Party 'til you pass out / When the party's over

Alison

I couldn't sleep at all anymore that night. I just couldn't bear myself to get into bed next to him while he was so high, knowing he had willingly gone out to buy and then take some ketamine while I was at home.

I had been staring ahead of me for hours, feeling numb. My back was aching from sitting on the couch, but that was nothing compared to the pain in my heart I felt when I thought of the fact that Oliver had fallen victim to his addiction once again, right under my watch. Well, not exactly because I guessed he had started using again when I was in London for ten days. But still. It felt as if I had failed him, as if me leaving him alone for some time while he already wasn't in a good headspace was the reason he had given in again. And it made me feel guilty as hell.

It was past four AM, and I just didn't know what to do. I felt lost, knowing I had to talk to someone about this, but not wanting to put Oliver through more than he already was going through. Surely if I told his family or the lads, they would become severely worried, angry even, and I guessed that wouldn't help Oliver overcome his weakness this time. I sighed and let myself fall back into the couch. I could call Austin. No, Austin had enough on himself already. After having to leave Of Mice and Men due to health issues several years ago, he had been through a really rough time. His body had been against him, and he had to come from far and deep before he was back on track again. It had all started right after Oliver and I got divorced, so we had both been in a really bad place, and had been talking about the dramatic events in our lives every now and then. Luckily for him he had an amazing girlfriend, and two kids, to take care of him. Our contact had somehow decreased over the past time, and I realized I missed him. I guessed I hadn't talked to him since last summer. Maybe I should call him. I quietly walked back into the bedroom and picked my phone from the nightstand, walking back into the dark living room. I put on a light next to the couch and dialed Austin's contact. It took a moment before I got a connection, and then another while before he picked up.

'Hi stranger,' his soothing voice said in surprise. I smiled and closed my eyes, hating how relief washed over me in an instant.

'Hey,' I croaked.

'Are you okay?' Of course, he immediately knew. No matter how long Austin and I hadn't spoken or seen each other –the last time I saw him was in 2016, sadly on the last tour he had forever been on -, he knew how I was doing by just hearing my voice. I inhaled deeply and thought of what to say.

'I don't know where to begin,' I whispered.

'Well, at the start? Just a suggestion,' he chuckled. I huffed a bit and shook my head. 'Hang on –' He hung up, and I frowned, but then smiled when I saw him starting a videocall. I accepted and waited for the connection to become stable, smiling when his face popped up on my screen.

'It's been a long fucking while, Ali,' he said. He looked tired, but he smiled nonetheless.

'Sure has,' I told him.

'Dad, who's there?,' a girl's voice sounded. Austin chuckled and pulled his oldest daughter on his lap.

'It's Alison,' he said.

'Who?!,' she frowned. I chuckled and waved at her.

'I've seen you a few years ago, when you were just a small girl, Hailey,' I told her. She frowned a bit and then smiled.

'Oh, you're the English photo lady,' she grinned. I laughed, so did Austin.

'Yeah, I am,' I smiled at her. Gosh, she had gotten so big.

'Go ask your mother what's for dinner,' Austin told her, kissing her head before she slid off his lap. He looked after her for a moment and then divided his attention back to me.