“We raised you better than this,” Elena says. “I’ve never been more disappointed in you.”

This is not milk and cookies. This is tough love and brutal honesty, and it’s far more sobering. Without saying another word, my moms walk into their bedroom and leave me to wallow in my own shame. I remove the cushions from the sofa and pull out my bed. I lay there, wide awake. I hear Julia tell Elena that she should call her sponsor and that she may be triggered by all this. Great, I think. If my mom falls off the wagon, then I’ll be the one to blame for it. At least I won’t be tossing and turning, worried about what fresh punishment the morning might bring. Thanks to the pot gummy still working its way through my system, I can feel myself falling right to sleep.

Parisa

I have the worst headache of my life.

Gabriela

I puked this morning. Like, three times.

Parisa

Me too! I sort of felt better after though.

Gabriela

My moms said I deserved it. Ugh. I hate when they’re right.

Parisa

My parents told me to eat bacon and a lot of bread.

Gabriela

I can’t eat anything. I’m not sure any of that was worth it.

Parisa

It wasn’t. How do people do this all the time?

WAIT. What if this isn’t from what we did last night, but we have Adema?! Should we go to the hospital?

Gabriela

No! We don’t have Adema. We’re just hungover.

Parisa

How do you know the difference?

Gabriela

Does your stomach look okay?

Parisa

I mean, it’s a little bloated but otherwise yeah.

Gabriela

Then you’re probably fine. I heard people break out in a rash on their belly. It’s the first sign.

Parisa

Weird. Okay, well. No rash. Phew. Anyway, were your moms so pissed? I’m so sorry. I feel like such a loser. I ruin everything.

Gabriela

No, you don’t. It’s fine!

I should have known you might have a bad reaction. It’s my fault for not being more prepared. The sucky part is I’m not allowed to go to homecoming or Halloween at your place. I’m basically on house arrest for the next two weeks aside from work and school.

Parisa

Nooooooo! We have the BTS concert next weekend!

Gabriela

I know I’ll pay you back for the ticket.

Parisa

No way. I’ll just sell them. I bet Andrew will buy them off me so he can take Lizzy. Gross.

Gabriela

No! You should just go and take Wes or your mom or something.

Parisa

LOL. Can you picture Wes at BTS?

Gabriela

LOLLL. Dying.

Parisa

There’s no way I’d ever go without you. Ugh. This sucks. Not hanging out for two weekends will literally feel like an eternity.

Gabriela