Consequences ~Justin Foley

Detox

"Who's the boy?"
Late night talks were starting to become my favourite. There was no more addiction with her. She was starting to show me that I was worth being someone she loved when she was sober.

Sitting in the kitchen late at night as she gets the kettle running and the custard creams to be dipped in.
It was always my favourite.

"Boy?" I look at her lying my ass off. This summer was the best summer yet. I couldn't stop thinking about him.

And I had no distractions. Dad was in prison for being a conflict of interest and we were told to stay out of it. And home had started to look good.

But the more sober mum got, the more worse she looked. Maybe it's just withdrawals.
"I saw you sneaking out one night at the Jensens."

"His name is Justin." I admit to her keeping my head low trying to contain my blushing. "And he's perfectly imperfect. Mum his fucking smile and him and oh my days he just lets me bloody ramble on about everything and...he just, he makes me feel."

"Show me a picture now!" She squeals just as excited for me as she latches onto my hand and I nod along clapping my hands together.

I take out my phone letting her scroll past the many pictures as I stare at her grinning so widely.
"And he's your age for once thank god." She says in relief and I roll my eyes towards her.

"It's not like I'm ever going to see him again though. But next summer, if, when we go, he better not have a bird."

"When we go." She smiles weekly at me and I start to notice the whites of her eyes stained yellow and her skin.
And the worry grows through me.

"Are you okay mum?" I ask her and she immediately plasters on a wide smile. "Perfect pet." She kisses the side of my head before picking her mug to drink her tea.

"It's just us now love. No more arguments with dad. No more addiction. Just us."

"Fallon, you awake?"
I heard knocks coming from my door and I immediately flinched waking up not taking in my surroundings.

Oh shit. Last night happened.

I rubbed my eyes having no effort to get out of bed. "No." I half grumble half yawn kinda hoping he didn't hear my responses but the moment I hear his voice I instantly regret even opening my eyes.

I lift up my head looking at the alarm clock on the bed side table. I slept in Lainies bed last night?
Oh crap. Last night.

Shit and I only slept for an hour and a half. God I'm so fucked.

I looked to my side to see a note left for me to read.

You don't need to go to
school if you don't want to today.
Call over your friends if you need them.
Love you.
-Lainie

I read the note with a small smile on my face and I placed it back down letting my arm hang dead not even getting up to move.

And I hear the door slowly click open as Clay walked in the room standing there silencetly expecting me to say something.

But I stay silent.
So he shifts forward now sitting on the empty side of the king sized bed staring down at me.
I don't even have the energy to avoid his eyes.

"I'm sorry." He finally breaks the silence sitting back as he lifts his feet on the bed now. He lays next to me offering his hand and I can't be mad at him.