Boy Next Door: A Kio Cyr Story

2- Off Limits

The next morning you wake up from where you'd passed out on the couch. You could feel someone's hardened chest underneath your drooly lips and you took a deep breath praying it wasn't Anthony.

Worse...

It was Kio. He stretched awake and smiled down at you as you sat up feeling the reeling hangover hit. You were sitting next to each other awkwardly while you looked around the living room littered with passed out bodies and empty solo cups. Thank God Riley and Avani were nowhere to be found. They got pissed anytime any girl came near their brother no matter how innocent it was.

Amelie walked over with a glass of water and an ibuprofen bottle and handed you each 2 pain relievers. You chugged some of the water and downed the pills and then handed the bottle to Kio. Amelie pulled you up and as soon as you were out of earshot, said:
"Be glad I found you and not Ry or Vani."

You: "What? Kio? Oh God, no. We literally just passed out that way in a group of people it was nothing."

You and the girls were cleaning up with Anthony, Blake, and Kio's help. Their parents wouldn't be home for hours so there was plenty of time, but you were all hoping if you cleaned loud enough then the few people still passed out would wake up and go home.

Your phone rang and as soon as you saw the name, a wave of dread washed over you. It was your dad. There was no way he knew you guys had thrown a party or he'd have already called the other parents, but he was always mad about something. As soon as you answered, he was screaming into the phone so loud that you excused yourself:
"Where the hell are you? I said you could spend the night Friday and Saturday, but this is Sunday!"

You: "I know dad. It's only 11am. We just got up but I was going to head home soon."

Dad: "Good, hurry your ass up. I expect you to get the house cleaned before dinner and I left a list for you to grocery shop too."

You: "I actually have a bit of homework-"

Dad: "Your work around this house comes first!"

He hung up and you shrunk down to the floor feeling so defeated. Ever since your Mom left when you were 9, your dad relied on you to do everything around the house. Even cleaning up messes you didn't make. He had started drinking heavier the last few years and when you woke up there was almost always a mess he'd made when he was drunk and not able to focus on what he was doing. You hated coming home to those messes when you stayed with your best friends, but it was better than being there and getting in a fight that usually ended up with him calling you horrible names.

Your phone vibrated and you checked to find a message from your dad.

You couldn't help but tear up. It was so frustrating and no one, not even your best friends knew just how bad it was at home. All they know is about 2 years ago you went from being a sweet, goodie goodie like Amelie to a wild child who slept around and partied way too hard. If only anyone could see it was all just a cry for help. That and a way to prove to your dad that you were capable of being as bad as he always accused you of being.

You slammed your phone down on the floor and buried your face against your knees and yelled a muffled yell into your jeans.

Kio: "Hey, you good?"

You jumped as he startled you and wiped your eyes because one of your most basic rules was never letting anyone see you cry. He came and sat next to you and stayed silent while he played with the strings from the hole in your jeans just above your knee. You never understood how, but he was always able to calm you down with just a touch.

You: "It was my dad. I have to get home but I'm really REALLY dreading it."

Kio: "Want me to drive you?"

You: "Nah, I brought my car. Besides I don't know who'd be madder if you did, my dad or your sisters."