𝙄𝙙𝙚𝙖𝙨, 𝙎𝙝𝙤𝙧𝙩 𝙎𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙀𝙨𝙨𝙖𝙮𝙨

W.D.Y.W.F.M? by The Neighbourhood [ESSAY]

[DISCLAIMER: this essay is actually going to be the first chapter of the sixth book in a series i am working on. the book from this series currently being worked on is on my profile. it is titled ARSEN DURSLEY: Resurfaced Darkness and is the first book in the series of seven i have plans for. the title is the song i based it around, and is linked in the media part above]

I pulled myself onto my feet, the world seeming light and airy, bright though the time was past half-one in the morning. Scott smiled at me as he heaved himself up alongside Astrid, the three of us as high as any other morning that week. We worked together to fold up the blanket, sleep-deprived smiles never leaving our faces.

"Where're you two heading off to?" Astrid enquired, pushing the soft sheet and the wrappers of our long-gone sandwiches into her backpack and pulling out her phone and earbuds before tossing Scott's lighter back to him.

"Skate park. Old friends from way back when are waiting, and I hear there's going to be drinks," Scott replied happily, catching and tucking his lighter into his pocket. It's always nice seeing my adopted brother smile, even if he only really does when he's drunk, or high, or sometimes both. Tonight seemed like it would be both.

I forced my foot into its shoe. "K. Stay safe, yeah? And try to get home before sunrise," I looked up to him to make sure he knew I was worried about his well-being. He gently rolled his eyes as he pulled on his jacket, but the everlasting smirk pulling on his freckled cheeks sold him out; I could tell that he was happy to have people who cared about him again.

"Yeah yeah, you too. What about you guys?"

"I'm going to James', gonna try and sneak in through the loft window. I swear it's always open. Arsen?" The brunette girl looked at me, her green eyes meeting my blue and brown ones, "Don't let me find you in my brother's bed again."

Astrid's tone was teasing, but I could tell she was serious. But I wasn't going to go to her twin; we were supposed to be taking a break. He said that we have 'bigger things to focus on'. Besides, he doesn't like it when any of us are high, which I find funny seeing as he's the reason I took up smoking. It had been a long summer.

"Nah," I replied, trying to force away the memories of our breakup. I'd found out pretty early on that getting upset while high was not a good combination. "I'm going home and to bed. Got homework to finish up tomorrow. Sucks that break's almost over." The other two nodded in agreement before we hugged each other in turn and went our separate ways.

I left the park and walked the cold and empty streets back to our apartment, three blocks up and two along. I passed the old bakery mum used to take me to when I was a lot younger. I missed those times, but I was still happy they had passed, especially because of how she ended up being disgusted by me. My nose crinkled at the thought of her. Homophobic bitch.

I tiredly waved to the doorman as I entered the complex, and he waved back. He was used to me coming back at stupid hours in the morning — always at least a little high — by now. But I knew he would never snitch on me to my dad. The first time I came back in a state similar to my current one, he said that as long as I was being safe he didn't see a reason to report me. The joke was on him though; I think he'd forgotten that my dad was on the summer camping trip with his students.

I called down the elevator and hit the button for my floor. I crossed my arms over my chest, slouching on the gold-colored handrail as I looked up into the mirrored ceiling. I could see the bags under my eyes from there.

I yawned as the lift dinged sharply, the doors opening to let me out into the quiet, carpeted hallway. I started walking to my door while searching my pockets for my key but soon realized that I didn't have it. I swore under my breath. No phone either.