PEACH PIT :: ETHAN DOLAN

SIX

Ethan collapses on his bed with a deep sigh, finally able to hear himself think. The voices and music downstairs were still prominent, but muffled compared to his thoughts now. The moment alone might not be so good for him either—his phone goes off, and he hopes it's someone saying they'll come join (distract) him.

Grayson: I'm good bro
Grayson: lotta people here but it's cool
Grayson: idk where the hell the girls went though

It's not, evidently.

With a groan, he sits up against his headboard and pouts to himself. His mind was on both of them, again.

The alcohol definitely wasn't helping him keep his mind on other things, nor was all the time spent with them in the few short days since he arrived home. Despite that, he wasn't in constant pain. The peach in his chest that rotted away last year, leaving behind just a pit, was starting to grow anew. Unfortunately, that could not be done overnight.

Ethan could only hope being around them wasn't stunting its growth. If it was, he wouldn't notice until it was too late.

His brooding is interrupted by the two giggling girls stumbling through his bedroom door, which he can't decide to be grateful for or not. They've got deep pink cheeks from the heat and the alcohol they've consumed, and messy hair pulled back. Their arms are linked to keep each other steady, plopping themselves right onto his carpet on the floor after making sure the door is locked.

Alondra takes a big sip of her drink, patting the spot between them for Ethan to come join the circle. He obliges, grabbing his own drink.

"I got rid of Scott," he mumbles, clearing his throat. "Too many fuckin' people here."

"Thanks— but it's not that bad, you just haven't seen this many people in months," Phoenix snorts, almost spilling her cup on his floor. "I think—I drank too much. You're blurry."

"Yeah I... thought you didn't like drinking?" Ethan asks slowly, seeing her shrug. Phoenix started allowing herself to drink on occasion, after she stopped obsessing so much over calories. It still scared her but being drunk kind of made those worries fuzzy.

Alondra grins, holding up the bottles she brought with her that Ethan only just now noticed. A bottle of apple juice, and half a bottle of vodka. Not the most popular combination, but one of her personal favorites.

"Refills?"

"Lon, we're gonna be so hungover in the morning," Phoenix sighs. She accepts a refill anyhow.

"Let's play 21 questions!" Alondra suggests, the apples of her cheeks a perfect red and prominent with her smile. Her fingers tuck back a few stray strands of hair, eyes sparkling with the excitement of even such a basic suggestion.

Ethan raises an eyebrow, or at least he tries, but mostly ends up squinting. "You just wanna interrogate me. I know this trick."

"Yep. But you can go first, E."

He rolls his eyes, but agrees to play nonetheless. "Best sex you've ever had? With who?"

"Oh, easy—you."

Alondra's words make a goofy grin appear on his face, chest swelling with pride. Phoenix pouts, "I've only slept with you. This is unfair."

"Yeah, what, like a couple hundred times? Don't act like we didn't have fun, Nix."

This conversation would not be happening if they were sober. In fact, they'd probably all cringe at the memory in the morning, but right now it was making them all giggle. The more they heard each other laugh, the more they laughed themselves.