I woke up slowly, my eyes stung, feeling swollen and sore. I sat up in the bed all traces of memory of how I got here vanishing, I yawned and stretched out my arms feeling yesterday's heaviness hit me all over again as I recalled Lily being a spiteful asshole.

I suddenly realized I'm in Vic's bed, I glanced around wondering where the hell he was, the jeans I wore the day before dug into the crease at the back of my legs. I faintly heard someone snore, a quiet, muffled sound. I canted my head to the side and listened carefully. I heard it again, I kneel up on the bed so I can see the floor and there he is, curled up in a ball on the cold floor, slightly shivering and snoring.

My heart melted.

I rubbed my eyes once more and got off of the bed, dragging the big thick blanket with me, I carefully laid it over his body, he didn't stir one bit, he was motionless, in a deep slumber and I hoped he was dreaming about something sweet. I grabbed the pillows from the bed and made my way back to him, kneeling next to his head I lifted it gently and laid the pillows underneath. He snuggled into the pillow as if he could sense that he'd all of a sudden become more comfortable, I crawled around him and settled behind him, wrapping my arms around his waist.

A silent way of me showing I'd do exactly the same for him as he did for me last night. Just held me until everything was okay again. I slowly began to drift off back to sleep.

-Mike's POV-

I woke up a little disorientated and confused. What happened last night? I remembered being at a bar, someone had rolled me a joint, I'd refused.

"No man, no, I don't do that shit." I shook my head, it was hard to hear me over the live band murdering a good Rolling Stones song but I think he heard me.

"Come awn. What are we, in preschool? It won't hurt" his New York accent was strong as he shoved the joint closer to my face, I shook my head again.

"Nah, man, I'm good, but sure you smoke up" I shrugged and he smiled.

"I know you're dyin' to try it, just one puff, one puff yeah?" I finally gave in and snatched the joint from his hand, I put it between my lips and lit it like I would a cigarette. The taste was foul but I was a little too numb to care, I still saw Leda screaming, petrified in my head, the way she tenses every time I touch her. I felt exhausted and defeated and somehow the joint was making all of that disappear.

"I can get you as many pretty ladies as you like, too" he said, bigging his social status up. As if on cue three girls walked up to him, one wrapped an arm around his one shoulder, another wrapped an arm around the other shoulder and the third one just stood there looking awkward and cheap yet rather pretty.

"Um, no, I have a girlfriend" I shrugged, proud of myself. The guy looked at me like I'd just jumped into speaking fluent French in the middle of a sentence or something.

"So?" He said with a chuckle.

"So I'm not interested in your..." I did air quotes "...ladies, okay" I rolled my eyes.

"You're missing out dude but hey your lawss, like I care" he turned his attention to the girls "Come awn, lets go party" a smirk crossed all of their faces, hinting at the fact that 'party' was more extravagant than the average human would think. Before they left the guy turned to me and said

"Here, take this" he passed me one pre-rolled joint and patted my shoulder, I looked at him dumbfounded. "Enjoy that, then go back to your girlfriend" for a second I mistook his words for friendliness, until he said "You don't belawng here anyway" his smile turned slightly disgusted and he turned and left.

I barged my way through the crowd that had formed on the dance floor, some girl began grinding her ass on my crotch, and I looked at her confused before walking away. The walls were beginning to close in on me and I just had to get out.

I slammed my body against the back door and stumbled out of it, gasping for air, the cold Baltimore night hit me, it wasn't too late, probably only around half past nine but I felt exhausted. I bent over, sucking in a breath and closing my eyes, what was happening to me?

I looked at the joint in my hand and realized I didn't have a lighter. I was about to throw it on the floor and head home when I saw someone stood just beyond the dumpster, a cigarette in their hand.

"Hey, excuse me, yeah, er you got a light?" I asked loudly, heading towards them, it was a girl, a head shorter than me, wearing a black spaghetti strap top and mesh lace top over it, her lips were covered in black but her eyes were a sparkling blue. The contrast was very endearing.

