I don't wake up until the third ring. My phone vibrates next to my head, and eventually I stir. My laptop is still open, with my cursor hovering over Peter Parker's profile in Justify. I didn't dare click it before I fell asleep, and I don't have time now. I stare down at an unknown number, and immediately hang up.

Just when my head hits the pillow, the phone vibrates again. I groan and sit up. I finally answer the call, bringing the cold screen up to my burning face. "Who is this?"

"Darcy, thank God."

It's Sergio on the other end of the line. I sit up once more, jolting. I barely manage to catch my laptop before it tumbles on the floor.

"Why are you calling me in the middle of the night?"

"We're outside the building. We need your help sneaking in Dantae."

I stand up, quickly looking around and throwing on the hoodie that I borrowed from Peter and have yet to return. As I look for my socks and shoes, I furrow my brow. "Why do you need my help?"

Without asking, I know the answer. I don't even need him to be here to read it off him. Sergio's voice is wavering, and he is grunting as he stands.

"Well..."

"What's wrong with my brother?" I ask as I climb out the window and down the fire escape.

"Just come look."

I sigh as I leap down. "I'm really not in the mood to be surprised right now."

Though his voice is quiet, I can hear Manu in the background. "Just tell her that Dantae's wasted."

"Shit," I mutter. "I'll be down in a minute."

I make the rest of the journey down. The night is quiet for New York City. Only the occasionally taxi drives by below me. The lights feel dimmer, and the air is frigid. The lights from the street lights feel like I'm in a detective noire film, and I'm about to be interrogated.

On the ground, I find Dantae swaying. Both of Dantae's arms are pinned over Manu and Sergio's shoulders, keeping him upright. He hiccups when he sees me. "Darsy."

"What the fuck did you guys give him?" I ask, moving up to him.

His eyes are glossy and his cheeks bright red. Dantae attempts to take a step closer to me, only to stumble. Thankfully, the boys seem to have a good grip on him, and prevent him from falling over. "Don't taalk bout mee like Imnot heare."

"Liz called us," Sergio says, with his free hand wiping sweat off his forehead. "She said you weren't answering your phone. I figured that we were screwed."

Dantae leans forward and begins to wretch. Nothing comes out, thankfully, or else my new shoes would be absolutely destroyed.

"He threw up a lot on the way here," Sergio offers, and for a second I imagine his frown turns into a smile, but he keeps a straight face.

"Alright, let's get him inside," I go back to the apartment and unlock the door. There's a substantial chance that Mama will wake up and catch us, but I am not bringing a man who can't walk up a slippery fire escape. From there, I lead us into the elevator, where we head up.

Inside the apartment, the boy's take off their dirty shoes at the door, leaving Dantae in my arms for a second. He tries to speak, but I put a finger to his lips. In response, he burps, and I gag.

The boys take Dantae out of my arms and we inch our way into his bedroom. Once we are inside, we drop Dantae on the floor. Manu rolls him onto his side, putting one hand under his head.

Anthony sits up in the bed. He rubs his eyes and turns on the desk lamp. "What's going on?"

"I'm making sure he doesn't choke if he throws up again," Manu says. He tips his head backwards, gesturing to the door. "You coming, Serg?"

"What happened?" Anthony asks, standing up out of bed. I shush him, pointing at the door with one finger, which is slightly ajar.

"He went out after Liz again," Sergio sighs. He turns to Manu and shakes his head. "I'll stay to fill in Dare."

Manu nods, and heads out the door. I follow after him to lock up, and then I head back to Dantae's room. Through the doorway, I can hear Anthony and Sergio's whispers. If they aren't careful, my parents are going to wake up. They'll be able to smell the booze and the puke from a mile away.

"I just... he told me he was over her," Anthony says, before I manage to open the door.

When I enter, Sergio puts an arm around my waist and pulls me up against him. Anthony raises an eyebrow, but drops it quickly. Even though Sergio doesn't relax me like Dantae, I feel a bit calmer with his frigid body pressed up against mine.

I look at Anthony, surprised that he and Dantae talked about Liz. I guess moving in with someone brings you close together pretty quickly.

It's impossible to read Dantae while he is asleep.

"What's wrong with him?" I whisper to Sergio. Not just because I don't want Dantae's our parents to hear, but because I don't want to say it myself.

Sergio leans back against the wall. He ruffles his brown hair and exhales. "Let's talk outside."

We say good night to Anthony and then make our way back to my room. Mama and Papa would have my head in if they got Sergio in here so late, but I think that is the least of my problems today.

He sits at the desk, which leaves me room to sit at my bed. I try to kick all of the clothes on my floor into a corner so that way he isn't staring at my dirty shirts, and instead is focused on the clutter on my desk. I, on the other hand, sit in my sweaty blankets.

"Seriously Sergio, what's up with him?" I ask.

Sergio shrugs. "I don't really know. He's taking the break-up really hard."

If Sergio doesn't know, than no one but Dantae knows. There is taking a break-up hard, and then there is this. Threatening Manu's dealer friends, attacking Spider-man, getting so hammered on weeknights that he can't walk. The only good thing out of this all is that he is being a better brother than ever before.

"Sergio, he keeps breaking probation," I lean forward, staring down Sergio. He doesn't break eye contact. "You... you need to talk some sense into him."

Sergio nods. "He doesn't seem to listen to me anymore. He treats me like a little kid, but I'm the oldest out of the three of us. I don't need to be babied."

"That's just Dantae," I sigh, running a hand through my knotted hair. I feel like a hotter mess than I look, probably, even though I can't be sure. At least now Sergio will probably lose his massive crush on me. "Happy 18th, by the way."

"Thanks," he runs a hand through his hair. Our birthdays have always been close together, so Dantae's always complained about going to my birthday parties as a kid instead of Sergio's. "Honestly, I thought it would be better. I figured I'd have a good job, and that Manu, Dantae and I could all rent out an apartment together. I doubt that'll happen anytime soon."

"Is Manu still selling drugs?" I ask.

Sergio nods his head. "He is paying off the last of his debt, but I doubt he'll stop once it's done. When he's 18, he's getting thrown out of the group home, you know? He needs the money."

"Should we, like, do an intervention?"

"For Dantae or Manu?" Sergio stretches his back, still in his jacket. I wonder if he is warmer now, because I'm feeling freezing.

"For Dantae," I say, aware that I probably shouldn't have switched subjects so quickly. I could care less about Manu. I thought that he and Dantae would've stopped talking by now, especially since Manu's practically always got coke in his back pocket.

"I think your brother has embarrassed himself enough," Sergio almost laughs, but stops himself. He brings his voice down to a hush. "Besides, you and Anthony are certainly going to give him a mouthful."

So, Anthony has been hanging out with them. At least I know that he's been doing something other than lying in bed all day every day. Anthony has never been good at convincing me of anything, though. It's up to me to talk some sense into Dantae.

"You know that you're a good sister, Dare," Sergio gets up from his spot. He sits down next to me on the bed and puts his head on my shoulder.

And I let him. And I am not even mad about the touch.