Page 17

His head lolled to the side and his eyelids couldn’t stay open any longer. Thinking he was dead; I held my breath until I saw his chest moving. I leaned over to flick his nose. He groaned and scratched it as if there was an itch.

“Is he going to be okay?”

Josh glanced at him through the rearview mirror.

“He won’t be tomorrow.” He said. “Don’t worry about him. This happens all the time.”

Asher slouched against his side of the door, using his hands as a pillow. I stayed as close to my side as I could, not wanting to get involved in his drunken escapades. His head was right next to the stereo, and he was unconcerned.

I glanced out the window as Noah and Joshua made conversation. I’d never been skilled at small talk.

A slight breeze invaded the car, leaving me shivering in my thin sweater. I should have been more prepared. In the short time I’ve been here, I’d noticed the nighttime cold could be brutal.

It got worse as we stepped out of the truck and fell victim to the angry wind. Josh and Noah appeared rushed to go inside.

“Are we just going to leave him?” I asked.

Joshua raised his brow. I motioned to his passed-out twin in the backseat. Realization hit his face as he jogged over and opened the door. Asher fell out with a thud.

He jumped up, as if someone had electrocuted him. He squinted, unsure of his location or how he ended up there.

Josh sighed and folded his arms across his chest.

“Hurry, Asher.” He said. “Let’s go inside.”

He slipped from his daze and followed them. Unsure of my next move, I followed behind. Intoxicated teenagers filled the house, both upstairs and downstairs. Just like I’d seen in the movies.

“Are you okay?” Josh asked.

I thought my poker face was strong. He must have noticed my apprehension.

“I’m fine.”

That he believed. He reached out to grab my wrist and directed me through the obstacle of partiers. Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages cluttered the kitchen counter.

“What do you want?”

An abundance of choices confronted me, and I was unsure of what half of them even were. I reached for a can of Red Bull, opting to play it safe for the night. He reached for a few bottles and poured them into his red cup. It was an outrageous concoction.

A group of guys walked in and cheered as they noticed him and my brother. They high-fived and patted each other on the back, not caring that they were spilling their drinks everywhere.

My forehead felt hot as my heartbeat increased. The room appeared to be overcrowded. I needed air.

It took some time to find the way out, but once I stepped onto the backyard patio, relief washed over me. I would rather brace for the cold than the stuffy indoors. I wrapped my arms around myself and tried to rub the goosebumps away.

My nose scrunched at the smell of nicotine. The wind was blowing it straight into my face. I followed the smoke trail. Asher sat on the patio wall, gazing at the sparkling sky. I don’t think he noticed me. He had his gaze transfixed on an outlier star.

“It’s rude to stare.”

He may not have been looking, but he was aware of his surroundings.

“Sorry.”

That was all I could muster.

He took a deep inhale before squishing his cigarette against the wall. He dropped it to the ground.

“Smoking kills.” I said without thinking.