"I don't have a lighter" she spoke lowly and then put her cigarette in her mouth and pointed to it. I shrugged and put the joint in my mouth and came closer to her, lighting my joint with her cigarette.

"Thanks," I said after taking a drag and choking down a cough, she just smiled slightly.

"Aren't you cold out here?" I had a vision that her lips were blue underneath all that black lipstick

"A little" she shivered as if thinking about it made her more cold. I hesitated about offering her my jacket once I realize how cold I was but then I figured its only the polite thing to do. I shrugged off my jacket and held it out to her

"Here, put this on" she raised an eyebrow and asked if I was sure, I nodded and watched her slowly put it on.

"Thank you," she smiled "So what are you doing out here anyway?" She asked, taking another drag from her cigarette, which reminded me that the joint in my hand was burning away to nothing. I felt bad for the smell but knew deep down I didn't want to waste it, I'd only ever tried weed and when I'd tried it I didn't like it anyway but I knew I liked the sense of forgetting, waking up in the morning not having a clue what went on. So with that in mind I took a drag from my joint, allowing the fumes to carry me away for a moment or so before I asked.

"What do you mean?" I turned my head to the side, blowing the smoke away from her

"You don't really look like you're from around here" she pointed out

"Yeah, um, I'm not. It's a long story really, I just came to clear my head" she nodded in understanding.

"How come you're out here all by yourself in the freezing cold?" I asked, hoping that didn't sound like I was about to hit on her.

"I had a fight with my girlfriend" she smiled bittersweetly.

"Oh. Can I ask what you fought about?" I asked with a tilt to my head. She smirked.

"Let me have some of that and I'll consider telling you" I smiled and handed her the joint. She took a long drag, tilting her head back and opening her mouth, letting the smoke drift out slowly. A smile crossed her features. She handed it back to me and I took a drag too, feeling the joint slowly start to affect me.

----

We were sat on the wet ground in the back alley behind the club, her arm linked in mine, huddled close so we could keep warm. She laughed hysterically and I joined in with her. What were laughing at neither of us had a clue, all we knew was we found something absolutely hilarious.

"Hey, you still didn't tell me what happened between you and your girlfriend" I point out between laughs

"Oh um," she burst into giggles again and I tried hard to not laugh with her but couldn't manage it. When she'd calmed down she carried on "I don't know really. She just acts weird around me. Sometimes it feels like she hates me" she shrugged and it was weird how similar our situations were. It felt like Leda didn't like me as much as she used to do because of the way she tensed up every time I touch her and she barely ever met my eyes. Maybe I was over thinking it.

"I'm sure she doesn't hate you" I disagreed, unsure of whether I was convincing myself or her. She just chuckled slightly and then grew serious.

"You know, if I was straight, you'd be just my type" it wasn't a come on or flirty, she was just making a point and I leaned in and lightly kissed her cheek.

"Pity you're not straight in that case" I didn't quite understand if I was joking or not. Maybe it was just the loneliness and sadness talking.

"Olivia?" someone shouted "Olivia?" they shouted louder. The girl next to me groaned and I hadn't even realized we didn't even know each others names. It was kind of nice how we'd gotten so lost in just talking that we had totally forgotten to introduce ourselves. Olivia then replied

"Over here" her voice was a little hoarse from all the smoking we'd done but the stranger was still able to hear her.

"There you are, jesus, I've been looking everywhere for you-" she stopped mid sentence and then looked at me "Who's this?" she questioned, eyeing me. Olivia staggered to her feet and offered a hand to help me up, I refused and got up on my own.

"This is..." she gestured to me and then burst out laughing again. "Samuel Fartworthy" she giggled, unsure of my real name so she made it up. I doubled over with laughter until tears blurred my vision.

"Liv, are you high?" the girl crossed her arms. "Again?" she added.

