Pseudology

Fourteen.

EDITED 4/8/13

There was a harsh, feverish look in Adrian’s eyes as he scanned the room suspiciously, curious of the timid hush that had fallen on the common room. Boys were crowded around each other, their sweaty skin reflecting the hot, roaring fire.

“Put it away!”

“Look, there’s it!”

“Hurry!”

“Shove it in your pocket!”

“Stuff it all in one!”

“Calm down, guys!”

“Shit, look!”

Something brown, unappetising and boring looking, fell onto the carpet and several boys hurried around it, scraping it from the floors with sticky hands.

“What is it?” Adrian asked softly.

“Cocaine!” hissed Michael Phellis, a small boy in the year below. “Want some?” His grin would have been infectious if Adrian hadn’t been so disgusted. He hurriedly shook his head.

“No, I do not want any.” He swallowed and cast his gaze away from Michael’s jolly, luminous face. “I suggest you take it somewhere else, otherwise older students, or worse- teachers- might find out that you are in possession of an illegal drug.”

Michael seemed to heed Adrian’s warning and turned to the smaller group of boys who had the substance cradled in their hands. Several of them wrapped it in tissue and shoved it in their pockets, sharing accusing glances at Adrian who was making his way to the corner of the room. He sat down next to Christopher, who had his nose in a Biology revision book, and Martin, who was bent over a brand new phone.

Adrian didn’t really understand why phones were classed as brilliant because, truly, they were too big. Too clumsy and big to do anything useful, and Morton had refused to have one for a while now-

“Adrian, are you listening to me?”

The voice belonged to Martin. His hair was pale in the dim light and his smile spilled over his entire face, his eyes glinting. It looks like euphoria, Adrian noted. I wonder if I’ll ever feel that.

“Adrian?”

“No, I was not.” Adrian retorted, making sure his tone was lathered in apology. “I’m awfully sorry.”

“Don’t worry; Marty was only talking about a new book.”

Book.

New book?

Book. Book. Book. Book. Someone coughed near the fireplace. Book. Book. Cough, splutter. Cough, cough, cough, splutter. Book, book, book…

“Adrian?” Martin frowned angrily. “You’ve zoned out again, y’know.”

“Oh yes. Sorry.” replied Adrian but he didn’t want to listen. Adrian felt acids gurgle in his stomach and his head began to spin. Someone else was fucking coughing! Sniff sniff, cough cough, sigh sigh, grunt. Sniff sniff, cough cough, sigh sigh, grunt grunt. Sniff sniff sniff, cough cough, grunt grunt grunt-

“I feel sick.” he muttered as he looked up through his hair at Martin and Christopher. They both exchanged worried glances and Adrian, going white, felt vomit climb slowly up his throat as his temples throbbed.

It touched his tongue and spread inside his mouth- he vomited into his hands, pale white skin cupping lumps of his old, regurgitated food. “Urgh.”

“Dude, that’s gross.” Martin sniffed and put a hand on Adrian’s back but it was immediately shrugged off with such violence that Martin flinched. Martin looked hurt as he sniffed.