THE DRUG IN ME IS YOU

Twelve.

The more comfortable Wren got in school, the faster the weeks flew by. She couldn't remember ever being even close to this happy in Colorado. She had great friends, an amazing boyfriend, and she was spending a lot of quality time with her god father, who had been more a father to her in her life than her own dad had ever been. Johnny was drinking less than he ever had and the two of them spent time practicing karate, watching movies, playing video games and exploring California.

"Damnit!" Johnny dropped his controller on his lap as Wren beat him for the third time in a row. "I used to kick ass on this game at the arcade, how are you so much better than me?" He looked at Wren as the street fighter logo came up on the screen so another level could load. Wren grinned at him, "You run a dojo with mostly boys and you didn't think my video game skills would surpass yours?" Wren raised a brow at him. Johnny sighed, hitting the pause button.

"Speaking of... we have to talk."

Wren looked at her godfather, a nervous feeling building up in her stomach. "About?" she questioned innocently.

"You and Hawk have been dating for a while now...."

Oh god.

"About three months," Wren interjected quickly. "Not that long..."

"Okay look, I wasn't born yesterday, and I know Hawk's been sneaking in here on occasion and that you've been saying you've been at Tory's or Aisha's and you've been staying at his place when his parents aren't home, and I just want to make sure you two are being careful cause I was a teenage boy once and I know exactly how teenage boys are and you're like my kid, so... yeah." Johnny looked from the floor to Wren.

"We aren't having sex."

"Oh thank god.... so you're sure you don't need me to buy you condoms?"

"Oh god, no."

"But if you need them, you'll ask..."

"I am on birth control."

"That's too much information."

"You just informed me you've known for months that my boyfriend has been sneaking in here after hours and you're oddly calm and I'm mostly mortified."

"Oh no, I'm also mortified, but I'm not that calm, I've been contemplating murdering him."

"Please don't, I really like him."

"You're lucky I love you kid."

"Love you too Uncle Johnny."

Johnny stood up from the couch, putting his controller on the coffee table. "We have to get ready to head to the dojo," he stated simply, taking a few steps toward his bedroom.

"Oh," he stopped, not turning around. "If I ever hear the two of you in the shower again while I'm in the apartment, I'm embarrassing the fuck out of both of you," and with that, went into his room, closing the door behind him.

——-

"I think we're due for a party," Aisha stated from her spot stretching on the mat. Wren reached her arm behind her back, trying to get her back to pop like it had the other day, she could feel one of her muscles locking up. "A party?" Doug Rickenberg questioned, walking over to them. "Ah, just the height I need, pull my arm back and help me stretch will you?" Wren asked him. Doug nodded, grabbing Wren's hand to hold in place so she could stretch her shoulder out.

"Yeah, maybe we can have another one at the canyon? We haven't done that in a while..." Aisha looked to Tory and Miguel who were stretching next to her. Wren felt her back pop, groaning in relief, "God bless, other hand please" she wiggled her fingers at Doug who laughed, letting go of her left hand and grabbing her right.