The Playground

Deciding that partaking in the middle of a street full of adults was a bad idea, the group moved just outside of the main square, finding a private spot to engage in their underage drinking. They settled on an old playground set, which nobody would be using considering the much more interesting attractions in the square.

Charlie, after taking a mouthful of tequila, stormed off, trying to find her ‘fucking sister’.

Bobby, eager to try and play catch up, claimed ownership of the bottle after Charlie left, drinking from it liberally seated on a swing. His sister is on the swing next to him, swaying back and forth slowly.

“You should slow down…” Aaron warned, watching his friend with morbid interest from a seesaw. “That stuffs kinda…”

“It’s fucking awful.” Bobby winkles up his nose. “But it’s fucking better than strawberry.”

“You hate strawberry?” Ethan calls over, having taken a seat not far away on a patch of cool grass. “Who the fuck hates strawberry?”

“I don’t like it much either…” Aaron shrugs.

“I like strawberry…” the dark-haired girl chimes in, sheepishly looking back at Ethan.

Shooting her a smile, Ethan motions towards the younger girl. “Thank you, glad somebody around he has some fucking taste.”

“Eh,” Aaron riffles through his bag, retrieving the schnapps. “It’s all yours then.” He tosses the bottle to the girl, who struggles to catch it.

“Hey!” Bobby reaches for his sister, or more accurately the bottle. “Don’t fucking drink…” the tequila catches up with him, Bobby quickly losing his balance and falling into the dirt.

Aaron howls from the seesaw, laughing so hard he almost falls off of it. “Fucking dumbass fell off the swing set!” He laughs harder, clutching his belly.

Pulling himself up, Bobby glares at Aaron, forgetting all about his sister. “What the fuck you laughing at dipshit?”

“Dipshit?” Aaron asks between laughs. “Sure, whatever, at least I didn't fall off the fucking swin- FUCK!” Bobby threw the tequila bottle at Aaron, and would have hit him in the head if it wasn't for a deft dodge. He bolts up off the seesaw, his bottle filled back dropping to the ground with a series of loud clinks. “You fucking…”

Bobby drags himself out of the sand, wiping himself off as she stomps towards Aaron. “Come here you bit-”

Sitting on the grass, eyes heavy, Ethan watches the two run around the playground. Bobby is chasing around Aaron, trying to catch him, throwing obscenities now instead of bottles. So engrossed by the chase he doesn't notice the small figure take up a spot beside him.

“Is this what drinking does?” she asks, spooking Ethan slightly.

“Fuck! Oh, uhh…” Ethan looks back at his friends, watching Aaron try to run up a slide, only to fall backward onto Bobby. “Eh…” He shrugs, unable to really say.

Next to him, the girl uncaps the bottle in her hands, taking a small sip. Gagging, the girl spits it out immediately. “Urg,” she retches, “That… That’s gross!”

“Eh, yeah, gimme that..” Ethan takes the bottle from her, then throws it as hard as he can in no general direction. “Bobby would…” he watches Bobby pull Aarons shirt over his head, trying to pummel him, only for the latter to slip free. “Well, he’d be pissed.”

The two of them watch the boys run in silence for a few minutes, up until Boddy trips and falls face first into the dirt.

“Should we… Do something?”

“Hm?” Ethan blinks, having forgotten again he wasn't alone.

“Like what?”

“I don’t know…” she mumbles, watching her brother start swinging Aarons backpack around like a club.

“Do whatever you want.” Ethan shrugs, suddenly feeling tired

The girl looks at him, frowning slightly. “I want them to stop.”

“Well that ain't gonna happen.” Ethan swallows, watching Aaron turn the tables on Bobby, throwing a shoe at him so hard it claps in the night air. “They’ll be fine. Once one of them gets hurt they’ll stop.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah,” Ethan lied.

The two watched them for another moment, both boys barely able to run anymore.

“Ethan?”

“Hm?” Ethan looked at the girl, her face hard suddenly blurry. Blinking he tries to get it into focus.

“Do…”