We Are Broken (Tayley)

The First Time

This member of our group, Katie had found this clearing in the woods, presumably an old campsite, a few months back and it had become sort of a go to spot for us to get stoned. Sarah-Beth had only found two other people willing to try out the drug with her. I stayed true to my word and came, though. I hadn't been completely honest in my reasoning, though. I had told her it was because she was funny stoned, which she was, but I really just wanted to make sure she would be okay.

 So, it was Sarah-Beth, me, and these twins named Jeanette and Nick who everyone was pretty sure were extremely incestuous. Nick also went by Nicki and dressed in drag most days, even though he still preferred male pronouns and everything. Jeanette was afraid of needles, so everyone was just going to smoke the meth, even though Sarah-Beth claimed that injecting it got you higher.

"You sure you don't want any?" She offered one last time. I, of course, refused and she took the first drag. It was almost scary to watch the change that took place. For a long time, the three of them just passed around a blunt, if it's still called that with meth, and I watched Jeanette's pupils dilate. Eventually, Nicki stopped smoking it and just began combing through his hair with his fingers, even though he was only raking his hands through one part. I could see strands being ripped out every time, but he just kept doing it.

Sarah-Beth sat up straighter at one point, her shoulder involuntarily shaking back and forth as she stuck out her chest in a prideful manner.

"Look at the way the flowers are opening and closing," Nicki whispered wondrously, still combing the same area of his hair.

"It's called photosynthesis, dumbass," Sarah-Beth spat.

"Everyone knows that, dumbass," Jeanette mocked her high-pitched voice before adding, "That's not even photosynthesis."

Sarah-Beth demanded to know what it was, exactly, then and the two started a full-blown screaming match. It was really strange because nothing either of them said made any sense whatsoever but they wouldn't back down. They just kept yelling. All three of them had ignored me since they had started smoking and I was thankful for that now. I was afraid of what would happen if they noticed my presence, so I got up and left. At first I tried to be quiet and discreet but I realized that if they knew I was there they didn't care at this point.

I was about halfway to my car when I heard the sound of leaves crunching behind me. It wasn't like someone was walking, though. No, they were sprinting and breathing hard. Turning cautiously, I was knocked to the ground. Opening my eyes, I found myself staring straight into Jeanette's. It was only for a brief moment, though, before she was running again, almost faster than before.

Standing up, I tasted blood. Lifting a hand to my face, I found that my nose was gushing blood. It was probably broken. I silently cursed Jeanette and the drug before I kept walking to my car. There wasn't much I could do to tend to my probable wound until I got there.

A little bit later, Nicki ran past me. I heard him call Jeanette's name a few times. It was relieving to see him run in a way that looked like he was running after his sister, unlike Jeanette who looked like she was trying to escape a serial killer.

When I finally reached my car, I saw Nicki and Jeanette at their car. Jeanette's back was against the side of the car and Nicki's front was pressed to hers. I could hear him whispering "It's okay, I still think you're beautiful" over and over as he stroked his sister's hair. Like I said, incest. It was really awkward though, because they were the identical kind of twins so it looked like a person about to have sex with themself.

I ignored them, though, and headed home. It was getting way too dark to be out, but I didn't turn on my car lights for a while to make sure I didn't shock the two. Pulling a pack of tissues out of my glove compartment, I held a wad under my nose, hoping I had enough to last me until I got home.

I was starting to feel lightheaded so I sped up, thankful for the empty roads. For a brief moment I wondered if Sarah-Beth would be okay in the woods or if she had come out after Nicki. I contemplated going back and getting her, but I wasn't sure exactly what the effects of meth were, so I didn't turn around.

I told my parents I had tripped when I got home and they bought it, like they usually do. My parents were somewhat gullible and they had far too much faith in me. They drove me to the hospital and paid to get one of those cast-things.

I didn't hear from Sarah-Beth until Monday, though. She ran up to me in the cafeteria during before school started, literally ran by the way, I think she knocked someone over.

"So, around seven a.m. Saturday it started wearing off, right? I still had a little bit left, so I injected it right there," she pointed to a puncture in her arm and I gagged, "but it wore off again so I've been running off cigarettes and liquor since then. I need more. It was fucking great, Hayley! You should have been there."

"I was there," I raised my eyebrows and her mouth formed an apologetic 'Oh'. "Have you slept since then? No offense, but you look like shit."

"I haven't been tired. But I'm great. Anyway, I'm out but I'm going to go get more either today or tomorrow and you have to come with me!" She said louder than I think she meant to. Her eyes were bloodshot and I could see the beginnings of dark circles under them. It was Friday when I went with her to the park. She had been awake for over three days. I was worried about her, but I knew she would just call me a baby if I voiced my concerns.

I agreed to go with her again, though. I didn't want her alone with whatever kind of person would make and sell something as bad as this. I should've let her go on her own. I shouldn't have let her do meth in the first place, but I did. It was almost worth it there for a while, but I'm getting ahead of myself again.

Taylor is coming soon, I promise! Thank you for reading so far, though. Please let me know what you think and I'll probably have it updated at least once more before the break ends. I love you all!