𝐓𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐒 | 𝐉𝐉 𝐌𝐀𝐘𝐁𝐀𝐍𝐊

Two

When we get into the car, I ride in the passenger seat, Sarah and Topper in the back. The ride is silent. We drop Topper off with Sarah. As she gets out, she thanks my dad for the ride. I almost fall asleep on the ride home, too exhausted to explain the story to him at this hour.

We pull into our driveway, my head slowly raising from the window where it's resting.

"Tired, kid?"

"Very," I mutter.

"Get some sleep, I've got some errands I need you to run in the morning," he replies.

"Great, dad. I'm thrilled," I say sarcastically.

I open the passenger door, sliding my feet out of his truck. I plan on telling Sam everything that happened tonight in the morning, when I'm not as groggy. I stumble into the house, up the stairs, and to my bedroom. My dad probably thinks I'm drunk.

Without changing my clothes, I climb into my bed, the soft hum of my ceiling fan being the only audible sound. My pillows and covers are cold from not being used all day, and I love it. My room lights up as I hear my phone go off on my nightstand. I reach over for it, the brightness blinding me until I get used to it. It's a message from Sarah.

Sarah:
sorry about tonight. he's not normally like that.

Me:
it's alright. quite the welcome back party lol

Sarah:
i really am glad you're staying

Me:
me too

I turn my phone off and set it back down on my nightstand, turning over towards the wall and window.

When I wake up, the sun barely shines through my curtains, meaning it's earlier than I originally thought. I check my phone for the time, 6:17. I hear footsteps in the room next to me, the creek of a door opening following them. My door opens, as well, Sam walking in. He closes the door completely and sits on my bed.

"Well, how was it? Everything you hoped and dreamed?" he asks tauntingly.

My eyes are barely open, and I'm still half asleep. The majority of my room is still dark, since the sun hasn't risen high enough to engulf my bed in light. I reach for the water bottle on my night stand that I had accidentally left before we had gone to Ward's,
taking big gulps as I sit up straight.

"Totally. I made a new friend, I think. Sarah's boyfriend got into a fight, almost killed someone. Then, he was held at gunpoint and I had to call dad to get us. It was a wonderful night, Sam," I say sarcastically. "Now, can I please go back to bed? It's barely time for you to be up."

"I suppose. Sleep well."

I mumble a response as he walks out of my room, thankfully shutting the door behind him.
I end up sleeping for another two and a half hours. When I finally decide to drag myself out of bed and put on different clothes, it's already almost nine in the morning.

"Someone's up later than normal. You didn't even wake up to Sam struggling to get his shoes on for his run.," my mom says as I walk into the kitchen.

My brother shoots her a look and I give a tired good morning to the family.

"Morning, kiddo. I have a list of things I need you to grab at the farmer's market down the street. Your mom and I are gonna try to unpack the living room." He holds out a small list of different fruits and vegetables.

I take the piece of paper from his hands,
and he thanks me. As I walk, I study the scenery around me. I was never able to appreciate it when I was younger.
After ten minutes of walking, I finally reach the farmers market. I recognize a brunet man checking out the watermelons. He looks up at me and smiles.