PLAYING WITH FIRE

Chapter 63: Breakdown

A/N: TW Drugs
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Amelia shakes her head sadly, a hint of frustration in her voice. "Not well. She was asking for a drink but I refused. She got angry and just shut down. Now she's sleeping, but I'm worried about her. This breakup has hit her hard."
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As Carina emerges into the hallway, she heads towards the bathroom, her movements slow and heavy. She's still feeling the effects of her breakdown and the exhaustion that comes with it.

When she enters the bathroom, she stands there for a moment, looking at herself in the mirror. The sight of her puffy eyes and tear-stained face is a stark reminder of the pain she's feeling.

She leans heavily on the sink, taking a deep breath as she tries to compose herself. The pain of the breakup is still fresh and raw, and she can't seem to shake the aching feeling in her chest.

Carina looks around the bathroom for something, anything that might provide a distraction from her heartache.

As she scans the bathroom, her eyes land on a small, plastic container on the counter. Curiosity sparking within her, she picks it up and looks at it more closely.

She opens the container, revealing a small bottle of prescription pills. Her heart skips a beat as she recognizes the medication. It's one she's used before, a powerful painkiller with a known potential for addiction.

Carina's hands start to shake as she holds the bottle. The pain of the breakup feels overwhelming, and the temptation to drown it out with the drugs is growing stronger. But she knows it's not the right thing to do.

She's about to unscrew the bottle and pour out a few pills when suddenly, she hears a knock on the bathroom door.

Startled, she quickly hides the container behind her back, trying to compose herself. "Who is it?" she calls out, her voice strained.

Amelia's voice comes through the door, concern evident in her tone. "Carina, are you okay in there? You've been in there for a while."

Carina takes a deep breath, trying to steady herself. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just... just using the bathroom. I'll be out in a minute."

Amelia hesitates for a moment before speaking again, her worry clear. "Okay, take your time. But... can I come in? I want to talk to you."

Carina feels a pang of guilt and dread, knowing she can't let Amelia see the pills. "No, I - I just need a few more minutes. I'll be out soon, I promise."

There's a brief silence before Amelia replies, her voice slightly skeptical. "Alright. Just... don't take too long, okay? We're worried about you."

Carina nods silently, though she knows Amelia can't see her. She waits patiently until she hears Amelia's footsteps receding, and then she lets out a shaky sigh.

Feeling a pang of guilt for lying to her friend, Carina knows she needs to get rid of the evidence. She opens the bottle and quickly swallows a few.

Just as she's about to take another pill, there's a loud banging on the bathroom door again. "Carina, open the door! Now!" It's Amelia's voice, sounding alarmed and authoritative.

Carina's heart sinks as she hears Amelia's voice. She knows she's been caught. There's no way she can hide this now.

Carina quickly stuffs the pill bottle into her pocket, trying to look as normal as possible. She takes a deep breath and opens the bathroom door, trying to keep her expression neutral.

As she steps out, she's met by a stern-looking Amelia, her eyes narrowing as she looks at Carina. "What took you so long?"

Carina tries to keep her composure, a hint of defensiveness in her voice. "I told you, I was using the bathroom and it took a bit longer than I expected."