everything about you •• jj maybank

eleven

I was snuggled under the comforter in my bed, my fairy lights were lit across the room, and my favorite movie, Moana, was playing on the flatscreen across from my bed. I had my water bottle in one hand, and some sour patch straws in the other. I was fully at peace.

The sound of my phone ringing made me audibly groan and throw my head backwards against my pillow. I sat my water bottle on my bedside table and grabbed my phone, my eyes widening slightly when I saw Sarah's face appear on the screen.

"Sarah?" I questioned her, knowing she was currently at a party with my brother. "Everything okay?"

That familiar feeling sat at the pit of my stomach and I played with the edge of my blanket nervously as I waited for her response. I knew it couldn't be good.

"Not really, can you come pick me up?"

I reach for the TV remote and hit the pause button on my movie, and throw the blankets off of me.

"Of course I can. Are you okay? Are you safe?"

My phone is tucked between my ear and my shoulder as I throw some sneakers on and rush down the stairs, grabbing car keys, and rushing out the door.

"I just want to go home. I don't know where Topper is. I'll send you the address."

Her voice is quiet and every word she speaks trails off slowly into each other. She sounded sad.

"I'll be right there," I assured her, hearing the phone hang up and putting in the address in my GPS.

Luckily, the house wasn't too far from mine. It was only about a 5 minute drive from my house, but I'd rather safely get Sarah home than let her walk or get in the car with someone else that had been drinking.

I'd been to this house before, many times with Topper or even Toby. It belonged to Rachel Bergman, who I'd known from the Academy. Her parents were gone for who knows how long, and the house was full of Kooks.

I threw the door shut and made my way to the house, giving familiar faces fake smiles and waves as I walked past.

"Josie! It's been so long!"

"Oh my gosh, I miss you, girl!"

"Thornton, that's my girl!"

All of the voices melted together in my ears and I laughed pitifully to myself, wondering how I ever succeeded in spending more than a few hours with these people.

Making my way through the house, I stumbled between sweaty bodies, beer cans, and red solo cups. The scent of alcohol, weed, and peer pressure filled the air and I physically cringed as I pushed past more people.

I texted Sarah to let her know that I was here, and caught a familiar sight of frosted tips out of the corner of my eye.

"Topper!" I yelled across the room.

My brother's head whips around quickly and when his eyes catch mine, I watch as he wipes his nose and turns around quickly. I furrow my brows together and walk towards him, but Rafe walks in front of me, stopping me in my tracks.

"Well if it isn't my favorite Thornton sibling," he grins goofily.

I examine his face, noticing that his pupils were dilated once again, his forehead had beads of sweat dripping off of it, and he reeked of alcohol.