Work Text:
This party's shit, wish we could dip
Go anywhere but here
Don't take a hit, don't kiss my lips
And please don't drink more beer
Henry had never been a big party fan. He'd always preferred solitarity and a good book, but ever since he started dating Alex, he's begun to grow accustomed to the Latinos social life. Alex was very popular at their college, so he was constantly invited to parties, and he took Henry with him this time. Henry was not enjoying himself and had skillfully avoided Alex, who was drunk, whenever the Latino was searching for him.
I'ma crawl outta the window now
'Cause I don't like anyone around
Kinda hope you're followin' me out
But this is definitely not my crowd
Henry snuck out through a window, sitting on the grass and basking in the smell of fresh air, rather than sweat and alcohol. He was silently hoping Alex would come out and sit with him, but he knew that it was wistful thinking. This kind of environment, the loud music and booze, it screamed Alex. Meanwhile, Henry was content being anywhere other than here, but he didn't want to mysteriously leave Alex, knowing how that would fuck with Alex's brain. So, he settled for sitting somewhere relaxing.
Nineteen, but you act twenty-five now
Knees weak, but you talk pretty fly, wow
Ripped jeans and a cup that you just downed
Take me where the music ain't too loud
Trade drinks, but you don't even know her
Save me 'til the party is over
Kiss me in the seat of your Rover
Real sweet, but I wish you were sober
Alex was inside the house, drunk, wearing a red flannel with a white tanktop, as well as some ripped jeans. He tossed his now empty cup aside and smiled at people as he moved around the room, trying to find Henry. Some girl handed him another drink and he accepted, not wanting to be mean, ans sipped on the beverage as he spotted familiar looking blond hair outside a window. Shoving his way through the crowd forcibly, he crawled out the window and sat next to Henry, discarding his drink. They sat in tense silence for a bit before Alex spoke.
"I was looking for you." He murmured, glancing at Henry to see his recation.
"Okay." Came the others curt response, and Alex bit his lip as he looked away, slightly hurt.
Silence lapsed between them as Alex sobered up, his thoughts running. Had Henry finally gotten sick of him? Was his idea of bringing Henry to a party that stupid? He had wanted to spend time with the blond but he'd lost him the second they walked through the door, having been swept into a group dance. He kept quiet, both males not knowing what to do.
"I wish you were sober." Henry suddenly said, and Alex stilled for a second.
"Yeah?" Came his soft reply, being slightly drunk but realizing Henry thought he was shit-faced drunk.
"Yeah." Henry confirmed, his voice sounding sad.
I wish you were sober
(Wish you were so, wish you were so, wish you were sober)
I wish you were sober
Alex hadn't responded, as Henry kept talking, "I just feel like I haven't seen you all night, qnd we've been at this party for a few hours now."
"I guess..." Alex mumbled, slurring his words a bit to sell the fact that he was drunker than he relly was. He knew it sounded manipulative, but Henry was only approaching him about this topic because he thought Alex wouldn't remember it the next day.
Trip down the road, walking you home
You kiss me at your door
Pullin' me close, beg me, "Stay over"
But I'm over this roller-coaster
Henry was about to say something else when Alex heard a shout of his name. Turning around, he saw Miguel Ramos.
"Alex, man, come back in! Have some fun," Miguel said, smiling until he spotted Henry. "Hey, Henry."
"Miguel." Henry nodded, his mouth set in a thin line.
Alex glanced between the two, not knowing what to do. Stay with Henry or go with Miguel? As he looked at Henry's face, he decided.
"I'll be back in in a few, Miguel, tell the others to save me some more beer!" Alex called, laughing in a drunken way when Miguel nodded and ran off. Alex turned back to Henry, who now looked more upset, and his brows furrowed.
"Hen? What's wrong?" Alex asked, confused. He had chosen to stay with Henry, why would the blond be mad?
"Nothing, Alex." Henry bit, his voice harsh.
Alex blinked, Henry only called him Alex if he was mad at him. "Hen, what did I do? If it's about Miguel, you know I only have my eyes on you, baby-"
"Don't call me baby, Alexander," Henry snapped. Alex flinched back slightly at the tone, but nodded. "And it's not about Miguel."
"Then what is it about, Hen, I'm so confused-" Alex tried again, wanting answers.
"Christ, Alex, are you that dense?!" Henry cut him off, yelling. Alex snapped his mouth shut, frowning.
"You've been with them all night, all I want is some time with you!" Henry shouted, voice sounding hurt.
"I've had time with you, Hen, we've been sitting here-" Alex argued, his brows furrowing further.
Henry laughed at that, a harsh sound. "Yeah, and you were drunk the whole time!"
"I don't know what you want from me, Henry! I'm trying, for fucks sake, and until you can communicate your damn needs, I can't help you!" Alex shouted, tears forming in his eyes.
"Then try harder, Alex! Honestly!" Henry yelled back at him, angry.
People had gathered around them now, some filming the argument, and Alex was close to crying.
"I'm trying as hard as I can, Henry, I'm doing my best, and if you would just APPRECIATE it-" Alex exclaimed, angry and hurt.
