Chapter Six

I’m in a rather small bathroom still holding onto Spencer’s hair as she vomits into the toilet.  I can tell you, this is not how I expected to spend my Friday night.  Then again, I also hadn’t expected to find Spencer in the first place, or to fall in love with her all over again.

“She still going strong?” I hear Glen ask, as the door creaks open.  I turn to look at him and offer a small smile.

“Yeah,” I say with a sigh. “I’m amazed she has that much food inside of her.”  Spencer hacks noisily and I close my eyes, trying to control my own stomach.  I place my hand on her back and began to rub it in circles.

“Look Ash,” Glen starts, coming toward me.  “Why don’t you wait outside while I get her cleaned up, huh?”

I perk up at this.  “I can do it!”  Glen just smiles.

“I know you can, but I doubt that Spencer here is too happy about you a seeing her for the first time in months bent over a toilet.  It’s not very flattering…”

Glen cracks a small smile and I can’t help but chuckle too.  Maybe he’s right.  I turn to Spencer and whisper into her ear.  “I’ll be right outside baby,” I start to stand, but then I add, “I’m not going anywhere.”

Glen moves toward me and takes Spencer’s hair into his hands.  She’s not puking anymore but she’s crumpled atop the toilet with her head in her hands.  I can’t see her face and I don’t think she wants me too.  Glen offers me another sheepish smile before turning to Spencer with an almost mechanical seriousness, as if he’s done this a million times before.  The door closes on the two of them and I find myself back in the lounge room backstage.  Eli and Jack are sitting on the sofa.  Jack is sipping a beer with his head reclining on the sofa, his eyes closed, but Eli is watching me.  I walk over and sit beside him.

“How is she?” Eli asks after a moment.

“Not good,” I answer simply and I lean forward, pressing the palms of my hands into my eyes.  “How long has she been like this?”  Eli doesn’t answer for a while and I know that he’s watching me.