Sick Little Games (Zack Merrick)

• Brother Issues •

{ t w e n t y f o u r }

A few hours have passed and we are all more than higher, higher than the clouds, higher than...birds? A giggle left my lips and I fell sideways into Zack. I felt his arm go around my waist as I snuggled a little more into him.

I don't even know how late it is right now, my phone hasn't gone off though so my mom can't be worried yet.

Everyone was keeping the conversation going, and I felt my eyes growing heavy as I didn't talk to them, feeling the drug hit me harder than last time.

"Drugs are bad." I whispered to myself, giggling.

"Yes, they are." I looked up as Zack whispered back, and in my drug-induced state I didn't find it weird that our noses bumped together or that our lips were millimetres apart, everything just seemed funny. Zacks face lit up with a smile as I giggled. "You're cute, Jess." It just made me giggle again.

I went into my own droopy world again, my body going further into Zacks and my eyelids feeling heavier and heavier. This jacket is so soft. I want to feel it.

My hand found it's way to the smooth material and I pressed myself further into it.

"What're you doing?" I think Zack asked me. I just hummed. "Jess, you're in my lap with your hands in my pockets." I hummed again, feeling the smooth material again.

I could feel myself slipping out of consciousness.

"Hey! Look who it is!" The shout didn't bother me too much, but it spiked my attention to hear Mariah's loud voice shouting out to someone.

"Hey, Barakat!" I lifted my head up so immediately that the beach started spinning around me. Jack? My eyes scanned everything they could in this state and my eyes caught sight of his familiar blurry hair.

"What are you doing out, Barakat? Why don't you come sit with us?" Oli shouted at him and I saw his gaze turn to me before he turned away. "Oi, dickhead! Don't fucking ignore me!"

Everything was so blurry and my head was spinning badly. I really need sleep right now but I couldn't help but worry. There's a reason Jack hates this group of people, and maybe I'm just about to find out why.

I couldn't comprehend that Oli and Jenna had even stood up before they were walking towards him.

"Wait," I cough, finding my voice after whispering for so long, "what's happening?" I realised I was still sat in Zack and attempted to pick myself up. I have a bad feeling about this entire situation.

Why are they going towards him?

Why isn't he running away?

"Hey, where'd you go?" I think Zack tried to call me back, him being just as bad as me with the drugs. Everything is so blurry and fuzzy.

I looked back out to where Oli and Jenna were going towards Jack but I couldn't see them. I panicked for a second but them I could hear Oli's voice behind me. They were back with the group?

When did I get away from the group?

I stumbled back over to them and Jacks eyes didn't leave me. I could literally feel his worry radiating onto my body. He was stood a large amount of distance away from the group, and I sat next to Zack again, this time on the side closest to where Jack was.

"Why don't you sit down?" Jenna asked Jack. He started to shake his head and he glanced at me before looking back towards the direction of our house. "Sit down!" She shouted at him and he bit his lip, sliding his feet along the sand before sitting on top of them.

I didn't think too much about the weird position.

"We heard about your fag friend getting arrested last night." Lisa stated simply, smiling easily as if the awkward tension didn't get to her. I immediately felt uncomfortable again, and I knew I was sobering up as I saw Vic go stiff from the corner of my eye.

"Zack." I nudged him. He hummed and leant his head on my shoulder. He's so out of it right now.

"So, do you wanna get arrested tonight Barakat?" Oli asked him with some sort of grin. It wasn't friendly.

"Actually," Jack started quietly, "I have to go..." He glanced at me again and at that point Lisa and Jenna stood up, seeming to join forces. They both looked towards me with a curious glance.

"Why'd you keep looking at Justice?" Lisa asked him. "You got a crush?" She smirked at Jack and turned to me, laughing like it was funny. She saw I wasn't laughing. She scoffed and turned back to Jack.

"Answer her!" Jenna kicked him in the leg and he didn't even flinch. I, however, did. I was up so fast that it caught everyone's attention, even Zack half got up, scanning me up and down like he was worried I was hurt.

I thought I was confident but as soon as all the eyes were in me it faded as fast as it came. "Don't kick him." I told them calmly, feeling too awkward to sit back down.

Jenna repeated her action twice as hard, looking me right in the eye.

"Why not?" I was at a bypass. I don't know what I can do right now. How do I get him out of this situation? I can't just sit here and let them do whatever they're doing.

How could he not tell me they were like this? I mean I've seen it, but now they're doing it to jack...it's different.

"Get up." I told my brother, making my own decision to do something before it got out of hand.

"Don't J," Jack told me quietly but Lisa picked up on it and smirked at me and them Zack.

"Cute nickname. So you guys are dating?" She looked right to me and then Zack, "that's a real shame." She laughed afterwards as Zacks face confusedly went to me.

"Get up." I told Jack agin, just wanting to get him out of here. He actually listened to me this time, using his feet to push himself off of the sand and stumble further away from the group.

I didn't look at any of them as I motioned for him to follow me.

"What are you doing Justice?" Mariah asked me quietly but I ignored her too. It was different wen I was watching all the bad things they did, but they were going to do something to my brother?

"Leaving." I told her simply without turning around, setting a slow enough pace for Jack to fall into step next to me.

So much for a nice group of friends. I wish I didn't turn back, but I couldn't help but glance at Zack before I left, seeing his eyes following my every move.