I open my eyes, still feeling the effects of the brownies from yesterday, plus I feel nauseous and I have the worst headache.
I sit up noticing my empty bedroom, which means Shannon must have left already.
I go to get up but pause when I see a dark black hoodie folded up on the edge of my bed.
Patrick's hoodie.
I smile at the fact that he actually left his hoodie here. I get up off my bed and put the hoodie away in my wardrobe before grabbing my school uniform, since It's Thursday and I still have to go to school.
But even though I'm not doing anything for it, It's still my sixteenth birthday on Saturday, which is exciting, I guess.
I get changed, and then open my bedroom door seeing that Joey is walking up the stairs, also wearing his school uniform, in his hands he's holding a glass of water and Advil.
He looks up when he hears the door close, usually he would smile at me but instead he stares at me with a blank expression, which I guess is what I expected.
"We have to talk."
"Yeah, I know." I mutter, turning back around and walking into my bedroom, Joey follows me and shuts the door behind him.
"So I think we should start as to why you were even hanging out with a boy in the first place. Lizzie told me his name was Nicholas?"
"I don't know, we're friends kinda, I haven't known him long," I shrug, sitting on my bed, and Joey places the water and Advil on my bedside table before sitting beside me.
"He Isn't your friend, Delilah. Did he tell you that there was weed in those brownies?"
I think about it for a few moments before shaking my head, "No, He didn't."
"And did he try to get you to do anything?"
"No, We were watching a movie, I fell asleep and then when I woke up I realised what time it was so we left."
Joey runs a hand through his hair, blowing out a frustrated breath. "You fell asleep?"
"Nothing happened, Joe, I promise, It was fine."
"No it isn't fine, Delilah, you got high."
"So? I felt.. I don't know how to explain it." I shrug, and Joey nods understandingly.
"I know, trust me. I know, you take the first hit or snort something and you feel good. So good that when It's offered to you the next time, you want to feel that high again, so you take it-and before you know it, you're addicted and nothing or nobody can make you stop. Do you understand me?"
I knew Joey was talking about his own experience, and how drugs make him feel, but even though yesterday all my problems went away, and nothing really mattered, I don't want to disappoint Joey, especially because all he's done for me, and my siblings.
"I know. It won't happen again, promise."
"Good." Joey nods, "Another thing, I want you to stay away from Nicholas, and don't hang out with him again. I don't know who he is, but just stay away from him, alright?"
"I'll try, and I am really sorry, Joey."
Joey moves off my bed and the bedroom door opens, revealing Tadgh, in his school uniform, who is holding Sean in his arms, "He wants Mam."
"What happened to Mam?" I ask, looking over at Joey, but Tadgh answers instead. "Dad left after taking everything and the television, then she left an hour later in a Taxi."
"Oh." I frown, but then It makes sense as to why Patrick was even allowed in my house last night, "Well, Did she say where she was going?"
"Nope. But who cares." Tadgh shrugs, "Just please take Sean, I need to go brush my teeth."
I take Sean away from Tadgh, and he leaves heading for the bathroom, then I turn back to Joey. "Want me to stay here so I can look after Sean?"
Joey thinks about it for a few minutes before nodding, "I have an exam In home Economics, and Aoife will have my head if I miss it, so do you mind?"
Not at all.
A free house with no parents and just Sean to keep me company, may not be exciting to anyone but me. It's a day off of school, and I won't have to spend it holed up in my bedroom, both of those are major wins.
"I don't mind, I would prefer to stay here with Sean anyways."
"Thanks, Delilah. I appreciate it. If Mam comes back, get her to give me a call."
"Will do." I nod, as Joey leaves my bedroom and starts yelling at Tadgh and Ollie to hurry up. I sit down with Sean in my lap, and he stands up on my lap, his tiny arms wrapping around my neck. "I want Mammy."
"I know, Sean. But she's coming back."
"When?"
"Soon."
Sean nods, seeming okay with that answer and he moves off my lap, laying down on my bed, shutting his eyes. I take off my school uniform so I can put on Patricks hoodie and a pair of shorts before laying down next to Sean, because going back to sleep sounds like a great idea.
