Hooked The Making of an Addict

Chapter Ten: Tasting Colors

I laid on the ground staring up at the sky. It was slowly fading to night with the colors of the sunset burning through the grey clouds. I had never noticed before how bright the sun could be. I never realized how full of color it was. I could see every shade of yellow and orange working together to create this thing we all just ignore. 

"Aaron!" 

I could hear my name. I could tell who was calling me but I couldn't see where they were. I could only see the sky. The clouds had begun to breathe as if they were living things. My mind began to wander. The clouds were forming shapes that danced around the sky like it was stage and they were the performers. 

"Aaron!" CeCe called again. 

They clouds formed the shape of her face. Every time she spoke her cloud self would speak to me. I couldn't help but smile back at the them. Even in cloud form she was beautiful. 

I could feel a presence beside me. The energy had a familiar smell. Like vanilla ice cream on a hot summer day. Sweet and pure. I loved this smell. 

"Aaron you have to turn your head or you wont see me." CeCe giggled. 

I turned my head away from the sky. Everything blurred into streaks of colors as I turned my head to face the voice. She had a glow around her she never had before. Almost like angel. 

"We have to go home before it gets dark."

She was speaking but her mouth never moved. I turned my head to look back at the sky hoping to see her in the clouds again but the clouds had disappeared. The stage was empty. 

"Aaron." She said again laying her hand on chest. 

I could feel her pulse at every fingertip. My heart wanted to beat with hers, taking a moment to stop and restart so we could live in unison if only for a moment. 

"Are you okay?"

I turned to her again watching the colors streak through the air like and abstract painting. I tried to speak but I couldn't find my words so I just nodded slowly. 

This time she didn't speak. She just smiled at me and stood up. My body felt cold without her touch as if I had been dropped into a bath of ice. She reached down to help me up and I quickly grabbed her hand welcoming the warmth back. 

"When we get home just go straight to your room."

I nodded again and we began walking hand in hand through the park. I closed my eyes for only a moment letting CeCe lead the way. When I opened them the park had transformed into a jungle. Monkey's were swinging from tree to tree trying to avoid the roaring lions down below. 

I looked over to see CeCe's reaction but she just continued walking as if nothing was going on. How could she ignore this? How was she not seeing the butterflies fluttering around her head. 

"Enjoying the view?" She asked with a grin. 

The butterflies flew in a halo formation. I couldn't help but laugh. 

"Oh so he can make noise now."

"The butterflies are trying to make you an angel."

"They don't have to try, I am an angel." She gave me that evil smirk.

I just laughed. 

We walked a while longer in silence until the jungle hit the road. Who in there right mind would put a road through a jungle? There's wild animals everywhere. 

"We're almost home. Remember what I said?"

Did she say something? What was I supposed to remember?

"Go straight to your room Aaron."

Right. I nodded and tried to focus but it didn't last long. I soon found myself looking down at the sidewalk made of lava. We had to hurry to get out of here. Our shoes would melt too quickly if we kept walking like snails. I picked up my pace dragging CeCe along with me. 

"What are you doing?" She laughed. 

"We have to get away from the lava!" I yelled back at her.

"What lava?"

I stopped in my tracks and pointed to it. How could she not see it. How could she not feel the heat radiating from it?

"There's no lava."

"How do you not feel it?"

"Close your eyes."

I stared at her like she had completely lost her mind. 

"Just do it."

I closed my eyes. The burning was getting more intense. I felt like my hoes had completely melted away and now I was standing barefoot in the red river of fire. 

"Take a deep breathe. Don't think about the lava. Let your mind wander somewhere else."

I did what she told me and the burning sensation slowly drifted away. I opened my eyes and looked at the ground. The lava was gone. My mind was just playing tricks on me. 

"Acid will give you some crazy visions if you let it. It's all about mind over matter. It won't last much longer."

I felt like it had already lasted for days. How long had it been? I didn't even know what time it was I just knew it was getting dark. 

CeCe took my hand again and began leading me back to the house. I felt a little ting of paranoia wondering when the lava would come back. I was suddenly not having fun with this anymore. I wanted to go back to the park and watch the clouds. It was safe there. 

"We're almost home. You'll feel better when you get some sleep. Just think about happy things." CeCe said as if she could hear my thoughts. 

I started thinking about laying in the grass looking up at the cloud CeCe with the scent of vanilla lingering in the air. I couldn't help but smile. The feeling was just perfect. I loved being around her. I loved seeing her smile. I loved seeing her evil little grin. I loved the way her hand felt in mine. These we're happy thoughts. Simple thoughts. 

I could see the butterflies sneaking back into view. They had followed us home from the jungle recreating the halo around her head. 

I hadn't even noticed when we stopped at the front door. 

"Inside. Straight to your room. Don't talk to anyone. Just act like you're pissed off and need some space. I'll do the talking if we see Ann and Michael."

"Yep." I nodded. 

She went inside first and I followed. The house the eerie kind of quiet. I suddenly felt nervous again. 

"Straight to your room. Go to sleep. You'll be fine in the morning." CeCe whispered. 

I did as she said. No one was in the room. It had just occurred to me that Oli went to the park with us but I didn't remember seeing him after we took the acid. 

I laid on my bed at stared at the ceiling watching the shadows from the cars passing by dance across the bright white paint. I could feel myself relaxing slowly as the shadows moved ever so methodically, lulling me into a peaceful slumber.