Do All Rockstars Go To Hell?, chapter 9

"Wait," Amanda said. "Who's Jake?"
I sat on the bed. "It's his fault I got addicted to heroine," I said.
"How?" Amanda asked.
"You tell her," I said, waving my hand and putting my head down. I knew Emily was rolling her eyes.

She let out a breath and began.

"Well, he started out as a friend," she said. "We met him when we were ten. He was nice. But when we turned twelve, he came up to us in the alley. He looked nervous. His hands were shaking. Chris asked what was wrong, and Jake took out a bag. He handed it to Chris, and he looked inside. He looked up, and his face was pale. He shook his head and said 'no'. Jake shoved the bag back at him and said, 'No. Keep it. You'll like it. I did it. I feel fine. People lie about this stuff. It's not bad. It's great.' Then he walked off. Chris looked at me, then in the bag. I didn't know what was in it. I took it from him. It was heroine. I remember some of the older kids doing it at the orphanage. They told me what it was, and I tried it once. I didn't really like it. It made me feel weird. But Chris was curious. So he tried it. He stayed there in the alley for eighteen hours. Then he did it the next day. And the next, and the next. I tried to get him to stop, but he wouldn't. He still does it. It's all Jake's fault. Well, at least he thinks."

"Wow," Amanda said, eyes wide.
"Whadya mean 'I think'?" I asked looking at Emily.
"You could have just thrown it away!" she said, looking mad. "All because he gave it to you doesn't mean you had to try it! And I know you weren't addicted after the first day! You tried it again! That's when you did! You did it again, and again, and again, Chris! It's no one's fault but yours!"

She started crying. "It's your fault!" she cried. "Stop! Please stop it, Chris!" I looked at her, then ran out the room.

Stupid girl. I can't just stop. I really want to, believe me. But I can't help it. Man, I need help.

***Emily's Point of View***

Chris ran out the room as I collapsed on the floor. I cried into my hands as Amanda sat down next to me.

"It's okay, Em," she said. "None of this if your fault. You're okay. You didn't do anything."

Chris had been gone for a good two hours or so. I sat on Julia's bed and looked at the clock on the desk. Where could he be? Amanda went to class. She said I could stay here until he came back. If he came back.

The door creeked open. Chris walked in. I didn't say anything to him. Just looked at the wall. He walked in front of me. I looked away.

"Em?" he said. "Em, please look at me."

"What?!" I snapped, looking at him. He kissed me and put something in my hand. He walked out the room, and I looked at the piece of paper he gave me.

It was a pass to rehab.