Pain Redifined

[Anty]

Anthony was confused again. Was Evan resting his head on Adrienne? He had closed his eyes impulsively while he puked, and by the time he was done, Adrienne had jumped out of the way. The only thing he remembered before puking was staring down at his fist in his mouth. His mind was racing, wishing he had looked up. But right now he didn't worry so much about that, he could do that later. He wiped his mouth on the sleeve of his shirt, simultaneously letting out a low moan. I just showered! he thought. But oh well, he wouldn't want to smell like Evan later anyways. Now he definitely didn't. Right now it was more of a stomach acid and egg salad type of smell.

Anthony turned his face to look at Adrienne. Ah, he couldn't help but notice how cute she looked... Wait. This was Anthony. A sober one, yes, but when does he think people look cute? He turned his head once again to look at Evan, just in time to be punched in the face. Was that feeling whip lash? He was pretty sure he had whip lash. Anthony stumbled sideways against the force, losing his balance and ending up on the ground. It felt as though his jaw had been broken, but it hadn't. He bit off part of the his cheek, though, and he spit out blood. So he had puked on Evan, and Evan had punched him in the face. Now he that knew he wasn't going to die just yet, he sat up, resting his back against the couch.

Adrienne's right, I am an ass! he thought numbly. I wish I had a beer... The puke surrounded his mouth was starting to crust, and he licked his lips, tasting it. "Bring me a beer," he ordered. He leaned his head back on the couch, tonguing the gash in his mouth. Blood seeped out and he swallowed it. It's odd how quickly your joy slips away after your best friend, the one you were in love with for what seemed like forever, punches you in the face. All of Anthony's energy seeped away, too. Although admittedly he didn't have much energy, not with this hangover. Not with this headache... He wondered what was going on in the kitchen, but he was too afraid to look. He hadn't meant to hurt Evan... he hadn't meant to hurt anybody! (That's a lie.)

Anthony pulled his knees close to his body and wrapped his arms around them, looking like a little kid. His face was swelling, he could feel it. Oh Anthony. he thought, resting his chin on his knees and closing his eyes. The towel slipped a little and he pulled it up with his hand. He never knew Evan could punch like that. It made him think about... No! He just punched you in the face, you shouldn't think like that! he thought, getting angry a himself. What would have happened if Anthony hadn't been such a drunk? What would he and Evan be doing now? He couldn't help but wonder, but weird images came to him and he blinked his eyes open again. He probably wouldn't be here. Not even Noatak.

[Mothtoto.]

"Evan, you sober ass!" Adrienne shouted, this time at Evan. These men. There was always some reason to be mad at them. First they go around up-chucking on each other, then next second the other one was beating the one that did the puking! Well, she couldn't really blame Ant, because his, hopefully, was not on purpose. And, to be honest, if he had puked on her, she probably would have punched him too. She sat wondering what to do for a few minutes, just watching the two for a few minutes. "Hot damn," she murmured as she watched Evan. She had forgotten how... well wonderful he could look without a shirt on. She finally got up. She still hadn't figured out what to do, but she decided to put out the cigarette. She walked past both of them, and into the kitchen. After finding an ash tray she put it out and threw it away.

She was a doctor. Well, intern. And has her duty as a doctor (intern), it was her responsibility to take care of the ill, injured, or whatever's. Or at least, that's how she thought of it. Besides, she could tell Owen and he'd be oh so proud of her. Take that back. She was definitely not going to tell Owen. How would she explain that she just happened to be in her ex's apartment, with her ex, after sleeping with his best friend the night before? Okay, the idea was ruined. But she decided she should still decided to help them, even if there wasn't anything in it for her. Ar least not anything just yet. The future could hold many surprises.

Adrienne helped Anthony first, since he got injured first. Plus, she actually knew what to do for him. All he needed was some ice and a beer. She ducked under Evan's arm, said, "Excuse me" and stood between him and the freezer. She pulled out an icepack, surprised that there actually was one. Now, for the beverage. She opened up the fridge and saw beer, but she thought Anthony needed something more nutritious at the start of the day. She looked for a few seconds for something, but found nothing. Nothing until an energy drink! That was perfect. He seemed down, and hopefully this would cheer up the poor dear. This time she couldn't get her way under around Evan, the fridge door blocked her way, but there wasn't enough room to close it either. There were only two other options, going above or going under. She couldn't fly, so under it was. She down on her hands and knees, the precious items tucked inside of her t-shirt. She crawled between his legs. Ah, it was good to be free again.

