Over the Edge

Ch.17-Quick Guide to an Addict

~Rhys~

I was freaking pissed.

And the worst of it was that it was all irrational and confusing, which just served to piss me the hell off more.

I had suspected something was going on with Emma. I just couldn't figure out why I hadn't seen any other signs before. I had known a lot of people who were regular users. When they were away from their drug of choice they got all twitchy and unfocused and spacy. Just like Emma was.

I had seen her escape to the girls' bathroom in school. I knew she was doing something, just not what.

And then to see her popping pills In Rose's bathroom?

I couldn't explain why the thought of Emma being that kind of person sent this horrible rage through me. It just didn't match her. It didn't fit right at all.

The car was quiet. Emma was silent and shaking. I could practically feel her anxiety. My knuckles were white from gripping the wheel so hard. I realized then I had voluntarily acted as her keeper and was driving her home because I had caught her in an unsavory position, and that ticked me off to a whole new level.

Great. Now I was fucking looking after her.

I pulled up in front of her house, still vibrating with pent-up fury. She unbuckled her seatbelt.

"Thanks," she whispered.

"Don't thank me," I quipped back harshly. I saw her wince. She nodded and slid out of the car. I watched her trudge up the steps to her cabin and slip inside. I must have done sixty-five on a thirty road to get away from that stupid house. I wasn't headed home, that was for sure. There was a stop I needed to make.

I swung into the crappy lot of the even crappier apartment. I hadn't given Rico a visit in a while. I figured it was time I did so.

I stuck my keys in my pocket and shuffled up to his room. I pounded on his door.

"Calm the fuck down," he growled angrily. He wrenched the door open and the retort froze on his tongue when he saw it was me. "Rhys?"

"Hello." I shoved passed him.

"No, please, come in," he muttered, shutting the door. "What are you doing here? I don't have any beer."

"I don't want any," I snapped.

"It's literally just me, Rhys. Me and an empty box of pizza."

"That's just frickin' great."

"Wow, okay." He flopped down on the couch. "What has you pissing your pants in anger right now?"

"She's a freakin' user, Rico!"

He cocked an eyebrow, grabbing the coke he was drinking off the table in front of him. "Who are we talking about?"

"Emma!"

"Ah, your English partner?"

"Yes!"

He was quiet for a moment, tapping his nails against the plastic of the bottle thoughtfully. "And you say she's a user?"

"Precisely."

"I find that incredibly hard to believe."

"I saw her popping pills, man. She looks like Diego. Remember him? He got all shaky and pale when he couldn't get his routine fix. She reminded me exactly of him."

He leaned forward. "And you're sure?"

I nodded.

He scoffed. "Well, why the hell did you come to me? I 'aint no doctor."