Hooked The Making of an Addict

Chapter Six: Rules

Dinner was horrible. CeCe wasn't kidding about the healthy food. Plain brown rice, extremely fresh steamed green beans, a small baked, unseasoned chicken breast, and a salad with no dressing. I was starving by the time I took my last bite. 

After everyone finished eating Oli cleared and cleaned the table while CeCe washed the dishes. Michael and Ann pulled me into the living room so we could go over the house rules. 

"Monday thru Friday you wake up by six a.m. make your bed eat breakfast and get ready for school. The bus arrives at eight. If you miss the bus you get extra chores for a week." Ann said sternly. "Curfew is nine p.m. on school nights and midnight on Friday and Saturday." 

"If there is even a slight chance you're going to be late we expect a call." Michael added. 

"Do you have your driver's license Aaron?" Ann asked.

I shook my head. 

"Then we can skip the rules about the car."

"You'd let me use your car?"

"If you had a license and kept a three point oh average. We will discuss that when the time comes."

"I think this goes without saying but relationships in the household are strictly prohibited. We are a family and everyone should be considered as such." Michael said. 

I felt like that was one hundred percent directed at me and CeCe. 

"If you want money to go out and do things with your friends you are required to earn it yourself by either getting a job or helping at one of our jobs." 

"I don't really go out much but I wouldn't mind working if y'all need help."

"We don't mind if you have friends over but we do ask that you ask us first." Ann said.

"Shouldn't be an issue."

CeCe and Oli entered the living room laughing bringing some relief to this boring situation. 

"Everything is done is it okay if we head out now?" CeCe asked in an angelic tone. 

"Home by midnight." Michael said standing up. "Aaron we are going to get some more of your things tomorrow after lunch. Please do not disappear this time." 

Ann and Michael left the three of us in the living room. 

"Where's Noah?" Oli asked.

"He's not coming. He's got a study date with Averi." CeCe replied making gagging noises. "You ready Aaron?" 

"I guess." 

"You could muster a little more excitement. We are going on an adventure after all."

"Just get in the car." Oli said rolling his eyes. 

I got the sudden feeling we weren't actually going to the movies. CeCe and I followed him to the car. 

Oli pulled up fifteen minutes later and parked in front of a house that was clearly having a massive party. You could almost see the walls vibrating to the music.

"Be back at the car by eleven forty five. I'm not going to go tracking you down. If the cops show then meet me at the restaurant." Oli said and got out of the car. 

"Ready?" CeCe said with excitement showing in her eyes. 

"I don't really do social gatherings. Social anything really."

"Just stay by me. I promise you'll have the time of your life!"

"CeCe."

"Loosen up would ya. We spent our entire lives being the adult. It's okay to be a kid and get into trouble sometimes." 

I swear she could talk me into jumping out of an airplane with no parachute. She got out of the car and knocked on my window. I opened the door and stepped out. CeCe did a little victory dance and took my hand. 

Her hand felt so little in mine. I could feel the brave, protective Aaron trying to push down the wall of fear. 

We walked through the front door without knocking, instantly being greeted by an intoxicated Jake. 

"Cecelia! New kid!" He yelled over the music. "I was hoping you would come! Refreshments are in the bathtub. Candy is in the living room." He said with and wink and a devious smile before walking to another group of people. 

"The bathtub?" I asked cautiously.

"Jungle juice." CeCe replied with a big smile. 

"Jungle juice?"

"You have so much to learn." 

She took me upstairs to the bathroom and showed me the bathtub half full of a red liquid. 

"And we're supposed to drink that?"

"Yup." She said dipping two cups in and handing me one. "Bottoms up."

We both chugged the cup. I could feel the burning sensation from the first drop to the last.

"What the hell?"

"Candy is dandy my friend but liquor is quicker." Replied filling the cups again.

"Ann and Michael never said it but I'm pretty sure we're violating some rules."

"Where's the fun in life if you only play by the rules?"

"Getting a beating every time you even think about breaking the rules isn't all that fun."

That got CeCe's attention. 

"I'm so sorry I didn't know."

"It's okay."

"Do you have scars?"

"I'd rather not talk about it."

We stood silently for a moment. 

"A toast." She said raising her cup in the air.

"To what?" 

"To breaking the rules without fear. Even if it's just tonight." She smiled. 

I'm a sucker. One huge giant sucker. I hated it with ever molecule of my body but I raised my cup to hers. 

"Cheers." I chugged it down.

This was going to be an interesting night. 

CeCe took my cup and threw it in the trash can. 

"Enough of that let's dance!" 

"Do you ever run out of energy?"

"I will one day. When I'm dead." She said before stepping towards the door of the bathroom. 

"Wait." 

"What?" 

"Can we just stay in here for a minute?"

"In the bathroom?" 

I nodded.

"You okay?" 

"I've never actually drank before." 

"Don't worry. It's like getting high. Just don't drink too much too fast or you'll get sick. Do you want some weed to calm your nerves?"

"It's not going to mess me up is it?"

"Nah. Not for long anyways." She said pulling a joint from her pocket and lighting it. "You'll feel even better than you did last night."

I couldn't turn the thought down. Last night was the first time I felt real. CeCe took a hit and passed the joint to me. I hesitated but I took a hit. I wanted to feel real again even if it was just for a night.

That was the last thing I could remember.