Alcohol solves all my problems

For the next few days, I pretty much barricaded myself in my room. And it essentially worked – I went full degenerate, living off crisps and coffee to spend as little time in communal areas as possible, and playing video games all night. I had cut off all human contact, and I wasn’t even getting a negative reaction about it from my family.

The problem was, I knew why they were letting me off the hook. Friday was coming up, and with it, my stepmum’s little gathering. I was going to be expected to be there. And we all know who else was expected to be there.

When the day came, I was very much dreading it, but at least I had a plan: get shit-faced to the point where I wouldn’t even feel the embarrassment and irritation at my stepsister situation anymore.

Unfortunately, as soon as I got downstairs it became apparent that it wasn’t going to be that type of party. My dad and stepmum stood in a crowd of other Asian parents drinking champagne, bragging about their kid’s accomplishments, while gossiping about other parents from around the neighborhood. Charley, the adult charmer, was surrounded by a mob who were clearly taking mental notes to impart on their own children while she regaled them with tales of her successes at school and university.

I myself sipped fizz and nodded along to small talk for a little while, but it quickly became pretty grating. I had a slight buzz going from the champagne, but nowhere near the level I had been hoping to get to that night. I wasn’t really a casual drinker; more of a drink to get drunk kind of guy.

Luckily, with Charley around the adults got bored of me pretty quickly, so I managed to slip into our alcohol cabinet and grab a bottle of Jack Daniels, some coke from the fridge, and slip upstairs unnoticed. I just hoped that me showing my face would be enough for my stepmum.

As I sat on the edge of me and Charley’s balcony enjoying my first real drink of the evening, I reflected on everything that had happened. The first few days with her back had gone about as badly as humanly possible, but I could still do my best to avoid further embarrassment.

I slowly sipped my Jack and Coke, and enjoyed the feeling as I progressed past the slight buzz I’d built up downstairs. I just had to stick it out for a few weeks – stay in my room as much as possible and avoid her as much as I could. It seemed doable.

“Mind if I join?” a voice said from behind me, as if on cue.