Hurt

I walked into my house to find my mom waiting for me. She quickly rose from her chair. "Is everything okay?" She asked. tears swelled as i tried to decide whether to tell her the truth or make up a lie.

" Sweetie please tell me he's alive?" She said concerned.

"Hes fine now mom. Can i please just go to bed?" I asked.

"Yeah go ahead sweetie. " She said then kissing my head.

I put my PJ'S on then laid down. I laid there staring at a picture of Michael and I at the beach. Now that I know, i can see it. I always thought he was just a light eater, i thought how skinny he was just the way he looked. His face was kind of sunk in but I thought it was just him. I have no clue who he really is. Is this why he was so bipolar and irritated some times? Is this why he never let me in his closet? Is this why he always made sure the light were off or he kept his shirt on when we had sex? Did he really love me?

I barely slept. I was hoping this night was just a nightmare. I cant believe I was in love with a drug addict. He was suppose to be my last. But now it's doesn't look that way.

There was a light knock at the door.

"Sweetie? Are you awake?" She asked.

" Yeah mom." I replied softly.

"How long have you been up?" She asked.

" i never went to sleep." I replied. She was very concerned. She shut the door, " i want you to tell me what's going on . now. " She said.

" I cant. I don't want you guys to hate him." I said.

"It'll stay between us. Your dad doesn't have to know. I'm worried. Please Audrey. I'm your mother." She said brushing the hair out of my face.

"What did he do?" She asked.

"Drugs." I said as a single tear fell.

"Your kidding!" She gasped.

I shook my head. " I went over there and I went to his room and he was laying face first on the ground. I screamed for Katherine, Joseph called 911. Then once we got to the hospital they told us they found a large amount of Heroin in his system. I didn't believe it so I went back to his house to see if i could find anything. I found a black bag with needles, a spoon, a lighter and little packets of white powder." I replied crying. She wrapped her arms around me as i sobbed.

" I should have listened to you mom! He was bad news. You knew all along." I cried.

"Shhhh, we all make mistakes. You fell in love. You can't control the way you feel." She said.

"I hate him! How could he do this to us? " I cried.

"Baby I'm sure he was doing it before he met you. Once you start, you can't stop. I'm glad you were strong enough to break up with him though." She said.

" But I still love him. I don't want to but I do." I cried.

"Youre going to love him for a while, it's gonna take a while. Just give yourself time."

"Do I have to go to school today?" I asked.

"No baby. You can stay home today but only today." She said kissing my head.

"I gotta go check on your brother." She said leaving.

I finally fell asleep bit not for long. I was woken up by my cellphone. It was Katherine.

"Hello?" I said.

"Hey sweetie." She said. She sounded tired.

"Is everything okay?" I asked.

"Yeah, he just woke up an hour ago. Their going to send him to a 2 week rehab. They can't send him to a longer one till he's done with school."she said.

"How long has he been on it?" I asked.

"Almost 2 years he said." She replied.

"Did you give him my necklace?" I asked.

" no not yet. I don't want to stress him out to much. But he keeps asking for you and everything. I think he has a pretty good idea that you broke things off." She sighed.

" okay....well if anything else happens call me." I said.

"Alright sweetie. I'll talk to later. Bye" she said hanging up.

My mom got home from taking Riley to school.

"Dre, you've got company." She said then letting Wesley and Trey in my room.

"You guys didn't go to school either? " I yawned.

"Nah, haven't slept much. " Wesley replied sitting on my bed.

"Why are you guys here?" I giggled slightly.

"We were bored and thought you could use some company. " Trey replied laying down on my couch in my room.

"Move over." Wesley said.

I scooted over as Wesley got in bed with me.

"Did you sleep at all? " he asked.

I shook my head, " i only slept about 30 minutes then was woken up by Katherines

phone call." I replied.

"What did she say? " He asked.

"He's been addicted to heroin for 2 years. They're sending him to a two week rehab."I said.

"What are you gonna do when he comes back? " Wesley asked.

I shrugged my shoulders.

"Hes still our bro Dre." Wesley said.

"I know, i just need time. " I replied.

"Well you have 2 weeks. " He said then laying down, closing his eyes.

Finally we all fell asleep.

We were woken up my Riley walking in my room, "mom said get up!" He holler.

"Go away Ri!" I groaned.

"No get up lazy booty!" He laughed.

We all woke up and went down stairs. My mom had snacks sitting out for us.

"Just like old times." Wesley giggled.

"You all don't ever seem to change." She laughed.

We ate snacks and watched movies all day. It got late and Trey and Wesley went home. I'm dreading school. People are going to be asking me all day what happen to Michael. No way in hell am i saying he ODed on heroin.

