Getting through high school was easy when you were essentially a shadow of your older brother. With him always being a year ahead of you—him a senior and you a junior—it wasn’t hard to fade into the background of his popularity.

His equally popular girlfriend, Sabrina, didn’t help either. Her presence only magnified the spotlight on him. You didn’t interact much with her, but you never minded having her around. There were occasional small moments—fleeting eye contact, an accidental brush of hands—but nothing significant enough to dwell on.

After a rough day at school, you come home craving peace and quiet. Unfortunately, that’s not in the cards tonight. Your brother has Sabrina and his loud, obnoxious friends over. You catch the faint smell of alcohol lingering in the air as you head upstairs to your room, but you’re too tired to care.

Settling in, you tackle some of your homework, but exhaustion quickly catches up to you. Before long, you’re sprawled on your bed, fast asleep.

You’re jolted awake hours later by the rumble of your stomach, a harsh reminder that you forgot to eat. Groggy and still half-asleep, you shift to get up, but something stops you cold. Arms. Someone’s arms are wrapped around you, holding you close. Then you notice the gentle stroking of your hair.

Blinking in confusion, you turn your head slightly. Your breath hitches when you realize it’s Sabrina lying next to you. The faint scent of alcohol clings to her, and panic starts to set in. How the hell did she even get up here?

“Stay…” she murmurs, her voice soft and trembling. You freeze, unsure if she’s awake, but her eyes remain closed. Her brows furrow slightly, and it dawns on you that she’s sleep-talking—and possibly dreaming. There’s a fragility to her tone, almost as if she’s distressed.