At the end of the week, the crew all gathered at Avie's house to have a night together. With both of her parents out of the house until late, it was the perfect place to gather.
Kie sat at the table as she rolled a joint with Ashton. Despite the pogues having a disliking for Avie's brothers, Ashton always used them for weed. They didn't mind because he always paid.
"Don't do it that way, dude." Ashton squinted his eyes to Kie's fingers as she rolled the joint.
"I'm sorry, are you rolling it or am I ?" She sassed him.
"Last time you rolled for me it didn't stick."
"That was a one time thing." She glared at him.
He rolled his eyes as she finished and handed it to him.
"I assume you guys are getting along?" Avie grinned as her and JJ walked into the kitchen.
"I think the right word is tolerating." Kie smiled sarcastically.
Ashton held the inhale for a moment before slowly releasing the smoke from his mouth. He nodded at JJ as he coughed, "You want?"
JJ looked at Avie knowing how he told her he was cleaning himself up. He hadn't smoked or drank as nearly as much as he used to. He used to go to school high every single day. But not anymore. Avie's belly was a reminder for him to keep his shit in check. He couldn't risk messing up his chance to be around his daughter.
Avie smiled at him, "Go for it." She stood on her tippy toes to kiss his cheek.
"You sure? I don't have to if it makes you uncomfortable." JJ raised his eyebrows at her.
Truth is.. Avie was actually jealous. She stopped drinking and smoking since she decided to keep it. She could use a high thanks to the stress the baby has been causing her. Between catching up on school work, working mornings at The Brew, the weight she was gaining; she wanted so badly to relax somehow.
She nodded at him.
"You're the best." JJ took the joint from Ashton's hand.
He inhaled slowly and held for a moment, exhaling away from his girlfriend.
"That's good shit."
Ashton smirked at him and nodded.
Kie smiled and took the joint from JJ to have herself a hit.
Avie sighed and hugged JJ's torso.
"What's up?" He asked her.
"I'm jealous."
JJ chuckled and rubbed her back.
"2 and a half months." Ashton looked at his sister, "And you can smoke whenever you want."
Avie smiled and nodded against JJ's chest.
"Two more months.. that's fuckin' scary." JJ spoke more to himself, "Kie, gimme that."
Kie laughed and handed him the joint again.
Avie pulled away from him and watched as her boyfriend enjoyed his high.
"Sorry baby." He spoke in a low voice and coughed out the smoke.
Avie's face contorted as she chuckled and walked back to the living room joining Pope, Sarah and John B.
"Welcome back." John B smiled at her.
"You didn't miss much." Pope told her.
"Can't smoke like you used to?" Sarah said with a grin.
Avie shook her head as she laughed and sat next to Sarah, "No."
Sarah laughed.
"How's home schooling yourself going?" Pope asked Avie.
"Well, it's harder than I thought but I'm getting it done somehow. As long as I pass." She responded.
"All you need to do is graduate." John B assured her, "The rest doesn't matter."
Avie nodded.
"Well, good grades can help." Pope added.
"Pope, do you think I'm going to college once I'm a fucking mom?" She looked at her friend.
"You might want to. I don't know!" Pope said innocently, "Maybe then baby pogue can follow in your footsteps."
"If my footsteps include getting pregnant at 17, I hope to hell she doesn't."
They all laughed as Ashton made his way and sat on the recliner.
"You know, Aves.." He began, "Kid's really cleaned himself up."
Avie smiled of relief when she heard Ashton's words. She was nervous he would say something bad but she could tell that JJ was growing on him. It made her happy. She knew her family would come around eventually and Ashton accepting him was a huge step. Daylon was a work in progress...if you could even call it that.
John B nodded in agreement and held his beer up to Ashton for a cheers, "He's changed a lot. Never seen him give up nic, weed or alcohol for anything."
Pope agreed, "It's weird. I think the baby might do him good."
Sarah laughed, "Baby pogue might have been the push he needed to better himself."
Avie sighed and smiled softly as she thought of how much JJ has changed. While he still indulges in his little habits sometimes, they weren't addictions anymore. Especially not the stupid cancer stick. Hasn't smoked that since their fight.
"I was so worried he was going to fall off the deep end." Avie looked down, "Before I found out, he was high all day everyday, drinking every night and hitting that stupid cancer stick every 5 seconds. It was gross."
They laughed as they thought of their friend and the changes he was making.
"I'm proud of him." Avie said happily.
"She said no, man!" JJ yelled from the kitchen making all their heads snap to that direction.
Kie stomped into the living room.
"You good?" John B raised an eyebrow.
"No." She said sharply, "Avie, your fucking brother wants to do lines off my body."
"What!?" Avie yelled. Why the hell would he want to do that? Avie could have sworn Daylon didn't do his shit under their parent's roof.
She stood up off the couch as John B, Sarah and Pope followed behind to watch what was about to go down.
