To Our Pinky Promises

Chapter 8

My keys jingled as I unlocked the front door to my house and pushed it open.

"Lily? I'm home!" I shouted into the quiet house, my voice echoing.

My parents were away for the week, we don't really see them often since they move around a lot for work.

I've pretty much been living alone with my sister but she was your typical party girl. When we're standing side by side, you could just tell which one of us was the social butterfly.

When I didn't hear any response, I fished my phone out of my pocket and dialed her number.

She picked up after the third ring.

"Hey sister," she drawled out.

I scrunched up my nose at the slur in her voice, "Where are you?"

"At Brooke's." She giggled.

I drew the phone away from my ear to check the time before bringing it back to my ear. "Lily, it's only 6," I sighed.

I wasn't even surprised that she was drunk, or high. Ever since we were kids, we all knew she was the wild child and I would always be the one worrying about being held responsible for the trouble she stirs up.

I end up being on the receiving end of what you would call the "collateral damage".

"You know I don't mind you going to parties," I started, looking up to the ceiling of the empty house, thinking, 'because that would be super hypocritical of me.'

"But drunk at 6 p.m.?" I shook my head at her.

"The earlier I start, the earlier I'll finish, am I right or am I right?" She sassed.

I snorted and rolled my eyes. "Yeah, 4 a.m. early."

My little sister giggled some more. "You know it."

"Whose party is it this time?" I asked for future reference in case she's not home by morning.

"Joshua's." She answered. I nodded even though she can't see me. I know Joshua, he's in the soccer team.

I shook my head at the shithead. "Just stay safe. Call me if you need anything."

"Of course, sissy!" She squealed. "You're the best! Love ya! I'll see you in the morning!"

I sighed when she hung up the phone, leaving me to pray for her soul.

God, don't let shit happen to her. Otherwise, might as well kill me off too before my parents get their hands on me.

I climbed up the stairs to the second floor where my room was. The master bedroom, my parents' room, was on the first floor while my sister's and mine were on the second floor. Luckily, the house was medium-sized so on days like this, it didn't feel as empty and lonely as a big house would have made me feel.

I entered my room, dropped my bag by the foot of my bed and grabbed a fresh set of clothes to change into before taking a quick shower.

After my shower, I walked back to my bed. I sat on the bed and took one look at my school bag. A flood of thoughts on the amount of assignments I had to finish rushed back to me and I instantly went, "Nope."

I laid my back onto the bed and made myself comfortable. It didn't take much for me to fall asleep and before I knew it, I was waking up to the vibrations of my phone.

I felt around my bedside table for my phone and brought it near my face once I found it. I squinted through the darkness to see my sister's name.

I swiped my finger across the screen and brought the phone to my ear.