Blue

Meeting the Family

Leo's Perspective
I don't know when the last time I was in a car sober was. God, I'm thinking about drugs again. I try to tune into Casper, who's singing along to some musical he's queued up. It has a nice sound to it, but I enjoy Casper's singing more. He doesn't sound half bad, and he clearly has memorized the entire thing. "How many musicals do you have memorized?" I ask.

He pauses his sad ballad and lists them out loud. "This one, which is called Hadestown, Hamilton, Newsies, Les Mis, Ride the Cyclone, Falsettos, Chicago... I think that's it. I'm not a giant theatre nerd, I barely know the classics."

I smile at him. "Sounds like a giant theatre nerd to me."

He playfully pushes my shoulder and we keep driving. Now that he knows I'm tuned in, he keeps pausing to tell me what's going on and what character remind him of me. So far I've been classified as Eurydice from the first one and Mischa from the second one we listened to, whatever that means.

We finally arrived at a shabby but big house with a giant garden in the front yard. Casper giggles and runs out of the car the second after he puts it in park. I follow after him, incredibly nervous. I haven't been nervous in ages. I usually had a cure for it. Addiction itches in the back of my skull. Actually, the better metaphor is that it's tapping a gun to the inside of my head. Or a bomb. Tap, tap, tap.

Casper opened the front door and walked in, so I followed him, hiding my nervousness. He was immediately surrounded by open arms and then a group hug. I counted 5 in total hugging him, and 1 sitting alone on the couch. I nodded at the woman on the couch. She nodded back and smiled. Casper was released and everyone sat down on the chairs and couches in the living room. I looked around and saw a blend of genders, sizes, ethnicities, and aesthetics. Everyone settled and introduced themselves. I tried to keep track. Molly was the one on the couch before. She seemed like an average 30 year old woman, dressed in business casual wear. Henry was the goth kid, a little younger than Casper. Naima was all pastels and smiles. Cliff was in the rock band t-shirt, looked like the oldest, and had a neutral face. Leah looked around Casper's age and dressed in a tight crop top and a tennis skirt. Lastly was Percy, who sat next to us and wore a simple t-shirt and jeans.

"Nice to meet you all. I'm Leo." I smiled.

My leg started bouncing and addiction tapped in my head. I hate feeling nervous. I'd rather be high. Keep it together.

They all smile at me. Cliff speaks up. "Tell us a little about yourself, Leo."

Shit. I don't have a personality. I don't have hobbies. I don't spend time with friends or family. Shit. Shit. Shit. "Uh, I go to the gym a lot, I'm pretty content just sitting and hanging out with Casper, I don't do much else these days."

They nod. Cliff sits next to me and claps a hand on my shoulder. He's strong, I can tell. He could be a threat. Now that I sized one up, I have to do the rest. Leah looks young, I could fight her off. Same with Naima. Molly hasn't left the couch and looks pale, I wonder if she's already hurt in some way. Anyway, I could take her. Henry's young, but he looks scrappy. Percy is the same as Cliff. He could pack a punch. That leaves two people who could do some damage, so if shit goes south, I'll take one down before I run. Cliff waved a hand in front of my face.

"Sorry, what?" I shake my head slightly.

"I asked what you do for a living."

Ah shit. Double shit. Someone give me some goddamn pills so I can deal with this. "I am... currently in between things."

He shrugs. "No shame in that."

Percy has a hand on Casper's shoulder. He looks at me strangely. He's sizing me up. Definitely a threat. But, for Casper's sake, I keep my cool. But then he spoke.

Percy turned to me and asked, "Do you have any siblings?"

It felt like a taunt. Like he knew about my Percy, and everything he's done to me. Like he knew I threw Mario to the wolves by leaving. I need to get out of here.

"I'm sorry. Where's the bathroom?" I ask in hopes I'll be able to calm myself down if I'm alone.

Henry points down the hall. "First door on your right."

I nod and stand up. I'm shaking slightly, and I hope Casper doesn't notice. I brush my hair back and go to the bathroom. Once in there, I sit on the edge of the tub. I feel like a ticking time bomb. I feel my body go through the motions without me controlling it. The bomb ticks. I open drawers quietly and notice the mirror is a cabinet. I open it.

Molly Wells
Oxycodone 15 mg
Take every 4-6 hours for pain
No refills remaining

Tick, tick, tick.
Boom.