“Addiction isn’t merely relegated to drugs, Beck. You can crave all sorts of things.”
A pair of hazel eyes flash through my mind for the briefest moment, but I blink them away. I’m not addicted to her.
Ican’tbe. I’ve only had one hit, and one hit does not a habit make.
Still, the buzzing sensation beneath my fingers hints at a different story.
Walking into the living room, I try not to cringe at how many of Beckett’s things are strewn about; discarded clothes are tossed onto the brown leather furniture, empty glasses crowdthe oval coffee table that used to be ring-free, and in the kitchen, I see his textbooks and pencils everywhere.
Despite the fact that he’s missed most of his classes so far this week, and we’re only a few days into the semester.
He watches me over his book. “So what, you think I’m addicted to Father’s cruelty?”
I sit down in the armchair across from him. “Perhaps cruelty in general. What else could have possessed you to take part in that shit show last year?”
His face screws up, and he slams the book shut, tossing it onto the coffee table. “I don’t need another lecture. IknowI fucked up.”
“‘Fucked up’ the gravity of?—”
“I don’t want to talk about this,” he snaps, pushing into a sitting position. He throws his legs off the cushion, shoving his feet onto the floor.
“Well, neither do I, but Mother is worried about you.”
A choked laugh sputters from his lips, and he stands up. “She should be more worried about hergolden boy. You’re the one in danger.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“That you’re not as discreet as you think you are.”
I sit there for a while longer after he heads down the hall toward the guest bedroom, wondering if that’s some sort of prediction.
Or if it’s a warning.
FROM:[email protected]
SUBJECT:RE: RE: Late assignment
To whom it may concern,
No luck needed. I’ll recover.
-T
PS: You shouldn’t be up so late. Burning the midnight oil is bad for your skin.
In spite of everything, the email makes me smile. She shouldn’t be flirting so openly, but I can’t find it in me to carethatmuch.
FROM:[email protected]
SUBJECT:RE: RE: RE: Late assignment
Your advice is duly noted, though a bit hypocritical. If you need anything else, please ask a classmate, as I will be turning in.
Best,
