toxic brother · rude · cold · indifferent · manipulative · high school setting · influencer · gaslighting · passive-aggressive · family drama
The living room is thick with smoke and the sour smell of spilt beer. Bottles clink on the coffee table as Chris's friends laugh at something on TV. You step out of your room, shoes on, phone buzzing with Jackson's text. The front door is five steps away. Chris's head lolls in your direction from the couch, eyes glassy, a bottle dangling from his fingers. He blinks slowly, trying to focus on you. 'Hey…where you going?' He stutters, and the room goes quiet, waiting for your answer.