Love Bites

Chapter 8 - Love Buzz

Charlotte had to cough to get her mouth finally open. She felt like her tongue was glued to the roof of her mouth, and it made it incredibly hard to breath. Moreover, there was such an awful taste in her mouth that she started feeling sick when she's just opened her eyes.

Normally, when she was unwell like that, she would go and pour herself some water to drink and bring herself back to good senses. However, when she woke up today, she didn't see the old crack on the ceiling first thing. The room she was in looked unfamiliar and messy, but it wasn't what worried Charlie the most. Lying on the convertible sofa between two guys was her main concern.

Luckily for her, Charlie could remember what happened last night, even though everything was a tad hazy. She vaguely recalled driving off from work with Duff, having a weird brief conversation in the car and getting to his house but what happened soon after that? Charlie had no other way than to decide that she, Duff and Steven just got plain old tight on something prosy like vodka. She hasn't really drunk much alcohol before that night, usually just a beer or two, so she attributed the unpleasant feelings to a hungover. 

And also, another thing bothered her. The room was untidy to say the least, but she was lying fully dressed, and both guys had clothes on. So...that wasn't anything like an orgy, right?

Steven let out a sigh, and Charlie sat up to take a look at him. She had to remove Duff's hand from her thigh to do that, but he didn't seem to mind, partly because he was barely conscious.

Steven was smiling like a Cheshire cat in his sleep, and while he looked adorable with his puffy hair and little wrinkles around his eyes, something about his appearance didn't look quite right to Charlie. She fixed her eyes on him, and suddenly it clicked: there was a thin needle sticking out of the bend of his arm. 

- Shit, - she gasped in utter astonishment. To be perfectly honest, Charlie herself wasn't a stranger to illegal kinds of fun - especially now, having lived in LA for a few months - but the way Steven was fixing himself was terrifying. Terrifying  not because she's never seen people inject, but mostly since he made it look so casual. Just lying in the warm bed in the morning, squinting at the sunlight and getting doped up. Like it was everyday's business.

- He-eck, whatcha doing? - Steven uttered, lifting his eyelids. Charlie pretended to ignore him and gently pulled the needle out of his vein.

- Nothing.

- Don't take my rig! - Steven got up and reached out for the needle, - it's clean!

- Stupid, I'm not going to take anything. Maybe except for some water and aspirin, - she added after thinking for a moment. - Do you have a medicine chest or something like that?..

Steven only opened his mouth, but she already knew the answer.

- Jeez, what?

- I just mean, my head is splitting. Also, good morning, - Charlie couldn't help a giggle even though it caused buzzing in her ears, - sleep well?

- M-m, tried my best to. Sorry, have ya' seen my bennys?

- Pardon? 

- Candy we took tonight, - he explained, looking around. - Have you used 'em up?

Charlie liked how he behaved like that night wasn't even slightly out of order. If he told her with that face they've been watching Thunderbirds the whole evening, she'd probably believe him.

- I haven't touched anything, I've just woken up, can't you see? - she told him, licking her lips, - and can I finally get a glass of water, please?

- Well...

- Not from the toilet.

- Okay, come on, I'll try to find some, - Steven agreed, snickering. - Wanna get him up? - he nodded at Duff who was still sleeping peacefully.