Between Lust & Love

Chapter Two

A loud ringing startled me. My phone was vibrating in my hand, and the ringing just wouldn't stop. Just as I thought I accidentally set an alarm, I saw a familiar face on the screen. It was a call from Jana, one of my best friends. Tiredly, I pressed the green receiver button.

"I hope you have a good reason for calling at this hour, Jana. Do you know what time it is?"

"Hey, yeah, I know, but it's urgent. Your little sister is here with me."

Immediately, I sat up.

"What's happened to her? Is she okay? Did something happen?"

"Everything's fine, I think. We both were at Carlos's party. But I only met her now, after most people had left. She was stumbling around and seemed a bit out of it. Honestly, I'm not completely sober either hiccup, and there are no more buses running at this hour. I also have no idea hiccup where we are."

"Okay, stay calm. I'll pick you both up. Just send me your location and stay right there. I'm on my way."

I hung up and quickly got dressed. I grabbed my apartment keys and car keys from the bowl next to the entrance and slipped into my shoes. Within a minute, I was already in the elevator, heading down to the ground floor. My sister at a party. I hadn't heard about that yet. Hopefully, nothing had happened to her.

My car was right in front of the door, my favorite parking spot. I started the engine hurriedly and placed my phone in the navigation holder. Only then did I realize how late it really was. 3 o'clock, in the middle of the night. Well, at least it was the weekend. The times when I partied until late during the week never ended well. With a hangover and too little sleep, I had to endure classes, which, as some might confirm, was quite exhausting. Sitting in a warm classroom with constant headaches that even a tablet couldn't get rid of, and a bit of nausea, was one of the worst feelings.

Jana had sent me the location. They were about twenty minutes away, a few minutes from Carlos's house.

"Starting now," I texted her.

Immediately, she replied with a thumbs-up and a winking smiley.

I turned on the radio to wake myself up a bit and set off. Just when I wanted to have a relaxed weekend, all this happened. But it was about my sister, so it was more important. I would do anything for my siblings, especially since I was the oldest of them all.

From afar, I already spotted the two girls standing by the roadside. My sister was holding her thumb up as if she wanted a ride. She didn't look good. Her hair was disheveled, and her makeup was smudged. Jana opened the back door and helped my sister inside. Then she slammed the door shut and took a seat in the passenger seat.

"What's going on with you two?" I asked, rubbing my forehead. "Everything's fine," my sister slurred. I glanced at my friend, but she just shrugged. The entire drive home was silent. I brought them both to my place. I didn't want our parents to find out, and Jana lived too far away to drive there in the middle of the night. I put my sister's arm around my shoulder and supported her as we entered the apartment. She reeked of alcohol so strongly that it disgusted me, even though I usually drank a lot too.

As soon as we entered the apartment, she became unsteady on her feet. I carried her into the guest room. Having an extra guest room in this apartment was never a bad idea. I took off her shoes.

"Can you undress yourself?" I asked.

"Nah," she replied, falling onto the bed.

"I'll do it," Jana said, helping her.

"Goodnight. Rest up." I left the room and placed her shoes in the hallway. Then I went to the kitchen and poured water into two glasses. Shortly after, Jana came out of the guest room and closed the door quietly.