Bleed me dry

The soft pitter patter of raindrops hitting the window woke Reed. He definitely hoped it hadn’t. His head was feeling like someone was sticking burning hot needs through it, his eyelids were as heavy as iron and he had no idea where he was.

The bed smelled like his but he absolutely couldn’t remember how he had gotten there and even better, he didn’t know why he was in this miserable state right now. He searched his sheets for his cell phone, finally locating it on his nightstand. He reached out a few centimetres more and his fingers hit glass, followed by a loud shattering noise.

Reed cursed and leaned over his bed, reaching down to the floor to find out what happened. Shards of glass pierced his skin and he could feel that his floor was wet. It seemed as though he had knocked over a glass of water.

He pulled back his hand and stuck his bleeding finger in his mouth as he grabbed his phone and mumbled: “ Phone, what time is it?”

His smartphone activated with a high bling and responded: “It is half past two in the afternoon.” Reed groaned as he swung his legs off his bed and made his way to the kitchen. The incident with the glass still fresh in his mind he cautiously ran his hands over the countertops.

Nothing seemed to be amiss and he opened one of the cupboards to retrieve a pill to counter the throbbing pain trashing against his head.

“Phone”, he said loudly. “Do I have any messages?” He swallowed his pill and chased it down his throat with a cup of water.

“You have 7 new messages.” Reed nodded to himself, probably Ardy.

“Phone, read them.” As Ardys sluggish voice sounded through his flat he peeled off his clothes, still wearing his jeans and pullover that he had picked out yesterday.

“....and so me and Cat had to find this stupid key again and it turned out, some moron had swallowed it! Can you believe it? What an idiot, so we just barricaded the door and.....”

Reed tuned out of her story, sure that he’d get it told to him again when he finally reached work. It was a weekday, Friday to be precise and he really hoped Ardy had just pulled an allnighter. Or at least had the foresight to put up a sign explaining that they were temporarily closed. Something like that.

His phone continued playing as he entered the bathroom and turned on a cold shower. Nothing sobers you up better than a cold shower. His head wasn’t really happy about that but Reed knew if he relaxed and took a few deep breaths he'd be fine.

He returned to his room, drying off his hair with a towel as he rummaged through his closet. Out of the corner of his eye he could see B curled up in his sheets. There had to be something important he was forgetting, right? He shook his head.

“Message from Calister at 5:27” Reed flinched and quickly pulled his T-shirt over his head, then he sat down on his still unmade bed.

“Hey Reed, I’m just calling to see if you’re okay? Like, shoot me a text if everything’s fine. Don’t call me, I’m in class....yeah. Okay bye!”

Why was Calister asking him if he was alright? Something had to have happened, but what? Reed groaned.

“Phone, sent a text to Calister. Write: I'm good just a bit tired.” Reed paused and added:” Did I do anything yesterday? I can’t remember.” His phone produced the ever so familiar sound again and Reed sighed. He should get ready for work.

Luckily his bus was on a regular plan, stopping at the station every fifteen minutes. The air around him was thick, heavy and hot and Reed regretted his decision to wear his heavy brown coat.

His head was still feeling as though it had been stuffed with paper as he entered the coffee shop through the back door and tossed his massager bag into a corner, cringing as it seemed to hit another bag that was already laying there. Ardys? Or maybe Cats?

Reed followed the corridor to the front of the shop, ten steps straight ahead, then a sharp turn right and a few more steps till he hit the counter. No aura, not that that meant that no-one was sitting there. Soft music was playing over the speakers and Reed found himself starting to clean the counter as he always did when he was unoccupied in the shop.

“Good mornin’ sweetheart!” A body slammed into his forcefully, knocking the air put of him. Ardy wrapped her arms around his stomach and he smiled as he turned around to embrace her as well.

“You can hardly say morning. It’s afternoon already, Ardy.” She laughed at his comment and let go of him, he could hear her jumping onto the counter and her sneakers hit one of its hollow sides.

Reed leaned on the counter, his fingers twisted around the washcloth he was holding.

“No worries, no one's here yet. You can relax.” He looked up at where he thought Ardys face might be and smiled.

“I’m as relaxed as they come.” He flinched as she hit his arm with her fist and straightened up, rubbing the sore spot.

“You didn’t even call me once to tell me if you got home okay. I had to find out after your boyfriend came by here in the wee hours of the mornin' and told me you’re sleeping in ya bed like a baby.” Reed turned to her, his arms crossed in front of his chest.

“Calister is not my boyfriend.” Ardy laughed and jumped off the counter, the floor shaking as she did. A few seconds later the holographic bell over the counter rang.

“Priorities straight as always. Better think about making it up to him that ya puked all over him.” Before Reed could respond someone rang the small bell on the counter and began drawling on about their drink, distracting him.