chapter one: ONLY US.

The drugged sky stared down, as we sat together underneath the star lit sky. Alone. Alone in the hot tub that my dad had put up for summer. Every girl likes summer, it's their favourite season, however mine was winter- the feeling of winter made me feel so safe in a way that i could never explain.

Mine and Carl's father were very different to each other. They were all we had though; both our mom's died when we were only young, maybe that's the reason we grew so close. Mine was more on the chill side of things, whereas his was more of the deadbeat type of dad that relied on drugs and alcohol for happiness. He was never really there for Carl, yet that is where i step in.

That very moment felt as if reality didn't exist. You know that feeling when you feel as if nothing matters and you feel like you're on top of the world? There is always a catch to good things though; almost like 'too good to be true'. The catch in this case was the time. My phone read 12:57am, meaning that it was almost 1am and this moment would shortly have to end. All good things come to an end.

Carl looks at his phone, whilst taking a sip of his drink. That's the thing about technology these days; no one can ever put it down. It's addictive, just like many other things in life.

"Carl, no more." I demanded, taking the drink out of his hand and placing it down next to where he was sat. It was alcohol. Sometimes, Carl has a drinking problem, but you could you really blame him with his father like that? It was bound to happen really.

"You can't tell me what to do, Violet." He laughed slightly, but then gave out a big sigh.

I wasn't. He was right.

I always cared about Carl, maybe more than I should have at times. He was like a brother to me, yet i always felt this type of way about him. He didn't know.

"You do know it's one in the morning, right?" I asked him, looking directly at him, yet he was staring at his phone screen, glued to it like it was his life dependent.

"Yeah i know. It's just kind of chill sitting here, no care in the world ya know?" He smiles.

That smile. That damn smile.

I nod, hauling myself out of the pool. Carl follows my lead.

"Wait, violet?" He says, tugging at my arm and holding it with a tight ish grip.

The sky now only had two stars in sight and i was getting cold being out here so late at night.

"Yeah, Carl?"

"Can I crash at your place tonight?"

"Dad drunk again?" I stare into his basic brown eyes, yet the colour of chocolate.

Tears were brimming in his eyes, "probably, just don't wanna risk it."'

"I'd do anything for you Carl, so yes of course you can." I wipe his tears and give him a slight smile, before turning to the door to make our way inside.