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Crap.
He's gotten tired of Demetrius and his insulting little comments about his job. At dinner a few hours ago, Sebastian and Demetrius had a fight—leading to Seb walking out and going to the saloon with Sam and Abigail. Despite Abigail and Sam's protests, he went home alone—not wanting to be a "bother". As soon as he got back, he took his keys and went out to the garage.
Although smoking, drinking, and driving late at night were the usual ways he'd cope with his struggles, he's never actually tried doing both. Yet here he was—absolutely not sober, grabbing his keys, and going for a ride.
"It's just one night. I'll be fine." He murmured to himself; not quite believing his own words either.
He loved it. He loved the way the wind felt around him; he loved the way it felt going fast in the empty highway; he loved how the sky looked at night—all illuminated with stars. Every now and then, he'd have trouble controlling his body. Shaking himself awake, he'd encountered a car at a sharp turn.
SCREECH
Crap.
Sebastian took off his helmet, sighing a breath of relief as he realized he didn't break any bones. He nervously stood up upon seeing thee damage he'd made on the car.
The car was immediately being parked at the roadside. It didn't look too bad; just a scrape. It was pretty bad news to Seb, though. He'd been saving to finally leave that hellhole of a basement and now he's probably going to be sued—probably even jailed if the driver realizes he's drunk.
"Shit—I am so sorry." he said, stumbling nervously as he saw the driver.
The driver seemed to be his age, with shaggy black hair and a few ear piercings. He was tanned, lean, and seemed pretty unbothered about the whole thing—he even seemed to be more worried about Sebastian's state
"It's fine, really. Are you alright?" The driver said, walking over to Seb, examining his features.
"Uh, yeah. L-look I'm really sorry. I'll pay you back, I swear, please don't sue me." Sebastian rambled, the alcohol kicking in.
Oh. He's drunk. Well, no wonder. The driver thought to himself.
"Are you drunk? I'm Andy, by the way." He said awkwardly, cursing himself as he realized how straightforward that sounded.
"Yeah... I'm Sebastian. I'll pay for the damages, I swear—"
"Dude, calm down, you almost died and you don't look sober enough to drive, either." Andy shrugged, taking a step towards Sebastian; the streetlight illuminating his features.
"I'll cover the damages; and let me take you home. Wouldn't want a hottie like you to crash into someone else." Andy said, a smirk appearing on his face. The shock Sebastian felt as he heard Andy's words hit him like a comically large anvil dropping onto him. Hell, it probably even slapped sobriety onto him.
"Are you... flirting with me? After I crashed into your car...?" Sebastian asked, trying to wrap his head around the situation.
"Scraped."
"I would've crashed if you didn't hit the brakes."
"Well, you didn't."
"Right..." Sebastian shifted awkwardly, trying to think of what to say. I mean, sure, he knows how to flirt; but after what just happened? He couldn't help but feel embarrassed.
"Well, what do you say? Is it fine if I take you home? I don't bite, don't worry." Andy said with a playful smile. Seeing that the man in front of him didn't seem to have any bad intentions, Seb shrugged. Screw it.
"Alright, then. Take me home, prince charming."
"Damn. I didn't think that would work." Andy chuckled softly, helping Sebastian carry his bike up to the back of his truck.
"Now, where do you live, Seb?" he turned to look at the boy, who's movements were sluggish now.
"Pelican Town."
He froze. His grandfather's old farm was there. The farm he was about to be moving to next week. He'd recently left his job at Joja Corp. That soul-sucking, grueling job that took no interest in making him use any of the things he learned back in college.
Well, I probably wouldn't have studied engineering so much if I knew I'd end up in a company like that.
Working in Joja made him feel empty. When he finally opened that letter this morning, he finally felt like he could work and actually be passionate about it. After all, he used to love visiting his grandfather.
"Ah. Pelican Town. Alright, I've been there before."
The drive home was just Andy talking to a drunk mess—ranting about his problems. Sebastian's words were slurred as he poured his heart out to a total stranger.
"That man has not once ever been my father. All he's done is complain and compare me to his dear little Maru— a grown woman who happens to have a job now; and apparently a job better than mine. No one takes my work seriously; and I'm stuck in a room with nothing to see outside.
Closed walls. No windows. I'm trapped in a cage surrounded by snakes. Whenever I go out, they avoid me. They've diminished my entire existence to the 'loner emo boy who's an asshole to everyone' trope. No one even bothers to actually know me; to know what I actually want. Hell, do I even know me?"
He really is drunk. Andy thought as he continued to listen to Sebastian. The poor guy will probably avoid me once he's sober.
"I see why you'd want to leave now. I can't say the bustling cities is the best way to escape, though."
"I'm sure it's better than that shithole."
"I hope it is. For you."
"What's it like? Living alone in the city?"
Andy seemed to hesitate, averting his gaze as he thought of what to say. After all, his experience wasn't exactly the best. After a minute or two, he replied, "My experience probably isnt the one you want to hear. I was stuck in a corporate rat race while having my own problems to deal with."
"Hmmmm, let me guess... Joja Corp?" Sebastian turned to him, his words slurring as his eyes half lidded as he glanced at the other boy. Andy couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity of this conversation.
"Isn't this an odd thing to talk about to someone who you just met? We're just trauma dumping on each other at this point—and, yes; it was Joja."
"You're right. But it's too late now, isn't it?"
After Andy parked the car, he turned to Sebastian. Seeing that he wasn't even in the state to walk properly, he offered to walk him home. "I'm really sorry for tonight." Sebastian slurred as he took careful steps—one arm placed over Andy's neck to help with his balance.
"It's nothing, really. Thanks." Andy said, a genuine smile appearing on his face. "You seem way too happy about this whole thing." Sebastian teased.
"I guess I am."
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Sebastian's POV
"Holy shit?"
He mumbled, stopping at his tracks on his way to the fridge. His eyes were focused on his mom, Robin—who was talking to the new farmer. Andy.