Heroin(e)

Chapter Twenty

The bar wasn't exactly set up for a birthday party. But the boys didn't mind a bit. They had taken four tables and pushed them together for everyone in attendance to sit down, which is where I was now. I rested my elbows on the table and hid my face under my hands. My drink lay half gone in front of me. 

I wasn't over what happened the other day. To think I almost lost my dog. One of the best things to ever happen to me all because some motherfuckers decided to break into my apartment and steal some drugs. If I ever came across whoever it was it'd be blood on sight. 

My head was killing me. It'd been days now since my last fix. Along with a vicious headache my leg wouldn't stop jumping. I sat there restless and cranky, hoping I'd be left alone for the majority of the party. 

Angus couldn't read my thoughts.

"Hi, Esther," he said, sitting next to me. There were several bottles of ale sitting around the table for anyone to help themselves to and Angus had a glass of milk. I didn't even know bars sold milk. 

"Hi, Angus," I groaned, hoping he'd get the hint. But Angus, being the decent man that he was, didn't want to abandon a friend who was going through it. "Happy birthday,"

"Aw, thanks, love," he gushed. "Ya' know I was hopin' for a night at home but the guys like to spoil each other a bit." I looked up to see the group clustered around a pinball machine. Half of them were watching the game while the other half, mostly the women invited, were talking at the tables. Some of them were friends of friends and others were invited personally by the band.

Like me.

"I was hoping for the same thing," I mumbled, and covered my mouth when I realized how rude that sounded. Angus didn't deserve that. "I'm sorry, that's not what I meant."

"It's fine," Angus said. "We uh...we heard what happened at your place...." I groaned and put my head back in my hands. "It was kind of in the news."

"Fuck's sake..." I ran my hands through my hair. No news reporter ever came and interviewed me, thank God. But the building must have been featured in some little story for all of London to read about. "The motherfucker broke into my private property and made a huge fucking mess-"

"Your flat?" Angus asked. "I thought it was just the building!" I shook my head. "Esther, I'm so sorry." I waved him off and leaned back in my chair, crossing my arms. "What about Scout, is he okay?"

"He's fine," I said, clenching my fists. "I dropped him off at a neighbor's before I came here." It would be a long time before I left him by himself again. He was probably glad of the company. Although I promised to pay Mrs. Jones to watch him and I was budgeting as it was. Of fucking course they made off with the heroin. 

"Ya' didn't have to come," Angus said. "I would have understood...ya' know...if ya' said ya' couldn't make it."

"I promised I'd come days ago, it didn't feel right cancelling." Angus drank his milk and wiped his lip with the back of his hand. 

"Yeah, but when your house gets broken into," he said. "I think that's enough reason to cancel."

We were interrupted by a very loud cheering and saw a couple patrons of the party had started up a conga line. There wasn't anyone I recognized but they weaved around the tables where other bar goers watched with glee. I looked to Angus and nodded at the line. "You should get in there," I said.

"Ya' think so?" he smiled. "I think it's best for everyone if I stay right here."

"Go on, it's your party," I said. 

"I'll go when you do," he said. I glanced back at the conga line and started laughing despite everything after seeing none other than Bon Scott take the front and lead the group around the bar. Angus and I both laughed at the scene.