lust for life • james cook - skins

13 - eve

I stare at my lap, my hands fidgeting with each other. My brother, Milo, is sitting beside me on the couch while my other brother, Charlie is making us tea.

Milo is playing with an empty bottle of vape juice, humming a tune under his breath.

I have Pandora's party later. I'm actually kind of excited, call me sad, but I'm looking forward to having one night where I don't come home half drunk from the night before. I want time away from the boys. I can't even look at Cook, it just hurts.

I don't know why I still even like him, he clearly has zero interest in me. Yet every time I close my eyes, that kiss we shared is replaying in my head. I know it didn't mean anything, he was on drugs, but it meant so much to me.

I'm nudged out of my thoughts by Milo.

He's staring at me. "Would you ever stop moping over that boy?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," I snort in response, avoiding eye contact.

Milo leans back on the sofa. "I don't know why you're so hung up on him. He's some barmy fucker. I wouldn't trust him around you. He'd only fuck you up."

"We're all fucked up as it is," I shrug. "Besides, I thought you liked him?"

"I do," Milo replies. "Just said he's fucking mad. He is, you can't deny that. Poor lad's gonna get himself killed someday."

"Piss off, Milo," I scoff. "You can't say shit about him, you've sold to him before, maybe you're responsible for why he's so fucked."

Milo jabs my side with his elbow. "Don't you dare fucking say that. I was just doing my job. Don't get all stroppy with me for simply looking out for you."

"I'm not, I-"

"The lad's a danger to himself, simple as," Milo interrupts me. "And I hate seeing you so hung up over someone like him. It's not healthy."

"Neither is that," I say, swiping the vape juice bottle out of his hand and putting it on the coffee table.

"Don't start that shit with me," Milo groans, running his hands through his hair. "You're no better. I had to look after you two nights ago when you came back absolutely fucked out of it."

He pauses. "On a school night, mind you."

I snort. "Like you were ever in school."

Charlie enters the room, balancing three mugs of tea in his hands. "Who was in school?"

"Milo wasn't," I smirk, reaching for a mug. "Thanks, Chaz."

"Yeah, no worries," Charlie hands the other mug to Milo and squashes himself beside me.

"Ta," Milo grunts, taking a sip of tea.

He pauses for a moment to swallow, then leans forward so he's facing Charlie. "You should've heard the cheek that came out of this girls mouth just a minute ago, Chaz."

Charlie exhales through his nose in amusement, his mug of tea held closely to his face. "Eve's been cheeky since she could speak."

I lightly shove Charlie in response, causing his tea to almost spill.

"Oi, be careful, you twat!" He exclaims, balancing his mug. "Could've scalded my knob."

"Sorry, you provoked me," I shrug, giggling.

"Evie has a party tonight," Milo mentions, stirring his tea with his finger. I look at him in disgust.

"You're filthy, Milo," I laugh, pulling his finger out of the mug.