Troublemaker - 6. Chapter Six

Barrett

I was pulling out ingredients for air-fried, cauliflower nuggets covered in buffalo sauce when my phone buzzed on my kitchen countertop. After a two-hour workout session, I just wanted to cook and eat some tasty imitation chicken without interruption. But a quick glimpse on my phone showed Sabrina was calling, and I accepted the call before putting it on the speaker.

“Hey, Sabrina! What’s up?” I said as I began pulling apart the cauliflower.

“Plenty actually. My friend Vanessa recently passed an exam she’s been studying for a month, and I think we should celebrate. Was wondering if you want to come and party with us.”

“Oh. What do you have in mind? I’m preparing ingredients for vegetarian buffalo chicken if you and Vanessa want to come by my place and eat.”

“That actually sounds amazing! But maybe next time. I was thinking we’d go back to Bottoms Up again and have some fun there.”

“I don’t know. You’re not going to bail on me again, are you?” I said, trying to sound hurt.

“I really am sorry I did that. The call was from one of my patients I’ve been counseling who was in a mental crisis when they called, and you know they’re my first priority.”

“I know. I’m just giving you shit.”

“So…are you joining us at the bar?”

I gazed at all the ingredients spread out on my countertop, and my stomach rumbled already with impatience.

“Eh, why not? But you’re paying for the food this time.”

“So chivalrous of you,” Sabrina joked.

“Not like we’re dating anymore.”

“True. So, we’ll meet you there at around seven if that’s a good time.”

“Yup. That works. See you soon.”

Sabrina said goodbye and ended the call. I checked the time, showing that I had almost an hour to take a shower and get dressed for the night out. I then remembered today was Friday, and wondered if Todd and his friends would be there again.

Since getting his number back on Monday, I debated with myself about when I should text him and just ask how he was doing. I didn’t know whether I was overstepping any boundaries by texting him so soon, so I haven’t sent any texts other than a smiling emoji just to confirm I had the right number. I didn’t want to force him into chatting with me, especially since he had a grudge against me, of which I still didn’t know. I wanted to know the answer, and perhaps I could resolve whatever made Todd feel like he couldn’t be friendly with me.

My stomach grumbled again, and I decided that I would go to Bottoms Up early since thoughts of those chili cheese fries I ordered there began circling my mind. And fun fact, the chili used for the fries was vegetarian, compelling me to put away all the ingredients I planned to cook with only moments ago and readying myself to go out.

About fifteen minutes later, I was freshly showered and dressed in an ironed dress shirt with a standard pair of jeans with holes purposely cut at the knees. I checked to see that my necklace was on me before grabbing my keys and wallet and leaving my bungalow.

With light traffic, the drive to the Wishing Well didn’t take long and there was plenty of parking space unlike last Monday night.

Entering the bar, my eyes roamed at the various patrons, and then they zeroed in on Todd’s short, reddish hair. My legs moved on their own to the table where Todd and his two friends sat at.

“Hey, Todd!”

Todd was drinking from a beer mug that spilled on his shirt upon my greeting. He turned to me with wide eyes and smiled. Foam rested above his upper lip, and my heart squeezed at how cute he looked.

Shit! Don’t think that way about Todd.

“Barrett. Hi. I didn’t expect you to be here,” Todd said as he dapped a napkin on his shirt.

“Yeah, Sabrina and her friend asked me to come here. I decided to arrive early.”

Way early. Like thirty minutes early. But Todd didn’t need to know that.

“Do you want to sit with us, while you wait for them?” Todd offered.

“Sure. Thanks.”

Todd scooted to the left, and I sat next to him, our knees brushing together and sending a slight warmth inside him.

“So…you guys enjoying your night so far?” I asked to try to make conversation.

“Yup, just hanging out and drinking beer,” Todd said, licking away his foam mustache that caused an unexpected stir in my groin. “Do you want me to order you one?”

“No thanks.. You don’t have to. I actually don’t drink.”

“Really? Why’s that?” Dillon, who sat across the table, asked.

“Eh, I never liked the smell, nor the taste. Even energy drinks are too much for me,” I admitted.

“Then how’d you survive college?” Todd asked.

I laughed and said, “I didn’t party much in college, especially seeing those frat boys playing beer pong and turning each other upside down to drink from a rusty keg. I never understood those idiots.”

