Shattered ✓

T H I R T Y

Alexa

I grew concerned when Elliot and Michael came out of the house, with Elliot carrying an unconscious Jackson. I exchanged looks with Andrew. I had filled him in with Michael's call, so we were both worried about Jackson.

"Is he okay?" Andrew asked before I had the chance to. "Why is he unconscious?"

Elliot looks at Michael.

"Hm? Oh, yeah, he was drugged," Michael said casually.

"What?!" Andrew and I yelled out in sinc.

"And he has a fever," Elliot concluded. "My guess is it's from the side effect of whatever he was drugged with."

"Who did this to him?" I demanded.

"Don't worry about that, he was taken care of," Elliot says. "Now let's go. We're going to Michael's house."

***

Elliot placed Jackson on Michael's bed and covered him with the blanket. I looked at my phone and saw that it was around five a.m now. It was a Sunday so my brothers shouldn't be waking up to prepare for school, which I was thankful for. Andrew and I had a little bit more time.

Michael was frowning, which was a rare sight. He was just very concerned about Jackson.

"He will probably be asleep for a few hours," Elliot said. He glanced at Andrew and me. "Will you guys be staying here with us?"

I shoot a look at Andrew, who looked back at me.

"Um," Andrew started, "probably not. Our brothers don't know we're here."

I smile awkwardly, just thinking about their wrath if they discovered that we had left their care, even though we're not alone.

I sigh softly. "Yeah, as long as Jackson is okay, we should probably leave."

"Yeah." Andrew shuddered. "Before Zach or Cameron wakes up."

I nodded.

Michael quickly pulls me and Andrew into a three way hug. "Okay, make sure to text me when you guys are home," he says.

"Or me," Elliot added. "You have my number too, you know."

"Okay," I said. "Come on, Andy."

"Let us know when Jackson wakes up," Andrew says and then we both left.

***

We went through the front door. It was pitch black, just like we left it.

Andrew flipped the light switch on and I shot him a panicked look.

"What?" he said. "They just have to think we didn't sneak out. It's not like we can't be in the living room. It might wake them up if we sneak back into our beds."

I sighed. "I—I guess that's a fair point," I said, going to the couch and practically collapsing on it, and Andrew comes over and sits next to me.

"I'm glad Jackson's okay," I said, as I pulled out my phone.

"Yeah, me too," Andrew agreed.