Cold Lonely Nights

Bad Effects

"Jennie, it's time for breakfast!" Mrs. Baker calls.

Drew gets up weakly, clutching his head. He's been getting headaches like this very often.

He pulls on a nightgown and heads downstairs, slumping down at the dining table in front of his plate of food.

"Are you alright, dear?" Mrs. Baker checks.

"Still have a headache." Drew replies, massaging his scalp a little.

"Aww, I'm sorry to hear that honey, why don't you try this?" She offers, handing Drew a glass of water.

"No, you keep trying to give me that but it doesn't work." Drew complains.

"Come on Jennie, it won't get better on its own." She tries.

"Fine." Drew sighs, drinking the whole glass and not noticing the intense look that his foster mother is giving him while he does.

When it's empty, Drew puts the glass down with a groan.

"Good girl." She shushes, stroking Drew's soft blond hair, having grown out to a little over shoulder length. "Did you sleep well?"

Drew shakes his head. "No, not really."

"You haven't done your makeup well today, you need to get Theodore to help you with that." She explains.

"I'm just tired... I'll do it later..." Drew murmurs.

"Let's just get it out of the way, if anyone sees you like this you'll be very sorry." Mrs. Baker warns, summoning the butler. "Theodore, could you help Jennie upstairs where you can do her makeup and pick a suitable outfit for today?" She asks, completely ignoring Drew's weak complaints.

"Right away ma'am." He replies, helping Drew out of the chair and escorting the drugged teen to his room.

"My head is killing me." Drew complains wearily.

"They warned us that would happen." The butler explains. "It'll pass dear Jennie, don't worry."

"What's happening to me?" Drew asks fearfully as well as in pain.

"Just some preparations for your operation next week Thursday." The butler adds. "It's nothing to worry about."

"What operation? What's wrong with me Theodore?" Drew whimpers as he starts getting undressed by the familiar butler.

"You know very well, Jennie. They're going to make you into a real girl, little Pinocchio." He cheerfully tells Drew.

Drew chuckles at the Pinocchio reference as the butler cleans his face so he can apply Drew's makeup.

"Did you dream anything interesting last night?" The butler checks while applying foundation to Drew's face.

"I've been having the same dream for a while now." Drew tells the butler, trying to keep still.

"Really, what have they been?" The butler checks with intrigue.

"It all seems so familiar, a boy stroking a puppy and crying; a dying flower in his hair; a packed bag; and looking out of a car's back windscreen to see him chasing it. He keeps calling a name which feels so familiar but I can't place it..." Drew tries to think about it.

"That's sounds like a pretty intense dream." Theodore sympathises, making sure not to give too much away.

The whole of the Bakers household knew that the anti aggression medication Drew was taking had serious effects on his memories. Whereas the Bakers themselves didn't care, Theodore and the working hands of the family were extremely worried about the teenager.

"Every time I have it, I keep waking up with the feeling that I've lost something really important to me. Does that make any sense?" Drew continues.

"Of course it does. It'll come back to you, I'm sure." Theodore tells the disorientated teenager.

"I hope so, it's making me feel strangely emotional." He admits. "Maybe I knew him or something."

"Maybe, the brain tends to make things into dreams in an attempt to figure out some unresolved issues." Theodore points out.

Drew nods, closing his eyes as the butler starts applying eyeliner and eye-shadow.

After a while he manages to remember a hint of what the dream meant.

"Theodore, do I know anyone called Shane?" He asks.

The butler nods, although Drew's eyes being closed he can't see. Theodore quickly remembers what the Bakers told him so lies. "I would've met him if he meant anything to you. Is he someone who goes to your school? Maybe you have a crush on him."

Drew manages a bitter chuckle. "You know that I only have eyes for Laurence, Theo. The rest of the school hate me. I just get the feeling that the kid in my dream is called Shane. Plus, he's way too young to think of like that, I'm not a creep."

"Oh, Laurence, that bad boy. I know that you're growing up but are you sure he's right for you? You told me yourself that he's been cheating on you, I just think you need someone loyal." Theodore tries.

"I'm okay with that, he's older and knows that if he wants someone he can have them because I'm still not ready for it yet." He manages to defend. "Plus he's bringing me over to his grandmother's place this weekend to make up for it."

The butler is worried by the sound of this but knows that there's no way he'll be able to talk any sense into the teen when it comes to Laurence. "As long as you're not under any kind of pressure." He tries cheerfully.

Drew opens his eyes when he's told that his eyes are finished.

"Do you want any lip gloss?" Theodore checks.

"I might put some on if I feel like it. Leave it for now." He tells the butler softly.

"Okay, come on, let's get you in a corset." Theodore tries cheerfully.

Drew groans but lets him put it on, leaning against the table for the butler to tighten it at the back. The tightness makes him take a while to get his breath back.

"Can you breathe?" Theodore checks.

"Only just." Drew gasps.

Theodore chuckles as he gives it one last tug and tying the correct knot to stop it from slipping. "Look on the bright side, not long from now, this will have a nicer fit on your body." The butler murmurs.

"What?" Drew checks, still having trouble accessing his memories.

"Never mind Jennie, I was just thinking out loud." The butler tells the confused teenager, hoping that he'll be taken off the medication soon, just so the effects don't become permanent.