I'll Look If I Want

I Don't Like The Drugs {But The Drugs Like Me}

Chapter 1 – I Don’t Like The Drugs {But The Drugs Like Me}

{1997}

I smiled and shook my head again at my cousin and his friend. Well, he was my friend too…he’d just known my cousin, Aaron, longer. They were being the usual idiots they turned into when around each other…and when drugs got involved. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not against their use…just be careful when you do it. I made a face at my cousin as he did another line off the glass coffee table in his living room and he grinned stupidly at me.

I looked over at Jeordie and rolled my eyes. We both knew Aaron was trying to impress Jeordie now that he and the band he was in had made it big…but we both knew he shouldn’t. The drugs weren’t why Jeordie liked hanging with my cousin. Their wacky personalities just kind of…fitted.

“Jeordie!” We all looked back towards the kitchen where Aaron’s fiancé’, Sandy, now stood. Sandy was nice, but she got a little wound up about things. “Please put the crystal vase down.”

“Sorry…” Jeordie obeyed begrudgingly. “And it’s Twiggy now, Sandy.”

Sandy just shook he head and walked away. I remembered when Twiggy was just Jeordie…

~Flashback~

{1989}

“Jeordie!” Aaron called out as I walked through his front door. It was my first time in America. I was scared…but loving it! I was going to stay with my uncle Phil and his son Aaron…the only cousin remotely like me in the family. And here he was…introducing me to a rather interesting individual. “Come meet my baby cousin!”

A guy with dreads looked up from the cassette tapes in his hands and smiled at me. “Hey little darlin’! What’s your name?”

“Amelia…but everyone calls me Amy…” I replied quietly.

“Aww…she’s shy!” Jeordie giggled and patted the place next to him on the sofa. “Come hang with me for a bit whilst your cousin goes and does whatever he has to do.”

As Jeordie turned back to the cassette tapes I looked up at my cousin. “You’re going somewhere?”

“Just to see mum…she’s in hospital.” Aaron replied sadly. “Dad’s there too, but I really want to see her…is it okay if you hang with Jeordie for a bit?”

I looked at my cousin’s friend curiously. “What kind of music do you like?”

He looked up at me, surprised…but answered anyway. “Um…”

“Kiss, AC/DC…you name it, he likes it,” Aaron interjected. “Isn’t that right, Jeordie?”

Jeordie grinned. “You like AC/DC too, Amy?” he looked at me speculatively.

I looked up at my cousin. “I think we’ll get on just fine.” They both laughed.

“Okay, see you both in a bit!” Aaron called as he dashed out the door.

I went to sit be Jeordie, watching him curiously. “So, how old are you, kid?” Jeordie asked with a friendly smile.

“Twelve…” I cocked my head to the side curiously. “Why?”

“I’m trying to figure out why your cousin thought it’d be a good idea to leave you with me.” He shrugged and handed me a cassette tape. “What’s your favourite AC/DC song?”

“Um…” I thought for a second whilst Jeordie flicked through channels on the TV. “Back in Black…or Hells Bells…I can’t decide.” I smiled and shrugged. “What about you?”