She looked pissed off when she saw Daylon sitting at the table emptying a tiny packet of white powder onto the table.
"Daylon!" She screamed. He flinched and looked at her. She could tell he had already been smoking weed in his own room beforehand. His eyes were bloodshot.
He smirked at her, "Hey, Aves." He nearly slurred his words.
"He's fucked up." Ashton said somewhat mad after he walked behind them. He was annoyed with his brother. Disappointed to say the least.
"Day, what is wrong with you?" She walked closer to him and examined the white powder on the table. She had never actually seen it before in person. It was sad and unsettling to know her brother did it. Seeing it didn't sit right with her.
"Your hot little friend didn't want to play." Daylon started making a line with his ID.
Ashton hit his head, "You're digging yourself deeper."
JJ watched, not wanting to get involved any further when he knew her family was still watching his every move.
"You are a piece of shit!" Kie yelled at Daylon.
He chuckled and began inhaling one line through his nostril.
"I cannot believe you're doing this in Mom and Dad's house." Avie watched him.
He wasn't acting like his normal mean self. He was more relaxed; just being a douche.
Daylon stood up and wrapped an arm around his sister making her squirm, "Remember that deal we made?"
Avie thought about how he made her promise not to say anything or else he'd do something to make sure JJ never meets the baby.
She pushed him off of her, "You're disgusting!" She spat at him and shoved him again which made him stumble to his butt on the ground.
"Avie, Avie.." Ashton grabbed her arm. He was scared he would hurt her but in his state, Daylon was too fucked up to be strong enough to cause harm.
Daylon chuckled from the ground and tried to stand up, "Awh, does it make you mad?"
Avie huffed.
"Make you mad you can't run and tell mommy and daddy?" Daylon teased her and let out an evil laugh.
Ashton bent down to help lift him up. He gripped the collar of his shirt and pulled him up quickly, "You didn't make me promise anything little shit." He was furious with his younger brother's actions. He knew he had his own set of issues but bringing it inside the house was on another level.
"Yeah? You gonna tell Mom and Dad?" Daylon egged him on, "Do it. Ruin Mom's life, huh?"
Ashton slammed Daylon against the wall making a couple picture frames fall from where they were hanging.
Avie gasped as JJ quickly pulled her closer to him, placing his body in front of hers to block her from anything that could hurt her.
Kie flinched and went to where Pope and John B were standing, figuring she was safer over there.
"You're turning into fucking scum, Daylon!" Ashton screamed in his face. He decided against using his fists to prove a point. That might make matters worst.
Daylon rubbed his back with one hand and raised his eyebrows as he nearly smiled through his high, "That all you got?"
Avie couldn't believe his behavior. Normally, he would be fighting for his life but this time was different. He was too far gone to even comprehend what was happening. Maybe he was drunk, too.
"You know it's not. Don't make me do something I'll regret." Ashton said through gritted teeth in Daylon's face, "Go to your fuckin' room."
Daylon chuckled, "Who are you; Mom?"
Ashton mumbled something under his breath as his gripped his brother harder and basically dragged him to his room, "One of you clean that shit off the table!" He called from down the hallway as he walked aggressively into Daylon's room.
Avie let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding.
"Aves.." JJ noticed she looked flustered. She looked pale as she held a hand over her heart.
"Avie, are you okay?" Sarah stepped closer and touched her arm.
She didn't answer as she stepped back, looking between all her friends.
"Are you gonna pass out, Avie?" Pope questioned.
She shook her head slowly and grabbed one of JJ's arms. He was quick to hold her waist.
Before they could determine what was going on with her, Amelia and Rian walked through the front door.
Kie rushed to the table, brushing the leftover powder into the small bag and tossing it in the garbage. John B quickly put the joint out and also tossed it in the trash. All that money: gone.
"Hey!" Amelia smiled then dulled her face when she saw her daughter, "What's going on?"
"Avery, what happened?" Rian questioned as he closed the door behind him.
"She uh, she's fine Mr. and Mrs. Thomas. Just wasn't feeling well." JJ began guiding her towards her room, "You know..with the baby and stuff."
"Stop." Rian demanded.
The whole crew looked at each other nervously.
"Where are your brothers?" Rian asked.
Amelia looked at Avie as she placed her pocketbook on the kitchen table.
"Um," Avie was flustered, "In uh," she kept shaking her head and closing her eyes, "D-Day's room." She couldn't understand what was going on with her body. She felt lightheaded but didn't get the urge to faint. She was brokenhearted by the way Daylon had acted and what he was sneaking around their beloved parents. How could he do that?
"What's on the-" Amelia bent over to get a closer look at the white dust that was left on the table.
Kie mentally cursed herself realizing she didn't sweep all of it up.
"Avery Mae, what is this?" Amelia had a feeling she knew what it was. Especially since she figured the pogues were having themselves a night. She knew they drank, maybe smoked, but never hard drugs.
