Up At Night

12

"Hey, Tristan." I said. "Hey, Lauren." He said as I got into the car. "How was your day?" He asked. "It was great. Happy." I said. "Happy, huh?" he asked and I nodded. "I'm gonna go to the skatepark. Do you want me to drop you off home or do you want to tag along?" He asked. "I'd love to go, but I'm exhausted as hell." I said. "You've been boning around all day yesterday." he said. "Mr. Baccanello held me back for a test." I said. "Mr. Baccanello." he said as he drove out of school parking lot. "I'm going home." I said. "Okay." he said.

"Thanks, T. See you tonight." I said as I got out of his truck. "Alright." he said and I got inside the house. I took off my shoes and went to the kitchen. "No greetings?" a voice said as I opened the fridge to get a drink. I looked up and it was someone who I never thought would be here. "Mom?" I questioned. Mom lives in the other side of town considering my parents are divorced. That's all. "Lauren." she said and we hugged. Nothing. No connection for me. "Does dad know you're here?" I asked. "He does." she said. "It's been 5 years, mom. You suddenly show up?" I asked. "I wanted to visit." she said and I walked back a little. "Why didn't you visit 4 years ago? Or 2 years ago? You basically disappeared for the past 5 years. I spent 5 years of christmas, easter and thanksgiving with my best friend. I wish I can spend it with my own family. But it just never happened. Dad was never there for it. And you--" I got cut off by her. "I didn't disappear, Lauren." she said. "If you didn't, where the hell were you?" I asked. "I was working." she said. "Working huh? Working doesn't take 5 years mom. Working on what?" I asked. "To make our family together." she said. "That's not it, mom. I don't want to argue. I'm already exhausted." I said and grabbed my backpack before going upstairs to my room. I opened my laptop and just browse through tumblr.

*ring*

My phone started ringing and I checked who was calling me. Bailey. I know what she wants. I picked it up.

L - Winston.

B - Yo, Lauren. I'm bored, can you come over?

L - Why can't you come over?

B - Laurennnn...

L - I'll come over. I swear if you're kidnapping me I will kick your ass.

B - Please just come over.

L - I was just gonna take a nap.... Why?

B - LAUREN ROSE WINSTON JUST COME OVER YOU BLOODY IDIOT.

L - Okay.... Seesh. I'll be there in 15.

B - Alright. See ya.

I hung up and got up to change into something simple. I went downstairs and before I had a chance to go to the garage to take my bicycle, my mom stopped me. "Where are you going?" she asked. "Bailey's house." I said. "Anderson?" she asked and I nodded. "I thought you were the one who said you want the family to be together." she said. "I might be back before 8." I lied and went to the garage. I rode the bicycle to Bailey's house and I got in the house without knocking. Bailey's dad always told me that I'm welcome here anytime. "Hey Andersons." I said. "Hey, Lauren." It was Bailey's dad. "Bailey's upstairs, right?" I asked and he nodded. I went upstairs to Bailey's room and the door wasn't locked so I just went in. When I opened the door, I realized there was clothes on the floor. "Bailey?" I questioned and Bailey appeared from her closet. "Lauren. You're here." she said. "Ya. I know. What do you need?" I asked. "I need your help picking out clothes." she said. "You don't ask someone like me that." I said. "It's for a party tonight. You going?" she asked. "What party?" I asked. "Oh... You don't know. Everyone's from school is invited. Greg Reynolds is throwing a party before graduation." she said. "I'm still recovering from the burns, Bail. I don't know if I wanna go." I said. "Come on. It'll be fun. It's also friday night, Lauren." she said. "I don't want to get caught for underage drinking either, Bailey." I said. "You no fun." she said and keeps going through her clothes.

