Pulling Reeds

You know how he gets...

Luke knocks on my door at eight and together we sneak back down to the first floor and sneak out the window in the dining room. 

'The house isn't far from here so we can walk,' he informs me as he shows me a way to sneak out past the iron gate: there's a whole in the bush that you can only see when you push it back. He's wearing jeans and a t-shirt, his black hair in a quiff and slightly messy. 

'Do the other's go to parties?' I ask, pushing my body through the bush, my converse catching against a twig. 

'Cason does, sometimes, but Olivia doesn't really like it.' Luke rolls his eyes. 

'And he does everything Olivia says?' I remark and he laughs. We make for the pavement and make a right. 

Luke's still a lot taller than me, but it's nice to have someone to sneak out with. School was horrible. Josie and I ate together in the corner because it seems as if she doesn't have many friends. Will waved me over to his and Cason's table, but it was too loud and preppy for my taste. 

I'm a bit worried because of my tag, because I know it has a curfew of 11, but I'm not really bothered about that right now. 

'So, you have any brothers or sisters?' Luke asks. 

I nod, 'yeah, one sister. Her name is Hailey.' 

'Is she with your mom or dad now?' He says and I shake my head. I told him I just have a sister. I don't want to mention Colton because he isn't a part of my family. 

'No, she's with a long lost aunt or something,' I lie and we both turn into a house that is thumping with music. I grin. 

'Yeah, I have a sister, too.' 

I turn to him, shocked. 'You do?' I assumed that because he was adopted by the Reed family he didn't have any other relations. 

Luke looks pained but covers it quickly. 'Yeah, she's older than me, however she can't look after me.' 

I drop the subject as we walk in. He shows me to the kitchen and pours me a beer in a red plastic cup. 'I'll introduce to my friends. They're not to the Reed's standard, so you'll love them.' 

I laugh and nod and he shows me to a crowd of mostly boys and a couple of girls in the basement. I recognise a few of them from some of my classes. 'Guys, this is Clara. I'm pretty sure you'll like her. She's living with my family at the moment.' 

One of the guys sitting on the floor near a twister man looks me up and down. 'Why is she living with you?' 

'I've been to juvy one too many times.' I smirk at him and he stands up and clinks his plastic cup towards mine. 

'Amen to that!' He leads me to a couch and we sit down together. 'So, your name is Clara?'

'Yep,' I nod, 'and yours is?' 

'Sam.'

I sit closer than him, leaning in. 'Hello, Sam.' 

'Your accent is amazing. You're British.' 

'How very observant of you,' I remark sarcastically. I chug the rest of my beer. Luke's talking to a girl wearing a short mini skirt and I kind of feel underdressed. I didn't pack for parties since I don't have many clothes. I'm wearing a black tank, leggings and my leather jacket. I pinned my hair into a ponytail and added some eyeliner. 

'So, what did you do to get put here, exactly?' 

'Lot's of things, they all built up into one,' I brag, knowing he is intrigued at my rebellious side. We continue to talk and he whispers into my ear a couple of times as he tells me his endevours against the law. Our drinks seem to magically refill themselves and I let loose.