Highs and Lows

(Five months later)

*Bradley's POV

Mom and dad let me go out to my friend, Ethan's party. My birthday was two days ago, but his is today. He invited me and a ton of other people over and its really fun. Its a Halloween party, so that makes it even better. I'm really surprised mom and dad even let me come. Of course they gave me a huge lecture about what to and not to do and stuff, but I'm fine. I'm always fine. Luckily, there's a party type thing going on for the squad at the apartment, so I won't be missed too much.

"Damn, you're so gorgeous!", Ethan exclaims. He hands me a shot of spiked punch. Yes, I know its got liquor in it and no, I don't care. Its just nice to get out and have some fun after all the hell we've been put through, you know?

"Touché.", I smile, tilting my head back and downing the liquid. A girl approaches us and he holds her by her waist. She's beautiful, don't get me wrong, but no. Just no. "Who's this?"

"Serena.", she speaks up.

"Oh, that's funny. My grandmother's name was Serena.", I laugh, not thinking about what I've just said.

"Excuse me?"

"No, I wasn't meaning it like that. I just meant its kind of funny. That's all."

"Right, right. You're the one with the guy name?"

"Bradley, yeah. Guess I broke the rules a little on that one.", I chuckle. Everyone is honestly too drunk or high or whatever to stand, so its all really funny.My parents are gonna kill me. I've only taken the one shot and drank a beer; other than that, I'm just really high, not that it matters.

"I think the two of you would be great friends.", Ethan tells us.

"You just want us to make out in front of you, right?", he nods his head. "Pervert."

"You know what time it is?", I ask no one in particular.

"Nine forty five, why?"

"I have to be home by ten.", if I'm not, I might as well kiss my 'freedom' goodbye. They think I'm gonna get kidnapped or something every time I go outside.

"You need a ride?"

"No, its cool. I'll call for a cab.", and I did just that.

After waiting for about twenty minutes, it finally arrived. I'm late already. Luckily my building isn't but a couple blocks away, but there was no way in hell I was going to walk on the streets, at ten at night, on a Saturday, by myself. My mom taught me better than that. By the time I got home, it was ten fifteen, only because it took me forever to get to the apartment.

Brace yourself. You'll be fine. Its just a room full of cops..and you're high. Fuck, Bradley, how could you be so stupid? Just walk in, keep your head down, and go to your room.

"I got this.", I tell myself as I walk in. But that? Complete lie. I don't 'got this' at all. Everyone is leaving just as I come in.

"Hey, baby. Did you have fun?", dad asks as he pulls me into a hug. I can feel him smelling my hair. "Liv."

"What?", he motions to me and I turn around, trying to walk away. "Not so fast, look at me.", she blocks my path and lifts my chin.

*Olivia's POV

Her eyes are bloodshot and her pupils are dilated; I can smell it on her.

"Breathe on me.", she puts her hand out, trying to push me away.

"What? No, that's stupid, mom. I'm tired, I just wanna go to bed."

"Bradley.", I say sternly. She breathes out and I can smell the alcohol. Its not extremely bad, but its bad enough. Why would she do this? She knows what kind of things happen at parties like that. Maybe I shouldn't have let her go. "What were you thinking?"

"Do you realize how much trouble you're in?! You could've taken something that could've killed you!", Nick yells in rage.

"Nick-"

"You could've died, you could've gotten-"

"What, dad?", she's so calm. Doesn't seem angry, doesn't seem happy, just calm. Its because she's under the influence, obviously, but its still so odd to witness. "Raped? Can I just go to bed?"

"No, you cannot just go to bed, you need to-"

"Daddy, I'm tired.", Nick was about to start talking, but I put my hand on his chest, signaling him to cool down. He groans and leaves the room.

"Why don't you go take a shower and then we're gonna have a talk, okay?"

"But mom-"

"You smell..illegal and you need to take a shower, okay? I'll make you something to eat."

"I'm not even hungry."

"You will be, so go."

"Mom-"

"Don't argue. Go.", I point in the direction of the bathroom and she stomps off. "Loose the attitude!", after I heard the water running, I go into the bedroom and find Nick laying in bed reading a file. "Babe.."

"You can't do that to me, Liv.", he tosses the manila folder on the bed and wipes his face with his hand.

"Do what?"

"You know what! You can't completely dismiss me when I'm trying to talk to her."

"You were yelling at her, Nick! You really think she's going to listen to you right now?"

"We make her listen.", he stands up and holds me by my arms. "She's fourteen-"

"Fifteen."

"She doesn't get to choose when she can and can't listen to us.", I place my hands delicately on his chest and fumble with the button on his shirt.

