Burnt out

Videos (Prologue)

I open my eyes. My head's pounding. I lean over and puke next to a tree. I am laying on the forest ground.

"How drunk was I last night?" I groan mostly to myself but also to the two dumbasses lying next to me.

"Depends, how much do you remember?" Brodie laughs.

"Great." I mutter under my breath. I sit up and groan. "Shit it's 11."

"Oh fuck I gotta get home," Brodie curses as he stands up, "Someone should probably wake up Tree Hugger over here."

"One time," Tree Hugger says annoyed, "I hugged a tree one time."

"Yea right" I laugh.

He sticks his tongue out at me. "Oh shit." He says looking at his phone, "Some bitch posted pics and videos of last night."

We look at him stunned. "Please tell me you're joking." I really didn't need a lecture right now.

"Wish I was."

"I'm screwed." Brodie swallows hard, "I really got to go, bye bros." He looks back at us, "Any idea where we are?"

I look around, "Broomston State Forest."

"Thanks"

"No prob, I should get going too." I stand up, "Tree Hugger you could stay here forever, it's full of new trees to hug."

Tree hugger throws his shoe at me and we all start to laugh. How fucked up is this? Us laughing while kids just a few years younger than us are getting "rehabilitated". Kids like Lee. When kids are dying. Kids like Claire. But that was part of it wasn't it? It was easier to forget about it all when I got drunk.

Suddenly I remember the real danger of me drinking. I turn towards them, "Guys last night I didn't do anything weird right?"

"Other than trying to turn a chicken tender into a necklace? Nah bro you're good."

"Oh ok lol." Thank god they didn't know about the fire my hands release. What if I had done something? Hurt someone? I can't be getting drunk anymore. I lead them out of the forest, and I'm only a few blocks away from my house.

As soon as I open up my door and go into the kitchen I can tell that Mom and Harry saw the videos. I wonder how bad they were.

"How was Brodies last night?" Harry asks sarcastically.

"Good I guess." I am not saying anything just in case they don't know. My mom and Harry are sitting at the kitchen table and they gesture for me to sit down too. I look around, "Where's Lee?"

"Henry's."

"Is that safe?" I ask, because I'm concerned, but mostly to change the subject.

"Yea. Cole, listen..." My mom starts. Harry cuts her off with a video on his phone. Shit I'm fucked.

In the video my dumbass is holding a bottle of Vodka. I take a swig and immediately drop the bottle. It hits the floor and shatters. Then I started making out with some girl. I remember none of it. My head is still pounding and even after puking my guts out I'm still nauseous. Harry is holding an Advil bottle as if he's tempting me. He must notice my gaze because he slides the pills over to me. I quickly open them and swallow them.

"Thanks." I say under my breath.

They exchange a look of worry. "Cole sweety you're only fourteen," my mom starts, "we don't feel comfortable with you drinking."

"Especially not with all this going on! I mean what were you thinking? What if the police had been called? They haven't started taking away kids yet but they could put Liams name into their system. God, you're so selfish."

I am selfish. But I'm also sorry. "I wasn't. Thinking I mean. I'm sorry. It won't happen again." That was true I would never do it again.

"Cole" My mom tilts her head speaking softly.

"You better not." Harry cuts in.

"Your biological father had problems with alcohol. I just want to make sure you know you can talk to me if it feels like you can't stop."

"I'm fine." I smile. My hand spasms slightly, luckily it's less severe when I'm not to mad, I always am to a certain extent though. Mad. My leg is shaking, and I'm sweating like crazy because I'm always so hot. I wonder if they think I'm doing drugs. The thought makes my anger shoot up slightly so I quickly hide my hand under the table, squishing it between my legs.

"Is that all?" I ask not impolitely.

"Yeah." My mom smiles.

"And you're grounded for a month." Harry adds.

"Ok."

I hand my phone over. It was deserved. Anyway the way the government was going, I don't think we are staying here for a month anyhow. We will most likely go on the run like some other families. I walk silently to my room and shut the door.

I take one look and curse under my breath. My room is clean. I quickly look in my hiding spot in the closet. Empty. I don't care that the drinks are gone, but I do care that they found them. In my eyes I'm a monster, in theirs a fourteen year old alcoholic. Is the