Levi's POV

As we enter the party everyone makes a B-Line for the kitchen to get drinks and I follow, but I know I can't drink tonight.

Across the room, Hayley holds onto Hunter's forearm like an accessory and exchanges looks between the both of us. The sight of them makes me roll my eyes because I know exactly what she's doing.

"Hey, how long are we going to be here tonight?" I ask Jack.

"It's only 9 p.m., and Hayley doesn't have to be home until 2 a.m. You do the math." Jack snorts then takes a shot of his favorite whiskey, Jack Daniels. The arrogance from our win earlier still lingers on him and I know it's going to be a long night.

"Whooo!" He screams as he raises his arm in the air. Yup, a very long night.

"Jack's here!" A girl shouts from the other room and before we know it, the kitchen floods with people. Everyone is congratulating him on our victory. Three state championships is a record here in Wisconsin and our team worked hard for this accomplishment too. Well, most of us. All I did was sit on the bench and watch Jack be an all-star, as I do every season.

The kitchen grows louder as people stagger in, most of them already drunk. The entire football team and other students from Baraboo are here celebrating the only way Wisconsinites know how, with alcohol.

Jake, a football player, goes around handing out shots to everyone in the room but before I can decline mine, he walks away.

Devon, another football player, climbs onto the kitchen island and looks down at all of us, "Jack motherfucking Daniels Moretti, you did it again. They said we couldn't have a freshman quarterback, and you proved them wrong. They said we couldn't have a sophomore quarterback, and you proved them wrong. They told us that three championships would be impossible."

Devon, already wasted, looks out to the crowd, building the suspense, "But this motherfucker right here, PROVED THEM WRONG. To Jack!"

Everyone shouts, "To Jack!" and takes their shot.

I also take my shot because we have five hours before we leave, that's plenty of time to drink my jealousy away.

++++++++

I sit on the couch in the living room, watching people out on the dance floor. Girls everywhere, half-naked, grinding up on guy's dicks and if there were no music playing it would seem like a mating ritual or an orgy from the 1970's.

Funny how music makes it okay for us to do that to each other but without it we would be shunned from society.

I don't know why I'm thinking about this, instead of joining them out there when the alcohol, finally setting in, is giving me permission to do so.

I've had two shots and a couple of beers and I can't lie, the buzz feels pretty good. Like that feeling you get when you score a touchdown, which I haven't done in forever because of the shadow of the person whom I live in.

"Missed me?" Hayley sits down next to me, her ass half on my lap.

I look over at her unamused, "I know you're fucking with Hunter to make me jealous."

I drink my beer, not wanting this buzz to go away, but I know this one will be my last before switching to water. It's only been an hour, but I want to make sure I'm sober by midnight because I'm still DD tonight.

Hayley tucks her blonde wavy hair behind her ear and leans in, our eyes locked on each other and for a moment the room becomes nothing but background noise.

"What if I am?" She leans in closer, "I've missed you, Levi. I miss your touch."

Her delicate fingers tracing up my inner thigh and she purrs into my ear, "I miss when you say fuck when I moan in your ear." She runs her thumb over my bottom lip, biting hers. "I miss your kisses."

I hate it when she teases me like this because I always fall for her trap. I grab the back of her head, bringing her lips to mine and her tongue wastes no time entering my mouth. With her still by my side, I reach down and grab her ass, guiding her as she slowly climbs onto my lap. I keep her steady by resting my hands on her lower back.

Now, I know it's wrong. I've told myself so many times that I wouldn't do it again, but she always catches me when I'm weak and right now I'm letting the alcohol do all the talking. Hayley leans in further, her chest presses against mine and her back arches making that short, tight black dress rise a bit, revealing the bottom of her ass. Without hesitation, I slide her dress back down, making sure no one else can see what garment is underneath or lack thereof. This dress is sexy, I have to admit.

However, it reminds me of Bailey. Just a few hours ago, Bailey was wearing the same dress also wanting to go to this party. She looked just as sexy if not sexier because unlike Hayley, Bailey wasn't trying to look like a slut. She just wanted to have a good time for the first time but as always, Jack wouldn't let that happened.

"Dude, I'm so fucking pissed. I will kill them both. I'm out of here." Jack yells at me with Hayley still down my throat. I push her off and follow Jack, stumbling a little from the head rush I'm experiencing. What the hell is he talking about?

Bailey's POV

"We did it! We won!" Georgia high fives me.

I roll my eyes, "Yeah, we always win."

"Not at Pandemic. Sometimes we lose." Georgia admits.

"We usually win every game we play. That's why we joined the Board Game club!" I say annoyingly.

"You are being such a Debbie-downer tonight!"

"This isn't exactly how I wanted to spend my Friday night after we won the championship game." I snap at her.

"I get it. You didn't get to go to the party but get over it already! You have a guest staying the night who wants to play a board game with her best friend."

