The Fuentes Family: Yasmin

14

"Who even are you?"

"Her friend."

"Her friend? Did you do anything to her? Man, I swear if you gave her somethin-"

"Why would I have called your number if I had?"

I feel arms wrap around me and i'm lifted up into the air, feeling like i'm floating, but then I'm put down onto something comfy, like a mattress or something.

"Why did you give her this? She's not supposed to drink, especially not with a stranger."

I open my eyes slowly, seeing through the gap two figures. One is familiar to me – Jace.

"I don't know who you think you're talking to-" The other says, his voice harsh that I worry he might hurt Jace. "But you better just get the fuck out of here if you know what's good for you."

"Or what?"

"Jace," I manage to say then close my eyes again.

"I'm here, Yas. I'm gonna take you home."

His soft voice brings me so much comfort that I let myself relax and know that i'm safe.

A door closes and an engine starts, then I hear Jace talking again.

"Santiago – is your Mom home?.. I have Yasmin, I'm bringing her... I'll explain when I get there."

+++

I have a million questions. First of all, how the fuck did I get in my room?

"Morning, sunshine."

I look to my left, finding Alex sat on my bed.

"Or goodnight. It's three a.m. Took you a while to wake up."

"What happened?" I rub my heavy eyes.

"You got totally smashed in the middle of the day with a random guy, passed out and random guy called Jace."

And in that moment, I'm hit with all my my memories from today.

"This is why you go to alcohol therapy, but you got drunk straight after it. You're scaring the shit out of Mom, you know that don't you?"

I cover my face with my hands as I feel my eyes burn and all I want to do is be alone and cry. "I know I fucked up. Please just leave me alone."

There is movement on my bed and when Alex puts his arms around me, I open my eyes again and see him lying down. He surprises me by just holding me in silence, his thumb stroking the back of my head.

"Why aren't you yelling at me?"

"Because i'm not that bad a person. And getting mad at you only seems to make you do more crazy shit."

"I don't mean for this to happen."

"Just go to sleep."

I close my eyes again but it's impossible to sleep when my body feels like it's on a roundabout. Instead I just lay there and think about everything. Having Alex being nice to me again, I realise how much I hate fighting with him and Mom. I don't want to be like that anymore.

When I wake up, Alex is still asleep next to me with an arm over his face. I smile at the fact that he slept here.

Getting into a sitting position, I rub my temples and feel the need to scream because of how horrible I feel. I feel the need to be sick but my stomach feels empty as if I've already puked everything up.

Alex moves and opens his eyes. "Gosh, you're a light sleeper," I say.

"Ready to be lectured?"

"Good morning to you too."