Thump!

I groan and push myself off the floor. I must have rolled off the couch in my sleep. "What time is it?" I mutter, turning my head to squint at the clock. "Three o'clock?!"

Twenty minutes later, I'm resting at the table after rummaging through the empty pantry and the barren fridge. Sam has nothing but beer and moldy, stale bread. I'm hungry but not starving. And trust me, I know what starving is like. I'll wait until Sam comes home to eat. Until then, I draw in my notebook to keep busy.

Before I know it, Sam's home. "Hey, little brother. How was your day?"

"Um... relaxing."

"Good, good. You want something to eat?"

"Yes, please!"

Sam lifts an eyebrow and waves me towards the door. "Please? Since when have you started saying please?"

I laugh and join him by the door. "Sully's been pushing me to clean up my social skills and language. He says if I'm ever hoping to make any friends, female or otherwise, I need to be more approachable."

"Why do you keep talking about him? I thought you hated him," Sam says, locking his apartment door behind him.

"Well, I do. I was just explaining my habits."

"Good, 'cause I don't wanna hear about him anymore. Okay?"

"Yes, Sam."

"That's my boy." He pats me on the back. "Let's go get drunk."

"What?" I stop and give Sam an incredulous look. "Drunk? I thought we were going out to eat."

"We are," he assures me. "But the bar happens to offer food and alcohol."

"But... I'm 17. I'm not supposed to be drinking."

"Oh, come on. Live a little. One night's not gonna kill you."

"But..." Sully said alcohol destroys brain cells. Brain cells I can't afford to lose at such a young age. But I don't say any of that because Sam forbid me from mentioning Sully again.

"Don't worry," he says, opening the passenger door for me. "I won't let you embarrass yourself."

Five hours later...

"And then I told her to *hiccup* get out of the car..." Sam rambles, totally inebriated.

I turn away and sigh, draining the last of my Coke and Coke on the rocks. I check my watch for the hundredth time. Ugh, 10:30 already? I tap Sam's shoulder. "Sam, can we go now?"

"Soon, Nathan, soon."

"But Sam-"

"I said soon."

"But I don't feel comfortable here. I feel like I'm about to get mugged or... something. Please can we go?"

"Fine. We'll go, cry baby."

I clench my jaw in a short flash of anger. He used to call me cry baby when we were young. I hated it then, and I hate it now. I can't help that living on the streets has taught me to always trust my instincts. Something is seriously off about this night. I just can't put my finger on it.

I hold out my hand expectantly. "What'd ya want?" he mumbles, stumbling off the stool.

"The keys."

"Why?"

"To drive us home."

"Dude, I'm driving. It's my car!"

"I know, but you're way too drunk."

"Didn't you hear me, dweeb? It's my car! I'm driving!" He angrily pushes me away from the driver's side door and yanks it open. "You wanted to go, let's go! Get in!"

I quickly and quietly take my seat in the passenger's side. I clasp my hands to keep them from shaking. Sam's behavior is way too reminiscent of Dad's drunken antics. I'll just cooperate to stay on his good side. The bar is not far from his apartment. It won't take long to get home. I can lock myself in the bathroom until he falls asleep.

How is this any better than living with Sully? My subconscious asks me.

Shut up, me.

I'm shaken out of my stupor at the car swerves sharply to the left. "Sam, please be careful."

"I am b-being careful! Didn't you see that guy just turn into my lane?"

"...No."

"Are you *hiccup* blind? There was clearly - oh, shit!" He pulls on the wheel again causing the tires to screech their protest.

"Sam!"

"I got it, I got it."

"No, you don't! Pull over, I'll drive."

"I said, I got it!"

A pair of real headlights are quickly heading towards us. "Shit, Sam pull to the right!"

"Why?"

"Now! We're gonna hit him!"

"Who?"

I realize I'm gonna have to take things into my own hands if we want to live, so I lunge to grab the wheel. "Hold on!" I yell.

"Let go, Nath-"

He never finishes. The world suddenly goes dark as the car slams into a sign.