Construction site (open, humor me and join)

The subject is making my chest tighten and Garth's offhanded comment only tells me that he's one hundred percent less worried than I am. Suddenly I feel like I'm the kid that always gets picked on in school and he's the big buff quarterback everybody is looking up to.
I look up to him to see them exchange a glance. It seems like there's some secret code between these two that I will never understand. Most likely I will never understand a girl the way he does and that makes him a better man as far as I'm concerned but he doesn't even know it. I make a mental note to let him know when she's not around so I don't embarass him but for now my worry consumes me again.
"How come you know this...Have you done it before?"
Most people I know can't even see a doctor when they're almost dying. District seven is not exactly know for it's excellent, easily accessibly medical facilities and everybody know that you get what you pay for...in my case the bare minimum.
I swallow hard against the lump in my throat and give Nora an apologetic smile because I feel the sudden need for air.
"Excuse me. I'll be right back."
My hands grip the wooden handles of the crutches tightly as I stand up on on fairly shaky leg and notice how the beers are already affecting me. It actually takes me a moment to gain my balance and then make my way through the pub towards the door.

Outside the cold fresh evening air greets me and fills my lungs. It's reviving after the haze of smoke in the bar. It helps me clear my head and see a little straighter. I have no choice than to do this and now I've embarassed myself in front of two people I barely know.
Swaying back and forth I contemplate leaving.

Just when I'm ready to head home somebody joins me. It's Garth, which proofs that he cares about me, if he still has to proof anything after donating a fortune to me.
I'm too embarassed to look at him at first so I keep my eyes trained on the row of old runned down houses on the other side of the street. Most of them are in dire need of a new roof, paint job or at least insulation.

The guy next to me starts telling me that surgery isn't that bad but I get the impression he doesn't know what he's talking about. How can getting cut open and having somebody screw something into your body not be so bad? He clearly has no idea...I think.
That's until I catch a glimpse of his face out of the corner of my eye and whatever it is he's holding in his hand..."Are those teeth?" I ask in udder surprise.
Then I turn my head to actually look at his now slightly deformed face and have a hard time not to gasp.
Blinking I listen to him tell me about his own experience and finally mutter.
"You're right. You surely know what you're talking about."
To be honest I'm glad when he puts the detures back in so I can look at him without feeling strange for staring at him. But that's what he wanted...to inform me.
"I guess a few screws in the knee aren't as bad as..." I cut myself off and shoot a look back at the door as if to ask whether Nora knows.

Then I simply have to ask. "You're a brave guy to show me this. What happened?"
For some reason I feel a bond forming between us even though we've just known each other for a few days.

Chemicals...I wouldn't know how on earth he got chemicals in his mouth that would cause his bone and teeth to be destroyed or how his father could possibly save him from that. It seemed he harbored a lot of anger against his old man but since the two of us just met I'm not about to ask nosy questions.

Instead I watch him go back inside. Seems he's done with the conversation.

I takes me a moment to digest what I just saw, then I tighten my grip on the crutches and follow him inside determined to suck it up and not worry about it anymore.

Inside the room is filled with smoke and the smell of beer and liquor, which calls for another drink. And then there's this lovely girl waiting for us, well him, at the bar.
She doesn't pay attention to us so I join her at the bar and mutter. "I guess another beer can't hurt."
Over her head I cast another glance at Garth, whose face looks perfectly normal now.

OOC: Does it look normal?

We drink another beer before I decide it's time for me to leave. "I have to get up tomorrow morning, you know." My voice is starting to get slow, my words are a little less annunciated, which is a good sign that I'm somewhere in between slightly drunk and getting totally wasted. Either way it'll be hard enough to make my way back home.

I put enough money down to pay for all of our drinks and smile. "Thanks guys for the awesome company. Different from drinking with the other workers..." I comment on their strange bickering and interesting relationship.
"I'll see you tomorrow."
Swaying back and forth I stand up holding on as tight to those crutches as I can and wait a moment until the boat stops rocking underneath the worn out soles of my brown leather shoes.
Then I make my way to the door again and leave but not without bumping into two people on my way out.

I must admit that I haven't been this drunk in a while and I am having a hard time getting home. I wouldn't be able to walk in a straight line if my life depended on it so when two people show up left and right I'm actually quite thankful. At first I try to tell them "I'm fine." but they don't care and support me nevertheless.

"Left here." I point the way while they more or less drag me down the street but just when we reach my street my foot gets caught on one of the sidewalk cobblestones and makes me trip. I hit the ground hard and painful and take Nora down with me since I weigh about twice as much as she does. In this case being piss drunk works to my advantage because it dulls the pain that shoots from my knee up into my hip and down my shin. All I do is yelp like a dog that has been kicked .

Only now do I notice that it was Nora who partly cushioned my fall and is still beneath me struggling to get out. She looks pretty unhappy, upset even.
"Are you okay?" I slur and try to move off her.
I bet she can smell the alcohol on my breath being so close to me.

OOC: Sorry couldn't resist

I'm glad to be alone because being drunk, embarassed and slightly hot on Garths friend is an aweful combination. If I had been able to get by myself I would have poured myself another drink but I'm too wasted and resort to closing my eyes instead.

My dreams are filled with nonesense that night. Mostly it's confusing talks of the two people I spent the evening with but it's also that weird relationship they have.

The next morning is aweful. My head is throbbing and I'm absolutely hung over. The water I drink and then run over my head doesn't help much but I have no choice. I have to get up. Slowly I make myself some porridge and drink more water, which almost makes me throw up but eventually I change into clean clothes and make my way out the door.

Today I have to tell my boss the thruth and in this state things can only get ugly.

After about 20 minutes of wobbly walk I knock on his door at 7.30 am. He's still in his pyjamas when he opens but asks me in because he knows there must be a reason for my visit if I show up here before work.

I explain the situation and tell him that I will go in for treatment and won't be available for a few days.
"What's a few days?" He wants to know so I fabricate a very low number. "Three." and hope that I will be able to keep that promise.
Of course he doesn't buy it so he tells me. "You have a week. Tom will take over for you for this time. He's been eager to replace you anyway. If you come back within that time you'll get your old job back, if not or you can't give one hundred percent, you get demoted but I'll keep you on the payroll."
His words are like a punch in the gutts. I've worked so hard for this position and he tells me I have a week. there's no way I will recover in a week so I know I'm sol but at the same time I have to be thankful he will keep paying me. So I swallow hard and get a few words out. "Thank you, sir. Appreciate it."
On my way out he asks me how I can afford the operation so I simply state. "A friend's paying for it."

Back at work most of the guys are already there. I can't help but cast a nasty glance at Tom who smiles at me. "Morning."
I'm not about to tell him the news but sit down instead and nurse my head ache.