my stomach is twisting into knots violently as i walk over to the park to wait for midnight. i'd doused myself in half a bottle of cologne before coming here.

        "jace!" a rather deep and not-midnight's voice calls out for me and i turn my head warily.

        i curse under my break as i catch sight of brandon and his girlfriend nichole walking towards me.

      "hey brandon, " i say, struggling to hide my disappointment.

      "waiting for someone?" he questions, looking around.

       "yeah actually i am, she's about-" i'm cut off by a cheery midnight skipping our way. i let out a low chuckle when i see her skipping and the playful smiles on her lips.

       "i see your friend is here." brandon says as he looks to see a gleeful midnight.

       it's obvious she's drunk. her eyes are glazed over an ugly red and the stench of alcohol clings in the air between us as she greets us. seeing her like this sends a wave of nostalgia over me. the memory of my father coming home drunk flooded my mind and i felt my chest tighten.

        "and who is this?" she asks, pointing at brandon and nichole. she stumbles as bit as she makes her way to my side, i catch her before her falls to the ground. i am trying my best to stay expressionless and not show my utter disgust with the state she is in.

        "this is brandon and nichole," i say as one of my arms wraps around her slim waist to steady her, she doesn't seem to mind the intimate gesture. i'm seething inside and yet i manage to seem like i'm not even bothered by this drunken girl next to me.

         "his friends." brandon adds. he's glaring at midnight in a way that makes me want to punch him in the face. he's acting like a jealous girlfriend and it's not a good look for him.

        "friends?" she snorts. "jace doesn't have friends. i," she places her slim hands across her chest. " only i am is friend."

         "i've known jace since we were kids, i am his friend." brandon's voice is calm and stern. he's clearly unimpressed by the company i keep and quite disapproving from the look he's giving midnight.

         "well if you'll excuse us, jace and i need to be somewhere." midnight says as she tries to drag me away, and i let her.

        "jace?" brandon calls out and i look at him.

        "yeah?" i quirk an eyebrow up. midnight is currently pouting and attempting to drag me away but she's failing.

       "be careful." he says, looking directly at midnight.

       "sure, " i reply before turning to walk away. i clasp my hand over  midnight's thin hand as we walk through the park towards the main gate.

        i need to try and sober midnight up as soon as possible. i can't be seen with a drunken frail girl, people might think i'm taken advantage of her or something.

author's note

Happy  Skinny Love  Sundays.