Someone grunted, and I looked past Todd to see Channing eyeing me with a frown.

“I was in a frat,” Channing said.

“Oh, I didn’t mean all frat boys! Just the ones who partied all the time and only got in college because of their parents were alumni. Heh.”

Channing then narrowed his eyes, and I knew I said the wrong thing again.

“How about I order all of us some chili cheese fries,” Todd intervened.

“Nah, let me. It’s my turn to pay,” Dillon said. “Do you want some, Barrett?”

“Yeah. Thanks,” I said.

Dillon smiled and left the table. An awkward silence then stretched between us, and I wanted nothing more than to reverse time right before I said those comments that clearly upset Channing.

“So, Barrett. Todd told me you’re a paramedic,” Channing said and sipped his beer.

I nodded. “Yup. Have been for the past three years.”

“Must be a tense job sometimes.”

“You can say that.”

“I had to call an ambulance one time back when I was in college. I was outside a frat house when I did so… A friend of mine got beaten almost to a pulp, and I was the only one who called for help. Thankfully, police and an ambulance came quickly, and I was able to ride with my friend as we rushed to the nearest hospital. Unfortunately, he died just as we arrived… I held his hand right before he passed.”

“Shit… That’s horrible.”

“It was…Still is. And do you know why my friend got beaten to death?” Channing shook his head. “He died all because he flirted with the frat’s president, the same guy who punched his face so much that he had to have a closed-casket funeral. How hateful does someone have to be to do something that horrible to another human being? My friend just had a crush on him and decided to try his luck. Who would’ve thought death was the outcome.”

“Are you okay, Channing?” Todd asked.

“I’m fine,” Channing said before taking a big gulp of beer.

“I’m sorry about your friend,” I said. “Nothing justifies that kind of reaction.”

“Are you sure about that? You seem like the same person who would panic over a guy coming on to you and use that as a defense to get off with only probation as a punishment.”

“What? Why would you say that?” I said, utterly confused by Channing’s sudden hostility towards me. “I’d never hurt anyone based on their sexuality.”

“That’s not what Todd told me.”

I looked at Todd who appeared just as puzzled as me.

“What are you talking about, Channing?” Todd asked.

“You don’t remember? You drunk dialed me last Monday and told me about what your father said to you.”

“I did?”

“Yes. You did. And then you spent more than five minutes talking about what this asshole thought of you all because you had a small crush on him when you were a teenager and how that affected you. You might’ve been too drunk to remember, but I remembered every single word clearly.”

“Hey, calm down. How about you go outside and get a breather?”

“No! Barrett should be the one who should get out,” Channing yelled, shooting up from his seat. “I’m not letting another friend get killed by homophobic assholes like him!”

Suddenly, Channing tried to lunge toward me, causing me to jump out of my seat. Todd stood up as well and held his friend back who reached for me. He managed to grab the front of my shirt and pulled hard.

“Channing! Stop!” Dillon yelled from a distance.

I tried to pull away from his grasp, but he didn’t let go as I unintentionally dragged him along with Todd squeezed between us.

I then heard a snap before stumbling backward and falling on my ass. I watched as Todd kept pushing his friend back with Dillon assisting him. Something shined in Channing’s hand that grabbed me, and I realized it was my necklace dangling in his grasp.

Channing then dropped it and began stomping the only reminder of my past life. I rushed forward, and he stumbled back. But I wasn’t going to attack him. Instead, I reached for my mother’s locket. In my hand, I saw that the golden material was slightly dented along with the broken latch.

Clenching the only memento I had of her, I slowly stood up and aimed my eyes at Channing who eyed me cautiously. He flinched when I moved, but not towards him. I went for the entrance instead, more hurt than angry about what just happened.

Sabrina appeared at the entrance with Vanessa, her eyes widening upon seeing me.

“Barrett! Did you come early or–”

I just moved past her and stepped into the cool night outside.

“Barrett! Wait!”

I didn’t listen to whoever was calling out to me as I strided to my car. I pressed the key fob and unlocked the door, ready to get inside and escape when a hand grabbed my shoulder. I halted my steps, but I didn’t look behind me.

“I’m sorry what happened there, Barrett,” Todd said through deep breaths.

“It’s okay,” I lied, just wanting to get in my car and leave.

“No, it wasn’t! Channing shouldn’t have…F-fuck!”

