Not Good Enough For Truth In Cliche

The Blood In Your Veins Is Twenty Below

"How's it going?" Ronnie asked through the phone.
I rolled my eyes. "Craig's a fucking asshole."
"Okay. What's new?"
"He made a pass at me."
"He what?" Ronnie's words were now dripping with venom.
"Turned him down. He was being like, creepy about it."
"Did this come before or after you decided to piss them off?"
I shook my head. "After."
"Huh, odd, the guys get pissed off because you now look like an album cover with their ex singer as the singer? Who would've thought?"
"Ronnie." I said tiredly.
"Aw, I'm sorry." He looked at me through the glass. "I'll fight him when I get out."
"Wishful thinking."
"I will."
"I know."
"Still going?"
"I hit a blunt before I got here. Been chain smoking for stress."
"Ash."
"You try, deal with a guy who you and your best friend hate and he's trying to hit on you. It's tough."
"I know."
"Anyways, how have you been?"
"Ugh, bored."
"I'll bet."
"But my days are better when you visit me." He grinned stupidly.
"You're an idiot." I laughed. "Has your dad visited?"
"Once."
"That's good."
"Yeah."
I sighed. "I haven't done coke since you were shipped off."
"That's good to know. You only did it recreationally, though. How's the smoking?"
"Like I said, chain smoking. Blunts to piss off Mabbitt, he hates them."
"Keep going." Ronnie smiled.
"I plan on it."
"You're wonderful."
"I know."
"Dating anyone?"
"I wish."
"You know, if you're still lonely, and I get out, you can take passes at me."
"I sucked your dick once and you want more?"
"Ash!"
"I'm joking, Ronnie."
"I'm not."
"Are you forgetting the key detail where I did it for a line?"
"Oh, shit, you're right."
"Damn, you were doped out."
"Yeah, I was."
I looked around. "Maybe not the best choice of words in a prison."
"Well, the damage is done." He checked the time. "Don't you have to go?"
"Not really anything to go back to." I replied, sighing. "Your dad is all upset, the band hates me, and I don't want to burden Monte."
"Why's my dad upset?"
"You're in jail."
"Yeah, well, I can't really change that. Talk to him. He's your dad too."
I had moved in with Ronnie, his dad, and his older brother, Anthony, when I was eleven. My mom abandoned the family when I was ten and my dad killed himself. So I moved in with my one friend. "Yeah."
"How's Anthony?"
"Haven't really checked in on him, I'll do that later, if you like."
"No, it's okay."
"Okay."
Ronnie sighed. "I'll be out as soon as I can. Good behavior can get me out."
"I know."
"I'll talk to you later?"
"Of course."
He blew a kiss at me. "Love you, Ash."
"Love you, Ronnie."
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I don't even know what I was on. I forgot. Or didn't care. All I did know was that Max gave the rest of the band stuff, so we were all high. Monte was watching me, concerned. "Ash, honey, didn't you have enough?"
"No." I replied, grinning.
"Maybe you should stop."
"Nah." I lit a blunt, not even knowing how they convinced me to do this with them.
Craig came up to me. "Ash, babe-"
"Don't call me babe." I said mildly.
"We should get you to bed."
"If anyone is getting her to bed, it's not gonna be you." Monte replied.
"I'm not going to bed, I'm not stopping." I shrugged. "Maxie!"
"Yeah?" He asked.
"I need another line."
"I got you." He poured out the brown powder (heroin?) and tapped it into a line.
I leaned over and took it. "Thanks."
"Of course."
"That's your third line, Ash. I'm worried." Monte came and sat by me.
"She's a fucking druggie." Craig stared at us. "Along with Max and Omar, God knows where Robert is."
"He's in his room."
I smiled. "There was this time, Ronnie and I were... Fuck, Ronnie's older then me, isn't he?"
Monte humored me. "Yeah. Two years, love. Your birthday is the same day."
"Ah, right. So he was seventeen almost eighteen, I was fifteen. He just... One day, he came home, coked out. And Anthony was visiting. And like, he had some extra. So he put some lines out and we just did them. I think it was the first time I did drugs. It was awesome." I laughed. "Not drugs. I'd smoked before. Like drugs, drugs."
"Yep, bedtime."
"No." I whined. "Monte, where's the bathroom?"
"You've been here... Down the hall, second door."
"Thanks." I stood up and went to the bathroom, staring at myself in the mirror. I quickly checked my makeup and left. I ran into someone. "Oh, sorry."
Craig grabbed my arms. "No, it's okay."
"Hi Craig." I slurred.
"You okay?"
"I'm fine."
"You sure?"
"Yes." I giggled. "Hey, Mabbitt?"
"Yeah?"
"I know you're an asshole, but like, you're kinda attractive, and... You're not an asshole. Right now."
He laughed. "You're high as hell."
"No!"
"Yes."
"Maybe. But you're cute."
"You need to stop. What would Ronnie think? Hell, what would Monte think? Or Max?"
"Max would be fine if I'm getting along with you. Monte would be neutral, he is." I grinned stupidly at him. "Ronnie's in jail, he wouldn't know, because-"
Craig leaned in and kissed me. I didn't hesitate, maybe it was the drugs, or the... God, I don't know why I'm thinking about this. He lifted me up, hands around my thighs, my hands around his neck. My back was up against the wall. He kissed me harder, then pulled away. "Wow."
I smiled. "I knew you'd do it."
"You won't tell Ronnie?"
"Nah."
"Promise?" He whispered, lips right next to my ear.
"I promise, Mabbitt."
"C'mon, we should go." He set me down. "You go ahead and leave first, I actually had to go to the bathroom."
"M'kay."
I walked out into the living room. "Hey, guess who's back!" Omar yelled.
"Hell yeah!" I replied.
"She should really sleep, sober up." Monte said.
"I'll help her." Craig came back.
"The hell? No."
"I promise, I'll be nice."
"Monte, it's fine." I smiled.
He studied me. "Fine. Fine. I'll deal with these drunk guys, you'll deal with her."
"Night, Monte."
"Night, Ash."
"Night, guys!"
"Night!" Max yelled back, them Omar followed.
Craig started to guide me back to my apartment so I could sleep this off, so I could forget I kissed him.