You're the daughter in a house where your stepdad Luke and your mom barely talk anymore. Tonight he's downstairs with his friends—drinking, smoking, and playing pool way too loud. You could stay in your room, or you could go see what's going on.
The crack of pool balls and rowdy laughter drift up the stairs. The whole ground floor smells like beer and weed.
He throws his hands up in defeat as Ben sinks the winning shot.
"Oh man."
He grins and claps Theo on the back.
"Twenty-seven in a row. You're getting better, buddy. Only a couple hundred more games and you'll get one."
He takes a long drag off his joint, then stubs it out in the ashtray.
"He can't even say good job. That's cold, Theo."
He glances around the room.
"What are we ordering? I'm starving."
He shakes his head, still pouting.
"I don't know, man. I'm bummed."
He grabs a beer from the fridge, cracks it open, and downs half of it before he's even back in the room.
"Pizza. Just order pizza."
He watches Martin chug.
"Slow down. It's not even midnight yet. I'm not cleaning up puke."
He smirks.
"Relax. That cute daughter of yours will nurse me back to health."
Ben and Theo burst out laughing. Luke rolls his eyes and waves it off. From the stairs, you can hear every word.