The Way You Are

Hole in Time and Space

It took a second for everyone to get on the same page. Roland looked at Ian in shock. Manny and Curt stared on mouths agape. Both waiting to see what Roland would do.

"Look, you've had a good time so far right?" Ian said smiling. "You've smiled more tonight that we've seen you do in weeks. Just relax and have fun. We'll look out for you."

"So that's why I feel so strange? Why everything seems to be glowing? Why I..." Roland cut off unexpectedly and looked at Curt.

"It's all normal." Ian said reassuringly.

Roland sighed and sat back on the couch. "I'm not talking to you right now." He said to Ian.

"Well you just sit and think about it then." Ian said quietly. "You'll come around. I mean, what's done is done. You might as well accept it and have fun with it."

Roland didn't look at him or open his mouth to speak.

Curt seemed to find his voice at last, "Oy you! Get over here and explain."

"Yeah, you meant to drug me?!" Manny said setting down his beer and looking as if he was getting ready for a row.

"Yeah, I did." Ian said coming up to the two of them. "What of it? You would have made an ass of yourself, had some fun and we would have laughed about it tomorrow."

Curt put himself between the two. "Yeah, that's great Ian. But that's not what happened is it? What did you give him and what do we do?"

Ian was about to make a smart comment when he noticed the genuine concern in Curt's eyes. Sighing he gave up the fight and sat down running his hand though his hair. "It was only supposed to be a prank guys. Honest. It's not like Manny's never done any before."

"Any what?" Curt said starting to loose his temper.

"X" said Ian quietly.

"Holy hell dude!" Curt came down on Ian faster than he could flinch. "That's not OK. You don't play that kind of prank." Curt had Ian by the collar shaking him. "How much??"

Manny had never seen Curt go off before and backed away slowly. "Curt. Breathe mate."

Curt looked at Manny as if he had grown a second head. "Breathe? Are you kidding? You think just because you got out of it, its OK?" Curt said angrily.

"No! I had a few sips of that coffee too. I'm pissed at him as well. But..." He sighed and looked at Ian. "Just tell him. How much man?"

"I put just a little over a dose in the coffee OK." Ian squeaked.

Not OK. Curt was not OK. He was livid. He wanted so badly to punch Ian. A hand on his shoulder stopped him though.

"Curt. It's fine. I'm OK." Curt looked back at Roland. "Like he said. It's done. There's nothing I can do now." He motioned toward Ian still struggling in Curt's grasp. "This doesn't help things."

Curt let Ian go. Ian slumped down onto the chair and looked at Roland. "I'm sorry Ro. I really am."

Roland held a hand up to stop him. "So how long is this going to last? I don't know anything about it."

"It should be out of your system soon." Manny volunteered. "Usually when I've done it before it only peeks for about 3 hours. This is your first though so... Might be a bit longer."

Roland nodded and sat back down. "So what do we do to pass the time chaps?"

Curt couldn't let the idea go. He was still so upset. How could Ian do this? Did that mean all the stuff that evening had been the drug? The way Roland responded to him earlier when he was holding his hand. The adventure through the neighborhood. They had had more fun together tonight then they had months. It was a bitter pill to swallow, knowing it had nothing to do with...