Oh Brother

Madison

(Back to Normal time)

Grayson
What
The
Fuck?

They've both lost there minds.

The counter vibrates, I glance over and see Moms contact displayed over my phone screen.

"...Hey, Mom." I say through my teeth as I rub my forehead.

She never calls when she's at work. This can't be good.

"The neighbours called me at work. They said that they thought they were hearing smashing and yelling coming from the house? Wanted to know if everything's okay. Is everyone alright?" Mom speaks fast, sounding worried.

Shit!

What do I say.

"Oh...that?" I scoff, trying to play it off.

Come on Grayson.

"Ethan just dropped a plate before... and I uh got mad at him. Everyone's okay." I lie.

There's a quick gap in between the response, enough of a gal to think that she didn't buy it.

"Okay... be good. No more plate smashing!"

The conversation wraps up as I put the phone down.

I rub my eyes as I let out a groan.

The house is now silent, I head up the stairs as I walk over to Baileys room.

I stay as quiet as possible, as I shuffle closer to the door trying to listen for something.

I head back to my room, I open the door as Ethan sits at the foot of his bed with his head in his hands.

He stays the same as I walk in to the room.

"Dude... why?" I say softly.

He let's go of his head as he pushes against his knees to prop himself up.

He says nothing as he walks past me,

"E, where are you going?" I say louder, turning around to follow him.

"For a drive." He says, not a tinge of emotion in his voice.

"Can-do you want me to come?" I call after him,

"Do what you wanna do." He reply's

I could tell he didn't want me to go with him. But I was worried, so I did anyway.

•••••••

"Drugs? Your 'drive' was to go and get drugs?"

Ethan looks straight ahead, he taps his fingers on the steering wheel.

"Yeah." He answers, with a slight smirk on his face.

I flop back into my seat as I run my hands through my hair.

I clearly didn't know my own brother as well as I thought I did.

His car is parked on the side of the road, he hasn't turned it off yet, the aircon runs through the car as a radio station plays quietly in the background.

He takes a deep breath as he unbuckles his seat belt.

"Cmon bro, you don't have to do this." I say, I hear sympathy in my voice."

"Yeah..."

"Yeah I do. Stay in the car." He says, not looking at me once.

He gets out of the car, slamming the door behind him.

"Ethan... what are you doing?" I whisper to myself, watching my brother walk into a house across the street.

Next morning

Bailey

Next morning

I woke up early, after listening to see if the boys were awake, and not hearing there voices I quickly made my way downstairs. Mom leaves extra early on mondays so she had already left.

As I slide on my shoes from the front door I find myself looking at the kitchen.

When was the last time I ate? Holy shit!

Maybe I should eat something?

Stop it!

I make a deal with myself: if I skipped breakfast I would eat my lunch at school.

I grab some snacks as I stuff them into my school bag. I hear the upstairs door of the bathroom open.

Shit!

Whose up this early and why?

Fuck! Monday's are there football practice days.

I sprint out the door.

Grace
I've been throwing up since the party. Pretty sure I have alcoholic poisoning or something. I won't be at school today sorry.

Oh great.

••••

The day was moving slow. It was my second last lesson of the day.

Before lunch I saw Grayson in the hall. I looked at the ground as he purposely bumped into me.

I think Ethan left school after the football practice, that or he probably got sent home. When I had seen him in the cafeteria he just looked miserable.

"Partners of two! Not three, not four." The teachers voice yells, snapping me out of my thoughts.

With grace not being here I didn't know what to do. I could feel the anxiety rise. I pretended to look like I was doing work so he wouldn't try and pair me up.

I look up and see him staring at me

"Not one either. Partners, partners!"

I close my eyes. I straighten up again.

I look around, feeling more anxious and awkward by the second. Everyone was swarming into pairs and chatting.

I really hated this.

I made eye contact with a girl sitting behind me. We both gave each other a quick smile.

She grabbed her books and walked over to the spare seat next to me where Grace sits.

"Hey, wanna be partners?"

She had brown hair that came down to her shoulders, brown eyes, a face full of freckles and a really nice smile.

"Uh sure- yeah!." I reply, with a friendly smile.

"My names Maddison, by the way." She says as she pushes herself in with the chair.

"I'm Bailey."

20 minutes later

"Ok class. Time to pack up. The partners you chose today will be your partners for the assignment which is due next Monday." Mr Krane announces to the class.

Everyone starts packing up.

"I don't understand any of what we just learnt." I mumble to Madison.

She stands up from her seat and holds her books against her chest.

"I can help, if you want. We can also work on the assignment seeing as you're stuck with me as your partner." She laughs.

"Yeah! Do you wanna come over Friday, maybe?" I say casually.

"Sure." She smiles.