black Dahlia|| Craig Cody

11

popes pov
my little sister for all intents and purposes...OD'd. how can i of all people not see she was on drugs? we're so fucking close and yet...i couldn't tell? she's been through so much shit and hid her real suffering. craig supplied her with fucking drugs. i'd kill him right fucking now...but i know how she feels for him. she's spoken to me about it. said he makes her feel again. really feel again.

from what i gather she's been numb since i've been in prison and baz did what he did cheating on her...her assault made that worse. she was definitely drinking more than she ever has. she's pretty much become a recluse. sticking to my room or craig's. you'd only be able to see her if she went for a ride or had to eat. she's sticking with being out of the business. good for her. but knowing smurf she won't let her walk away long.

i think about her behavior recently trying to pinpoint a time where i could've noticed she was getting high, or was high. i failed her the way i failed julia. "i came as soon as i heard. is she okay? what happened? where is she?" J asks frantic. i say "she OD'D...they're working on her now. take a seat" he freezes "she what? she wouldn't. she hated how my mother was and said she'd always be here and be nothing like her" smurf turns to craig "got an explanation for that Craig?" he sighs "she'd smoke weed like the rest of us...then shit with baz went wrong and she asked for a line. some pills. here and there it wasn't constant and it was just enough to get her buzzed" his head in his hands. "you should've fucking said no!" i snap. he tells me "she'd have gotten it from somebody if not from me. atleast i knew where it was coming from. Renn. all this shit came from renn. she was just dabbling man" i go to snap more and smurf tells me "enough" "no. it's not! she could die in there and it'd be this idiots fucking fault!" i snap. he looks at me "you don't think i feel guilty and know this is my fault Pope?! because i fucking do! it's my drugs that landed her here! i shouldn't have fallen asleep before her knowing she was unstable! my girlfriend is in there on a fucking table and can die! and that's on me!" snapping. girlfriend?

deran says "then what craig?" "pope came home and shit got better. then it got worse. it wasn't my place to judge her drug usage as a user myself. and she didn't want to hear it. i'd have rather sit and do it with her and have to take care of her than her get from someone else and be dead in a ditch somewhere. things just got harder and harder for her. her families death anniversary happened and we all know this year was worst than the last few" we nod because it was. she was so fucked up that day. it's the one day i leave alone for her. it's how she copes...running. he says "then baz raped her" i clench my jaw. "and she became more and more erratic and dependent on the drugs and i didn't know what to do but be there for her and try and help. she'd have hated me if i said anything and then she woulda felt like she had no one to do this with and go elsewhere. the day pope was told of her assault and she left that day...she went to the beach. high as fuck and surfed" he says.

"what the fuck" deran mutters. craig sighs "i should've said something and ill regret not doing so for the rest of my fucking life. i had to go get her because the wave crashed and she fell and didn't resurface...she was dead...and i brought her back and we kissed" i say "should have said something then!" "i know but she didn't want me to! was i supposed to betray her stage an intervention and run her away?" he snaps. wiping his face.

j says "this is baz's fault. all of it." i blame a bit on craig. he says "she told me the drugs and i made her feel like herself again. like she had a choice in a way she hasn't had since he raped her. we slept together earlier and i went to sleep and had her with me...woke up and she was foaming out the mouth and here we are" sniffling. wiping his tears again. "what's the plan when she wakes?" J asks. i say "we're taking her to rehab. or having her detox with us at home. keeping her clean." craig says "i'll do it" i snap "what?! why the fuck do you think that's a good idea craig! you're doing drugs too!" he tells me "it's my fault she's in here pope! my drugs! mine. i swore to keep her safe and she's in there fighting for her fucking life. i'm done with that shit. and i'll help her be too. no matter what. i fucked up a lot with her which is a perfect reason for you not to trust me with her. but i want to help" his eyes guilty and bloodshot.

"it's best you detox on your own and" smurf cuts me off "let him do it. keep an eye on them both. we could really use both of them being sober" i huff "one slip up and i kill you craig" "and id let you" he says.