"So your the party girl with a elegant name," the guy Brian told me about speaks after I show up at his house. "I'm Caleb, nice to meet you."

"Lacey," I hand him weed.

"This is the shit you do?" He asks. "You're not like what Brian told me at all."

I roll my eyes as I push my way into his house, "I'm just getting started. Where's a lighter?"

"Over there," he nods his head.

I grab it and light mine before throwing it at him, "thanks."

He smirks lighting his weed, "what next?"

I rummage through my bag grabbing the two bags of cocaine, "I haven't done this in so long Caleb, but who gives."

"Lacey, you have to stop!" Brian yells.

I roll my eyes, "you're no fun just give me it!"

He throws all the cocaine I have on me out, "I know the dealers and you're not getting anymore."

"You're the one who got me hooked!" I scream. "Don't take it away from me!"

"You're addicted Lacey," he speaks softly. "I can go without it and you can't. So you can't have anymore."

"I'll find something else for all I care," I roll my eyes as I storm away.

He grabs my forearm, "Lacey just give up drugs."

I chuckle, "you're kidding right?

He shakes his head, "go to rehab."

"Rehab?" I ask before getting mad. "REHAB! You are kidding me! I am not an addict! I can quit whenever I want and I don't want to! I like it, but I'm not an addict! I'm a teen in high school just having fun. You told me I need to loosen up!" 

"I told you to loosen up, not loose control," he whispers.

"I haven't!" I storm off.

Caleb smiles as he grabs a bottle of pills slamming it proudly on the table, "pain killers. You like?"

I nod as I dump a few in my hand popping it into my mouth, "I love."

"You're tough," he exhales and the sent of weed fills my nose. I pull out a needle sticking it quickly in my arm. "You've done this a lot?"

"I got used to it last year," I shrug.

"Messed up," he smirks as he snorts his whole bag picking up mine.  "You mind?"

I shake my head, "it's all yours. So I uh, I have a boyfriend."

He nods his head, "is he the one who got you into this shit?"

I sigh looking away, "he tried pulling me out."

"You got people who care about you Lace, why are you doing this to yourself?" He asks looking at me. "Most of the people who come here, have nobody. You have a boyfriend who clearly loves you and-"

"I don't have as much as you think," I sigh as I take a shot of vodka. It burns as is slides down my throat, but soon the feeling subsides and I continue to speak. "My dad is dying. My friend group is turning on me because, I'm doing this. My boyfriend doesn't want to be official and he got hit by a car. My mom is in Roxbury. All of my friends have left me. That's why I do this, it's an escape from real life. I got a lot worse than you think it."

He chuckles, "pretty blonde?"

I roll my eyes, "I'm a lot deeper than that you know! I'm gonna go Caleb."

"Looking like that?" He asks.

"See ya at a party," I storm out. When I get outside I stop in front of a little table with a ton of alcohol on it. I pick up a bottle of vodka looking around slightly before putting it in my purse. I pour myself a glass of rum and chug it before stumbling out into the streets of Tulsa.
***
I walk past the lot to hear a girl giggling. I turn around to see Sodapop and Jilly. He's pushing her on the swings and she's laughing. I stumble over there, "what are you doing Sodapop? You're my boyfriend not Jilly's! Why ar-" Suddenly they morph into two faced I've never seen before. The guy grabs the girl hand whispering something then they both run off. "Sorry! You look like somebody I know!" I sigh as I plop down on the bench. I look down at my black and blue arms. "What am I doing to myself?"

I swing back and forth slowly moving just a few centimeters as everything in the world spins. I take a large gulp of my alcohol as a few tears slip out of my eyes.

"Lacey what are you doing?" Belle giggles.

I turn to look at her and smile blushing slightly, "I don't know. I'm just looking for something."

She walks over to me hugging me from behind and kissing my cheek, "what are you looking for maybe I can help?"

"I-I don't know! I'm just really stressed!" I say harshly.

She grabs my hands spinning me around, "then why don't you just relax." She pushes me onto the bed before plopping next to me, "and just talk to me."

I smile, "I love you Belle and I'm happy we're best friends."

"I love you too," she smiles.

"Shit, I-uh I hooked up with some guy last week and I forgot to call him back," I sigh as I stand up. "Where did I put his number?"

The smile on her face disappears, "why are you doing this to yourself Lacey?"

I shrug, "it's nice to know I'm loved."

"Then look at me," she pleads desperately. "I love you."

"It's different, what we have is best friend love, I want real love," I speak softly as I dig through my room. 

"I gotta go," she speaks harshly as she turns around grabbing her bag.

I go to stop her, "Belle, don't be mad at me. I'm sorry if I offended you, I didn't mean to."

She sighs as she looks away, "no, I just gotta go home, I have a test to study for."

"You're lying," I whisper.

"Just let me go Lacey," she pleads.

I shake my head, "I can't because, I'm afraid if you walk away mad at me you might never come back and I can't stand the thought of loosing you."

"You're not loosing me, I just gotta go," she walks away from me.

"Life sucks," I mumble to myself.

A guy sits next to me, "I know that one."

I turn to look at him, "what's wrong?"

"What's right?" He responds.

I chuckle, "you got that one right."

He smirks as he grabs my hand, "you know I can smell you from here."

I giggle to myself, "yeah, I got an issue and alcoholism runs in my family. My dad was an alcoholic when I was a kid."

"You must be fucked up to tell me that," he stands up and walks in front of me. His whole appearance is blurred and I can barely tell any of his features. "Let's go to my place because, if your alcoholic dad sees you he'll get worried and if your mom sees you she's be pissed and worried."

"Thanks," I mumble as he grabs my hand leading me down the street.

Okay, so you met  two new characters Caleb and unknown. You also get more insight into her past. You can see her addiction clearly. Stay gold. Do it for Johnny!

-Beth