I woke up the next morning with a groan and a hand to my forehead. At first, I almost freaked when I couldn't recognize the bedroom I was in, but then realization slowly washed down on me so I relaxed a little.

Somehow, in the course of the night, someone had draped a blanket over me. The said blanket was currently bunched up at my waist due to the fact that I was sitting. The part of the bed where james was supposed to be was empty, the blanket there thrown aside in a manner that told me he'd been eager to leave the bed.

I ran my fingers through my hair and cursed under my breath. James'room was dark, as per usual. He'd never liked waking up to sun rays seeping in from the curtains.

Throwing aside the blanket so my side matched James' side, I rolled out of the familiar bed that had become foreign due to this strange emptiness I felt.

My phone, where was it?

I checked the bedside table and the dresser, then released a relieved breath when I found it under My pillow. I couldn't remember if I was the one who put it there though, but that was the least of my problems.

As it appeared, Kong probably thought I'd been kidnapped or missing because displayed across the screen of my phone was a single notification for all the seventy eight messages I'd gotten from him. And they all had a single vibe. Panic.

From: Kong

Why youwana lesvr niw?????

11:14pm

Aveey im soooooo super duper drunk af rn I love you btw u knw?

12:43am

I fought the urge to snort out a round of wild laughter at this. Log always went into text typing mode when he was drunk. Great to know he hadn't ditched me at the party.

Around this part was where the panic actually began. I had a feeling all these texts where from this morning even before checking the time I'd received them.

Are you okay?

Fuck, Avery! I'm so sorry. Call me when you see this

Where are you, Avery?

Wait. Are you dead?

Avery! Call me. I'm panicking here in case you haven't noticed.

Why's your phone not reachable?

Please don't be dead.

Yhup. I needed to get home before Kong out out a missing person report.

I tucked my phone away and car one final glance around the room. Normally, I'd have showered in James bathroom but I kinda wasn't on his good people list currently. He'd probably not like that very much.

So I settled for hurrying out the door. Hopefully, he was in some room far away from the back door, or even better. He'd gone out. I could only hope for either of those two.

It was almost painful how I was familiar with everything in James' apartment. On the walls hung different abstract paintings, the colours dancing in scattered harmony. James wasn't a really deep person but he liked delving into deep stuff. I could almost hear his voice through my mind's ears as he explained how each of the twisted paintings had their own definitions-beautiful ones that stood out and made them unique. I could almost see myself planting a kiss on his forehead and snuggling deeper into him and then making a joke about how he could get so deep at times. And if I listened carefully, I could almost hear his laughter in reply.

I knew I needed to get him out of my mind, and the first step to do that was getting away from this house. As far away as possible.

The kitchen led out to the back of the house through the backdoor. I knew this because, well, this house was a home to me once. Now all that remained were the haunting shadows.

"This is just you being a hypocrite."

I stopped in my tracks, just behind the kitchen door, when I heard James' voice.

Oh shit, he's in the kitchen.

My brain tried and failed to work fast. All I could think was how I was going to face another round of humiliation after last night. The only other way out was the front door and that was all the way across the living room, surely he'd spot me if I tried it.

"I'm being a hypocrite?" Unbelief hung thick in Pat's voice as she spoke, releasing a humorless laugh after. "All she's ever done is leave you miserable amd all I've done is support you up till this point. But I won't tolerate you letting her sleep over like she's done nothing at all!"

From the door, I could feel the tension between the siblings. We're they arguing about me?

"I didn't invite Avery over, Pat." Yes. Yes, they were. I heard the sound of metal hitting metal and then a sizzling noise. "Though since you're so bent on pointing fingers, why don't you tell me why you were all over Kong last night."

I heard Pat hesitate. For a moment, it felt like no one was breathing.

"I... We... That was a mistake-"

James cut her off, raising his voice. "A mistake?" He chuckled. "Didn't seem like one to me. So instead of poking your head in my business, why don't you figure out your shit and leave me the fuck alone."

"The only reason why I'm worried is because your my brother. And I don't want to see you like you were four months ago." Pat's voice was silent now, like someone on the verge of tears. I held my breath as my heart sped up.

Get out of here. Now!

I willed my legs to move, but oh how hard a task it proved to be. With an exhale, I took a heavy step back.

"I didn't ask for your pity," spat James.

Pat inhaled sharply and then I heard the sound of her footsteps approaching the door. Approaching me.

Oh no. No no-

The door swung open and she almost walked right into me. We both shrieked, but she was the one to recover first. When she did, she sneered and wiped the back of her hand against her tear stained cheeks. Her hair which was normally very put together looked nothing like normal. It stood out in some places and was all held up in one mess of a ponytail.

She held on tighter to the bag in her hand and stared me down through teary eyes while I prayed for the earth to swallow me whole.

Then in an eerily calm voice, she said, "I hope you're happy seeing what you've done to him. I hope it was all worth it."

How could I tell her that even I hoped so too?

Pat maneuvered around me, careful to not make any body contact as she walked away leaving the sounds of her footsteps behind. When I lifted up my gaze, it locked on to James'and my breath caught. I froze instantly while I let his gaze seemingly search my soul.

James frowned and returned to flipping the bacon strips he was making. My breathing came back.

"If you're done crossing your boundaries, feel free to leave now."

My mind was too frazzled to process much of what was going on, but at his words, I needed no other push. I hurried out of there like my butt was on fire.

Once I was out on the streets, I took in a deep breath and began walking home.