adolescents

one

It was wet outside and you could smell it, wet concrete, wet foliage, everything was wet. Dull orange street lights flickered and struggled to light the dark streets. There was no traffic at the crossroads, no cars, certainly no pedestrians. But then it was 4am on a Monday night, that was to be expected.

Suddenly, an engine in the distance could be heard, disturbing the still serenity of the night. A black sports car swerved to a halt at one corner of the crossroads.

A back door opened and a grinning boy leaned across the wheel and shouted, "Hop in!"

Meda hopped in the back seat and slammed the door behind her.

"Hey, were you waiting long?" Her brother turned round to ask as the car got going again.

"No! Not at all! My train was delayed - Dad told you?" Meda responded.

"Yeah, he said you weren't sure when you'd get in, we were worried we'd be late." The car raced along the deserted streets at an unholy pace. "How was the journey?"

"Pretty uneventful, thanks for picking me up." She smiled at her brother's friends in the car.

"Oh it's no problem" The driver, Liam, assured her. "We were out anyway, saves you getting a taxi."

"Well welcome back!" The boy beside her in the back said rubbing his hands together. "We've got a pretty dope summer lined up - you've come back at just the right time."

Meda laughed, "Sounds good Niall, thanks." She smiled and leaned back in her seat. Summer back in Glasgow wouldn't be hard to beat, but it was good to know there would be things to do for the next two months.

By the time they pulled up to the house the sun was beginning to rise. "I don't want to wake dad up this early, Oli." She told her brother as she took her bags out of the back of the car. "Oh I doubt that'll be an issue, he sleeps like a fucking log." Oli snorted.

The boys took some of her bags and started up the steps to the house, Oli let them in the front door and closed it gently behind him. It was weird being back in the house she grew up in. It was only now, after their Mum had gotten engaged, that she would be able to stay in Brighton for more than a few days.

Meda stayed in Glasgow with their Mum and Oli stayed here in Brighton with their Dad. It wasn't fair on her and Oli, and their parents knew it, but the marriage had ended so badly that neither were willing to compromise, even when it came to their children.

Meda followed the boys up the stairs and into the living room. A few more boys were in there, sprawled across the furniture. One of them got up immediately as she entered and pulled her into a hug.

"Hi Harry." Meda laughed, pulling away.

"What's up? I haven't seen you in forever." He grinned at her.

"I'm good!" She smiled back. "Happy to be home for the summer."

"Uni next year?" He asked.

"Yep, I'm doing Classics."

"Suck up." Oli rolled his eyes across the room.

"Fuck off." Meda replied.

"You're only doing it cos mum and dad are total history buffs." Oli said, throwing a pillow at her.

"I'm doing it because I like it you fool." Meda laughed throwing the pillow back.

"We were just about to do some shots," Liam said as he poured Jager into glasses on a tray . "Wanna join?"

"It's almost 6am?" She laughed checking her phone. " You guys go ahead."

"We're just getting a head start on summer!" Niall laughed, downing his drink. " One more week of College." Meda laughed and shook her head in disbelief as she got up and started towards her bedroom, leaving the boys to mess around by themselves.

Everything in her room was exactly as she had left it the last time she was here.

It felt like taking a step back in time. She hadn't visited her Dad in two years, and it showed. The room was painted black and covered in ACDC posters. Cringe.

She got into her pyjamas, collapsed onto her bed and saw her glow in the dark stars were still stuck on the ceiling. They were the one things she'd never grow out of.