In Another Life

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                                                 WARNING!!!!! DRUG USE WILL BE IN THIS CHAPTER AND SOME OF THE REST. IF THIS BOTHERS YOU, DON'T READ IT. I AM NOT CONDONING DRUG USE. DON'T DO DRUGS!! IT'S DANGEROUS AND  YOU COULD DIE. I KNOW THIS FROM EXPERIENCE. IT WON'T MAKE YOU COOL AND IT'S NOT OKAY. JUST DON'T DO IT! OKAY? OKAY. Now Enjoy

I stopped in front of the rundown yellowish house with the peeling paint. I took a giant swig from the bottle of vodka, then wiped my mouth with the back of my hand. As I took the few steps to porch, I heard my phone ring. Didn't matter who it was. Didn't wanna talk. Just wanted to smoke and drink. So I ignored it and knocked on the door. An older guy with dirty blonde hair, and a goatee opened the door. His lips curved up around the cigarette dangling from his lips when he saw me. His eyes roamed my body up and down till he met my eyes. "Little T! How long's it been baby girl? It's good to see you!" My heart twinged as James held his arms out to me for a hug. I had forgotten that he called me baby girl. I guess because it didn't mean anything when he said it. Only Colby could make my heart jump with those words. I went into his arms and let him squeeze me for a minute before I backed up. I ran my hand through my hair before I started to twist the little black stud in my ear. "It's been about four or five years JJ. How've you been?" He nodded at me, and lead me into the house. "I've been okay. Making money the only way I know how, ya know?" I nodded. I did know. That's the only reason that I was here tonight. He could help me forget. I looked around the old house remembering my desperate times here as a teenager. Back when my heart ached for a different reason. This is where me and my so called friends would hang out, or come to score some weed or coke. Whatever was on the agenda that night. Sometimes my friends would get something a little harder, but I never went past the coke. I was too scared. We would hang out here with JJ and his pals, smoking, snorting, and drinking the nights away. I barely remembered those times to be honest. Those memories were clouded with a smoke filled haze. I followed JJ into the kitchen where he poured me a drink in a red solo cup, then filled himself up one. The kitchen looked the same as I remembered. The same dingy yellow curtains hung over the kitchen sink window, the same dinged up table with the mismatched chairs in the middle of the room. "So what brings you by Little T? Boy problems?" My gaze shot to him and I narrowed my eyes. "No. I just thought I would see what the old crowd was up too JJ. Is that a problem?" He chuckled and shook his head. "Not at all babe. Just wondering. Come on, let's go see the rest of the gang. They'll be glad to see you." I followed him into the living room, noticing that the same carpet was on the floor, a dirty brown with cigarette burns in it. Maybe a few more than I remembered. The same springy flower patterned couch, with a few more rips and tears in it. The unmistakable smell of weed was permeated through the room. I took a seat next to him on the couch, and looked around at the others. "You guys remember Little T, yeah? She's come by to pay us a visit," JJ said to the others. One of the guys gave me a double take. "T? Little T? No way! You've grown up! Looking hot as hell too!" Lucas...no that wasn't right. Levi. This was Levi. I remembered him. I used to have a crush on him. His good looks were worn down now, by the excessive use of drugs, I was guessing. His dark hair was oily looking, pushed back from his forehead to show the wrinkles already starting to form there. he wasn't bad looking...just worn out and looked older than he actually was. If I remembered right, he shouldn't be more than 27 by now. I smiled at him. "Yeah, it's Levi, right? I remember you." He puffed out his chest proudly and grinned even larger. "Of course you do. You used to follow me around like a puppy, hanging onto my every word. I think you had a bit of a crush on me," he replied. I laughed at his goofiness and nodded. "Yeah, maybe I did. That was a long time ago though." "Hey T, it's been a while," a quiet guy on the other side of Levi said, raising his hand to me. I furrowed my brow, trying to remember his  name. He was cute, brown hair, brown eyes, nice face, and very nice smile. "David," he replied, when he noticed that I couldn't remember. "Right, David. I'm sorry. I remember you, just couldn't remember your name," I told him. He waved his hand and shook his head. "It's fine. No big deal." "And I know you remember Amber," JJ said, causing me to follow his hand that he motioned with. I hadn't even noticed that a girl was standing up against the wall, in the shadows. But there she was. My old friend Amber. "Hey T, how've you been? Living it up with your new friends?" I rolled my eyes and got up to give her a light hug. It seemed like neither of us wanted to really do it, but it was for the image, I guess. When I stepped back from her, I saw that what I had originally thought was a cigarette in her hand was actually a joint. She followed my gaze and laughed. "I'm guessing you haven't smoked in a while, huh? Want it? Or are you too good to smoke a joint with old friends now?" I narrowed my eyes at her and snatched the joint that she held out to me. "I'm not too good for anyone. Not good enough maybe," I replied, before putting the rolled paper to my lips. I puffed a few times, then inhaled deeply, letting the smoke stay in my lungs for a bit, before I exhaled a large cloud. I started coughing automatically, and passed the joint back to her, holding my free hand to my chest as my eyes watered. "Yeah, it's definitely been a while huh?" she asked, laughing as she took it from me.