Intoxicated

Sixteen

Dave was no where to be seen when I entered the lobby.

I rushed out of the apartment and turned to where we had parked the car. He was just about to pull out of the spot when his eyes met mine.

I crossed the street.

"You shouldn't be here." Dave said through the open window.

"I'm not letting you go."

"Charlie was right. I'll only hurt you."

"Can we talk about this?" I asked, walking over to the passenger side. The door stayed locked.

"Are you serious?" I hissed, when he just stared at me through the window.

Dave gave me a long look before finally unlocking the door. I slid in beside him.

"What happened in there was not your fault." I began.

"Lyla, you don't have to defend me."

"My brother provoked you."

"He pushed-"

"Stop making excuses for me!" His outburst made me flinch and I subconsciously shrunk away and into my seat. Dave's lips pulled into a frown when I pulled back.

His grip on the steering wheel tightened and he leaned forward to rest his head where his hands were. I watched as he tried to slow his breathing.

Does she know you killed Jake? That's what my brother had asked.

"Who's Jake?"

Dave restarted the car and completely pulled out of the parking spot.

"You should go back and be with your family." Dave said instead even though he continued to drive away from the apartment.

"I'm staying. And you're ignoring the question."

"It's Thanksgiving." Dave argued, turning onto the main road while also completely disregarding my second point.

"Who's Jake?" I repeated.

Two could play at this game.

"You already know too much-"

"I think we've established that I already know too much. I think it's too late for me anyway. Tell me who Jake is. Tell me why my brother hit you."

Dave fixed me with a burning gaze when the traffic light went red.

"You know the guy."

"What guy?"

"When I first played the game, Zac told you about how we got trapped."

"About the other guy. About how we didn't really win."

"The one that fell." I recalled.

"Yeah. His name was Jake. He was apparently your brother's roommate."

My mind instantly pulled out a memory. Back to the club with Zac. Back to when I had tricked him into telling me more when Dave wouldn't.

"I don't think he really meant to, it all just happened so fast and when the kid kicked him again, Dave kicked him back and the kid lost his grip-" Zac had said.

I gulped, remembering my next words.

"He killed him."

An image of a blonde boy, freckles all over his nose, dark eyes and a wide smile came to mind. Jake. How had I forgotten? My brother's roommate and best friend since his freshmen year at UCLA. How had I forgotten his funeral? What had the reason been? Suicide?