Despicable Desires

Episode 17

Cameron

"Holly? Why is Adeline kissing Tyler?" I ask.

"Excuse me?" Holly's eyes widen and she turns to look at me. I nod my head in the direction of where Adeline and Tyler are cuddling.

"Is she serious?" she grumbles, drawing Esther into our conversation as well.

"Who?" Esther asks.

"See for yourself."

Her first reaction is a silly smile, followed by a shrug, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

"So what? It's good for her to reconnect with him. Why blame her?" Holly replies in a cold tone.

"Leave her alone. She didn't ask for our opinion."

I can't help but keep my eyes on Adeline as I watch the scene unfold. With her hands clutching Tyler's t-shirt, she seems slightly off-balance, and if it weren't for Tyler holding her up, I'm sure she would wobble. A slight tension builds within me and I decide to approach the couple to understand what's going on. As soon as I reach them, Tyler grabs my arm and starts talking to me, obviously relieved to see me.

"Is she completely drunk or something?" he asks, struggling to support Adeline who is clinging to his neck.

"I don't know... Well, no. She shouldn't have been drinking."

I lean closer to my sister, brushing away a few strands of hair that cover her face. Her cheeks are flushed and she seems barely able to keep one eye open, her head resting limply against Tyler's chest.

" Adeline, are you okay?" I ask, worried.

Her head rolls back and she lets out a moan from deep in her throat.

"Th...thro...throw up," she struggles to articulate, as if her mouth is sealed.

"Are you sick? Come with me."

I grab her by the waist and pull her away from the buffet, where a few people have gathered to enjoy the spectacle she's providing. Why is it that the drunk person at a party attracts so much attention from others? It's as if the person who doesn't know her limits is the best form of entertainment.

"What's happening to her?"

Holly and Esther rush over and help me gently lower Adeline to the sand. Unable to support herself, she falls limply to the ground with a dull, muffled thud.

"I don't know, she can't walk properly anymore and she's having trouble talking," I say, starting to panic.

" Adeline, how many drinks did you have?" Esther asks, getting more and more worried.

Adeline opens her eyes with great difficulty and tries to hold up a finger, all the while bursting out laughing. We all look at each other, unable to understand why she's in this state. What the hell has she done?

"Is your friend on drugs or something?" a guy from our school, who we didn't notice approaching, stands next to me and looks at my sister lying on the sand like a waste.

"What do you mean drugged?" Tyler asks, his tone becoming threatening, as if the guy is talking utter nonsense.

"She's clearly out of it. I don't know what she took, but if I were you, I wouldn't let her close her eyes."

"Why?" I worry.

"You don't know how people react to drugs. She could vomit and choke if she stays lying down."

Obviously panicked, we all stare at each other before the girls rush to Adeline, lift her up, and hold her in a sitting position.

" Adeline, you have to stay sitting. Do you hear me?" Holly asks. "What are we going to do, damn it?"