Young Collective - Cole Sprouse

Chapter six

I kissed him. No, he kissed me. Cole kissed me. We kissed each other. Kissing. Kiss. What is kissing.
I stare down at my cardboard box. Inside the box is a pile of finely seasoned noodles and bits of chicken, lemongrass, cashew nuts and egg floating around. This is one of the best dishes in the world. I haven't eaten any yet. I'm waiting to eat at home. Cole said he was too impatient and is eating now. He got the same as me. Pad Thai. He likes Thai, I like Thai. It's all very swell.

"So are you coming tomorrow?" I try and address the elephant in the room.

"Nope-" he finishes his mouthful, but takes another mid sentence, "Dylan and I were going to continue the shoot but Julian's pretty happy with it." He swallows.

"Okay." I say, barely audible.

There's a pause for remainder of the drive and I park in the driveway of the house. Eager to eat. I open my door, take out the keys, grab my box, grab my purse, close the door, wait for Cole and lock the car. I walk up the three stairs to the door and unlock it, Cole on my ankles. I turn the light on when I get inside and the dusty living room lights up.

"Was something wrong before?" Cole says as he sits down on the couch, still eating.

"Huh?"

"At the party."

"Uh..." I grab out a metal fork because the plastic ones always break. I waltz into the bathroom where I stashed my pyjamas. I slip on my tracksuit pants... "I um..." I take off my dress and quickly pull my long sleeve over my chest. Cole turns around to look at me just as it comes over... "it's my brother." I walk over to the couch and grab a blanket on the way. Slide down next to him and wrap myself in the fabric. Cole tucks himself under as well and turns to me.

"You don't have to talk about it." He twists his pasta on the end of his plastic fork.

"No. It's fine." I pause. "My brother is an alcoholic. He- uh, he had a relapse yesterday and has been admitted to rehab for 18 months." I start eating my pasta but suddenly I'm not hungry and the food tastes plain.

"That's really shitty. I'm sorry that, you have to deal with that." He fumbles not knowing what to say.

"I just want him to get better. But then again I don't want to live in his New York apartment alone. So I don't know if I'll even go back." I slurp some noodles up. Cole looks up at me frowning. "Just sort of puts me off track."

"Where will you stay?" He says.

"Here I guess." I mutter.

"Oh, okay." He starts eating bigger mouthfuls.

"Wanna watch something?" I ask grabbing the remote.

"Sure!" He turns towards the tv. I try turning it on, but the old brick won't work. I keep trying and after too many attempts, give up.

"Here." Cole takes it. Still doesn't turn on.

"Okay so. We could play a drinking game?" I smirk. Cole hasn't mentioned going home yet and he did kiss me. I try to push my luck and decide to get up and grab the two bourbon bottles in the cupboard.

"I'm ready." He jumps up and walks over to the kitchen counter. The temperature in the house starts going up. I think the heaters are stuffing up again.

"Okay so." I slam the bottles of bourbon on the table. "We'll start off easy-" I look through my phone at my songs and the first one I find is Swimming Pools by Kendrick Lamar. I turn to Cole and ask him if he knows it well enough. He nods. "Every time they say drank, we drink." I smile and giggle, already knowing how drunk I'm going to get. I place one of the bottle in front of him.