Song: Coldplay-Paradise

“Fallon!” I turn around towards the street, juggling Tyson in one hand and a bag of groceries in the other. Who I see shocks me greatly. He pulls the car towards the curb and leans towards the open passenger window. “I thought that was you!”

Cautiously, I walk towards the car. Sure, Erik used to be my best friend. But he was also a drug-addict the last time I saw him, over four months ago.

“Hey Erik,” I smile, bending down so I can see through the open window. “What’s up?”

His hair is still short, and blonde. I remember him being skinny as hell, much like myself back then, but he looks like he’s cleaned up, just like I did.

“Just heading home from school. Where you heading? I can give you a lift.” Normally, with Tyson I would never get into his car. However seeing one of my old friends makes me grab the door handle regardless. I haven’t had friends since Tyson was born and Kelsey abandoned us.

“Drive slow,” I tell him as I hold Tyson safely on my lap. Surprisingly, Erik listens and drives way under the speed limit as we head to my house.

“How have you been?” He asks, his eyes barely wavering from the road. “It’s been a while.”

I talk for a few minutes about living on my own, taking care of Tyson, and trying to get Kelsey to start acting like his mother. By the short time I’m finished, we’re parked in my apartment parking lot.

“Want to come in for a bit?” I suggest, not wanting to have another long absence of my best friend’s presence. “You still need to tell me what you’ve been up to.”

Erik grins, and grabs the groceries. “As long as you still buy those chips I like.” I roll my eyes and laugh as Tyson and I climb out of the car.

“Nice place,” nods Erik, setting the bag on the counter. I shrug, and set Tyson on the floor with his toys. He giggles happily and starts playing while I grab a drink from the fridge. Erik finds the chips in the cupboard easily and laughs. “I still never can find this kind,” he shakes his head and takes a handful.

“What do you go to school for?” I ask curiously. I remember him saying he didn’t have any intention of getting a real job after high school or going to college after he graduated earlier this year.

“Police Foundations,” he says easily and I raise my eyebrows. “Nah, I’ve stopped the stuff, man,” he tells me, meeting my eyes. “That stuff-“ I know he’s about to swear, but he eyes Tyson while he stops himself. “Messes you up.”

“I know,” I nod, remembering the shaking, the sweating and the cravings.

“Kelsey still does it, doesn’t she?” When I nod slowly, not meeting his eyes, he continues. “It’s not your fault.”

I sigh, and take a sip of my drink. “Kind of is. I wish she would have stopped for Tyson when I did.”

“Me too,” nods Erik. “But it’s not something easily given up. Most users have to go get help for it because they’re not strong enough.” My hands clench into fists, remembering the withdrawal. By far, it was the worst experience I’ve ever had.

I’m about to respond when my cell phone rings. Sighing, I check the caller ID.

Kelsey.

What does she want now?

“Hello?” I sigh into the phone. Erik watches me with raised eyebrows while I turn around. Leaning against the counter, I watch Tyson.

“Fallon?” The voice is rushed, upset, and too deep to be Kelsey’s. “It’s Adam. You need to get here right now.” Normally, I’d be annoyed in the lack of manners. However Adam is not someone who I would assume to be upset in front of other people.

“What’s wrong? Where are you?”

“It’s Kelsey.”

I ask no more questions once he’s given me the address. Shutting off the phone, I run around the house grabbing Tyson’s things. When I’m done, I stand in front of Erik, holding Tyson and a bag of his things.

“Mind doing me a favour?” When I briefly explain the conversation, we rush out the door. Knowing whatever had happened can’t be good; I knock on Ms. Rose’s door.

“Something’s happened with Kelsey; I don’t know what, but I need to go. Mind watching Tyson for a few hours? I’ll call you as soon as things are settled.” All my words come out rushed and I have no idea how Ms. Rose can understand them. Regardless, she smiles and nods, taking Tyson from my arms.