A party sounds a little good. I haven't gone into one since the night Olivia and I kissed. "Alright. I'll go to the party." I said and Bailey turned to look at me. At this point, she was wearing a tight red dress. "You're going with that?" she asked. "Yeah. It's leather jacket and jeans." I said. "Okay. Whatever you like." she said. "Who's picking us up?" I asked. "Branden." she said. "Greg's brother? Your boyfriend?" I asked and she nodded. "Wow." I said. "Why?" she asked. "I didn't know you guys were still a thing." I said. "Well we are." she said. "Bailey! Branden is here!" Bailey's dad yelled from downstairs. Bailey took her purse and we both went downstairs. "Hey, B- Lauren?" Branden said. "Hey, Branden." I said. I knew Branden. Branden is a graduated student. He's a year above Bailey and I. "You're going with us?" he asked. "Yeah." I said. "Let's go." Bailey said and we got into Branden's car. "How are you, Lauren?" Branden asked. "I'm good." I said. "I heard about the church fire. I saw you in the newspaper." he said. "It was crazy." I said. "Seems like it." he said.

We arrived at Greg's house--more like mansion few minutes later and there was already many people. It's only 6 am, but the party was definitely starting. "Bailey!" a guy said and we got in. "Lauren Winston. Never thought I'll see you here." Greg said. "You'll never know, Greg." I said. "Do you want any drinks?" he asked. "A beer is fine for me." I said and he grabbed a can of beer from the cooler. "Thanks." I said. "So, what made you appear?" he asked. "Bailey told me to." I said and took a sip of the beer. Man, it's been long since I've drank anything alcoholic. "Okay." he said.

[Couple hours later]

At this point, I'm wasted. Like hell. Haven't seen Olivia anywhere, though. Maybe, I don't know. Maybe I've seen her. This place is huge. "Lauren. Your turn." Bailey said. She was wasted too. We're playing drinking games for sure. She gave me the ping pong balls and I threw them to the cups. One got in. "Chug, chug, chug!" everyone chanted and I finished the beer in the solo cup quickly. A hand grabbed my shoulder and I turned. It was Olivia. "Hey." I said. "Lauren." she said. "Yeah?" I asked. "You bet--" she got cut off by someone storming into the house. "LAPD! HANDS UP!" it was the cops. Shit. I just put my hands up and a police officer came into my way. He cuffed my hands as well as some others. Others managed to escape, but I have nothing better to do. He took me to the police car and that was the last thing I remembered.

[Next morning]

I woke up in a hard ground with a really bad headache and I realized where I am. "Sir... Please take me out." I said and grabbed onto the bars. "Soon." the guard said. "I don't want my dad to know." I said. "Lauren Winston, right?" he asked. "Yeah. That's me." I said. "Your dad, Alex Winston?" he asked. "Alex is my dad, yeah." I said. "Take her out, Ben." another guard said and the guard opened the doors. "Your dad is a friend of mine, well used to. I disappear from him a long time ago." He said while escorting me out. Tristan was there. "I'm sorry, Tristan." I said. "Thanks, officer." Tristan said and we both walked out. "Dad's pissed, Lauren." He said. "I know." I said and got into his truck. "Why the hell did you drink, Laur?!?" He asked breaking the silence. "Tristan... I didn't mean to." I said. "You didn't mean to, that's all I hear from you!" He snapped. "I'm sorry, Okay?! I didn't want to go to the party, but I did." I said. "I'm just worried, Lauren. You're turning 19 soon and I don't want anything to happen to you. I don't want you to get kicked out like Jack did. You're my baby sister, Laur." He said. "I know I'm turning 19 soon. That's why I wanted to do the hell I want." I said and got out of his truck as soon as he pulled over in our front yard.

"LAUREN ROSE WINSTON! GET YOUR ASS HERE RIGHT NOW!"

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A/N "Just promise me, you'll always be, a friend, 'cause you are the only one." - Ed Sheeran. That lyric is the only thing that I can describe my feelings right now. I am sad. I want to kill myself. I always wanted to. I never had a chance to. I want to. I never had a chance to. I hate myself. I hate life. Life hates me.