CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE

Chapter 4: Lily's POV

I got back from school and found the house empty. I was hanging out with Riley today and I had no money. Mom had gone out to God knows where, and I had not seen my father in days. My card had been blocked for reasons I didn't know, and I couldn't ask mom because we were not talking at the moment. Dad wasn't taking my calls. Riley and I had been stealing alcohol from the store she worked at. That has been my only companion since this madness started.

As much as I hated the situation at home, I didn't allow myself to think or dwell on it.

I went into mom's room to search for money. There was nothing in her closet or the drawers close to her bed so I went to check the drawer. That was when I saw the envelope, still sealed.

I didn't waste any time, immediately I tore it open.

That's how I discovered I was indeed not my father's daughter.

Beads of sweat formed on my forehead and my legs grew weak. I hadn't cried once since this started so the tears rolling down my cheeks just fueled my anger. I hated crying. No matter how difficult a situation was,I never cried, only weak girls cry and I'm not weak.

I placed the paper on the bed and left.

I was going to get drunk.

I called Riley.

"What's up, are you on your way ?" She answered.

"Change of plans, meet me at the spot, bring lots of tequila"

" Go girl!" She cheered before she hung up.

Riley lived in a tavern and her parents were young and wild. They didn't care about her at all and she did whatever she pleased. She was a bad influence and exactly the kind of friend I needed.

I got to the rooftop of the hotel where we'd first gotten drunk. Getting drunk on the rooftop of a 30 storey building? Reckless I know but the adrenaline pump was absolutely worth the risk.

5 minutes later, Riley appeared. She was tall and had this boyish swag. Her jet black hair was short and styled in a way that covered her left eye. She was dressed in a black leather jacket and oversize jeans, making her look too rugged for her age.

"I brought whiskey too" she smirked as we both sat on the floor.

I pulled out a bag of chips and passed them to her.

I was in no mood to talk, but my friend seemed to be very chatty today.

" I sneaked this one". She raised the bottle filled with brown liquid.

"My annoying boss would fire me when he finds out I took the most expensive drink in his store" she laughed, impressed at her genius act.

I always wished I was more like her, carefree and wild. She'd gone to juvie last year for 6 months when she came back to school, boys attempted to bully her but Riley beat up the asshole and stripped him naked at the parking lot in school.

After that everyone feared her including our entire soccer team of boys with over induced testosterone.

" How do you manage to stay calm in the midst of all the madness around you?"

" I create my own madness, distracting me from the already existing one, the difference is I enjoy this one and relish in all the nuisance. Keeps my blood pumping with excitement" she shrugged and laid her back on the floor staring into the polluted sky.

The stars were lost, I didn't spot a single one.

"Let's get drunk!"

"Yesss!"

She squealed in excitement.

I grabbed the tequila bottle by the neck and drank, without dropping it to take a breath till the whole thing was Empty.

"Hi cuties" A guy approached us. I hadn't even heard when he joined us.

"Mind if I join the party?" He asked, smiling mischievously.

" The more the merrier" Riley raised her own bottle in cheers.

She passed him the whiskey bottle and he took a hard gulp.

"To shitty parents!" I cheered and they both responded in unison as we downed another gulp together.

It was very dark now and Riley had a late shift at the store so she was getting ready to leave. I didn't even think she could see anything let alone walk downtown by herself. She's a big girl and she can certainly take care of herself.

I was left with the stranger on the rooftop, drunk out of my mind, at 12pm. This was what I said about adrenaline rush. It was reckless and thrilling to be here out on a cold night with this stranger.

We both laid on the floor staring into the night. I would rather be here all night than go back home.

"You toasted to shitty parents, what did they do?"

" They're getting divorced and the man I've called Dad my whole life is not my father. Very soon my mom and I would be out on the streets because the divorce would leave us with absolutely nothing" The words fell out of my mouth before I could stop them. The alcohol was kicking in.

I was surprised he didn't already figure out who I was. My picture was everywhere on the internet.

"Shoot! Sorry about that" He consoled. His hands found my hair and he stroked it.

He had no idea what he was doing.

"I just want to forget everything, I don't care"

"Well you should" He was close to me now and our shoulders touched each other as we laid there. The cells in my body were jumping in excitement.

"What's your name?" I asked him

"Derek, what's yours?"

" Lily" He smile and embarrassment overwhelmed me

"It's a silly name, I hate it"

"It's cute, doesn't suit you though."

He changed position and laid on his left side, leaning on his arm, hands placed on his right cheek as he stared at me with what looked like curiosity. He was definitely in his early twenties. It made me feel more attracted to him and I suddenly wanted his hands on my body. f*****g alcohol!

"You're complicated, I can tell."

" Complications are messy, you should go" I said to him, trying to stand up and leave. He gently pulled me back to lay down and said in the raspiest voice.

"I love complications. Now shut up and kiss me."