"I know that. I also know that when we yell at her, she shuts down and does talk to us. Yes, what she did was wrong-"

"What she did is illegal, Olivia."

"And if you can't keep yourself calm enough to talk to her, really talk to her; you think she's ever going to come to us?", he sighs, letting me know he's lost the battle. He wraps his arms around my lower back and gives me a kiss. "Let me talk to her and we can decide her punishment in the morning."

"..Okay."

"Nick..", the water stops running and after a few moments, slow paced footsteps fill the empty hallway.

"What?"

"I love you.", I run my fingers through his short hair and our eyes lock in a deep gaze.

"I love you, too."

"Alright, um..I'm gonna go.."

"Okay.", our lips peck each other briefly before I leave the room.

I walk out into the hallway and reach Bradley's bedroom door. I was about to knock, but instead went into the kitchen. I got out some bread and lunchmeat and things of that sort to make a sandwich. I know she's gotta be hungry. After about ten minutes, I decided to go ahead and get her.

"Bradley, get out here!", I hear a loud 'thud' followed by an 'ow' and several swear words. "Bradley, come here!", her door opens and she drags herself into the kitchen and sits at the island.

"What?"

"'What'? I think you know what and you need to put that attitude back where you found it."

"Mkay.", she sighs. "I'm sorry that I went to a really cool party and I'm sorry drank a beer and took a shot of spiked punch and I'm sorry I smoked pot. Can I go to sleep now?"

"No, Bradley, you don't get off that easy!"

"Okaaaay. Can I eat this?", she points to the sandwich and I sigh as I nod my head.

"Where did you get it from?"

"Get what from?"

"Don't act like you're clueless. Where did you get the alcohol, the pot. Where'd you get it?"

"Mom..", she pauses to swallow. "..there were like hundreds of people there."

"So, you don't know who brought what?", I ask more as a statement.

"Nope.", she says with a 'pop'.

"So you really have no clue what you've taken. Are you that  irresponsible?"

"Guess so."

"This isn't a joke, young lady! Do you honestly think that what you did tonight was okay?", she puts the sandwich on her plate and runs her fingers through her hair.

"Okay, mom, calm down. Its not a big deal, nobody died, nobody got raped, its all good."

"No its not! Are you crazy? You could have died, you could have gotten raped. Do you not understand that?"

"But I didn't. I'm a big girl, I can take care of myself."

"Since when, Bradley?", I lean on the counter, getting closer to her face. How does she think she's grown enough to make life changing-life threatening decisions like that? Maybe I'm over reacting, but I'm worried. At least in not as bad as Nick was.

"You don't even care! Why should you anyways?! You aren't even my real mom!", she yells as tears begin to swell up in her eyes. That definitely struck me by surprise. I stand straight up, not knowing exactly what to say. "I told you, I just wanted to go to bed..", and with that, she left the room.

I was just standing there like an idiot for the next ten seconds before I snapped back into reality. I throw the sandwich away and put the plate in the sink. As I walk to the bedroom, I wipe my nose with my sleeve. I can't believe she just said that to me.

She didn't mean it, right? No, of course she didn't..did she? No, no. Its just the drugs talking, that's not her. Olivia, you know this. Listen to yourself.

"Liv?", I lay in bed next to Nick and cuddle up in a ball, resting my head on his shoulder and my hand on his chest. "Everything okay?"

"Can you just..hold me?"

"Yeah, baby.", he lays on his side and I roll over, facing away from him. He pulls me as close as possible and holds me in his arms. "What happened?"

"Nothing. I'm okay.", he moves my hair back and kisses my neck.

"No you're not.", he quietly laughs. I didn't say anything after that, but Nick knew to drop it. Instead of pushing me to talk to him like normal, he just did as I asked him to. He held me.

•••••••

A/N

I'm really sorry this is so short and it took longer than usual to update! I wasn't sure what to do after the last chapter and was having some MAJOR writer's block. This one kind of sucks, but the next chapter will be a bunch of mother-daughter blah blah blah, so keep your eye out. I know a lot of you really like it when Liv has those moments with her kids, so I feel as if its my duty to make it happen. If you ever wanted to give me any kind of "requests" or stuff you'd like to read in this book, hit up my inbox and I'll try to find a way to make it fit.

Also, if you want to follow my instagram or twitter, I'll put my users below. I'm on insta ALL THE TIME, but not as much on twitter. I do have a kin as well if you ever wanted to talk to me on there. My DM on insta won't ever load correctly, so that's where you should get at me (kik).

Instagram: mariskafucknuthargitay

Twitter: mh_fucknut

Kik: mariskasvubabe

Anyhoo, this A/N was really long, but that's okay, I guess. I love you guys and I hope you liked it!😘