The Decuplets

Josh Strikes Again

Scarlett

I was downing alcohol for the sole purpose of how happy I was.

Celebratory shots.d

For what?

No clue!

For fun.

I made my way to the living room and plopped onto the couch.

I forgot to mention, but I'm at a house party.

I held my drink in my lap and leaned my neck back, shutting my eyes.

"Scarlett."

Woah, I'm already drifting off to sleep!

"Scarlett?"

I didn't realize how tired I was!

"Scarlett!"

This couch is like a cloud of cotton candy.

"Scarlett Romano!" somebody shook me, making my eyes jolt open.

"Gabe! Hey! Hi! What's up?"

My brother was silent for a moment as he examined the state I was in.

"Shit," he muttered low, sitting beside me.

"I need to tell you something serious," he said, turning to face me.

"Bad serious?" I wondered, my voice upbeat from being so out of touch with reality.

"Just listen, okay?"

I nodded, smiling.

"Josh got with Hailey."

What?

My jaw dropped. "What?"

"Josh got-,"

"No, I heard you," I stopped him, "I just need to know if this is a prank."

"It isn't, Scar," he told me in a rather sad tone.

I stared into his eyes, speechless.

Then I laughed. "You're funny, Gabe! Good one!"

He sighed, shutting his eyes for a second before speaking again. "I'm sorry, sis, but I'm not joking around with you."

"Gabe, you have got to be!" I poked fun at him, turning away from him and leaning back again.

He grabbed me and pulled me back. "Scarlett, please listen to me. I am not joking. I am serious."

My heart sank.

He was serious.

He was so serious.

Josh got with somebody else.

"Josh got with Hailey?" I repeated in absolute disbelief.

He nodded.

"Hailey, like, Zach's Hailey?"

He nodded once more.

"Holy fucking shit."

My eyes began to water and the drink in my hand was my tissues.

I chugged the rest of the beer, as well as two shooters in my pocket.

I was now downing alcohol for the sole purpose of comfort and a heartbreak remedy.

"Scar, stop it with that!" Gabe scolded, grabbing the alcohol from my hands.

"I can't believe this, Gabe!" I cried, placing my head into my hands.

He pulled me into his chest, holding me tightly.

"I am so sorry, Scarlett."

"He told me he was fully committed to me. Fully," I remembered, "and I believed him."

"He's a dick, Scarlett."

"He bought me clothes, a-and we spent the whole day together," I continued, "a-and he said he l-loved me always and forever!"

"He doesn't deserve you, Scarlett," Gabe consoled, pulling away and looking at me, "okay?"

I barely nodded before grabbing my Malibu shot back from him.

"I need this."

I walked off hearing him call out to me, but the only place I was going was the beer pong table.

"There is my," Max began, but stopped himself to put what he was seeing into words, "sister who has been crying?"

"I call the next game," I sniffled, standing beside him.

"Pong makes everything better," he shook me by my shoulders, smiling.

I didn't know how to smile.