"I am very very very sober thank you very much" Olivia smiled. "Samuel, this is my girlfriend" Olivia introduced me, I tried hard to cease my laughter but it didn't work, especially after she called me Samuel. Her girlfriend stuck her hand out for me to shake.

"Hi, my name is actually Mike" I laughed and although she tried to disguise it, she kind of chuckled too as we shook hands.

"Nadia" she introduced herself and I nodded.

"Anyway, I'm going to catch a cab home so it was great meeting you two." I was about to head off but Nadia stopped me.

"No, listen, you're not as wasted as Liv, but you're pretty wasted so I'll drive you home"

"Are you sure?" I asked, taken aback by a strangers kindness. She nodded and wrapped her arm around Olivia's waist, holding her upright.

All three of us piled in the car, Olivia rode shotgun and I sat in the middle seat in the back. It was silent for a while except for Olivia giggling to herself now and again. The car was spinning, everything was kind of blurry, lights and houses and trees outside the window seemed to come alive but I was too exhausted to move or react.

"We need to do this again!" Olivia exclaimed as I was about to get out of the car once we'd pulled up outside of Leda's home. I agreed and she wrote her number on my hand.

"Thanks for the ride!" I thanked Nadia, she rolled down her window and smiled.

"That's okay, thanks for corrupting my girlfriend" I'm ninety percent sure it was a joke.

I rubbed my face and my stomach growled, I needed to eat, I had the munchies. I headed down the stairs, some kind of food hit my nostrils and whatever it was it made my mouth water.

"Hi handsome" Lily greeted me as I entered the kitchen. It was a weird greeting but I just smiled in reply.

"Where is everyone?" I asked, having a seat at the breakfast bar. "Mmm, that smells lovely" I complimented. For once Lily was actually full clothed, well, if you could call a pale see-through vest top (with no bra underneath) and a thong fully clothed.

"Leda's mom is at work and I think Vic and Leda are upstairs in Vic's room" a smirk crossed her face. Why would they both be in Vic's room? Was she hinting at something?

-Leda's POV-

"Morning" Vic groaned as he awoke and rolled over.

"More like afternoon! Why did you sleep on the floor?" I asked, pecking his lips.

"I didn't think it was right to get into bed with you" he frowned "And also if Mike opened the door..." My heart melted, he was being thoughtful so that Mike and I's relationship would be in tact even if he had have entered the room. I nodded, unsure of how to respond. The whole situation was a little weird, especially because they're brothers.

"That's awfully sweet" I said finally with a small smile.

"You like him a lot" he said sadly, trying to mask it with a smile.

"I like you a lot" I smiled wider, interlocking our hands and snuggling my face into the crook of his neck. "Thank you" I murmured into his skin and he didn't ask me what I was thanking him for because he already knew, I was thanking him for taking care of me last night. I loved the fact I never had to spell anything out to him.

I entered the kitchen in yesterdays clothing, my hair a mess and a huge smile on my lips. Until I saw Mike and Lily huddled at the breakfast bar. My heart dropped.

"Leda" Mike breathed like it was the first time he'd seen me in years, his whole face lit up which gave me butterflies. Lily, noticing his reaction to my entrance, kissed him on the cheek before getting off the bar stool and heading towards the refrigerator. He furrowed his brows at her action and looked at me perplexed, I smiled awkwardly and looked down, shrugging, as if to say: I don't know why she's acting like that. Even though I did. I headed over to him and gave him a hug.

"Sorry for the state I came home in last night" he murmured into my hair before leaning down and kissing my lips, I froze, not kissing back but not pulling away. I don't know why I was doing that, I just was. He pulled away.

"What's wrong?" he asked and I shook my head

"Nothing" I denied, his lips set in a grim line and he huffed, standing up and walking past Lily (who slapped his butt and winked at him) and out of the kitchen. "Mike?" I called after him. No reply. After a minute I heard his door slam and I sunk into a stool at the breakfast bar and buried my head in my arms.

