Page 78 of Magic or Madness

I fluff my hair, inspecting my roots and realizing it’s time to touch up my hair. I’m distracting myself, hoping Cami will rescind her offer, but there’s something that keeps my eyes on the cocaine as if it’s tempting me – calling for just one little taste.

“It’s harmless. You’ll just be wired all night like you drank a few extra cups of coffee. Maybe lose feeling in your face.” She smirks, making it sound like a blast, and I make my decision in the moment.

Fuck it, there’s no shame in trying something just once.

I take the dollar bill from her, putting it up to my nostril in a way that mimics her movements, inhaling as I drag the bill over the line.

Immediately, I feel it burn as it goes through my nose, and I attempt to blink the tears away.

“Like a fucking pro. That’s my girl. One more for the other side?”

“Let’s do it,” I say, already feeling a slight buzz.

Cami dumps more powder on her phone, tucking the small baggie into her bra, and motioning for me to go for it.

My eyes water even more as I snort it, and it’s like a reward, feeling my senses instantly speed up.

“Wow,” I whisper, wiping the stray content from around my nose, and handing the bill back to Cami.

She slides her finger into the small pile that’s left, swipes it onto her gums, and tells me to do the same.

“It just heightens the experience, I promise,” she assures me, and for some reason, I trust her.

I mimic her movements, instantly feeling my gums tingling, and my body feels electrified.

“See? Not so bad, right?” Cami smiles, touching up her lip gloss in the mirror.

A loud knock on the door startles us, and we both freeze.

“Fallon? Are you alright?” It’s just Ozzy, and we both let out a sigh of relief. The idea of getting caught has my heart pounding against my chest, and my eyes are the size of saucers when I catch a glimpse of my reflection.

“I’m fine, Ozzy!” I call out, but he pushes the door open before I can finish my sentence.

“Oh shit, I thought you were alone. Sorry, Cami –” he stops mid-sentence, staring at the small bit of coke on Cami’s phone, and the rolled-up bill in her hand.

His eyes flick to hers, then back to mine, and he rakes his hands through his hair.

“Jesus fucking Christ, Camila. Who’d you buy it from?” He asks, still standing in the doorway with concern plastered all over his face.

“A new guy on the block. It’s not stepped on,” she defends herself, taking the baggie out of her bra and handing it to him.

“How do you know?” He sternly asks, inspecting the contents like he’s looking for something to prove her wrong.

“I watched him cut it off the brick.” She laughs, sipping a small bottle of vodka from her purse, and passing it to me.

“Fallon, how many lines did you do?” He turns his attention to me, and my shoulders stiffen at his tone of voice.

His urge to protect me is bursting at the seams, and I suddenly feel small, like I’m about to be lectured.

“Two. Two, right?” I verify with Cami, and she giggles at my obvious amateur attitude.

“She did two small ones, a little on her gums. I kept ‘em light for a beginner.” She spins nonchalantly, watching her reflection in the mirror.

I sip from her bottle, enjoying the buzz streamlining through my body. This shit makes me awake, and I just want to keep moving.

“You’re not mad at me, are you baby?” I question, slipping my arms around his waist and staring up into his dark eyes.

“Never, Bambi. Go have fun,” he whispers, slapping my ass gently and I jump at the sudden movement.

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