"Ew no. He's gonna be all sticky and hot." Edward hissed stubbornly. "I get that he's passed out an' all, but I'm not getting in bed with him. It'll get too stuffy."

David huffed as he placed his hands on his hips, contemplating. "W-Well what did you do last night, then?"

"Max wasn't a drunken mess last night."

"Yeah, okay, but–"

"Take the room next door." Cameron injerjected as he strolled up to them, eyes flickering to the door they were stood outside of. "The kid's in there, right?"

"Annoyingly." Edward muttered bitterly.

"Noted." He offered a hasty laugh. "Like I said, Eddie. Just take the room next door. It's only one night. You'll get a better night's sleep if you're on your own, anyways."

The teen shrugged. "Fair enough." He pursed his lips into aasmile and backed up the short distance to the next bedroom, hand braced against the door. "Welp. G'night, then." And with that he disappeared inside, leaving David and Cameron still loitering outside Max's room.

The younger of the two beamed brightly. "I'd say tonight was very successful!"

"Damn right it was. I haven't see a kid that drunk since… well, in a while." He muttered the last part, earnig a hasty, slightly confused look from David.

"You, uh, you've done this before…?"

Cameron placed a hand firmly on his shoulder, chuckling to himself. "At some point people find the booze. Kids'll do anything to get their hands on something so treasured. They can't break the law when theirs effectively no law at all." He shrugged. "Little Max saw the opportunity and grabbed it by the balls, Davey."

"It was definitely a first." David laughed softly, his eyes flicking over the bedroom door momentarily. "I do feel bad for him, though… I gave him some water but that won't change much."

"Let's just hope we don't get ambushed while we sleep, eh?" Despite the man's joke being slightly morbid, David offered a huff of laughter nonetheless. "If we're being honest, Davey, I'd like you to know that i'm very fond of the kid. He's very intriguing with how he doesn't speak. It's refreshing to see such a unique personality."

The redhead swallowed, his cheeks flushing, even though he wasn't the one recieving the compliment. Maybe it was because all the verbal abuse Max had gotten from Gwen. He didn't know, but it made his heart grow anyways. "That's really sweet. I'll be sure to tell him in the morning." He smiled. "I'm sure he'll appreciate it very much!"

Cameron nodded firmly. "I hope so! That boy deserves a hole bunch of attention. I don't get why they dislike him so much."

"They" was clearly a jab at Gwen, David guessed. "She seems to have relaxed thanks to the alcohol. Maybe she'll rethink her words."

"She better." It was hard to tell whether his tone was sincerely bitter, or just an exaggeration. "I don't know what kind of person could be so harsh to such an innocent child." He licked his lips somewhat hastily. "…Is he innocent?"

David's stare narrowed in confusion at the question, unsure why the man was acting slightly… off. "I, uh, I don't get what you mean? I don't think he's killed anyone… Ha, well he's definitely lost his Alcohol Virginity if that's what your getting at." He laughed softly. "Again, I don't really understa–"

"Doesn't matter. Just a stupid question, that's all." Cameron smiled forcibly, eye twitching slightly. "Best be off to bed then, Davey! Cameron's gotta get his beauty sleep!" David watched as the man swiftly disappeared into a room further down the corridor, a soft click – presumably the lock – being heard.

"That was weird…"


Gwen stared up at the ceiling with a deadpan expression, mentally scolding herself for failing to sleep.

Maybe she should've monitored her drinking a bit better.

At least I didn't break anything… She reasoned with herself. The guy had so many glasses out to be fair… it was mental…

She suddenly felt herself jolt, heart skipping a beat.

"Fucking hell…" She groaned, running a hand down her face. The one time she was about to dose off and her body fucks her over. Huffing, she fidgets slightly to get comfortable and closes her eyes.

Sleep. C'mon, Gwen, sleep.

"Shit." She hissed under her breath and threw her legs out of bed, standing up and making her way to the door. It was pointless tying to sleep when she was aware that it would never happen.

Just like the night before, but this time without the two redheads, Gwen wondered the ground floor of the house, feeling for lamp switches in the darkness. She made sure to not turn on as many as last time so she wouldn't risk getting caught again.

Honestly, she didn't know what to do with herself. For a while she just stood at the bottom of the spiral stairs, silent and annoyingly curious. She was aware of how stupid she probably looked, but as long as no one got up to get a drink, she was okay.

Speaking of drink-

Gwen took a quiet stroll to the kitchen, swinging open the higher cabinets as she fetched a glass. There were lots of average, basic drinking glasses filling said cabinet, with Max's little pink sippy cup sticking out like a sore thumb. All these glasses and Cameron still gave him the child's cup? He even apologized for the "lack of glasses".

Oh no.

Her head began flooding with conspiracies.

He's kinda old… probably just picked up the first thing he saw…

Deciding not to get worked up over a stupid cup she quickly poured herself some water and gladly took a sip.

She hated it here. But at the time she didn't want to leave.

Her gut instinct was to pay Cameron no mind and only use him purely for his supplies. To be selfish. The problem was that the others had taken a quick liking to him. David, ultimately idolising the man and his confidence; Edward was very similar to him in that of quick comments and a slightly reckless nature, both male's showing little concern for Max chugging a bottle of wine within seconds. She wasn't really sure what Max thought of him, to be true.

The little fucker hasn't said a word to him, and yet he listens to him like he's God.

Reluctantly Gwen had concluded that she was jealous.

She didn't know why, but the fact that Cameron already sent her sketchy vibes made her worried for the young boy.

She wouldn't tell anyone that, though.

She had a rep to protect… even if that rep was being a bitch to everyone.


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