“Avery.” Mom’s angry. “What is this?”

  You jump when you hear her voice. If she found the wrong thing, she might kill you.

  You look under your bed to make sure she didn’t find your stash; it’s just a couple of bottles of wine, not drugs. It’s not horrible, but your mom acts like having a single drop in the house will get us all killed.

  You’ve always had trouble sleeping and drinking helps. You fall asleep better and wake up more rested, though if you overdo it, you get a headache the next day.

  You are technically an adult so your parents can’t do much in the way of punishment, but you know they’ll yell at you. They might even make you live at home during college if they’re really mad. Even if they don’t, you still have to live here a few months till school is out.

  “Avery! Get down here!” If she doesn’t know about the alcohol, what’s she mad about?

  When you get downstairs, you are faced with a furious mother.

  “What is this!?” She turns her phone so it faces towards you. On it is a picture of you with Jackie; well, not just with Jackie. In the picture the two of you are in the middle of a very intense kiss.

  “I was on a date with my girlfriend. What’s wrong with that?”

  She comes closer and you make out the title of the article attached to the picture: Jackie Smalls’ Partner Skipping School to See Her. Oh no…

  “You told me it was the school’s fault that you were marked absent that day!” You told her that you had a club thing and were supposed to be excused. You were really just craving a bottle. You get your alcohol from Jackie’s wine cellar so that’s where you went. You were about to get out of there when Jackie caught you.

  “What are you doing!?” she said once she realized it was you taking a swig from one of her mother’s wine bottles.

  “Oh, sorry Jackie.” You put the cork back on the bottle and set it down. “I had a really bad day and needed to unwind.”

  Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  She looked so concerned.

  “Don’t worry.” You walk over to her. “I’ll pay you back later.”

  “Avery…” She sounded so worried.

  “Hey,” you said gently, “I’m fine.”

  “... Are you sure?” She was still worried, but she trusted you enough not to push it.

  “Yeah.” You wrapped an arm around her.

  “Okay,” she said as she leaned into you.

  “How about you and I have some fun?” You winked at her as you began leading her out of the cellar.

  “Maybe later; right now I would just like to talk, if that’s okay.”

  “Sure, what about?”

  “Earlier you said you had a bad day; what happened?”

  She’s so caring.

  “Just woke up on the wrong side of the bed. Everything was getting on my nerves.”

  “Is that why you didn’t ask me to hang out with you?”

  “Huh?”

  “You just came to my house. You knew I was right upstairs, but instead, you went to the basement without telling me you were coming. Did you think I would just annoy you right now? If that is the truth-”

  You cut her off: “You could never annoy me.” You kissed her.

  “But-”

  You cut her off again with another kiss.

  One thing led to another, but before it got too inappropriate, someone got a picture.

  “Explain now!” Mom’s words snap you back to the present.

  “Sorry, Mom,” you say. “I was just having a rough day and wanted a break. I know I should have just told you, but I didn’t know if you’d make me stay at school or not.”

  “This is not okay,” she says in a stern tone.

  “Calm down. It was a one-time thing, Mom.”

  “It’s not just this! You’ve been acting differently, hiding things, you’re failing half your classes and now this! Something is going on and I want an explanation.”

  “Nothing’s wrong!”

  “Just tell me. I won’t get angry, I’m just worried.”

  “So I messed up a couple of times, and something has to be wrong with me, but when anyone else does it, it’s just a mistake!”

  “That’s not what I-”

  “Sorry I’m not living up to your expectations,” I sneer. “I don’t have a better excuse than that bad days exist and they affect me more than my perfect parents!” You stomp off to your room.

  “Avery,” She follows you. “Ave-” She doesn’t even finish the name before you slam the door in her face.

  You lock the door.

  Mom sighs. “This conversation isn’t over.” Despite the declaration she walks away.

  Your vision clouds as you try not to cry.

  On instinct, you reach under your bed to pour yourself another drink.