Chapter Six #3
She tries, but her knees fold again and I’m seconds away from ending up on the floor with her when a hand closes around her arm beside mine.
“I’ve got her.”
I look up and my heart nearly falls clean out of my arse. “Josh?”
“Yeah.” He ducks beneath Jess’s arm and takes most of her weight from me, shifting her against his side while I stand there trying to understand where the fuck he came from.
“Where did you come from?”
“Toilets. Saw you struggling on my way back.” He looks down at Jess, who is barely holding her own head up now. “What’s going on?”
I blow out a shaky breath and flex my aching fingers. “She’s really out of it. I don’t know if it’s just drink or something more.”
“Did you ask her?”
I gesture at Jess. “Well… no?”
Josh nods, like that’s a fair point. “What’s her name?”
“Jess.”
“Jess?” He adjusts her arm over his shoulders and bends slightly so he can see her face. “Can you hear me?” She doesn't answer, her head lolling against his shoulder. "Jess." He gives her arm a gentle squeeze. "Have you been sick tonight?"
She screws her face up in concentration. "...Maybe."
He glances at me briefly before looking back at her. "Maybe?"
"Can't remember."
"Okay. Have you taken anything tonight? Anything other than alcohol?"
She shakes her head before suddenly frowning. "A blue VK."
I bite the inside of my cheek to stop myself pointing out that's also alcohol.
"Right," Josh mutters evenly. "Anything else?"
"Tequila." She pulls a face. "Don't think I'm a fan."
"Fair enough." He looks over at me. "Do you know where she lives?"
"No. I only met her about five minutes ago."
"Right." He looks at her. "What accommodation are you in?"
She stares at him for several long seconds. "...The one with... doors."
"Oh yeah," he tersely replies. "That narrows it down."
"Josh," I chide, despite the laugh threatening to escape me.
“Sorry.” He gives me an apologetic smile before glancing down the now much quieter corridor. "We can't leave her here."
“My halls are only a couple of minutes away,” I offer, then glance at Josh, suddenly feeling sheepish. “She can sleep it off there… if that’s alright with you?”
"Are you sure?"
I nod. "I'd rather that than wander around campus trying to figure out where she lives."
He thinks about it for a second before nodding. "Yeah, alright."
We head back towards the main part of the Student Union, the music growing louder with every step until Josh gets us up the stairs, past the bouncers, and out into the cool night air. We barely make it ten metres away before Jess abruptly slams her feet on the path.
Josh looks down at her, concern wafting from him. "Everything alright?"
She lifts her head from his shoulder with obvious effort. "I think..." Her face twists, making both of us lean away. "...I'm going to be sick."
Josh and I exchange a truly horrified look.
I raise my hands, begging. “Please don’t do that. I’m a sympathy puker. I’ll chunder everywhere.”
“Oh, fucking hell.” Josh groans. “Jess, do you reckon you can give us a bit of warning if that changes from think to know?"
Jess considers this very seriously before nodding. "Yeah."
"Brilliant."
She stays perfectly still for another few seconds, swallowing hard enough that I can see it from where I'm standing, before eventually mumbling, "I think I'm alright."
I let out the breath I'd been holding. "That's reassuring."
Josh's mouth twitches. "Talk for yourself, Ruby Hollis. It’s not you she’ll be sick on."
“Fair point, in all honesty.”
We set off again, though 'walking' feels like a generous description.
Jess seems to forget what her legs are supposed to be doing every few steps, slowing to a stop without warning before Josh gently coaxes her forwards again.
By the third time it happens, I reach across and take her free hand, hoping that if she's anchored to both of us she'll stay upright for a bit longer.
I glance around campus as we walk. The buildings look completely different at night, windows glowing against the dark, groups of students wandering between halls with takeaway bags in one hand and bottles in the other.
“Is your corridor alright?” Josh asks over Jess’ head, I assume striving for some kind of normalcy in this odd turn of events.
“I think so?” I answer. “I’ve only really met Brooke. And a girl named Abi kidnapped us earlier.”
Josh’s dark eyebrows fly up. “Kidnapped you?”
“Yeah. She saw her ex in the S.U. and just kind of… commandeered us. But she ended up getting with Voldemort.”
Josh snorts. “That sounds like a night to remember?”
I chuckle. “I’m not sure I’d be able to explain it even if I wanted to. But at least I wasn’t forced to drink vodka out of a shoe tonight.”
“Please don’t mention alcohol,” Jess mutters darkly.
“What do you mean? Who is drinking out of a shoe?”
I shrug. “My corridor had a party tonight and the entrance fee was taking a shot out of someone’s shoe or something. Me and Brooke thought sod that and hightailed it out of there.”
There’s a pause and Jess whispers, “I think I drank tequila from a shoe tonight.”
Josh balks. “Sorry?”
She doesn’t answer him. She just leans forward and promptly throws up, right on Josh’s feet.