Me and storm hadn't always been friends. Or roommates. Or even civil. Like I said , at first I simply made friends with her as a cover. But ... there was more too it than that.After I moved out to LA I was struggling. I simply didn't want anyone or anything near me. I wished to live in my own world and I hated the thought of anyone else entering it. However even back then.. I knew I wasn't quite, what you'd call "normal". I knew I didn't feel most emotions the way others did and I knew I had to pretend. To be just like everyone else. To fit in.
So I started working at a nearby gym whilst auditioning. I hated that job but it's hard to make it out here , anyone who doesn't know that is simply delusional. So I stuck at it. That's where I met storm. She was starting out boxing , clearly having some unresolved issues. I mean , why else would you take up a sport that virtually consists of beating the shit out of a dusty old bag. I decided she was my newest project , I wanted to figure her out. I started to teach her and gain her trust, in return she started opening up to me , telling me about her life. I gathered that information hungrily , piecing things together in my head.
And finally I worked it out : she was a weak over privileged bitch. She used to say such childish little things , like telling me she envisioned the punch bag as her ex boyfriend. Who , in all fairness, seemed like a pretty decent guy to me. All he'd done was go out with his mates a fair bit and this psycho chick jumped to the conclusion that he was sleeping with his secretary. Stalker much? And I thought I was the weird one. Once I'd come to this conclusion however , her usefulness to me was gone. Now the only fun I'd get out of her was showing her real hard work was. She'd only be suffering a sixth of the amount the rest of us have suffered throughout our entire lives.
I started to push her and push her. Making her go way past her limits. Making her feel weak and hopeless. It was fun. I knew I shouldn't get a kick out of seeing her hurt but I did. Just the slight feeling of power I got over having control for once made me exhilarated , and hungry for more.
One day she came in and I could tell that she was broken. However assuming that she had gone through yet another over privileged "trauma" I set her to work. I sat down , earphones in and watched her suffer , rather enjoying the show myself , that was until she stopped. I walked over and peered down at her with harsh eyes.
"C'mon you can't be that weak" I said. My voice coming out smooth and taunting , as usual. However not that anyone else would have heard it, but there was something more to my tone... hesitation.
She simply looked up at me , tears glistening in her eyes and replied defeatedly:
"Yes ... I am"
It was at that moment I recognised it. The loss in her eyes. Against my better judgment I reached out a hand and helped her onto the bench besides me , where she simply burst into tears.
I let her vent to me for hours and over that time I became more and more attached. I saw my own hurt mirrored in her eyes. She , as I had years ago, just lost her parents. In the moment I found this out my mind was made up that I was going to help her. She wasn't as strong as me, she wouldn't make it on her own. She'd die out here if I didn't show some guidance.
That night I took her back to my place. She was still currently living at her parents and being haunted every time she stepped foot in the garden. I knew the best thing she could do for tonight was forget. That's the way I did it ... not that I'm the best influence.
Once she had ceased crying and was sat on my couch sniffling I approached her.
"Vodka?" I asked.
"Erm I don't drink.." she stuttered. Wow I really am going to have a handful with this one aren't I?
"Now you do" I said firmly yet there was humour behind my voice , it was as if she was a delicate flower that could rip at any second , and something in me didn't want that to happen. I just couldn't bring myself to be harsh to her.
I decided some music would help. It always does.
"I don't give a damn 'bout my reputation.."
She almost jumped out of her skin. She looked at me in bewilderment, as if I had started to play music that was sent straight from hell. Joan Jett is an icon and anyone who doesn't know that is a moron. Or , in this case , someone who desperately needed to be educated in the art of living a little.
"This is what good music sounds like sweetheart , get used to it." She simply nodded her head.
As the night went on she got used to the more relaxed attitude , her movements became less tense and the shots started slipping down easily without her pulling a face that seemed as though she had been burnt alive every time.
Then it started with a foot tap , and slowly a slight nodding of her head , then a sway. I grinned. Finally.
"Well if you wanted honesty that's all you had to say. I never want to let you down or have you go , it's better off this way..."
The words started flowing out of my mouth before I could stop them. Fuck it , let's see if she knows how to have fun.
I jumped to my feet and leant out a hand. Tentatively, she took it , and I hauled her up making her stagger , but slowly she started to smile and to dance and sing. The music now ran through us. I felt the beat inside me , the pluses of happiness running through my veins. It was ecstatic.
Our eyes caught. She took in a deep breath. Yes yes yes!
"BUT YOU REALLY NEED TO LISTEN TO ME , BECAUSE IM TELLING YOU THE TRUTH , I MEAN THIS IM OKAY , TRUST ME!"
Our gazes locked as we screamed my favourite part. As the last note hit us we collapsed into a laughing heap on my couch. I rolled over to face her and suddenly my eyes lit up in thought.
"Move in with me."
She stared back in bewilderment and started stuttering in shock.
"Look , you don't want to be at your parents house now and I want a better place. If we went looking for an apartment we'd be able to afford something nicer than this shithole , and it works out for both of us."
"Erm..okay." She then got more confident. "I mean..yes! Yes I'd love too!"
I grinned , looking at the flicker of hope in her eyes , seeing her vulnerableness, and I moved closer. I could almost hear her heart beating and I couldn't help myself. Swiftly placing my hand around the back of her head , her golden hair caressing my cupped hand , I leaned in.
YOU ARE READING
Addict
ActionWhat began as a plot to seek vengeance for her parent's murder slowly turns into something a lot more sinister...