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I have never felt something so hot on my face before. The burning sensation numbs me until the tears trickling down my cheek felt like a scorching fire burning from within. Catherine's hand was still raised, ready to strike again if I tried to say anything. My heart was preparing itself for the next attack but I didn't realise she began crying too. Her angry eyes met mine, a chill ran down my spine. I wanted the words I said to slap me back because it's what I deserve.

She lowered her hand, covering her mouth with it and kept on sobbing, Casper and Cassandra came to her aid, trying to hug and support her. Stephanie was in aghast. No more words were spoken, the only sound was coming from Catherine. I look back at Stephanie, knowing this would be the same thing Nathan has been going through, and much worse.

Walking onto the empty street with Stephanie strolling beside me. She squeezed my hand, her palm pulsing her unsteady heart. I tried to keep my cool to not raise any more worry. All we could do is walk back to her house and relinquish the fear if her father had arrived home.

Thinking about what will happen next is futile, calling Amari might help the situation. I grasp my phone in my pocket, unsure if she would aid us in this after what happened I had caused, I still gave her a ring. She doesn't pick up.

"Who was that?"

"No one. I tried calling Amari, but besides that, do you know why Nathan drank?"

"I don't know but he looked really gloomy and I wasn't expecting him to be home since he would have basketball today."

The tension was building up inside me again, recalling the cold afternoon. I caused him to make him feel this way. The impulse to scream was surfacing, my arm was ready to muffle anything that would come out of my mouth.

"Caleb, you're hurting me," Stephanie squealed. I released my grip on her, massaging her hand, "I'm sorry, does it still hurt?" She shook her head and continued walking on.

We saw the bright lights to her house, no car in the parking lot. Thank goodness. Wasting no time, we ran for the gate, got into the house and found a passed out Nathan in the living room, sleeping soundly on the marble floor in his school uniform. Cans of Asahi, Tiger and Heineken littered the ivory couches and the oval coffee table.

Stephanie started grabbing all the cans she could carry while I tried waking Nathan up, shaking him, calling his name. Nothing worked. I quickly grabbed him by the underarms and slowly dragged him away from the living room.

Suddenly he jerked and motioned himself up, proceeding to vomit immediately. His shirt and pants were not spared. His eyes fluttered closed again, tilting his head back up to the ceiling. I wiped away some of the mess and tried not to think so much of what I'm handling in my hands. Stephanie pointed me to his bathroom up the stairs. I tried waking Nathan up to get up the stairs but he wasn't responding.

I mustered all my strength, putting his arm around my neck and pulling him up by the waist. My legs are shaking, almost buckling from the weight but I do everything I can to not hurt him in the process. One step, two step, the momentum builds up. By the time we reach the first floor, I'm on my knees and I gently lay him down.

Dripping in sweat, I shakily stood up and slowly pulled him towards his room. In the meantime, I try not to lose my consciousness from such intensive physical work, I really need to start getting some exercise.

We finally made it to the door of his bathroom, with my sweaty palm, gripping it with all my might to turn the knob. I slammed my hand against the switch, turning on the lights, seeing the stains on his clothes. The smell wreaked but my mind was still fuzzy, I couldn't care less.

It was my last attempt to wake him, but to no avail. Still panting after the heavy lifting, I plopped myself down next to him on the cold, smooth wooden floor. The next thing I had to do now, because of the stains, would be to take off his clothes.

Which is crazy, but the wretched smell is making my stomach churn something unpleasant, plus, Nathan reeks of the alcohol. I had to take off his clothes; which already sounds wrong but is the only thing I can think of before his dad gets home.

"Alright, Caleb, you're not crazy, you just have to do what you have to do," I mumble to myself as I begin delicately unbuttoning his school uniform. Focusing all my attention on the buttons and his shirt, I slowly pull away the smelly uniform from him, grazing my hands on his smooth shoulders, hot to the touch.

Seeing Nathan shirtless, his slow breathing and his articulated muscles. It's tempting to touch it, but I bite my lip so hard, I could taste the blood. For the first time, being in front of him, and with him, strangely I don't feel scared. It just seems peaceful now, what if this would be the image I want to see when I wake up.

Loud clattering came from downstairs, I called for Stephanie, no response. I looked out the door to see if there was movement and I looked back at Natha's face, half-naked on the floor with the stench.

"Woo-who'sh da-dat...da...dat," his words slurred, his eyes droopy, I talk to him,

"Nathan, we need to get to the bathroom, you're stinky-"

"Sticky? Howe am a shticky?" Nathan was trying to stand up even if all of his limbs were wobbly, heading straight for the door, rambling on about sticks.

"Nathan, get back here, you need to shower, now," grabbing him by the arm and dragging him back into the room. Nathan finally faces me, with his chest in my face.

"Caleb! Blood!" cupping my face in his giant, warm palms. He pressed against my cheeks until I could barely talk.

"N-Nathen, hey, listen, your dad is coming home, any minute now, and you smell bad, you need to shower" as I struggle to pull his hands away from my face, although it felt nice but now isn't the time for this nonsense.

Ripping apart his sweaty palms from my face, I barely had enough energy to pull him into the bathroom as the force from my movements pulled Nathan towards me, both falling onto the bed instead.

"WEE!"

"Aaugh! Nathan!"