The Healing Process (L.T)

15

Larry was finally sober by eight o'clock that night. He'd never stayed out that long without contacting his brother, at least not when he was staying with him. That was the highest he'd been in a while; those lines really did a number on him but he kept going back for more. He was never one to admit his addiction, especially not to Laurent. He's been keeping it a secret from him, at least until he got better but he was back at square one, needing more and more of it as time went on. Melissa was knocked out because they went so many rounds with the sex and drugs. She was high off the pills they took together and she didn't find it fair that he had both, but he repaid her with the best backshots she's ever had in her life. Larry was already a god in the sheets, but when he was high he could last forever. That's why he stayed so long because they'd been fucking all day but he wanted to leave now. His high was wearing down and he was starting to come back to his senses. He needed to get back to Laurent and Ivy, but he didn't want to face them like this. He felt horrible, like he'd been hit by eight buses from eight different angles. As he was getting dressed, he couldn't blame anyone for what he did but himself. He was aware of how much of a lightweight he was. It didn't take long for him to get drunk or high, but he always craved more when it came to cocaine. He stayed with Laurent from time to time so he could keep himself away from Melissa and her habits, but he went back every time, it was like a cycle at this point. He couldn't be around Laurent like this, and he definitely couldn't be around Ivy. If anyone knew what the affects of cocaine looked like, it would be her. Her mother did a lot of drugs, or so he assumed. His addiction would come to the light eventually but he could only pray she didn't tell Laurent.

He was on his way back to his house now with Peanut in his arms sleeping soundly. He was the only reason he went back to Melissa's house and now he was in the sane situation again. It was worse because he found her little stash and he put a few bags in his pocket. He planned on hiding it behind his TV or something because nobody would have any business going back there anyway. Shit, the fact that he was planning on hiding something like that sickened him, but now his needs had to be met.

He climbed Laurent's porch slowly, dreading the thought of facing him after not answering his calls or texts all day. He rung the doorbell anyway, making kissy noises at Peanut as he waited. When the door opened, he expected Laurent, but Ivy was the one to answer.

Fuck.

"Oh hi...Larry..." her sentence trailed off and he looked down at her, frowning a little when he saw the look that crossed her face.

"You okay?" He asked, raising his eyebrows a bit. She reached up towards his face and she swiped the spot under his nose with her thumb, bringing her hand back down to her face. She then looked back up at him, shaking her head as she narrowed her eyes.

She knows.

"You did the last thing I expected you to do..." she muttered. She turned her thumb around for him to see and he saw a speck of blood on the tip of her finger. His face fell and he opened his mouth to defend himself, but there was nothing he could say. He didn't expect her to figure it out this fast but he couldn't do anything about it now. He quickly wiped the blood off of his face with his sleeve, looking around subconsciously before he looked back at Ivy.

"Don't tell Lau." He said softly. She scoffed, wiping his blood in his jacket before she shook her head again.

"You have some nerve to want him to stop drinking when you're doing something just as fucking bad!"

"I know," Larry muttered, running a hand over his face. "Can you please let me in? Peanut will be cold."

Ivy would have said no but the puppy was starting to shiver in his arms, so she stepped to the side, glaring up at him as he walked into the house. Larry huffed lightly and he walked over to the couch, lying Peanut on it gently. He then turned to Ivy, who was making her way upstairs.