Page 56 of The Addict

Maybe that’s what made him so good, I thought. He thinks before he acts.

Damian continued his interrogation. “Who gave this to you?”

“No one. I found it.”

Wrong. You know who sold it to you.

“What are you smirking about?” Damian roared.

I covered my mouth with one hand, hiding the new, fresher smile. “Oh? Was I?”

“Noah, please, be serious,” my mom begged.

I hadn’t realized how easy it was. Lying to them. Or just how accustomed I was to lying now. It was just a natural thing for me to smile when I knew I had won.

“You think this is a game. You parade around, doing absolutely nothing. You think somehow, it’s okay to bring illegal substances into this home, fully aware that we represent the law!” Damian seethed.

Check. The piece inched forward in my game of chess.

“It’s not a big deal, there are worse things out there than a little pot,” I quipped, crossing my arms in defiance.

“You want something to laugh about? I’ll give it to you.” Damian said, matter of factly. “Mother and I have decided—”

“It’s going to be the best for you, dear,” my mother interjected, nodding with enthusiasm.

I narrowed my eyes cautiously. Where was this headed?

Damian sighed before continuing, “You’ll be attending college. I’ll be here by the time you get home from your seven-hour day at school…” He caught my gaze. “...to watch over you.”

I looked from both of the faces. They were stern.

“So this kind of thing,” Damian tossed the drugs into the trash can. “Doesn’t occur again.”

I had always thought that once I survived high school it would be the end of that hell. And now they were trying to make me go to college? I barely kept my head above water in high school. If they enrolled me in college, I would drown.

“You’re not serious,” I spoke.

“We are serious Noah. You’re constantly staying out late and getting into trouble. You don’t even have a job.” Damian held his forehead. “You need to get a grip and actually do something with your life. Whether it’s the force or not, you need to pick a path.”

I shot him a death look and crossed the floor to my mom. “Mother? Really?”

The guilt trip might work, I thought. As much as I hated to admit it, my mother was gullible and fragile. And even better, she loved me to death. I was certain that I could persuade her to change her mind. I’d won her over before.

“Mom, I don’t need college. We’d be wasting our money. I won’t do well there.” I smiled, placing my hands on her quivering shoulders. “C’mon mom. I know I made a mistake. Everyone does. Right?”

“You scare me,” she blubbered. “When you leave for days at a time without even calling. You stay out all night doing God knows what! Maybe you’ll like college, honey...”

“Mom, you don’t understand—” I started.

“Quit the guilt trip, Noah,” Damian intervened, stepping in between us. “Because you’re going.”

I clenched my fists, feeling my anger taking over, the rage bubbling to the surface faster than I could control it. “You can’t make me do anything.” I threw my hands into the air, retreating towards the door. “I’ll leave,” I threatened.

And I could. I didn’t know where to go, or what to do, but I wasn’t opposed to trying. I didn’t have to live in this house anymore. I didn’t have to deal with controlling assholes like Damian. If I had money, a few belongings, and my drugs…

…then I would be fine.

My mother wailed in response and Damian took hold of my shirt collar, dragging me into the other room, away from her distressed cry.