Resilience - Discontinued

Chapter 14: Eighteen

i was reading a group book (like a book with a big friend group or a lot of characters) and it was kind of confusing, is my book confusing to read? I can't tell because I wrote it obviously. but also do you guys like know the characters or like the difference? bc I feel like when I read books like this I can't really tell the difference between them

"Atta girl, let it all out," Jack praises, holding my long blonde hair back as I throw up stomach acid, my already empty stomach becoming emptier.

I groan, squeezing my eyes shut as my head spins. A cold towel is placed on my forehead and open my eyes to see a worried Quinn, her mid-length dirty blonde hair thrown up into a bun.

"Do you think it's because you fainted?" She asks quietly as I muster enough strength to reach up and flush the toilet. The little amount of water still left in the toilet basin manages to wash it down.

I nod, sliding against the wall.

"C'mon," Jack coaxes, "let's get you back to bed."

I wait a few moments before he sighs, gently grabbing my hands and dragging me out of the bathroom.

When we pass the doorway that looks into the kitchen and dining room I see Walker desperately searching the fridge for anything edible.

Quinn walks away from us, going to join him in his search.

Despite being half-conscious and dazy I still manage to smirk at the lovebirds.

"Ah shit," I groan when Jack smacks my head against our half-open door.

"Oops," he mumbles, laying me down on a pile of clothes.

Mak, Ares, and Jack, all stand above me, looking down. I giggle lightly, "It's like an operation room."

Ares rolls his eyes, but a small smile makes its way onto his face, "I'm glad you're okay," He says, "loser."

Quinn walks in, holding empty plastic water bottles, Walker right behind her. "We're gonna go get some water from the sinks downstairs."

"I'll co-" Jack starts to say but I hook my leg around his. "Jack was actually going to help me with my science homework, right?" My eye twitches as I look up at him.

"Yeah," he drawls out slowly.

Quinn blushes, turning around to follow Walker out.

"What was that about? I had to use the bathroom."

I groan, "Let them mingle." Mak chuckles, sitting on the ground next to me, "Who uses mingles anymore?"

I roll my eyes, propping my feet up on her lap, "I do thank you very much, and soon enough Mak you're going to find someone to mingle with."

Quinn wraps her arms around her stomach. "Leo gave us the rest of his lunch at school today," She tells me quietly.

I nod slowly as we descend the rotting stairs, "I'm starting my job Thursday so hopefully we can get more stuff."

Two more days, I remind myself. "What do you think you'll spend your first paycheck on? Food or save up for the water bill?"

"Definitely water, I'm getting my paycheck two weeks in. That means four weeks without a proper shower." I say, nodding to myself a little.

Quinn pushes open the door and the cold wind spikes my face as we walk into Danny's liquor store.

Danny, or Daniel, is a middle-aged black man who runs the store alone. His eyes brighten when he looks up from his newspaper and sees us, "Hey Kiddos! What brings ya in, hopefully not to buy drinks."

I laugh quietly, holding up the water bottles I've been saving, "Just getting some water."

He nods, "Alright, well head on back, you know where it is."

I give him a clipped head nod, following Quinn toward the dingy bathroom.

She looks back at me, smiling a little.

I blush looking down, almost running into her back when she stops in the bathroom.

The walls are small and covered in graffiti and random stickers. "What are you going to do when you turn eighteen?" she asks, turning on the sink and filling one of the bottles.

I furrow my brows, "Why?"

She shrugs, taking a big sip of the water, "I've been thinking about it a lot recently. What I'm going to do--what we are going to do when we age out. Mak brought it up the other day and I can't stop obsessing over it."

The words dance on the tip of my tongue like my heart knows what I want but my brain doesn't. "I guess...I guess I don't know."

Mentally I've always been counting down the days till I turn eighteen and leave this fucked up system but the thought of what I would do after never crossed my mind.

"College?" Quinn asks, capping off the first water bottle.

I stammer, slumping when I realize. I don't know. College is expensive, and none of us have a dollar to our name. I wouldn't consider any of us dumb, but not smart enough to get a full-ride scholarship.

"Do you...know?"

Quinn bites her lip, grabbing the next water bottle, "I think I want to be a mom...and get far away from this city."

I want to be a mom, the words echo in my mind. "You would be a great mom."

Do I want to be a dad? The question hits me like a truck, would I even be a good father?

"Walker?" Quinn knocks me out of my inner turmoil.

My throat becomes closed, "Yes?"

She glances at me, "I'm sorry for bringing it up, you seem kind of upset."

"No, no, I'm not upset," I reassure smiling at her as we walk out of the store and toward the stairwell.

Quinn stops abruptly as we make it to our hallway. "Quinn?" I ask worried, "What's wrong are you okay?"

"I don't want to go in there," she mumbles, looking down embarrassed, "It's suffocating me."

"Yeah," I whisper, "It's suffocating me too."

She huffs, slumping.

"We don't have to," I add, quickly.

She looks up at me, "Yes we do, Robby and Karla are home."

I scoff, "Like they check our room anyway," I put my hands on her shoulders.

Quinn nods and I grab her hand gently, leading her back to the stairwell.

When I push open the roof door the wind is strong, making my eyes water.

The roof is empty, except for the random garbage scattered across it. I lead her over to the ledge and we sit on it carefully.

Quinn leans into me, making my body tense but I wrap my arm around her pulling her close.

"If I ever make it to eighteen, I think I want to spend the rest of my life with you guys," she mumbles.

"What?" I ask quietly, but then repeat it louder.

I look down to see her eyes closed, her blonde hair blowing in her face.

The words echo in my mind If I ever make it to eighteen.

If

I

Ever

Make

It

The words are like stabs to my heart but it dawns on me that she is completely right, will we even make it to eighteen?