ABDUCTED

Baggage and Backstories

Chapter 10. Page 221.

Saturday, December 10th-16 days

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I am an addict. I will always be an addict. It all started at a party. I had just turned thirteen and the world changed forever. I got to watch rated- R movies, I could wear makeup, and choose my own outfits. My dad's finally gave me the freedom to be a teenager. A real teenager.
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I sat on my bed, hugging my knees as I stared at the little bag of white powder. Last night, Demi had called me to tell me about the most amazing adventure she had been on with Bianca and Jay and some old guy and all I could think about was coke. At this point, I had been clean of hard drugs for 3 months. I had been in possession of this bag for four days and it was killing me. I knew I needed to get rid of it, but part of me couldn't. The coke had been burning a hole in my jewelry box; calling to me. I wanted nothing more than just a bump. "Just a bump," I whispered, feelings the sweat run down my forehead. I hated how much power that little bag of white shit had over me. Has.

10.222–

My phone chimed, startling me out of my one sided staring contest. I picked it up, noticing a snap from an old friend. I opened it, seeing an invite to a party. I screenshotted it, sending it back with the home emoji followed by a question mark. She replied a second later with the address. "Lakewood? That's pretty far. I'll need someone with a car," I said, furrowing my eyebrows. Spliff came to mind, but she had been ghosting me lately. "Jay has a car." I smiled, immediately calling him. He picked up on the sixth ring. "Yo," he said with a yawn. "No yawning! There's a party," I said sweetly. I heard him sigh. "So?" He asked. I rolled my eyes, dropping the "nice" act. "Fine. I need a ride," I said bluntly. Jay chuckled as if satisfied my answer. "Where is it?" He asked. I bit my lip before I answered. "Lakewood." This time, a more genuine laugh erupted from my phone. "You're hilarious. That's like an hour and half with traffic," he replied. I exhaled, my eyes somehow finding the little bag filled with white powder. "Please, Jay," I pleaded. It got silent for a moment as I continued to stare at the bag. I sorta wondered if he could hear my heavy breathing. "Fine. You have forty-five minutes to get ready," he finally said. "Yay! Thank you, boo," I squealed. He mumbled something, hanging up immediately after. I jumped up, immediately walking to my closet to find an outfit.

10.223–

The first time I tried coke was at a make-out party. The most popular guy in eighth grade was hosting it and he invited me. Joshua Kratz was a second year eight grader. His parents were gone for the weekend, visiting his sick grandmother. He had convinced his parents to let him stay home alone. Everyone in our grade showed up, me included. There were even high schoolers there, drinking, kissing, and doing drugs—which blew my eighth grade mind. I knew I wanted to be them. I wanted to be wanted the way the other girls were.

10.224–

Some time later, I heard Jay honking his horn outside. I grabbed my purse, hearing a knock at the door. "Minj? Your friend is here," I heard my dad say from outside the door. I quickly grabbed the bag of coke, stuffing it in my purse as he opened the door. "Thanks, dad. I was just... grabbing my lipstick," I lied, quickly grabbing a black lipstick off my vanity. He furrowed his eyebrows. "Where are you going?" I smiled. "Jordyn invited me to a party. I decided to take Jay," I said with confidence. One thing I had learned was to tell the truth immediately after a lie—and then lie right after the truth— and so on. "Is he licensed? Will he be drinking tonight?" He asked. "Yes, he's licensed and has been for over a year. He won't be drinking. Jay doesn't drink," I replied. He nodded. "Have fun, sweetie. Make good choices." I hugged him as tight as I could. "Love you, dad," I said softly. My dad hugged me back. "Love you! Be home by midnight, Cinderella," my dad said, planting a kiss on top of my head. I looked up at him before turning to leave. My smile dropped as I heard him going through my drawers.