Love Is The Drug

Chp. 5

"Why are you telling me this just now?" Madge asked, more confused now as ever as I lamented to her what I had hidden in her most formative years, "I could've helped you, protected you!"

"So you won't be as daft as I was!" I almost yelled back, tears were almost pooling in Madge's eyes, "You were 15, there's almost nothing you could have done to protect me. I had to learn this on my own, but thankfully now I can teach you, and protect you from making the same mistakes"

I was an absolutely idiotic and naive girl, fresh out of our Mother's care at 18, and I had no one around to warn me of the trance that men like Jay Gatsby can put on a girl, or the trances girls themselves put on men. I tell you my tale so that when Gatsby or any other man out to swoon you and break your heart comes around bearing expensive gifts that make you see rosy, you won't be your own Icarus and burn in the sun.

Madge was thoroughly hollow after hearing this, especially after being so smitten at first by the allure of this party. It was like she finally saw behind the stage at a sideshow carnival as a child. But she was still somewhat of a child, and even children have to learn someday that their favorite magics are just cheap tricks. But, that doesn't mean we can't enjoy them anyway sometimes.

"Darling," I said, almost instantly snapping out of my previous mood, "we have a lovely party in front of us, with booze flowing."

"Let's not waste it being hung up on reality. Just let it be a little reminder, and let's go have fun," I grabbed my sister as she giggled, we stole champagne flutes off the nearest tables and proceeded into the night to make more memories that we would most definitely regret in the next three years, but it was worth it for a Gatsby party.