She was about to walk back to the sofa, when she thought about Evan's poor hand. She stopped mid-step and turned back to her ex. She didn't know what to do much but have sympathy. "Here, love," (she didn't think about saying "love" at the time) Adrienne said as she took his hand and pressed her lips to the burned spot before walking to Anthony. She sat down beside him on the ground and put the energy drink in his hand and held the ice pack to his cheek, "Here you are, darling." She ruffled his hair lovingly, but stop when the thought, "Slut," came to mind.

[Waddle]

Evan could only glower at Anthony as he ordered for a beer. Of course, all he wanted was to get drunk and forget what he'd done. All he wanted was to be drunk and always forget things. Uncertainty hit Evan. Should he be angry at Anthony, or should he pity him? Should he even waste his energy thinking about the man? The answer to the first question was that there was none. The answer to the second was that he just couldn't decide. All the memories of them going crazy, having fun. All the memories of Evan being there for Anthony, but Anthony never being there for Evan. Well, that wasn't true. Anty (no, Anthony. Anthony, not Anty, or Ant) had been there for Evan on occasion, at some times Evan had needed him. Not always.

What if things had been different? he asked himself. What if... What if I'd never tried to kiss him? What if he wasn't what he is? It was always 'what if?'. He was reminded that he had thought the same things not even an hour ago. He looked at the clock, only to remember it had broken two days ago and he had taken it down to attempt at fixing it. It had been a nice past time, tinkering at the wires with a pair of pliers (hehe, that rhymed). Quickly wiping the smile off his face, he moved a bit to allow Adrienne access to the freezer. When she opened the refrigerator, he watched her almost retrieve the beer, then switch to the energy drink. That reminded him he needed to go to the store for... something. He could only watch in confusion as she crawled between his legs. It wasn't a big deal or anything, just a little... off. The fact that she was even there was confusing enough for him. But, then again, it was Addy.

He was almost sad when he thought about her not even saying anything to him except 'excuse me'. Normally, way back when they were still together (which felt like a long, long time ago), they would have laughed at each other, exchanging insults and crude jokes. But no, the bitter though came unbidden to his mind. No, no, she's too concerned about Anthony. Then she turned around and kissed his hand. "Thanks..." He looked from her to his hand, back to her, then stared at his hand. The touch had tingled, but it was normal for a burn to tingle when flesh touched it. ...Wasn't it? He poked the burn with his other hand experimentally and was satisfied when it did tingle, just like it had when she had kissed it. No, this wasn't a story where the kiss of someone you loved (or had loved) healed your wounds. But it did make him feel better.

Damn, I'm such a baby. He shut the freezer door a little more forcefully than he had to, then went to turn off the water that was still running, still steaming. He listened to the other two, but didn't look at them. Instead, he stared at the water in the sink that had been clogged up by the towel that he had dropped in it. The same thought that had come to Adrienne's head came to his head. Slut! Then he felt bad for thinking it. Then he shrugged it off. Why couldn't they just leave? Maybe they would soon, and he could sleep. But there was no way he was sleeping in his bed. Or in his bedroom. He would sleep in the recliner. When he woke up, he would set to the task of cleaning the place up. He tried to not think of what would happen if they didn't leave.

He quickly yanked the towel out of the sink. The water was still hot, but not enough to burn. He laid it over the faucet to drain, got another towel, turned the water back on and waited till it was cold. He wet the towel and took it over to Anthony, handing it to him without looking at him. It was just habit to get Anthony something when he had a hangover. No, no it wasn't. He was just feeling bad about punching him.

[Anty]

(I'm warning you guys.. this is in no way going to be good.)

Anthony glanced towards Adrienne, a feeling of doubt in his head. No matter how hard he tried he couldn't think of a single way to please everyone, himself included. "Thanks," he said, "I could use the ice... and the energy drink." He was having difficulty smiling, what with the swelling and all, but he did try. Despite all of this, Anthony set down the ice and the energy drink and stood up. Pulling up his towel again, he walked to the bedroom and shut the door behind him. His towel dropped and he put on another pair of clothes, this time with more ease.

