The low music drifted through the car in the otherwise silent background. Jade kept awkwardly glancing at me, and I knew that she was on the verge of asking what was going on. I couldn't really tell her anything though, despite her literally borrowing a car, driving ten minutes to pick me and letting me stay at hers for the night. What was there to tell her? She couldn't do anything about it, and neither could I. All I could do was hope that my brother wasn't messing things up.

I was being harsh. He was trying his best in the situation, and it's not like I could do any better. I was just upset that he hadn't spoken to me earlier about it, only telling me when I asked. Did he even plan on telling me at all? Would I have just continued to live, unknowing that my life was in danger with every passing moment?

My father decided that I wasn't worth the drama I was causing. He was a selfish man, and I knew that a lot of money had been put into making me into the person I was today. I knew that trying to break free from that would have consequences, but when he told me that he didn't want to hear from me again, I thought that would be it. He had changed his mind though.

I was to return home, dead or alive. Those were the words my brother had used. My father didn't give a damn about who I wanted to be, only that his investment was now causing issues for him. I didn't understand why he couldn't just leave me alone - if he didn't like me, why was he bothering?

And it hurt too. My entire life, I had tried to stay on the good side of my parents. I had played the part for so long and, not only was he now refusing to let me go, he wanted me back, not even caring whether I was alive or not.

A tear fell down the side of my face and I quickly brushed it away before Jade could notice. We pulled into a parking lot and she turned the engine off and turned to me.

"Want to talk about it, or do you need time?" She asked, pausing her movements to wait for my answer. A wave of gratefulness hit me that she wasn't going to push me about it.

"Time, I think," I mumbled, twisting my sleeve up. She nodded.

"I think I've got drinks left," She said, opening the door and climbing out of the car. I followed closely behind, jumping when the car made a sound as it was locked.

"Just walk straight in, the doors unlocked," She motioned over to the door once we had reached the top floor. "I've just got to give these back," The keys jingled loudly as she shook them in the air. I gave her a small smile and did as she said, shrugging my bag off and ditching it on the floor and searching for the light. I flicked it on and stood for a second, waiting for her whilst taking off my shoes. Her apartment was chaotic, with art plastered across the walls, ranging from renaissance-styled paintings to pop art prints of soup. There was also a huge painting painted straight onto the wall that looked like a Bob Ross tutorial, but I couldn't tell whether this was something she painted or not.

"Do you want to start drinking?" I jumped as Jade appeared behind me, shutting the door. "I mean, it's kinda early, but you look like you need it," She looked me up and down, then nodded to herself. "Yup, definitely need it," My eyebrows furrowed but I followed her, not finding it within myself to disagree.

I swear these past few days I've drank more than I've drank in my entire life.

But I mean, I did just find out my father wanted me dead, so...

She poured a couple of shots out in cute little glasses, passing me three and keeping three for herself. I gave her a look and she just shrugged, picking one up for herself and handing another to me.

"You're the one who wanted to be distracted, you never said how, now come on," She held up her shot before throwing it back, shuddering once she swallowed. I gave my own drink a suspicious look.

"Coward," Jade taunted. I rolled my eyes and took a breath before swallowing as quickly as I could as she cheered me on.

"Do another! Come on, let's get this done and order some food," I grinned as she picked up both of her shots, gave me a wink and threw her head back, tipping them into her mouth one after the other. She pulled a face, slammed both glasses down by the sink and sauntered off.

"Chinese food alright with you?" Jade called, peeking around the corner with her phone in hand.

"Yeah," She nodded and walking off. I took another deep breath then followed as she had done, letting out my breath through my teeth as I put the shot glasses next to hers and following her into the living room.

Distractions. I just needed to be distracted for a bit.