-

The next day: I woke up tying my hair in a messy bun and putting on a Tshirt and sweat pants.

Riley caught his bus and wesley picked me up.

"So what are you gonna tell people? " he asked.

"Were just gonna say he got really sick." I said.

We walked into school together and we were already swarmed by people.

"Where's Michael? Is he okay? What happened?" People asked mostly the thirsty ass tricks that don't leave him alone.

"Hes fine, he just got really sick." I mumbled pushing pass people.

I walked to my locker, everyone soon cleared the hallways and went to class.

Katherine asked me to talk to the principal and have make sure Randy , Wesley or Trey get his homework.

I took care of that business and got a late pass. I walked through the hallways to see Erin.

"Are you doing alright? " She asked.

"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" I asked trying to hide the fact that everything is fucked up.

She was silent for a while.

"Did he over dose?" She asked softly.

I was taken back by her question. How did she know.

"Why would you ask that?" I asked confused.

She bit her lip in guilt. "You knew and you never bothered to tell me!" I said shocked.

" I'm sorry Dre. He made me and Chris promise when ever he asked Chris where he could find a dealer."

" don't EVER speak to me again! EVER!" I said angry as hell.

Tears threaten to spill but I went to the bathroom and calmed myself down.

I can't believe she would keep that from me! She fucking knew all along.

I couldn't focus at all. I'm so lost. My boyfriend is a drug addict, someone who use to be my best friend knew and didn't even tell me. And in two weeks I'm suppose to face him. My life sucks right now.

I got into the car with Wesley and we went on our way to pick Riley up.

"Okay, what's up? Something else happened." He said .

My eyes swelled with tears.

"Erin knew the whole time. Chris helped him find a dealer to give him heroin.....I know me and Erin aren't close anymore but if i knew something bad about her boyfriend, I'd tell her in a heart beat." I said wipping tears from my face.

Wesley wrapped his arm around me, comforting me. "I'm sorry Dre. I really am. You know I'm always here for you." He said.

"I know. " I said giving him a light smile.

Wesley dropped Riley and I off. I went straight to my room and packed all of Michaels things he had left. I put our pictures in there, all of his t shirt, sweat pants, clothing, and any of the gifts he gave me. I taped the box up.

"Mom can I borrow your car?" I asked.

"Sure, where you are you going?" She asked.

"I'm going to drop michaels stuff off." I replied. She tossed me her keys and out the door I went.

I drove up to his house to see a unfamiliar car. I knocked on the door, then a older gentleman answered.

"Can i help you?" He asked.

"Um I'm just dropping Michael's stuff off." I said.

"Oh you must be Audrey. Come in." He said.

"And you are?" I asked.

"I'm Jackie, Michaels older brother. " He said. As soon as i came through the door I was ambushed by Janet's hugs.

"Dreeee!" She cheered hugging my leg.

I put the box down and picked her up. "I missed you!"She said hugging me.

" i missed you too Jan." I said hugging her.

"Youre Mikes girlfriend aren't you? " Jackie asked.

"Um ex-girlfriend." I replied.

"Ohh. That's right. I forgot. Can't blame you for breaking up with him. " he said.

"Why did you break up with him?" Janet asked a bit upset.tears swelled up again, I'm so tired crying!

"Things just weren't working out for us Jan. " I said.

" But I thought you loved him and he loved you?" She asked not understanding why we broke up.

"We did Jan, but things changed okay? I need you to understand that?" I said as a single tear fell. She just shook her head, not wanting to understand. "Janet that's enough." Jackie said taking her.

"Daddyyyyy I'm hungry." A little boy yelled.

"It was nice meeting you Audrey. If you would like to, you can just set the box by his door. His room hasn't been cleaned yet, so i don't think you'll want to go in there." He said.

I did as Jackie said but for some reason I had to go into his room. One last time. I opened the door to see everything was still in place. I sat on his bed one last, when I looked at it all I could see is him and I in it making love for the first time.

I know, i act like he's dead. But he came so close to dying. I got up to see blood stains and dries up vomit still in the carpet. I went in his bathroom and grabbed a towel wetting it. I got on my hands and knee scrubbing the carpet trying to get his vomit and blood out of the carpet.

I scrubbed and scrubbed and scrubbed till I felt someone grab my shoulder.

"Dre leave it." Jackie said gently.

" I know Katherines gonna be tired I'm just trying to help her." I said softly.

"Its fine, it's probably not going to come out anyways." He said taking the cloth out of my hand.

"Sorry, I'll just leave." I said.

"Its okay, I'll walk you out." He said.

We made it out the door, " well it was nice meeting you." I said.

"Same here, to bad it was on these kind of circumstances. " He said giving me a hug.

"Bye." I said walking to my car.

"Bye." He replied with a smile.