"Hold on. Go back like to the start, Delilah was high?"
"Yes." Gibsie confirms staring at Hughie, "I've explained this so many times."
"Yes, but are you sure it was Delilah Lynch? Like she's barely five feet, how did she survive eating a-" Hughie stops to lower his voice, "weed brownie."
"I have no fucking clue, lad. But her and Feely were getting real close in the back of my car." Gibsie grins at me and I flip him off, "Shut up, or I'll tell Hughie how you watched his-" I start but get cut off by him covering my mouth with his hand.
He starts forcefully laughing. "Ignore him, he doesn't know what he's saying."
I pull Gibsies hand away from my mouth, and Hughie rolls his eyes, "I'm going to ignore that, so what happened in Delilah's bedroom?"
"Nothing, I just layed with her until she fell asleep."
"That's it?" Gibsie gaped at me, "You had that girl next to you and didnt do anything? You have some serious self control."
"She was high, Gibs, and plus It's not like that, we're friends." I explain, pulling out a chocolate bar from my lunch box before closing it up. Gibsie scoffs, "Yeah your friends, and I'm the virgin fucking mary."
"Leave them alone, Gibs. Just because you've had your dick in most of the girls in this school, does not mean that here is the same." Johnny cuts in, from beside me, and Gibsie frowns, shrugging. "Like you can talk."
"Ye both of a bunch of whores." Hughie snickers, causing Johnny and Gibsie to flip him off at the exact same time.
"Shove off it, Saint Hugh." Johnny teases, "Just because we weren't all blessed with your perfect relationship."
Hughie fake laughs, and as if on cue, Katie walks over with Claire, Lizzie and Shannon following her.
Katie of course goes over to Hughie, Claire to Gibsie, Shannon, surprisingly sits down in the empty seat next to me and Lizzie moves further down the table to sit on Pierce's lap, which just makes me roll my eyes.
"Thanks for what you did for Delilah, yesterday." Shannon mutters to me, which makes me look down at her.
"You're welcome, How is she doing?"
"She was asleep when I left, but Joey texted me saying that she was staying at home with our brother." Shannon explains, "I see, and are your parents home?"
"Uh, no..they work."
Right, no shit.
"It's your guy's birthday this weekend, right?" I ask changing the subject, and Shannon nods, "Yeah, It Is."
"Okay, that's what I thought, I was gonna get Delilah something and then give it to you next Monday so then you can give it to her."
Shannons blue eyes widened, "She'll appreciate that."
"And what do you want?"
"Hm?" She says, eyes going even wider.
"It's your birthday too, It would be rude for me to just get Delilah something and not you."
"Oh." Shannon shakes her head, "No, No. You don't have to get me anything, honestly."
"Well I want to." I say, but before she can answer, Claire starts getting up and gestures to her friends to follow her.
Shannon hurries away, while Lizzie kisses Pierce on the cheek before following the two. Katie was still here, but she and Hughie were too busy whispering to each other to realise that the bell had rung signalling the end of lunch.
I packed up my stuff, and walked out with Gibsie and Johnny, then we went our separate ways from Johnny because he was in higher classes than us sometimes.
The two of us headed towards the Science building, and since all Gibsie could talk about was Delilah and I, I pretended like I was listening, but in reality I wasn't because all my thoughts and conversations seem to be about her these days.
I get enough of it at home from my sisters, especially Kaelin, when she found out that I gave the girl another one of my hoodies she literally had a mini celebration.
I still don't know why everyone is so intrigued, Delilah and I are just friends.
I doubt she even likes me like that, I mean sure she asked me to lay on her bed with her and she kissed me on the cheek last night, but that's probably because she was just high, she definitely wouldn't do that now.
I feel someone slap the back of my head which makes me turn my head around and look at Gibsie who is sitting next to me.
"What was that for?" I grumble, rubbing my head. "Stop thinking about Delilah for one second, You're the only reason I'm passing this class."
"I wasn't thinking about Delilah." I lie, "Maybe it wouldn't be like that if you stopped daydreaming about Claire and listened to the teacher."
Gibsie scowled, "Go back to thinking about Delilah you were much better when you weren't paying attention to me."