As Reed approached his twin, who tried and failed to hide from him behind the cluster of people that had accumulated around him (Parker’s natural ability to attract people had always made Reed sneer in jealousy; although quiet and far less confident than his younger brother Parker had the effortless power to draw people into his space and keep them entranced, a skill Reed had spent years trying to perfect), the boy felt his annoyance tinge with genuine concern and knew that even if he had to drag him, he was going to get Parker away from this toxic environment Reed knew far too much about to let his brother become addicted to. His eyebrows knitted together and his mouth turned into a deeper scowl the moment Parker started talking, the slightly slurred words sounding so unlike him. Ignoring the squeals that emitted from the girls once Reed had joined them, knowing that in their drunken state a pair of equally attractive twins in the same vicinity was enough to excite them to the point of hysteria, the younger twin sternly grabbed hold of Parker’s elbow, as if he were physically trying to pull him back down from whatever high he was on.
"I’m not interested in girls or pills, you idiot." Reed hissed, just loud enough for Parker to hear him over the pounding music and incessant giggling around them. Seeing the lazy grin attached to his identical’s face and the complete lack of care the older boy usually held, Reed was struck by the realisation that Parker was acting like him, and Reed knew with a tug of guilt in his chest that if the roles were reversed he would have told Parker to piss off if the boy had sought him out, which he probably had a hundred times while Reed was too drunk to notice. Reed’s voice turned softer in his next words, though his grip still firm on his brother’s arm, ready to march him out of the house party if necessary. "Mom and dad are worried sick about you, you know that? You can’t do this shit, especially not after…" Reed couldn’t say the last few words, and chose to ignore the fact he did the same thing to Parker every week, left him worried sick when he didn’t return home for a day or two only to come stumbling home without a care. But the difference was that Parker had parents who worried about him, and noticed his absence barely minutes after it had gone. Reed didn’t have that. "This isn’t you, Parker, so stop being such a twat and let’s get the hell out of here."
Despite the annoyance evident in Reed's voice, Parker could only laugh, his head lolling slightly on his neck. His gaze was slightly unfocused as he attempted to return his twin's stare, but with a quarter of the concentration and none of the anger. For a moment Parker thought he saw a twinge of worry in his brother, but put it down to his inebriated state of mind. "Mom and dad should be sleeping, Reed, it's waaaaay past their bedtime." Grinning at his weak joke, Parker glanced over at the girls around them that giggled despite how unfunny he was being. "C'mon Reed, lighten up! This is your thing, these are your people?" His voice raised slightly as he gestured around him, narrowly avoiding smacking a member of their audience and frowning slightly as Reed's grip limited his range of movement. "Reed, you're being a party pooper, reverse the roles, and all that crap. I'm having," he grunted slightly as he tugged his arm out of his brother's grasp, "fun!" After twisting his arm, Parker successfully got free, and darted away from his twin, proud of himself for getting away, a childlike laugh tumbling from his lips.
The house was full to the brim of drunken teens, and Parker felt unsteady on his feet. He was sure that Reed was going to come after him, so the older boy darted from room to room, grinning at strangers that hollered indecipherable phrases at him. A number of girls waved slender fingers for his attention, skimpy clothing barely covering their frames. For the first time, Parker was tempted to stay, lingering glances he had never cast before. If his mind had been in a sober state, maybe he would have realised that he was in a dangerous place, a light nudge from toppling over the edge. But it wasn't, and he kept moving. He wasn't expecting Reed to appear as suddenly as he had, and Parker jumped. "Hey, brother! Ready to join in the fun?"
