of his hand grow lighter. Looking down he stared at his hand for a good minute or two before turning and realizing that Gospel took the bottle of Jack. Chris smiled and pulled up a chair for himself so that she may sit on the couch, or the bed or pull up the comfier chair. Opening the Johnny Walker with much of a struggle he took another swig and put the bottle down on a nearby desk.


He wasn't going to lie he had no idea what she meant by the sex thing and his slowed down brain wasn't helping. "I..have no idea..what you are talking about..but..booze" he said, slurring a bit. "Is a gift from the heavens" he continued. "And so are..yooouu" He said laughing and pointing his finger at her shakily. He slouched on the chair finding it harder and harder to sit up right.


Neil watched the two of them enter Chris' office. He sighed and smoked his weed but he trusted Gospel fully. He figured he would go downstairs and enjoy the party. Walking down though three Irish guys eyed him. "You guys looking for a fight?"