“Calm down,” Erik tells me, as we speed down the street. I stare out the window, resting my head on my palm while tapping my foot restlessly. I don’t respond to Erik. Instead, I assume that the worst has happened and tell myself that it’s my fault. “This is it.” We pull to a stop in front of a shady looking house. “Want me to come in?”

I shake my head no and tell him I’ll call him later. Quickly, I head towards the house and waste no time knocking on the front door. I barrel through, only to be consumed by completely silence.

“Kelsey?” I yell through the house, unable to hide the worry in my voice. I can barely take in the disgusting surroundings and can’t help but wonder how I put up with them. “Adam?”

“Down here!” The voice is muffled, coming from the basement. I jog there, and go down the stairs as fast as I can.

The floor is grey concrete, and all that’s down here is a small coffee table and two chairs. Other than that and the paraphernalia, it’s practically empty.

Kelsey lies on the floor, not moving. Adam and a few other of her friends are gathered around, excluding a missing Eve. Rushing over, I kneel beside the mess of tangled blonde hair and ask what happened.

“She OD’d,” Adam sighs, looking over to the lines of crushed meth crystals sitting on a mirror. “She knew she was going to, but refused to stop.”

Kelsey knew she was going to OD, yet she continued? As upset as I am, and as unpredictable as she is, I never expected this.

“Why didn’t you take her to the hospital?” I scream through clenched teeth. Are they this stupid? “Why didn’t you call nine-one-one?” I rise to my feet with clenched fists, glaring at Kelsey’s so-called friends.

“Whoa, calm down man,” Adam says, holding his hands in front of him for defense. “If we did, we’d all be caught.”

Shaking my head, I lean down and gently slide my hands underneath Kelsey’s body. Her chest slowly rises and falls, showing me that she’s alive. I want to scream and yell at everyone here, as my anger quickly builds. However, Kelsey doesn’t have much time.

“Where are you going?” Sasha asks worriedly, following me to the stairs.

“To take her to the fucking hospital,” I snap, heading upstairs before anyone can respond. It’s only two blocks away, and since these addicts are so concerned about getting caught, it’s my only hope for Kelsey surviving.

In the daylight, I stare down at her expressionless face. My heart aches as Adam’s words about her knowing she was going to OD run through my mind. She looks peaceful, and I think that’s what hurts the most.

“Someone’s excited,” Kelsey laughs, as I push her up against the wall of the house I share with Erik. He chose to stay at the party while I took Kelsey home with me.

I lean my head close to her ear and whisper, a smirk playing across my lips. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

Pulling back, I press my lips to hers. In a moment, we’re a tangled mess of meth-infused love. I barely know her, and she barely knows me, however I know I want this to be more than a one-night stand. It may be the drugs and alcohol talking, but I’m too happy, and too buzzed to care.

“Fallon,” Kelsey pushes me away so she can meet my eyes. “I don’t…” She trails off and I brush her blonde hair behind her ear. “I don’t want to be like every other girl to you.”

I laugh quietly and kiss the tip of her nose. “You’re too pretty to be like every other girl.” She smiles sadly and looks at the feet. Gently, I grab her chin and raise her head. “I want you to be different.”

This time she kisses me, but for only a moment. Grabbing my hand, she stops leaning against the wall and leads me into my living room if you could even call it that.

“My favourite movie’s on,” she grins, sitting on the dirty, used couch. I follow in suit as she flicks through the channels. Too high to care, I sink into the couch and pretend to watch the movie. It moves too slowly for me to watch, and I can tell that Kelsey feels the same way. I guess that’s what drugs do to you sometimes.

“You know, this is amazing,” she sighs, leaning her head on my shoulder. “I feel so good.”

I laugh quietly and wrap my arm around her shoulders. “That’s the meth talking.”

“Well,” she says, grinning up at me. “Then I never want to stop.” I laugh and agree, because at this point in my life, I have no reason to stop either.