25 Rules to Surviving a Hopeless Drug Addict

Chapter 20

20. Do not listen sympathetically to his past. Do not believe it.

 

The kiss broke like a spell. Stevie’s arms were around me and it was comfortable, instead of feeling anxious or full of dread if anyone found out, I felt satisfied, finally. Ree was right.

“You know how I got in here?” Stevie asked quietly. I shook my head.

“No clue.” I added.

“Sometimes, my mom gets into stuff she shouldn’t. She had me when she was fifteen and I guess she’s getting old now, to her. She brings home these nasty guys and one of ‘em got sick of me, right? So he gives me some heroin. Wants me to get addicted, wants to ruin my life, but I don’t get addicted. You should have seen his face when I wasn’t kicking the bedroom door open within the hour. Eventually, I did, but that’s because I figured out what I’d taken. Beat him, my first arrest. Didn’t care if he called the cops, I just wanted him dead. I beat up another guy soon, he was almost my stepdad, too. He tried to set me on fire and Mom walked in. He drugged her beer and so she smashed it over his head and I stole his lighter….” Stevie’s eyes clouded over as he remembered.

“Where’s your mom?” I asked gently.

“Dead. This psycho stabbed her. He’s gone now.” Stevie said.

“I'm sorry.” I whispered.

“Don’t be. I didn’t know her, she was just the woman I lived with.” Stevie said.

“Is he…dead?” I asked fearfully.

“The killer? No, he’s in prison.” Stevie said. “Caught him.” I put a hand on Stevie’s cheek.

“I'm still sorry, somehow. Shit like that shouldn’t happen.” I said sympathetically. Stevie looked at me with dark eyes like liquid storm clouds. I stood on tiptoe to kiss him. It turned from sweet to heated.

“Long story short: I guess this is like something good finally happened.” Stevie said. I translated: You’re something good. My cheeks might have gone pink if Stevie hadn’t leaned in again.