"Boyfriend trouble?" Lily asked, a smirk in her tone.

"Fuck you" I murmured, feeling on the verge of tears.

"I'd be a little more polite to me if I were you. Don't forget how much I know." I lifted my head and shot her daggers, her smirk only grew. I felt everything positive drain from my body, this girl held my happiness in the palm of her hands and I had to be nice to her otherwise she could quite easily throw it all down the drain. The thought caused my eyes to well up, I quickly scrambled down from the breakfast bar. I couldn't let Lily see me cry.

I knocked on Mike's bedroom door.

"Mike?" I spoke quietly before opening his door. I stepped inside quickly and shut the door, he was laid on the bed, his arms over his face.

"What's going on Leda?" Mike spoke slowly

"What do you mean?" I asked, genuinely confused.

He sat up quickly and looked me in the eyes "Lily, she kissed me last night, I remember it" my stomach dropped. I thought he'd forgotten. I know I wanted to forget. "And you didn't say a thing to her about it." he went on.

"Um..." I started unsure of how to explain myself.

"And today, she kissed my cheek and slapped my butt and you still just sat there like it didn't even mean shit." he snapped, I couldn't tell if he was hurt or angry but either way I didn't like it.

"I mean, I know we haven't really labelled what's going on..." he gestured at us both "...between us, but I thought it was obvious how much I like you, care about you." my stomach dropped.

"It is. And I care about you too-" he cut me off.

"Do you?" he spat "Earlier Lily tried to tell me that you and Vic were together, in Vic's room, it's like she was hinting their was something going on between you two, which I know isn't true because I know you'd never do that to me but jesus, she's trying to tear us apart and you're not doing anything to stop her." my stomach dropped even further: I know you'd never do that to me. I could have cried.

"Neither are you!" I retorted getting upset and angry. "She kissed you last night, of course you were intoxicated so I'm not blaming you at all, but if you remember it so damn clearly why haven't you said anything to her? Put her in her place?" I yelled.

"Oh sure, turn this around on me. She's your friend, I've barely known her that long, you've known her for ages, you'd think you'd fucking put her in her place. I never thought I'd have to." he yelled back.

"Yeah she's my friend but it's not my body she's got her hands all fucking over!" I replied with a snarl, I knew for a fact I was about to cry.

"Get out!" he replied, standing up "I can't fucking look at you right now. Get out!" my jaw dropped, was he really throwing me out of his bedroom, in my own house. I couldn't argue though, I wouldn't cry in front of him, I vowed not to ever again and so I had to get out anyway because the tears were about to start falling.

"Fuck you!" I screamed before grabbing the door handle and throwing the door open, Lily stood there in the door way once the door was open, barely any clothes on, a smile stretched on her face.

"Oh, oops, I didn't realize Leda was in there with you, I just came up here because it's..." she looked at her wristwatch (ironic she wore a watch when she never wore any clothes) "...one o'clock and last night you said you wanted a fuck at this time so..." she smiled innocently. Anger bubbled inside of me, without thinking I grabbed her throat and pushed her out of my way, once she was out of my way I slapped her hard across the face.

"Fuck you too!" I screamed, tears well and truly streaming down my face. I hated Mike, I hated Lily, I hated me. I hated everyone.

I ran to my room, slamming my door behind me and grabbed a suitcase, I opened my underwear draw with a little too much force and it fell to the floor, inches from my toes, I began to pile the contents into the suitcase before running over to my closet and grabbing everything I could fit into my arms and piling that into a suitcase too.

I was done.

Notes

DUN. DUN. DUN.

Sorry for the delayed upload I've had a little writers block to be completely honest!
I appreciate you patience though, you lovely humans!

Feedback is appreciated :)

RAISE YOUR HANDS IF YOU HATE LILY.

I love you guys!