In This Life (Sequel to 'In Another Life')

90

TW// DRUG USE AND SU*CIDE.    (I know that I said I wasn't going to do trigger warnings again, but this chapter and probably the next couple of chapters warrant one. So, here's your warning.)

By the time the ending verse of "All in this together" rang out through the living room, mixed with our own voices, I had all but put the Amber situation completely out of my mind. "Okay, two of you can share my room, and two of you can share Kenzie's room. I'm gonna bunk with T, and Kenzie is in with Sarah. Goodnight ladies," Denise said. We all went through our nightly routines, then piled into our beds. I checked my phone, remembering that Colby was supposed to call. He didn't call but there was a text. 'Hey baby girl, I didn't call because it got late. Didn't want to wake you up. I'll call you tomorrow. Sweet dreams beautiful. I love you.' A warmth spread through my heart as I smiled at his text. 'I love you' I sent back then, put my phone on charge for the night. "Thanks for tonight Neece. I really enjoyed myself," I said, letting out a huge yawn. "I did too T. It's been a while since we've just had a night like that. Even though we live together again, it's rare. We should make it a weekly thing," she said, yawning her self. "Goodnight," I said softly, snuggling into my pillow and closing my eyes. "Goodnight T," she responded. Apparently, the girls night turned into a girls day as well. The girls stuck around and we all hung out by our pool. We even managed to get in a few times and knock a beach ball around, just for fun. It seemed like my body was getting stronger, because I didn't even hurt afterwards. Hell, I might even go as far to say that I was completely healed from my accident. Thank God. It felt like it took forever. I knew that I would need to see what my doctor said before I could be sure, but I was confident that he would agree. I would be seeing him next week actually.  Colby would be back on Monday, and my appointment wasn't until Tuesday so he would probably take me. As much as I loved that man, and as much as I missed him, I had to admit that it was kind of nice not having him check on me every five minutes. I knew he only did it because he loved me, but it really got annoying sometimes. I would be so grateful when my doctor said I had a clean bill of health and he could chill out. Our girls day didn't last long enough, and when the sun went down, the girls started leaving. Jake picked up Kat and Tara.  Corey came to get Devyn, Reggie came by to get both Cassie and Kenzie, and Brennen picked up Sarah. "You got babysitting duty huh?" I asked Denise once everyone had left. "That's right T. It couldn't be that I just want to hang out with my best friend huh? I mean, that just wouldn't make any sense. Who in their right mind would want to hang out with you?" She really didn't have to be so damn dramatic. "Okay, okay, I get it. My bad," I said, laughing. "So what are doing tonight?" She shrugged. "I don't know. What did we use to do before you were hurt and it was just us, because I seem to have forgotten." "Um, that would mean back in Georgia. We played cards or went exploring. Oh and got shitfaced drunk. So, we can only do one of those things right now," I said. "Get drunk?" she asked, raising her eyebrows. "T, I don't think that's a good idea for you. I mean, I'll be fine, but like, you're an addict soo..." She cracked a grin at me. "Oh, you got jokes?" I said, rolling my eyes. "I always do," she said, pulling a deck of cards out of the drawer that was on the end table next to our couch. "We actually have cards?" I asked, honestly confused. "Why?" She shrugged again. "Why not? I don't know. I saw them at the store one day and just grabbed them. Aren't you glad I did though?" I laughed, and tapped the coffee table. "Deal em then." Colby still hadn't called me, so when my phone rang, I snatched it up fast and answered it. "Colby?" I asked. "No T. Not at all. 'hiccup' I'm glad you have him though. Someone to love you. You deserve to be loved T. Not like me. You're a good person. I'm not. I'm trash. I don't deserve anything good." I sighed, and shook my head, holding my finger up at Denise when it was my turn to play. "Didn't I tell you not to call me again Amber? I'm blocking you," I said stonily. I saw Denise's face turn angry out of the corner of my eye, but I kept my gaze averted. She knew that I had lied to her now about blocking her before. "You don't haf too," Amber said, her words slurring. She was definitely on something. "I won't be here to bother you anymore T. I jush wanted to shay I was shorry. I never shlep with Colby. Nope, never did that." She started laughing and it honestly freaked me out. Something was wrong. Really wrong. "Amber what did you do? What do you mean that you won't be here? AMBER?!" My heart started racing inside my chest, feeling like it was galloping a race that it wasn't going to win. "Itsh okay T. Itsh all gonna be oootay," she said, then giggled again. "You were right to kick me to the curb. I'm poison. 'hiccup' Everyone will be better off. Be happy Terra. You were the only real friend I eva had. Goodbye." "Amber, DON'T YOU-" I was cut off when I heard her disconnect. I brought my phone down and just stared at it for a moment. "T, what's going on?" Denise asked, worry in her voice. "We need to go. We need to go now Neece. I think Amber is trying to take her life. We need to go. Call Justin. I don't know where she lives, and we need to go. She took something, I know she did. I can't- I can't breath," I said, the words falling out of my mouth, until my lungs started to burn because I couldn't pull in any oxygen.