"It's not hers, Mrs. Thomas." JJ answered for her.
Rian looked at it, "Is it yours, boy?" He was angry.
"N-no, sir!" JJ answered frantically.
"It's Daylon's." Kie blurted without thinking. She didn't want to jeopardize Avie and JJ but she couldn't let them take the fall for that asshole of a brother. Hot, but a sexist pig.
"Excuse me?" Amelia furrowed her eyebrows at Kie.
"Kie.." Avie looked at her with tears in her eyes.
"You're telling me Daylon is on drugs? As in cocaine?" Rian looked at the young girl.
Kie gulped and nodded.
"Avery, is she telling the truth?" Amelia asked.
Avie squeezed her eyes shut before opening them again and nodded.
Rian let out a breath and looked to his wife.
"H-he didn't want me to say anything!" Avie walked towards them, "I only found out a-a couple weeks ago and..and I wanted to tell you guys. So bad, really. But-but he threatened me." She looked at them pleadingly as she stumbled across her words, "He promised to leave JJ alone if I didn't say anything. He told me it would hurt you guys if..if you knew. And then..and then he said if I told you guys, JJ.." Avie was now completely in tears, "JJ wouldn't see the baby." She sobbed.
Amelia stepped closer and embraced her daughter in her arms.
Rian stared as he was still in shock. His heart broke for his daughter going through everything she was.
Amelia rubbed Avie's back and comforted her, "Nothing is happening to JJ or your baby."
JJ walked them carefully.
"Why don't you kids get goin'?" Rian insisted that her friends left.
JJ scratched his head and picked up his backpack, not wanting to leave.
"Not you, kid." Rian put his hand to JJ's chest to stop him.
"Right." He nodded and put his backpack back on the ground.
John B nodded feeling sorry for the events that were unfolding, "Have a good night, sir."
Sarah smiled sadly at him, taking John B's bicep in her hand as they walked to the door.
Pope nodded his head once towards Rian and headed out.
"I'm sorry." Kie looked at him sadly and followed her friends out the door.
Rian shut the door behind them.
"She's telling the truth." JJ told them, "She wants him to get help."
"He thinks he's not addicted b-but he is." Avie pulled away from her mother and looked up at her sadly.
Amelia nodded at her, "It's okay. I'm going to talk to him and we will work it out."
"Thought we raised him better." Rian sat on the chair.
Avie sniffled, "I-I think you should wait until tomorrow morning to talk to him."
Rian and Amelia both looked at her confused.
She knew her brother was not in the right headspace for a conversation like that. It wasn't going to end well. She could see her parent's blood boiling but they were trying to keep their composure for Avie. She needed the comfort.
She was distressed. She was tired. And she did not need to hear her parent's screaming at Daylon tonight.
"He wanted to go to sleep." Avie lied.
Ashton slammed Daylon's door shut as he walked out then slowed once he saw his parents home.
"They know." Avie sighed.
"Umm.." Ashton walked slowly unable to read their faces.
"How long have you known?" Amelia asked, not really wanting to know the answer.
"Uh," Ashton scratched his eyebrow, "couple months."
"Oh my god." Rian said under his breath and looked away from Ashton.
"He's been doin' it a good year."
"Are you kidding me." Amelia stated as a sentence.
JJ stepped closer to Avie and rubbed her lower back when he noticed her start to touch it. She moved closer so her shoulder was under his armpit.
"Just, whatever you do, wait until tomorrow. He just passed out." Ashton told his parents.
Amelia shook her head, "I can't believe I am going to have to have this conversation with him."
"No. He's going straight to the rehabilitation center at the hospital." Rian stood up and pushed the chair in, "I'm not taking his bullshit excuses anymore for his actions."
"Rian,"
"We can talk to him but that's the decision. It's final." Rian stormed off to their bedroom.
Amelia sighed.
"He's right, Mom." Avie told her, "He needs real help. Finally."
Amelia looked at her daughter and nodded.
"Could help his anger, too." JJ suggested.
"I'm so worried for him." She admitted and sat in the chair, "I don't understand where we went wrong."
"You did nothing wrong, Mom. This had nothing to do with you and Dad. He's just an idiot." Avie told her.
JJ nodded in agreement, "You've raised Avie the same way and she turned out fine."
Avie furrowed her eyebrows at him and looked at her bump.
"Well, you're not on drugs!" He forced a grin.
Amelia chuckled and sighed, "I'm gonna head to bed. We'll talk more in the morning."
"Go ahead. You deserve it." Avie said.
Amelia nodded standing him and giving her daughter a hug, "Don't you guys worry," she turned to JJ, "nothing is coming between you and your daughter."
He smiled sadly, "Thank you, Mrs. Thomas."
They watched her walk to her room.
"You alright?" JJ asked as he looked down at his girlfriend.
She nodded and hugged him, "I'm alright."