His sentence was cut off by Henry slapping him. The sound seemed to echo around the now silent lawn, several students in shock. Alex stared at Henry, tears streaming down his face as he reached up and held the place Henry had hit him, while Henry was staring at his hand in horror.
"Lex, I...I-I didn't mean to do...that, I'm sor-" Henry stuttered out, his eyes now locked onto Alex's as Alex backed away from him, shaking his head, before turning and running away.
He ran all the way to his car while Henry followed him, the area they had previously been standing surrounded by dozens of students, crying as he got into the driver's side door and drove off.
I'ma crawl outta the window now
Getting good at saying, "Gotta bounce"
Honestly, you always let me down
And I know we're not just hangin' out<
When Alex had ran, Henry had followed, but seeing as Alex was in lacrosse, Henry hadn't been able to keep up and Alex had sped off. Determined, Henry sprinted off towards his car (making a mental note to work out more because shit this was killing him) and climbed in, slamming the door. He drove off, speeding to catch up with Alex's car and then following him.
Nineteen, but you act twenty-five now
Knees weak, but you talk pretty fly, wow
Ripped jeans and a cup that you just downed
Take me where the music ain't too loud
Trade drinks, but you don't even know her
Save me 'til the party is over
Kiss me in the seat of your Rover
Real sweet, but I wish you were sober
Alex had called Nora immediately, crying as he drove. As the phone rang, Alex realized a few things and made a list:
1. He was drunk than he originally had thought
2. He was crying so hard his vision was blurry
3. He hadn't worn his glasses at the party meaning part of the blurriness was his bad eyesight
4. It was very dark outside and there were a lot of empty roads with no traffic lights
5. His cheek still stung
When Nora picked up the phone, she didn't even get a word out before Alex was sobbing and repeating the same phrase, 'Me abofeteó'.
"A, take a deep breath, calm down, and switch to English so I can understand you." Nora instructed, keeping her voice calm and level.
Alex nodded and did so before speaking again. "He slapped me, N. He fucking slapped me, and...and..."
"Who slapped you, A?" Nora asked, confused and concerned.
"H-Henry, and now I'm driving away from the party we were at- and I'm still drunk and I don't have my glasses and everything in my life is shit right now!" Alex practically screamed, spiralling as his grip on the wheel tightened.
"Henry slapped you?! When I get my hands on him-" Nora began to say, but she was cut off by the sound of screeching tires and glass breaking.
"Alex? ALEXANDER?!" She shouted, panicking, but dead silence came from the other end.
With shaky hands, Nora hung up the call with Alex and dialed June's number.
I wish you were sober
(Wish you were so, wish you were so, wish you were sober)
I wish you were sober
Henry had gone back down to the speed limit while following Alex, not wanting to make the Latino go faster than he already was. As they neared a busy intersection, the first one they've seen in the past 10 minutes, Alex's car swerved a bit. Henry began to panic, wondering what was happening, when suddenly a red car flew past a stop sign. Henry watched in slow motion as the car slammed into the side of Alex's car, sending it into a flip before landing on its drivers side. Henry immediately slammed on his brakes and opened his door, running towards Alex's toppled car, gasping as he saw the damage. The passenger side had been hit and the window was shattered, the door dented and barely hanging onto its hinges. Henry sprinted to the passenger side as he yanked out his phone and called 911, tearfully explaining what happened to the operator as he tried to get the door open to reach Alex. When the operator said she was sending paramedics, Henry hung up and continued to pull at the door even harder.
"Open, fuck, let me in! Shit, I need to get to Alex! ALEX!!" Henry screamed, pulling with all his strength, when the door finally came off.
Henry cried as he did his best to crawl inside, choking on a sob when he saw Alex. He was bleeding from little glass cuts and his eyes were shut, but nothing appeared visibly broken. Henry unbuckled the seat belt and struggled to get Alex out, but eventually he did. He didn't know anything about medical stuff and whether or not he should;ve moved the Latino, but that could all be damned right now. He needed to hold Alex, his Alex, in his arms right now.
I wish, I wish, I wish, I wish, I wish
I wish you were sober
I wish, I wish, I wish, I wish, I wish
Oh, I wish you were sober
"I'm sorry, Lex, I'm so sorry," Henry sobbed out, his tears falling onto Alex's cheeks. "Please don't leave me, please, love, keep breathing, please..."
Alex's chest was still rising and falling and it was the only thing giving Henry life as he waited for the ambulance.
Nineteen, but you act twenty-five now
Knees weak, but you talk pretty fly, wow
Ripped jeans and a cup that you just downed
Take me where the music ain't too loud
Trade drinks, but you don't even know her
Save me 'til the party is over
Kiss me in the seat of your Rover
Real sweet, but I wish you were sober
The ambulance had finally shown up and they carried Alex into it on a stretcher, Henry walking with them as he held Alex's hand. He sat in the back of the ambulance as the paramedics checked Alex to see any injuries he may have, while Henry bit his lip and tightly held Alex's hand. He was praying with every fiber of his being that Alex would be okay, that Alex wouldn't die, and that Alex would still want to be with him.