I twisted around and saw Todd holding his chest, his breathing becoming hoarse. He then collapsed onto his knees, and I immediately crouched and held him in my arms.

Panicking, I said, “What’s wrong?”

Todd didn’t say anything, his breathing becoming more harsh sounding. I suspected he was having an asthma attack as two people came rushing towards us.

“Shit! Get his inhaler!” Dillon yelled. “It’s attached to his car keys!”

I reached into his pockets and pulled out Todd’s keys with a small inhaler attached to it. Dillon crouched by Todd and grabbed the inhaler from me. He quickly shook it and popped off the cap before placing it in his mouth and pressing the canister.

“Breathe, Todd. Breathe,” Dillon said.

Someone swore, and I looked up to see Channing with his hands in his hair, looking as panicked as I was. But I soon relaxed when Todd began breathing deeply. Dillon administered another puff from the inhaler, and Todd’s body loosened in my arms as his breathing became even again.

“Is he going to be okay?” I asked as I cradled Todd close to me.

“He will. Just let him keep breathing,” Dillon said.

“Are you sure?” Channing asked.

“Yes. Now step back and allow him to breathe,” Dillon ordered.

Todd groaned, his friend rubbed his head and pushed away the hair on his forehead. His eyes opened, and he gave a small smile.

“Sorry about that,” Todd apologized.

“Don’t talk right now,” Dillon said. “Get the car, Channing. We’re leaving… Now.”

Channing stumbled, his focus on Todd. ‘R-Right!”

Channing grabbed the keys from Dillon and jogged away, leaving Dillon and I with Todd. A small crowd had gathered at the entrance of the bar, but they started walking back inside upon seeing that everything would be fine.

“Sorry for what Channing did,” Dillon said.

“I don’t care about him. As long as Todd is alright.”
“Don’t worry. This isn’t the first time he had an asthma attack. He just needs to go home and get some rest.”

Todd tried to speak, but Dillon just shushed him.

A car soon arrived, and I rose back to my feet with Todd still in my arms, just like last Monday night. Dillon opened the door to the front passenger seat, and I carefully placed Todd inside and buckled his seatbelt.

I stepped back as Dillon closed the door. “Take care of him, okay?”

“I will… Do you want to come with us?”

“What?” Channing exclaimed as he exited the driver’s seat. “Dillon, you can’t do that?”

“Haven’t you caused enough trouble tonight?” Dillon said.

Channing bowed his head and didn’t argue back.

“Just go home. man. I’ll text you when we get Todd back home.”

I looked down at my hand, my mother’s damaged locket still clutched in my palm.

“I can fix that for you,” Channing offered, pointing to the locket that he stomped on only moments ago.

My hand just clenched tighter around the locket.

“Channing, just…go,” Dillon said, sounding resigned.

Channing stepped back hesitantly before finally turning around walking away.

“Coming?” Dillon asked me.

“Sure. I’ll get in my car and drive behind you.”

Dillon nodded, walking around to the driver’s seat and getting inside. I got into my own car, and I drove right behind Dillon for the next ten minutes. I rolled the side window down, allowing the cool night air to blow on my skin and relax my nerves.

I still couldn’t believe what just happened. One moment I was sitting at the bar with Todd, and the next Channing was yelling and trying to fight me that then led to Todd chasing after me and getting an asthma attack. I dealt with people during numerous emergency rides in the ambulance, so I should’ve been clear-minded when Todd struggled to breathe. And yet, somehow seeing Todd as the one who needed immediate help hit very differently. I didn’t want to think about what would’ve happened if Dillon hadn’t shown up and took over the situation, probably having dealt with it before with his friend.

My hand reached for the locket that I often played with when I was deep in thought or nervous only to find out that it was in my side pocket. I couldn’t believe that fucker stomped his damn foot on what was left of my mother. He must’ve known the value of that locket for him to do such a thing. It had some monetary value for sure, but the sentimental value it possessed was priceless in my eyes.

I breathed deeply and decided to forget Channing as thoughts on Todd’s safety returned into my mind. I still didn’t know what grudge Todd had against me. This might be my opportunity to ask him about the subject and dispel whatever misconceptions he had about me because I wasn’t homophobic, hateful, or anything Channing believed me to be.

Whatever it takes, I’ll do it.