One Nights Mistake

Chapter 9

Alan

I'm on my way to Gracie's place. My sister, technically. She's the one who called me back at Crystal's place. I know I said I don't have any family but I don't think of her that way. Not anymore. We didn't exactly have a happy childhood, and now she only reaches out to me when she needs something. Usually, it's money. So she can "Pay her bills," but I know she just uses it for drugs.

I swear, every time she calls, it's like she's got her hand out waiting for me to give her something. I've tried to distance myself from her drama, but I guess I'm not done helping her yet.

I am active in front of her house. No car in sight, is she even here? The house looks like nobody has lived here for a while. It needs some serious fixing up, but that's not for me to worry about.

I hesitate getting out for a moment, wondering if I should just turn around and leave. But something makes me get out of the car and approach her door. I knock, and the door opens a crack. Gracie's eyes peer out, bloodshot and tired. Her hair's a messy blonde now, a big change from the red I saw her with a few weeks ago. She got two new piercings as well.

Her clothes look like they haven't been washed in weeks. She looks like she's been through hell. For a moment, we just stare at each other. I can see the desperation in her eyes, the calculation. She's looking for something, and I know exactly what it is.

"Hey, Junior," she says, her voice laced with a fake sweetness. "Long time no see."

I raise an eyebrow, unsure of what to say. I haven't seen her in weeks, and I've tried to forget the last time we interacted. But here we are, standing in her doorway, with all our past weighing us down.

I slowly push the door open, looking around as I walk in. "Yeah, because you decided to fucking disappear off the face of the fucking earth, and don't call me that," I say, my voice laced with anger and frustration.

Gracie shrugs, looking a bit disappointed I raise my voice at her. "Sorry about that. Hey, I've been busy." She says.

I step further into the house, my eyes scanning the chaos around me. Clothes are scattered everywhere, takeout containers litter the coffee table, and the air reeks of weed and dullness. It's like she's been living in a dumpster.

"Busy?" I repeat, my voice laced with disgust. "You call this busy? You call this living?"

Gracie rolls her eyes, a defensive look on her face. "Hey, I'm doing okay. I just need a little help, that's all."

I chuckle, shaking my head. "A little help? You need a lot more than that, Gracie. You need a fucking miracle."

Gracie's eyes light up with a hint of desperation. "Well, then you can help me."

I shake my head, firm in my decision. "No, Gracie. I'm done. You either go to rehab or I won't help you at all."

She pouts, her face twisting in a childish scowl. "I can't go back, I hate it there."

I cross my arms, unmoved. "Too fucking bad. The only reason you called me over here was to get money so you can go buy more drugs."

Gracie's smile is quick and sly. "Were you with a girl?"

I deny it instantly, trying to keep my cool. "No, I wasn't."

But she just raises an eyebrow, a knowing glint in her eye. "Yes, you were."

I feel my temper flare, trying to stay focused on the issue at hand. "Stop trying to change the fucking topic, Gracie. This is about your addiction, not my love life."

She goes to sit down on the very dirty couch and says, "You used to never keep your love life away from me. You used to tell me everything, you know."

I scoff, shaking my head. "Yeah, that was before you got kicked out, leaving me with those fucking monsters." But I'm not here to take a trip down memory lane, Gracie."