The First Muse

JOJO'S POV

I wake up with a mild headache to see Aunt—Mom looking down at me with worry lines visible on her forehead.

“Mom? I call, my voice weirdly hoarse.

Ew! My breath smells like a soured waste sewage tunnel.

I move to sit up and she props up the pillow to help me get settled. A glass of water and aspirin is given to me and I take them dutifully.

I clear my throat, “Thanks.”

I've been thinking… maybe we should move back to Manhattan.” She looks at me expectantly

The glass cup trembles in my hand and I drop it on the nightstand, “What?”

She sighs, “I feel like you're having trouble adjusting to this place…” I protest but she raises her voice prompting me to let her finish.

“Last night was the third time you got so messed up and we've barely settled here.”

This is not the conversation to be having with a hangover, she doesn't play fair.

Ughhhh!

“I'm a teenager, we're allowed to do dumb things and blame it on our emotions. That's our EMO.”

“The last time you did a dumb