Hearts of trouble (under development)

Words from a drunk

It was late, and the Matthews' house was quiet-except for the sounds coming from Cory's room. Shawn and Cory had somehow managed to get their hands on some alcohol and were indulging, laughing over inside jokes and memories. They were having a great time, but they were also louder than they realized.

Downstairs, Amy Matthews noticed the noise coming from Cory's room and immediately grew suspicious. She sighed, dialing a number she knew would get through to both boys: Lily's. Amy trusted Lily and knew she'd have the right approach to handle the situation.

Lily's phone rang, and she picked it up, surprised to see Amy's name on the screen. "Hey, Mrs. Matthews," she answered. "Is everything okay?"

Amy's voice was calm but firm. "Hi, Lily. Listen, could you do me a favor? I think Cory and Shawn are up to something in Cory's room. It sounds like they might be... experimenting with a little more than soda. Could you come by and talk some sense into them?"

Lily raised an eyebrow, a smirk forming. "Say no more, Mrs. Matthews. I'll be right over."

Within a few minutes, Lily arrived at the Matthews' house, climbing up to Cory's room as quietly as possible. She found the two boys, red-faced and giggling, leaning back on Cory's bed with half-empty cups in hand.

"Oh, wow," Lily said, crossing her arms and giving them a pointed look. "What's going on here, guys?"

Cory looked at her, eyes wide. "Lily! What're you doing here?"

Shawn tried to sit up, swaying a bit as he laughed. "Guess she came to join the party, Cory."

Lily rolled her eyes, walking over and grabbing the cups out of their hands. "Actually, I came here because Mrs. Matthews called me. She can hear you from downstairs, geniuses."

Both boys instantly sobered up a little, glancing nervously at each other.

"Wait... my mom knows?" Cory asked, suddenly looking worried.

Lily nodded, keeping a stern face. "Yep. And she's letting me handle it-for now. But if you don't quiet down, she's coming up here herself. And trust me, you don't want that."

Shawn rubbed the back of his head, giving Lily a sheepish grin. "Alright, alright... We're sorry. We just... wanted to unwind a little."

Lily sighed, her expression softening. She knew they'd been going through a lot lately. "Look, I get it. But maybe next time, find a way that doesn't involve waking up the whole house. Deal?"

The boys nodded, looking guilty but grateful. Lily couldn't help but laugh a little, ruffling Cory's hair before setting the cups aside. "Alright, let's get you two some water."

Lily stood in the Matthews' living room, hands on her hips, watching as Cory and Shawn sank into the couch, looking more like guilty kids than the rowdy teenagers they had been a few minutes ago. She had just finished a firm lecture on why drinking was not the best idea, especially in Cory's house where his parents could walk in at any moment.

But then, something shifted. Shawn, who had been sitting quietly with a frustrated look, suddenly spoke up, his voice sharp.

"Lily, just because your mom's a drinker doesn't mean we don't get to have fun," he snapped.

The room went silent. Cory's eyes darted back and forth between the two of them, his face a mix of shock and concern.

Lily's expression hardened as she stared at Shawn, hurt flickering in her eyes. "Excuse me?" she replied, her voice low and controlled. "You think I'm mad because I don't want you to have fun? This isn't about fun, Shawn. It's about making sure you don't end up like..." She trailed off, pressing her lips together.

Shawn rolled his eyes, clearly still annoyed. "You can't act like we're gonna end up like your mom just because we had a few drinks. You don't get to police what we do."

Lily took a deep breath, struggling to keep her composure. "You think I don't understand? You think I don't know what it's like to just want to escape for a little while? But I also know where it leads, Shawn. I've seen it firsthand."

The weight of her words hung heavy in the air. Shawn's anger flickered, replaced by a pang of guilt as he looked away.

Cory, sensing the tension, finally spoke up, his voice soft but steady. "Come on, guys. This is getting out of hand."

Lily sighed, her anger slowly melting into exhaustion. "Look, I just don't want to see you both go down a road you can't come back from. That's all."

The living room was still, the tension still lingering in the air as they all sat in an uncomfortable silence. Cory tried to stay neutral, hoping this would all blow over. But then, Shawn, still clearly under the influence, shot a bitter look at Lily.

"You know what, Lily?" he slurred, his voice filled with a mix of frustration and anger. "You're just some spoiled, rich girl. Your mom drinks off the money she didn't even earn, and your family's so messed up, it's got you dyeing your hair more times than anyone can count. Guess you're just trying to keep up with the rest of them, huh?"

Lily's face froze, the sting of Shawn's words hitting her like a punch. She tried to mask her hurt, but it was impossible to hide completely. Cory's mouth fell open, and he quickly looked at Shawn, as if to silently beg him to stop.

"Shawn, that's enough," Cory said, his voice firm.

But Shawn ignored him, his eyes locked on Lily with a mix of defiance and pain. "You think you can tell me what to do just because your family's got money? Doesn't mean you know anything about my life-or why I do what I do."

Lily felt her heart race, anger bubbling up alongside her hurt. "You think this is about money?" she said, her voice wavering. "I thought we were closer than that. But maybe I was wrong."

Shawn didn't respond immediately, a flicker of guilt crossing his face. But the alcohol-fueled frustration was still strong, and he looked away, not meeting her eyes.

Cory, trying to salvage the situation, reached out to Lily. "Lily, he didn't mean it. He's not himself right now."

Lily forced herself to take a deep breath, fighting the tears that threatened to fall. "Maybe that's true. But drunk or not, he chose to say it." She turned back to Shawn, her expression a mix of hurt and determination. "You know, for someone who feels misunderstood, you sure are quick to judge. Maybe look in the mirror before pointing fingers at other people's families."

With that, she turned and headed toward the door, her footsteps echoing as she left the Matthews' house. Shawn watched her go, his anger fading into regret as he realized the weight of what he'd just done.