"Get over it? You don't understand what it's like wanting something and no one allowing you to do it. It's always Bailey can't go here. Bailey can't wear that. Bailey can't date him. I'm always told no!" I shout.

Georgia mocks me, "' Oh woe is me. My name's Bailey. I come from a rich family that's Baraboo-famous. I live in this huge house with nice clothes and has her own bathroom, but I still cry when I'm not invited somewhere.'"

She continues, "Boohoo. Newsflash Bailey, the grass isn't greener on the other side. Be grateful for what you do have."

"What do I have? I have an alcoholic dad who is currently passed out downstairs. A mom who uses her bar as an excuse to avoid us. An all-star brother who sees me as his embarrassing younger sister. Tell me what do I have?" I say.

"You have me! You have a good friend who puts up with your 'want to be popular' shenanigans," She replies.

"Well, you aren't being a good friend now!" I yell.

"Then why am I even here!?" Georgia says, throwing her hands in the air, defeated, then grabs her backpack and slams the bedroom door. Loud thumping footsteps fade out in the background.

Georgia and I fight a lot. That's normal for those who've been friends since birth but I know we'll make up tomorrow. We always do. Part of me is glad she's gone because she couldn't care less about the party and how I'm upset.

After a few minutes of silence, I know she has officially gone home. I take a deep breath and slip out of my bedroom. All this yelling has made me hungry and I tiptoe down to the kitchen, avoiding my father who is still passed out.

My meal choices are limited. I can heat up a can of ravioli or throw some cheese on crackers. Maybe I should check the refrigerator again. I keep opening and reopening the fridge door expecting to see something different inside. Each time I'm disappointed to only see beer, milk, and Jack's leftover burger from our dinner last night.

Jack did give me some money to buy dinner tonight. I could use it, or put it in savings again. Jack is always giving me money. Whether it's bribery, pity or hush money, I always put it in savings. Tonight, however, I deserve to treat myself.

As soon as I close the refrigerator door for the thousandth time, I hear them. The two souls who were never made to love each other, breaking each other apart. It's what they do best. Tear each other apart until they realize no one else will ever love them and stay together because being alone is worse than being married to someone you hate.

"You didn't tell me you were going into work!" Dad slurs and paces around the livingroom shouting into the phone.

I liked it better when he was passed out and the house was at peace.

"You're with another man aren't you?" He continues to shout.

I can't hear my mom through the phone, but I assume she's cursing him out because he's always assuming she's cheating on him. Being a truck driver, my dad is absent for long periods of time, allowing my mom to have affairs but she doesn't. She's too invested into her bar to allow any man into her life, including my father and the truth is, she purposely doesn't schedule someone to work so she has an excuse to work more hours and be away from him. Clearly, my parents aren't the poster couple for healthy marriages.

"You want me to leave you?" He threatens, unaware I'm within earshot. Not that it changes anything for him but for me it's worse when it's not mumbled noise outside my bedroom door.

You would think I would be used to the fighting by now but for some dumb reason, it still upsets me. I grab a beer from the fridge and run back up to my room.

I turn up the music loud enough to drown out the negative energy everyone is bringing me tonight.

Downstairs, I hear the faint sounds of something crashing against the wall and I assume dad's breaking more of their wedding china.

I grab my pillow and scream into it but eventually the screams turn to cries because I hate my life. I hate everything and everyone.

All I wanted to do was go to the party, but no one would give me a ride. No one except Levi. Maybe if I call Levi, he'll come pick me up because he's the DD tonight, so I know he hasn't been drinking. Jack will be pissed if he finds out I snuck into the party but if he's drunk, he might not notice I'm even there Or I could tell him the truth, our parents are fighting again and I don't want to be home alone with a drunk, angry dad. I grab my cell and dial Levi's number.

"Hey Levi," I say through the speakerphone.

"It's Bailey!" Levis shouts. "Hey Bailey, guess what, we are on our way to you."

"Really? You're picking me up?" I say excitedly.

"Well, no. but we are coming back to the house. Jack's angry. Really angry." He says.

"Have you been drinking?" I ask, confused. He sounds way too hyper.

"Why is she calling you! What does she want?" Jack says in the background.

"Maybe to confess her love for me." Levi snickers.

"You're a weirdo. Tell Jack that mom and dad are fighting again and I don't want to be at the house," I say, fighting back the tears.

"Yo, Bailey wants us to pick her up because your mom and dad are fighting. Sounds like she's crying, bro." Levi tells Jack.

"Let me talk to her," Jack replies.

"No, you're driving. You shouldn't be on the phone!" Levi laughs.

"Give me the phone," Jack yells.

"Hey, stop it, Jack," Levi yells back.

"Don't talk to my sister, you perv. Give me the phone now." Jack demands.

"Jack, watch out!" Levis shouts again.

Before I can comprehend what's happening, I hear a loud CRASH. This time not from my dad smashing glass downstairs. No, This time it's much louder, much closer, and much worse.

The phone line goes dead.

~~~~~1/25/20 • 2134 words~~~~~