The Infamous Levi Privet

Eight.

I travel home for my parents funeral alone.

My mum's sister organises the whole thing. It's weird having all of the family come together. Half of my relatives I've never met or heard of. My parents lived very private lives and kept themselves quite separate from their siblings. I knew that they were all here and so willing to help because of what could potentially be waiting for them in the will.

Outside the church where the funeral was held, I was reminded of the harsh reality of my former life. Paparazzi swarmed the entrance, waiting for all the big names to arrive and cover the Privet's funeral. I was one of them.

The heartless vultures screamed questions at me, the bright flash of their cameras often throwing me unbalanced. Demanding where I've been, how I feel after the loss of my parents and whether or not I was sober.

I didn't give them anything, keeping my head down and focused on sending my parents off right.

I left for Blue Mountain the next day with Lindy.

I couldn't wait to escape the wrath of my dreaded old life.

-

I arrive back at Lindy's house and immediately dismiss myself back to my old bedroom. It's still an absolute bomb site from when I tried to run away, but that is not what I care about right now. I calmly close the bedroom door behind me, wishing there was a lock on it, and tiptoe my way over to the safe haven of my bed.

Underneath, I reach around for the familiar feeling of the box that contains the only thing I need right now.

I tear my jeans off and jump into the coziness of bed, a bottle of vodka secure in my hand. I tip my head back and close my eyes for the first swig. Letting the warm liquid run rapidly down my throat and fill my whole body with a sense of relief. I can now relax.

I quietly play some music from my phone, some old favourites that used to play in the background at mum and dads when I was younger. It's soothing.

As I drink, I let my thoughts drift toward the old memories of my parents. Happier times when work wasn't such a priority, they had time to spare and I wasn't a fuck up.

It's a notification on my phone that breaks me out of my trance. I glance down to the vodka, almost I've reached the ½ way mark. I find myself giggling at the feat and that is when I realise I am drunk.

"Oh no," I whisper to myself. "Oh yes!" I laugh.

I snatch at my phone and check my text messages. The phone is fuzzy at the sides, and I have to turn the brightness down so my eyes can adjust.

I scroll through my messages until I reach Jake's name. "Fuckwit," I curse allowed as I begin my message to him.

'Hey. Can I get you to drop off some gear? Thanks.'

I keep the message short, sweet and straight to the point. He's still and asshole.

He replies almost immediately.

'How much?'

'Just what you got'

'Cool be round in 10'

His responses to my messages show that he has no remorse for what he did. Leaving me alone in the forest in such a vulnerable state. Trying on me when I made it clear I did not want to. Prick.

I pull myself out of bed, teetering on the edge of tripping and falling out. My sense of space is shot and I bang into the corner of the bedside table. I muffle my pain, I can't disturb Lindy or Finn. Finn. Is Finn home?