I sit on the sand and look out at the ocean. The sun is only just coming up now, it's pretty. Everything is quiet, until I hear footsteps that lead to Brax sitting down next to me. I dorm acknowledge him though, I continue looking at the water.
"Matt came and woke me up, he told me what happened. You alright?"
"Everyone needs to stop asking me that I'm fine" I hiss back frustrated.
It's silent, we just look out on to the ocean.
"You're not fine and that's okay. With everything that's happened, Seth and juvie. We understand"
"You don't understand and stop telling me how I feel because you don't know" I glare.
"Okay, I don't, so tell me how you feel" Brax pushes.
I turn to him and look into his eyes.
"I'm fine" I state, then stand up and walk away.
I go to our Mangrove Bar called 'Jays' and go inside. No one else is inside, but Jay the owner.
"Sorry Will, I can't give you anything" he says, as I sit on a stool.
I get fifty bucks from my pocket and smack it on the table.
"Let's be real, that's the most money you've made all week in one second. Get me a bottle of vodka Jay" I demand.
He sighs, but hands me a bottle and a shot glass. I pour myself one, then a couple more. I've been here for a couple hours, when I hear the bar door open.
"Hey! Jimmy in Jays!" Jay laughs.
I look over my shoulder and see its Jimmy. I quickly get my phone and text Heath to come here. Although, I'm so drunk I don't even know if I sent it. I feel a hand go around my waist and Jimmy sits next to me.
"G'day gorgeous, sorry your brothers dragged you away from me" he chuckles and then kisses the side of my forehead.
I shove him off weakly and try to walk to the exit, but Jimmy trips me at my feet and I fall on to the ground. I groan and hold my now bloody nose. I go onto my back and Jimmy slowly comes down to go on top of me. I try to push him off, but I'm too drunk. He strokes my hair, but then he is picked up and thrown off of me by Heath. He smashes him on to the bar table and punches him in the face.
"You come near my sister again, even look at her, I'm going to smash your head in!" he threatens.
To finish, he throws him over the bench into the bar, glass smashing. I slowly get up, Heath grabbing my arm and helping me. We both walk out of the bar and I squint at the glare of the sun.
"What the hell are you doing Will? You're sixteen! You can't be drinking!" Heath scolds.
"You were drinking when you were fourteen! Don't you scold me. So, thanks for you help I guess, bye" I glare.
"Oi! You think I'm going to let you walk around here on your own?" he shouts.
"What? Why can't I? Cause I'm a girl? Cause I'm not tough like my Braxton brothers, or the gang I'm in? Cause I can't take care of myself and I'm weak? Cause I'm not like a Braxton?" I laugh.
"Yes!" Heath yells quickly.
Heath sighs and looks down guilty, then back up at me.
"Will, I'm sorry, I didn't mean that-"
"If you didn't mean it, you wouldn't have said it. I'm not like a Braxton, you're right, so I won't be one" I say and then walk away.
I feel completely sober and, completely sad. I walk away and find myself at the Mangrove River Bridge. I sit under it on the concrete, looking out at the dirty river.