Addictive

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It was a week at my dad’s house, and I knew he wouldn’t be off work for a couple more hours. So I decided to head over to Lexi’s and hang out there for a while. She wasn’t home from school yet, but I had a key so I let myself in. Her Irish Wolfhound, Jelly Bean, was lounged on the couch. I was always impressed with the fact that Lexi set aside a good chunk of any money she made for Jelly Bean. He was a present from her dad right before he died, she’d always wanted a big dog as a kid. When her father died, her grandparents wanted to get rid of him, but Lexi wouldn’t allow it and told them she’d pay for and take care of Jelly Bean and that’s exactly what she did.  

            Jelly immediately jumped off the couch and ambushed me with kisses. To be so large he was surprisingly light on his feet and very sweet natured. I had always wanted a pet but when the parents split it was no longer an option. Neither parent wanted the responsibility of watching it the week I wasn’t at their house, and neither parent wanted it in the house the week I was there. They made me so ill sometimes.

            I sat down on the couch with the hundred pound plus Jelly Bean comfortably napping in my lap and turned on the TV.  Lexi walked in a few minutes later looking flustered. She tossed her book bag into her room and retreated to the kitchen where I could hear her rummaging through the fridge. She came back in the living room holding a Corona.

            “Hard day?’ I questioned and she popped the cap off and took a swig.

            The one thing that kind of bothered me about Lexi was her drinking. She got stuff from college boys she’d hook up with and hoarded tons of it in her fridge. I was never into smoking and drinking and all, so it was hard to watch Lexi do it so frequently. Especially because she was so intelligent and strong, and she just drank until she was stupid and would go out with losers to forget how much she actually hated her life.

            “Gramps won’t give me my check for the month,” She took another sip. By now the bottle was almost empty, as she was chugging. “And Jelly Bean has to go to the vet to get some vaccine and I have to order my cap and gown and get groceries and I’ve basically spent all my money from last month.”

            “That sucks.” I knew I couldn’t really say anything else because Lexi rarely opened up about whatever was bothering her, and when she did she didn’t want some cliché ‘it’ll be okay’ or ‘things will get better.’ Lexi wanted you to agree her life sucked and move along.

            “It’s whatever, I’ll get a part time job or something.”

            That was that. The conversation was over and Lexi was starting on her second beer. By her third she was starting to get a little lighter and her mood was improving.

            “Hey Davis is picking me up for dinner in an hour, so you can hang here if you want but I’ll be gone a while.”

            I nodded, masking my dismay well. Davis was this twenty-one year old who worked at Olive Garden. He was very good-looking and came from a well-respected and wealthy family. The problem was he treated Lexi like dirt and talked down to her like it was his job. He sucked and she always went back to him when she was lonely.

            “Okay,” I said, nodding my head. “I may stay for a little bit.”

            I just really didn’t feel like going home and talking to dad.

            “Alright, well I’m going to start getting ready.” Lexi kissed Jelly Bean’s head, grabbed another beer, and headed to her room. She emerged almost an hour later with her hair teased to look thicker, dark eye shadow and obviously fake eyelashes. Her curves were hugged tightly in a black, shiny strapless dress and I knew it wouldn’t faze her if I told her she looked like a hooker.