It takes me longer than I would like to admit to unlock my door when Becky drops me off, we dropped Sophie off too. Neither of us in any shape to get ourselves home.

It shows as I hop from foot to foot and lean against the wall to get my heels off. After I stumble up the stairs, I glance towards my ensuite, the thought of having to get undressed, find the right water temperature, get wet and wash my body all to get dry again is far too complex for my brain right now, I can shower in the morning. When I collapse onto my bed, memories of simpler times consume my dreams …

With my headphones in and my iPod on shuffle, I dance around my bedroom. Drowning out the reality that I’m stuck at home on a Saturday night. A Saturday night which doubles as my birthday mind you. Mum doesn’t let me adventure out of the house other than to go to school, yet even though we are under the same roof we barely say two words to each other. She’s probably already drunk herself into a state of unconsciousness, glancing at my iPod the time is 9.05pm; yep she will be out by now, I should go turn the lights off and pop a blanket over her. I don’t blame her; for the drinking, or for anything for that matter. Her husband left for work one day and never returned, and then her son died two years later. Yeah, life’s been a little rough for us.

*clink* pause *clink*

I take my headphones out and listen for the noise again.

Another clink sounds, before it’s followed by a muffled “ah shit”

Peeking through my bedroom curtains, a big goofy grin and green eyes look back at me. I shake my head and slide open the window, whilst he proceeds to pop off the fly wire. “We do have a front and back door,” I laugh, moving out of the way for him to climb through, “You know Mum never makes it past 9pm.”

I see the concern flash in his eyes before he lets it go. Jesse shrugs. “I thought rocks on the window were kinda poetic.”

“I didn’t know Jesse Fernandez was a romantic,” I say before tossing my iPod onto my desk in the corner of my room.

He scoffs before nudging me with his shoulder. “I said poetic, not romantic.”

“I’ll be back, I’m just going to check on Mum.” I wave my hand in front of him. “Make yourself at home.”

Knowing that Jesse might be here for a while, I grab some snacks from the kitchen before heading back to the bedroom.