it'll always be us - euphoria

chapter one

Ellie's pov
"Yo Els, wake the fuck up" I hear my younger brother say whilst banging on my door. I check the time on my phone, 6:30am. It's far too early to deal with his shit right now so I just turn over and go back to sleep.

"Ellie, you need to get up. You have school" Fezco says, entering my room. "I'm sick" I say back tiredly, lying to his face. "For real?" He says, sitting on the end of my bed. Fez was easy to fake sick to, he was too soft especially when it came to girl stuff. "Yeah, I have bad period cramps" I say. It wasn't a complete lie, I did have cramps but they weren't too bad.

"Shit man, I'm sorry. Uh, do you need anything?" He asks, making me smile. "Nah I'm good. Can I take the day off school?" I ask, hoping for a yes. "I guess. Me and Ash have business to deal with, we'll be back at 10am. Call us if you need us" He says, getting up from my bed and giving me a kiss on the head before shutting my door and letting me go back to sleep.

When I woke back up it was 10:20, meaning my brothers would be back from whatever shit they had to deal with. They don't let me get involved with their drug dealing which I'm not too bothered about as long as they're staying safe.

I throw a hoodie on and leave my room, heading towards the kitchen to see my brothers. "Morning, Els. You feeling better?" Fez asks and I nod. Ash just looks at me, he knows I faked ill. "You're such a liar" he says laughing at me.

"What the fuck do you mean bro" I say back, trying to hold back from laughing. "You ain't sick, you just wanted to skip school" Ash says laughing, causing me to break my cover and laugh with him. "Yo, you lied to me?!" Fez says. "Technically no, I do have cramps but they're not too bad" I say and he just playfully pushes me.

"Will you make me breakfast?" Ash asks and I roll my eyes. "Bro, make it yourself" I say. "What? You make the best bacon and eggs" he says and I give in. "Fine but only because I'm hungry too. You want some Fezco?" I ask. "I'll never say no to your food" He says and I just laugh and beginning making their shit.

"Sometimes I think I'm your Mom and not your sister" I say jokingly yet deadly serious. The doorbell rings and there's heavy knocking on the door. "Yo Ash, check the cameras" Fez says, instantly getting protective over me. He doesn't want any of his 'clients' knowing me. "It's just Rue" Ash says. "Rue Bennett?" I ask my brothers and they nod, "you know her?" Fez asks. "She goes to my school but I don't know her. I just heard about her overdose" I simply say.

"Are you good with her coming in?" He asks and I nod. "Do you deal to her?" I ask and they nod. "She's also like family though, she's chill" Fez says. I see her walking around school all the time, I've always thought she looked cool. She was in my grade but I never had to guts to talk to her - I was one of the youngest in my grade. Everyone knows about her drug addiction but I always looked at it differently. She could being going through hell and drugs are her only way to cope.

"Yo Fez, Ash. What's up" Rue says, giving Fezco a handshake. "Woah it smells good in here. Y'all got a chef now or something?" She says laughing and I appear from the corner. "Hi, I'm Ellie. Their sister and technically their chef" I say, nervously. "Bro what the fuck. You two never mentioned you have a sister. First of all she's pretty as fuck and second of all, do you go to my school?" she asks me and I nod.

"We keep Els out of the drug shit, letting her live a normal life like our grandma wanted her to. I don't let anyone know about her but you're like family so you're an exception. Plus, I think you two would get along well" Fez says. "Anyways Rue, what do you want?" Ash asks. "Oh nothing. I've been clean for 2 weeks now but I don't wanna go to school and I knew you two would be home" She says.

"Do you want some breakfast Rue?" I ask, once again nervously. "Oh yes please. Thanks Ellie" She says. Once I made the food, I gave them all their plates and joined the three others at the table. "How come you aren't at school, Ellie?" Rue asks. "I'm 'sick'" I say, using air quotes causing her to laugh. "I think we're gonna get along just fine" Rue says, smiling. "What about you...why aren't you at school?" I ask.

"School is so shit. I hate my friends, I need new ones" Rue says. "Who do you hang out with?" She asks me. "Myself" I say, laughing awkwardly. "Wanna hang out together?" Rue asks and I smile. "Sure" I say, happy I've actually made a friend.