I exited his house as quick as I could possibly muster. There was just something about Dereck that set my teeth on edge. His looks were great, don't get me wrong.. It's just that every time I caught myself looking at him, I could feel that there was something bothering him; something that he was fighting to control. While trying to figure out what his problem was, I noticed a lot of things about him, such as when he spoke, he would do so with his teeth locked together. He would shift his weight to the other leg several times during our conversation and he'd do it suddenly.. His movements were so sudden, in fact, I started to think he was a superhero of some kind. When he talked, he would fumble with something and grind his teeth. His eyes flashed up at me several times during the midst of our conversation; anger hidden deep in them. Whatever was bothering him, it needed to be revealed.
I wasn't one to beg when someone didn't want to tell me something, though. No means no. Unless we're talking about chocolate, of course.
I entered my house moments later, to find my mother sprawled out on the couch, waiting for me. Shit.
"So, my beautiful daughter, care to give me the hairy details?" I whimpered and started walk back towards my bedroom. "Mom..." I paused at my doorway, "You're so fucked up." I shut my door and proceeded to make my way over to my bed.
This was going to be such a long night..
-------Dereck's P.O.V.-------
I awoke with a start. That fucking dream seemed so real, I was just...awestruck. It was like I was really shooting up. I groaned and sat up in bed, my mind immediately wandering to Zoey. I couldn't think about the drugs..I wasn't going to. Ya know, I wasn't quite sure if she knew about the withdrawals or not. She was damn curious though. Curiosity was definitely not a good thing when it came to me, either. I had nothing wrong with Zoey. I just didn't want to let her in too far. I didn't want her to see the monster that I thought I was. Hell, the monster that I still think I am to this day. I couldn't let her get through that barrier that I had built. I know I annoyed her with my not-so-friendly responses, but I didn't have a fucking clue how to talk to women. As far as I was concerned, she could leave me the hell alone and stop trying to be so damned friendly. I didn't need help with school, or advice. The only reason why I took the advice to begin with, was to make my uncle shut the fuck up about it. I didn't want friends because all they'd ever done for me were bad things. Unspeakable things. Things that I'd rather not talk about.
But what if I had done things when I was high and I just didn't remember doing them? Was the reason that I couldn't remember most of the events of last year even because of the drugs? What did I fucking do? I looked down at my hands and shuddered. Better yet, what was I even capable of doing? Whatever I had done, or thought I had done, needed to be put away for later. I needed to talk to someone. Anyone. I knew just the person.. I turned my gaze to my bedside table and peered at the glowing numbers on my alarm clock until they came into focus. 1:30.. Hopefully they'd still be awake.
-------Zoey's P.O.V.-------
Jesus Christ. It was already 1 something in the freaking morning and I was still wide awake, trying to figure out what in the world was wrong with my neighbor. I know it seems a little wrong to be so obsessive with a guy I'd just met, but I couldn't help but wonder and worry about his sanity, ya know? So I've been laying here for God knows how long, picking out several theories as to what could be happening with him. All of the ideas were plausible...or at least, semi-plausible.
Buzzzzz.
I felt my stomach vibrate and I peered down to see my phone lit up, extremely bright. I squinted at it, and sure enough, it was Dereck.
'Hey you. Still awake enough 4 a visit?' I responded quickly, my fingers flying over the tiny keyboard.
'Sure. My house? or u wanna meet sumwhere else?' Send. A moment later, as I rolled out of bed to go to the window and view his house, my phone did it's annoying buzz again.
'Im @ ur window. open up'
What the crap? I stepped over to the window and sure enough, there he was; standing outside of my freaking window. I unhooked the latch and let him scramble inside. He was all sweaty and panting like a dog.
"So..um. How can I help you?" Seriously? That was the best that I could come up with?!
He just looked at me while a concerned expression danced across his features. "Well, I uh-. I need someone to tell my story to. I need someone to keep me away from my dreams and my wants." I blinked.
"What are you getting at, exactly?" He let out a sigh and stared at the ruffled sheets on my bed. "Sit and I'll explain." So I did and I listened hard hard, taking in every detail that he was spilling out to me.
"But-wait." I interrupted cautiously as I watched him pull at the rip in his jeans, "Shouldn't you be in rehab or locked up for illegal possession?" I chuckled nervously as several different emotions flickered in his eyes. "Nah. I have one shot, supposedly, to get clean and "get my act together". It's either that, or I'm sent off to somewhere I would rather not go."
I nodded at the hint he was giving me and continued, "So what am I supposed to do? I can't be with you all day and night. It just isn't possible."
"Well, I'm not asking you to. I'm asking you to be my friend; to tell me no when I'm really craving...those things." He winced and went on, "If I argue with you, just punch me in the nose, or something."
I started giggling quietly. "You got it." He chuckled and stood up, gazing towards the window. "I should probably go. There's school tomorrow, remember?"
Oh, balls.
"Okay, well um..be careful. And Dereck" I paused for the full effect, "Say no to drugs." He gave me a quirky smile and scrambled back out the open window. "Goodnight Zoey."
"Nightie Night." I blushed as he shut the window silently. Jesus, it was already 3 in the morning.. I flopped backwards onto my bed and slowly felt my eyes droop. I had gotten what I wanted. And so much more.
