Ashtray sat on the living room couch next to fezco and faye, as always a movie played on the television but this time he wasn't watching it with the two. his phone was sat on his lap, his head resting in his hand as he scrolled through lianis instagram.
the two hadn't spoken, but he made sure to always check what she posted on her story since she usually posted when she went out.
ashtray didn't know if liani was still mad at him, and he was still upset about her relapsing but he knew her birthday was even closer now and he'd just apologize and forgive her for relapsing sometime.
just a few minutes ago, liani had posted a picture with catalina. liani always spoke highly of her, that she was nice and fun to be around. but ashtray didn't know if he'd agree with that. catalina surrounded herself around older people, and she was constantly out partying, that wasn't the type of person liani needed to be around at the moment. he'd never tell her who she can and can't hangout with, but he had told her that catalina wasn't the right influence if liani was trying to get sober. now his mind has changed a little after their argument, after liani basically told him she didn't want to be sober.
the picture let ashtray know that liani was most likely out drinking or getting high, and with the two not talking he didn't know if she was okay. because of all of that, he was stressing and refreshing his page to see if she would post anything else, and even checking catalina's instagram to see if she had posted anything with liani.
"just call her, bro." fezco looked over at his stressed out brother.
ashtray shook his head, being stubborn and not wanting to apologize just yet.
liani had been invited out by catalina, which she quickly agreed to going, knowing she wouldn't be on her ass about not doing something like almost everyone else around her had been.
she was thankful catalina never told her that she needed to get sober. but she always knew that was probably because catalina wasn't much different, if anything she was probably worse and was in no place to tell her. she also hadnt known liani as long as everyone else, and didn't know about her struggles with staying sober.
liani wore a tight, cropped, v nevk tank top along with baggy jeans and converse.
sitting in the car catalina came in, she told liani a bunch of things about what they would be doing later in the night. catalina explained it like a usual house party liani usually went to, which is why she was shocked when her head raised from the window as the car came to a stop and she was met with a large building.
she had no time to ask catalina about it, as she was already being pulled out of the car and inside the building.
the door opened to see the lights off, the lighting being the flashing led lights. loud music was playing along with the shouts from the many, many people already there. everyone looked a lot older than her, which made her confused, but she cracked a smile at the sight.
catalina smiled at her, "cmon!" she shouted, pulling her to find where the kitchen was.
after finding it, catalina let go out liani to pour them both shots, and liani looked around at the people next to them. it only took her a few to realize this was a college party.
handing liani a full shot glass, catalina smiled at her a cheered before they both took the shots and let out a chuckle. "how were you invited to a college party?" liani asked, letting catalina pull her to the middle room where basically everyone was.
catalina shrugged, "i know a lot of people!" she shouted over the music, beginning to dance as liani just shook her head and joined her friend.
there was people playing party games, taking shots, dealing or doing drugs, making out, arguing and dancing all around them. liani felt a little anxious being around all older teenagers, or adults, but didn't let it ruin her time with her friend.
time seemed to move quickly, and before liani had knew it, she'd lost catalina. she stumbled over to a couch, throwing herself down and sighing. she laid her head back and looked next to her, two guys sat there. one was passed out and the other was about to light a blunt. he didn't look as old as most of the people at the party.
the guy turned his head over to her, looking at her for a few seconds before nodding. "hey."
she nodded back, "hi."
he glanced down at the now lit blunt in his hand, "you wanna smoke?"
she smiled, "yes."
the two quickly started a conversation as they passed the blunt back and forth, and before too long liani was not only tipsy, but high as well.
"how old are you?" the guy asked her, tapping her arm.
"i'm gonna be sixteen in like, three days." she slowly blinked.
he raised his eyebrows, "are you're at a college party?"
she shrugged, "my friend invited me. how old are you?"
"eighteen." he replied, watching her hands tap along her thighs.
she bummed in response, letting out a breath as she turned her head and looked around to see if she could see catalina anywhere. when she didn't see her, she turned back to the guy, whos name she still didn't know, but she didn't care to ask. "do you know who catalina is?"
the boy thought for a minute, "yeah, that's your friend?"
she nodded, "have you seen her anywhere?"
the boy shook his head, "nope, not since earlier."
she sighed, sitting up before patting his shoulder. "well, thanks for smoking with me, i'm gonna go home."
he smiled, "yeah, you need a ride home?"
she squinted her eyes, "uh, no, i'm okay. thanks though."
he nodded, watching her stand up and push her way through the crowds of people and out of the front door. she stumbled out of the house and sat on the porch next to a passed out girl.
she pulled her phone out of her bra, scrolling through her contacts before clicking on fezcos. she pressed call and listened to it ring for a few before it stopped and she put it up to her ear, "hey, fez."
"yo, you okay, lani?" he answered.
"yep, just wondering if you could come pick me up?" she asked.
fezco sighed, "where you at?"
she smiled, "you know me, fez."
she heard him let out a small chuckled, "yeah, send me your location."
she nodded, even though he couldn't see it, and went to their messages to share her location with him before putting her phone back up to her ear. "hey, don't tell ash you're coming to get me, okay? i'll- im gonna say sorry just.. sometime, you know."
fezco hesitated, knowing ashtray would be pissed off at him if he found out about it, but sighed. "ight, im on my way."
after he hung up liani sat her phone on her lap and leaned her head on the brick wall next to her, looking ahead at all the people walking away from the party and that was talking in the yard. eventually, she saw fezcos car come into view and stood to her feet, grabbing onto her phone and making her way to it.
"fuck are you doing here?" fezco asked as she slid into the passenger seat.
"got invited, i didn't know it was a college party." liani snickered.
most of the ride was silent, before fezco spoke up as he had almost reached lianis house. "yo, you and ash need to make up, for real."
liani turned to him, "ion know what really happened, but he's not wrong, lani." fezco glanced at her, "you doin all this drinkin and shit ain't good for you."
she nodded, "i know." she mumbled.
"it's not my business, and i'm not gonna tell you what you need to do, but i'm jus sayin, i care about you, kid. i don't want you to end up dead cause you can't get sober." he pulled up to her house.
she bit onto her lip, nodding her head. "i know." she repeated lowly.
"ight, see you, kid." he told her, watching as she waved and walked up to her front door, getting inside before driving off.
closing the door behind her, liani turned and glanced at the couch. this time, it was empty. and she had missed the small note on the table, since she had already let out a scoff and headed for the stairs.
liani knew her mom wasn't going to get better soon, but she couldn't lie, her mom had gotten her hopes up with everything she had said before. and now she was a little pissed off that she had just left like that again after saying all that, and especially right before her birthday. but it was nothing she hadn't experienced before.