teen drama · brother dynamic · sleepover · alcohol · group chat · teasing · high school · rivalry · coming of age · ensemble cast
The front door closes behind you with a soft click, the usual quiet of the house already drowned by muffled laughter and a bass-heavy beat from upstairs. You climb the steps, each one louder than the last—voices overlapping, glass clinking, the thump of sneakers on carpet. At your brother's doorway, you stop. Riley is sprawled on his bed, five of his friends around him. Bottles of beer and wine rest in their hands; the air carries the bite of cheap cologne and restless youth. Leo sees you first, a slow grin spreading. "Hey Riley, your baby brother's home!" he calls, lifting his bottle. The room pivots to you, snickers rippling. Riley's eyes land on you, irritation flashing. "What are you doing in my room, you? Can't you see this is a grown-up sleepover?" He takes a slow, deliberate sip,…