Addicted {bxb}

I

I arrived at Erica's house after driving around the area to find my usual spot to smoke. Then by the time I pulled into the driveway, her parents left to meet up with my parents. It was a quick interaction that we shared.

"Hi Justin," they said.

"Dellmon's," I said with a warm but fake smile.

"Bye Justin," they said right after.

"Later," I said before entering their house.

Sometimes I wonder why they even let me into their home. Oh, that's right, my parents. They have no choice but to let me into their home. They're basically my babysitters that aren't around.

"How was your morning?" Erica asked while she poured herself a glass of water.

"Same old shit," I replied, climbing to sit on the barstool. "How about you?"

"Same," she sighed then took a sip of the water.

Erica wasn't hungover because she didn't drink at my party. To be specific, she doesn't drink at all because she's the designated driver for those who pay her to take them home. Then she'd come back to my house to clean and take the money I left for her in a secret spot right after.

"I'm guessing no party tonight considering your parents have the house?" Erica asked as she made her way around the island.

"Nope," I replied, laying my head on the counter. "And I already know I'm going to be bored."

"Why don't you call Maricio?"

I snapped my head up to look at her with my eyebrow raised. "You're joking right?" I questioned even though I knew she wasn't.

"Just a thought," she said, tossing her hands up. "Doesn't hurt to contact him."

Maricio is a guy that I used to hang out with because my parents wanted to get closer to his parents. Of course, it worked. I did my part which was to get my parents noticed by his parents then after their first greeting, I cut him off. He still tells his parents that we're super close only because I told him to. What they don't know won't hurt them.

"Pass," I said, then stood up so I could make my way to the living room where I flopped down on the couch.

"So what's your plan?" Erica asked me, while she leaned against the back of the couch.

"What I always do," I replied.

"Right. Eat all my food, drink half a bottle of Vodka, use up the internet, then fall asleep on my couch."

"Yup," I replied, finally stopping on a random channel.

"Have fun," she called out as she made her way upstairs. "Oh, and my brother is back in town so when he gets here don't bother him. He's more to himself now these days."

"You don't have to worry about me," I said, leaning back on the couch.

Erica didn't say anything else as I heard her footsteps fade away and then the door to her bedroom closed. I pulled out my phone, unlocked it then went to Instagram to scroll endlessly through my feed. There weren't many days like this but when there was I was at the peak of boredom. I did think about contacting Maricio but when I accidentally viewed his story, the thought of contacting him left my mind. He was at a party but not just any party, my parents' party. At my house.

"Unbelievable," I scoffed, then turned off my phone and tossed it right beside me on the couch.

I shook my head trying to rid the thought of him being at my house with both my parents and his parents. This conversation won't go over well once I get back home. The sound of the door being pushed open caused me to lean my head over to peek around, trying to see who was entering the house. It took a while before they walked around the wall that was partially separating the foyer from the rest of the house but when they were in my line of sight I stared at him for a while. I couldn't put my finger on it but something about this guy looked familiar. When he looked up from his book, probably noticing the sound from the TV, his eyes met mine.

"Who are you?" he asked, almost sounding scared when he asked the question.

"Relax," my voice trailed. "I'm not here to rob you."

"Erica," the boy called out and I let out a groan.

"Here we go," I said under my breath.

I heard her door open then soon footsteps and her voice called out his name. "Adrian?" she said with a question. "Did you just get back?"

"Yeah but who's this guy and why is he on our couch?"

"I have a name," I said more so to myself since I had my eyes on my phone.

"I told you not to talk to him," Erica snapped when she was downstairs again.

"He talked to me," I said under my breath, still loud enough for them to hear.

"Who is he?" the guy asked Erica again.

"Adrian, this is my friend, Justin," Erica said. "Justin."

"Yeah," I replied, looking at the two of them and noticing how alike they looked.

"This is my brother, Adrian," Erica informed me, letting me know that I was right for noticing their same facial features.

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