Revive (Book Two)

Chapter Twenty-Five: Intrusive

I remembered the area I grew up in so vividly that it felt like if I walked out of my front door right now, I'd be there. The smell was different, the air felt thicker.

"Yeah," I absently repeated while the phone was on speaker on my counter. I opened the jar that should be meant for sugar and pulled out a few pills. "Right," I mumbled in distraction. I'd have to get blow while I was down there, but luckily I knew where I could find some.

I paused on the words over the phone and stared at the dimmed screen. "I can't stop by," I muttered. "And I don't need to, I'll be fine. Aria is coming with me."

"You're very reserved, buddy. I'm worried about you."

I internally rolled my eyes. "I just have a lot on my mind. Trying not to spiral."

Tyler gave a chuckle. "On a scale of one to ten, how much do you want her there?"

"Negative," I muttered and counted the pills in my hand.

"Are you going to let her meet him?"

I laughed. "Are you fucking high?" I joked and shoved twelve pills in the baggie, keeping one in my pocket. "No, she'll be in the hotel most of our stay."

"You think she'll listen?" Tyler asked.

"No. But she has to." It wasn't safe.

"Are you sure you want to do this, E?" Tylers gross and growing concern bled through the phone.

"Don't have much of a choice," I mumbled. "I'll be fine, don't worry."

"Here's hoping he's a vegetable," Ty lightheartedly said.

"Or already dead," I muttered. I glanced at the front door and saw Aria struggling through the locks. "Here's hoping," I repeated as she walked in. "I gotta go." I hung up. "Hi beautiful," I greeted.

She glanced at the opened jar and I cursed, knowing I just got busted. "Are you ready?" She smiled.

"About that," I said and walked over to her. "Is there anyway we can skip that, and I'll take you to Tahiti instead?"

She smirked. "Tahiti, hm?" She glanced at my eyebrow piercing, seeing as I changed it from silver to black.

I had stabbed a needle into my nose for a new piercing months ago while on opioids, and switched it to a hoop as well. I didn't expect her to like the look as much as she did, but she tipsily let that slip out recently, which only made it all the more satisfying.

"I remember you saying you've always wanted to go," I murmured.

Aria pulled a piece of paper from her purse and examined it. "Huh," She said and poked the paper. "These airline tickets don't say Tahiti," She met my eyes. "Shame, shame."

"Shame," I repeated smoothly. "But I think I can fix that," I murmured while fixing a strand of her hair to tuck behind her ear.

Aria gently took my hand and caressed my rough knuckles. "C'mon," She said softly. "We're going to miss our flight."

The flight was miserable.

I hated airports and I hated having people look over my documentation. Aria glided through the airport security with ease, whereas I never did.

I was silent most of the plane, listening to music with my head rested against the window. I didn't want to talk, I didn't even want to think. I wanted to take a pill and fade but I couldn't even do that. I was thankful that Aria was at least respectful of the silence. She knew when I needed it.

I felt immense anxiety when I stepped out of the airport in my hometown. My heart was beating so loud, my eardrums heard nothing else. Everything was a faint echo, and my vision wasn't clear enough to comprehend what was truly happening around me. I was losing consciousness and I couldn't stop it.