Page 28 of Ecstasy
Zara
Thursday morningbefore my abnormal psych class, and Mom is on one again. I’m meeting Alex for lunch today and I do not want to deal with her shit. She’s berating me for not picking up the phone and calling her all week.
“I’m serious, Zara, if you’re using again—”
“I’m not, Mom, damn.” I shift the phone to my other ear, propping it up with my shoulder while I reach for the baggie in my shoebox at the back of my closet. “Just relax. I’ll be home for the brunch thing. One week, right? Sunday?” I pull the white pill out of the bag, swallow it dry while my mom sighs heavily on the other end of the phone. I crinkle the baggie in my hand and stand to my feet, my head spinning a little as I do.
I close my eyes for a second, letting my blood pressure adjust.
“Yes, not this Sunday but the next. And it’s not a brunch thing, Zara. It’s Cory’s first introduction to some of the family and our engagement party, and I want it to go well.”
I roll my eyes, the slight bitterness of the drug lingering on my tongue as I walk out of the closet heading toward the bathroom. I toss the baggie in the trash while Mom rants and raves about this very important party.
I don’t need to remind Mom this is her fourth fucking engagement party for her fourth fucking husband. Probably should just stop having those parties altogether.
“Yeah, yeah. I’ll be there. I’m sure Cory will do great. Such a charmer, that guy.”
I’ve never heard Cory string together more than three words at a time.
My mom exhales loudly, and I yank the phone away from my ear to protect myself from the staticky sound. She’s saying something but I’m rubbing eyeliner from beneath my eyes in the mirror, leaving a trail of black shadows under the red rim of my lower lash line, barely listening.
I mean, do I look like a druggie?
I guess. But I also look like another exhausted college kid, and I’m starting to think both of those people look the same.
Mom is yammering away about something in my ear, but I’m not paying attention. I do not give a fuck about this party. I only answered her call because I wanted to test the waters, make sure she hadn’t seen the video of my tits.
Apparently not, because all she can think about is my soon-to-be new stepdad, Cory.
So sweet.
“Yeah, great, Mom. Gotta go. Love you.” I end the call, slip my phone into my back pocket.
I grip the edge of the porcelain sink, lean in closer.
My blue-green eyes are red, my pupils little more than pinpricks which means I probably should cut back on the Addie, but too late for that now.
Whatever.
I needed to be at my peppiest to deal with Alex today. And as if right on cue, my phone buzzes in my back pocket in the vibration pattern I assigned to him.
My heart thumps in my chest as I pull it out and read his text.
Alex:Meet me at eleven, he confirms.I miss you.
I smile to myself. I knew he’d come back.
7
Eli
I skipped classes Monday.Considering I was dealing with the cops and answering questions about just how involved Rihanna and I were all day Sunday, it seemed like the right thing to do.
But I’ve gone the past three days. Today is Friday and Fridays I don’t have class, but I do have wrestling practice. And before that, I have to deal with something else.
My phone vibrates in my pocket as I head to the 370Z, sliding in the driver’s side.
I start the car, pull out my phone and check my messages. There’s a fuck load, because everyone wants to make sure I’m okay, since Zara and I found Rihanna’s body in the pool. I personally want everyone to fuck off, but that’s not really how society works. I respond to a few of my teammates. Coach let me skip wrestling practice all week, but I’m going back this afternoon, deal with all the questions that’ll no doubt come my way.
