7.0

"Pipes, you okay?"

Though he's right in front of me, it sounds like Adam is across the room. I'm inches from him and all I can think about is how Reesa got that stupid nickname to catch on and how she's back in that club, across town from Lionel's house, sitting on the lap of a drug dealer who's probably killed someone. And that she left me. Roman's gone only a few days and everything flips upside down.

I blink a few times but I can't get my eyes to focus. Adam's just a blur of himself, wavering just like his voice is in my ears.

"I feel kind of dizzy," I admit.

My hand tries to brush my hair out of my face but it only makes it plaster against the clamminess of my forehead. It's now I realize I'm not just dizzy, but sweating and shaking too.

Adam moves my hair behind my ear. "Lionel, she doesn't look so good."

"Have her lie down in my room. I don't think she's going to be standing much longer."

Everything is a blur as Adam slowly walks me away from the living room. My eyes search for Lionel but I can't find him in the shadow. My legs feel beyond my control and it takes every ounce of will and concentration for me to walk without stumbling. The bed gives as I sit down on it, feeling its comfort underneath me. Like a cat kneading, my fingers stretch out and then dig into the blankets, causing me to giggle.

And once I start, I can't seem to stop.

"Oh, Piper," Adam mutters, standing over me. "How much did you have to drink?"

"Like one or two drinks," I say, but my voice sounds different when I try to speak. My words are slow, slurring. I try to straighten out what I said but it's like my mouth is suddenly full of cotton. My tongue runs along my lips to wet them and for the first time I see something clearly – Adam watching.

It makes me giggle all over again.