Anthony's eyes shifted to the bed. All he really wanted was to sleep off this hangover. In the other room sat his best friend (or maybe his ex-best friend.. ) and that guy's ex-girlfriend. There was no way he was going back in there.

Anthony crawled into the bed. It was so soft... where did Evan get such a soft bed? He would have to ask him later. He pulled the blankets over his head and curled into a ball. No. They won't mind if I just drift off. They'll understand. They might even thank me later, maybe they'll end up.. And that as far as he got, because he fell asleep.

(I'm not even sure that makes sense... It's so short!)

[Mothtoto.]

Adrienne smiled, happy to please. She pulled her legs to her chest, wrapped her arms around her legs, and rested on her bare knees. As she watched Anthony and Evan, she realized how strange it was that they were all together again. Even if they didn't get along so well, it seemed right. Now that she thought about it, she really envied those days. The day they'd been together. Adrienne missed being around these two more than she'd like to admit. They had fallen apart after Evan caught her making out with with his best friend. It had seemed okay at the time, but she was too carefree back then, she decided as she watched Ant leave the room to go who-knows-where to do who-knows-what. When the door slammed shut, she brought herself back to the present.

But as she looked at Evan, she couldn't but think about how much she really missed him and his lovable ways. But, no. She couldn't think like that. She was dating Owen, after all. Owen the boss-man, with all of his goofy, Australian self. Addy stared at the floor in frustration. This type of thinking would do her in. She had a friendship to repair, blaming herself for its present state. She groaned as she thought about it. Why had she slept with stupid, stupid Anthony last night? She didn't really mean to. It was all Owen's fault. Yes, that was it. Who invites someone like her to a bar and then leaves 'em to get filthy drunk? But then again, he hadn't really gotten to know her yet, so he wouldn't know the outcome. Of course. It all came back to her. Damn.

Enough of all this thinking, she, iron or not, thought to herself. Adrienne stood up cheerily, trying to pep herself back up. If she was going to make the guys all happy-go-lucky again, she would have to be pretty upbeat too.

Happy yet again, she started on her attempt at repairing this unsteady friendship. "Incoming!", she yelled as she launched herself at Evan from behind. She was going to get these two together, whether it was easy or not. Piggy-back style, just like the old days when they were not so messed up. Or rather, they were just younger and didn't seem to care half as much. "All aboard the Evan Express. To Anthony, nag!", she shouted and slapped him on the ass, ushering him toward the bedroom.

[Waddle]

He stared at is burned hand. What right did Anthony think he have to just... go off and sleep if Evan's own bed? AGAIN?! Well, you don't really know where they did it, you just know they did. He sighed, breath coming out of one side of his mouth. It was all his hand's fault. He didn't know how, and knew he was only trying to pre-occupy his mind, but it was his damned hand's fault.

Someone crashing into, or rather, onto, him jerked him out of his thoughts. He grunted in surprise, stumbled and went halfway down on one knee before coming back to his feet, hands going behind him to support Adrienne. "Last time this happened, I think I failed and we both faceplanted into the wall," he commented casually, turning to face the door.

Why was she being so flirty with both of them? Wasn't she satisfied with just Anthony? No, she's never satisfied with just any one person or thing. She always wants more and what she can't have. She already has that strange foreign doctor as a boyfriend. She'll move right through him too, after she gets inside his head. Just so she'll break his heart too.

No. He was wrong. Addy wasn't that way. Here you go again, Evan. You try to think the best of people and they let you down. Just like Anthony did.

But she's not Anthony.

The comparison brought a mental image of both Adrienne and Anthony mixed together, and he couldn't help but laugh. Shaking his head to remove the image, he trotted to the door and attempted to open it with his chin. Addy was only trying to make him happy again. She had, undoubtedly, heard about his dark depression. Everybody heard everything about everybody else in a small town. She had just been concerned about him, like any old friend might be.

Succeeding in his attempt, Evan pranced into the room and jumped onto the bed, bending double to keep Addy from hitting her head on the roof. "GEDDUP, ANTY!!" He stepped onto his friend's foot before jumping off again to keep from being kicked.