CH.1 — CONVINCING

'what you laughing at, polo boy?'

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ꨄ third person POV ꨄ

ALEXIS HUTCHINSON MARCHES UP HER DRUG DEALER'S PORCH STEPS, mumbling insults to the man even though he's unable to hear her hatred for him. She smashes her fists against the door, causing it to rattle loudly and irriate the occupants inside even more as she continues to shout the dealer's name at the top of her lungs. She knows he's inside — the motorbike on his drive tell her that, but another bike accompanies it meaning he's not alone. Alexis couldn't give a shit, she really wants drugs.

"Alexis!" Barry roars from the other side of the thin door, his longer hair ruffled like usual and a blunt held between his fingers, "You're gonna snap my fuckin' door off it's hinges!"

She lets out a long breath, glaring up at the slightly older man through the glass, "Open it then," She spits.

He rolls his eyes, unlatching the lock and pulling the flimsy door open before stepping to the side quickly to let her pass as she storms down the hallway towards the living room, whirling round on her heel at the last moment to face him, "I don't have any for you, Alex," Barry sighs, notcing the desperation in her eyes.

She throws her head back, pointing down to the table beside her, "What's all this then? For charity?"

In annoyance, he runs his palm slowly over his sweaty face, sighing loudly, "Alexis—"

"No, don't 'Alexis' me. Look, Barry, please," She bites her lip, "I'm fucking begging you and I hate fucking begging," She leans down, picking up a single back of coke, "What about this? Can I have this?"

He shakes his head, ripping the plastic from her hand and throwing it back onto the table, "No, you can't have this."

"And why not exactly?" She takes a deep breath, "You gave my mum free coke for years. Me and her are extremely similar, so just give me some," Noticing his bored face, she attempts a different approach, "Look, you and I, we've been friends for ages. I've done so much shit for you and I'd like to think you trust me."

Barry purses his lips, "I don't."

She furrows her eyesbrows, "Okay. . . So, trust me. For once in your horrible," Alexis starts to raise her voice, "boring, dull and heart breaking life, fucking trust someone!" Her eyes widen in shock due to her own words and she holds her hands out in an apology, "That— That came out wrong," She clears her throat, "Anyway, I think I really deserve some coke right now."

A snort comes from the corner of the trailer and the owner of it immediately smacks his palm agaisnt his smirking mouth, his chest vibrating while he tries his hardest to hold in more laughs. Alexis turns her head slowly towards the source of the laugh, jaw clenching after realising who it is.

"What you laughing at, polo boy?" She snaps.

He rolls his jaw, finally supressing his chuckles, "You're so fucking desperate, Hutchinson. It's hilarious."

She tilts her head, mostly ignoring his statment while turning back to the drug dealer, her eyes burning into his, "So, this is who you've been selling to," She grimaces, "The Kook Prince."

"What is it with you and not being able to use my actual name?" The boy in the corner rises from his seat, straightening out his shirt before marching around the drug filled table towards the girl, staring down at her, "It's not like you don't know it."

She rolls her eyes, pressing a single finger into his chest and moving him further away from her, "I really wish I didn't, and I'm sure the rest of Tanny Hill feel the same. You are one infuriating boy who never shuts the fuck up about how you're better than everyone. When, in reality, the only thing that boosts your ego, is your daddy's money," She points down to the rows of cocaine, "Which is what you use to pay for all this, I presume, as seen as you don't have a job."

This time, it's Barry's turn to snort from a distance, turning a long hit from his blunt while watching the pair stare daggers into each other's eyes.

"You think you're so fucking cool, don't you, Hutchinson?" Rafe scoffs, "Well, you're not. The only thing keeping you from killing yourself is the thought that drugs will solve it all," He leans down slightly, their faces centimetres apart, "Guess what, it doesn't. It just kills you quicker."

"No fucking shit, Cameron," She laughs, "That's why I do it."

Barry claps his hands together, silencing Rafe before he even has the chance to shoot back at the girl. The dealer manoeuvres around the pair, flicking his blunt away before taking ahold of Alexis' shoulders, leading her towards the door while she snaps at him to let her go. He gently urges her down the stairs before moving back inside, shutting the door in her pissed off face.

She throws up both her middle fingers, "Fuck you, Barry!" Beside the druggie, she sees the smug face of the Kook, causing her to redirect her fingers towards him, "Good luck at home, polo boy! I'm sure your daddy would love to hear about your drug addiction and how you spend his money on it!" Alexis turns on her heel, trudging away form the run-down trailer, slipping her phone out of her back pocket.

"Don't you fucking dar, Hut—"

She places her earphones in, her music already blasting and cutting off his harsh words while she continues down the gravel pavement, her jaw still clenched at the loss of drugs, "Dicks," She mumbles.

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Alexis opens her front door with her shoulder, her hands occupied while they pull out her earphones and slip her phone back into her shorts. Before the black haired girl even has chance to slip her shoes off, she's brought into a tight hug.

"Camilla," She croaks, rapidly patting her best friend's back in a plea for her to let go, "Let— let go before I suffocate."

The curly haired girl slowly moves away, her angry eyes glaring into Alexis', "What the fuck, Alex?" She hisses quietly, smacking the girl's arm, "It's been three days."

Alexis furrows her eyebrows while slipping her shoes off and shoving them under the hanging coats, "What has?"

"I'm gonna fucking kill you," Camilla snarls, pointing aggressively but still keeps her voice quiet, "You know exactly what I'm talking about."

Alex raises her hands in a surrender, "I don't actually."

She breaths, "You left for three days. None of us have seen you, your brother is shitting himself," Her jaw sets, "Where the fuck were you?"

Alexis tilts her head in confusion. She swears she had returned home last night after a house party at Ale's. She remembers ignoring the angry shouts from her father while marching up the house stairs, her heels hanging from her fingers. Maybe she dreamt it all.

Camilla notices her stunned silence, eyes widening, "You were high," She snarls, "Weren't you?"

"When am I not?" Alex snorts, her face immediately dropping again after seeing her best friend's annoyed one, "Look, Cami, I'm okay," She points at her body, "No bruises, no scratches. Nothing. Where's Max?"

Camilla nudges her head behind her and towards the large white kitchen. Truth be told, Alexis had no clue on how her family could still afford the full Kook life-style. Her father's a businessman, but only works on days when he feels like it; meaning the salary is next to nothing. Her brother, Max, is only fourteen and has only been to school for a week in his whole life time. Ward Cameron knew he had something to do with the family's financial state. He claims he sees something in her father, so funds him when he's desperate — and he's desperate all-the-time.

"You're an idiot, you know that?" Her brother spites from the kitchen island, spooning cereal into his mouth, "A massive fucking idiot," He notices her disapproved look, "Don't give me that look just because I swore. You do it all the time, why can't I? Plus, this is the fifth time you've left this year."

"Look, I'm sorry," She sighs, "I'm sorry I left."

"I'm not even mad that you left," He chuckles, "Hell, I would do the same thing if I could. It's Camilla that's pissed at you," He points lazily to his sister's best friend, "I don't care," He slips off the stool, placing his dish in the packed sink, "But she does, because she doesn't know."

Surprisingly, Camilla doesn't know about Alexis' addiction. Half of Tanny hill knows, but somehow, the girl's best friend doesn't. She refuses to believe the rumours about Alex. Even though the black haired girl is known to have a temper and do ruthless things, she would never expect her to do drugs.

Alexis chooses to ignore her brother's remark and let's out a long breath, "I'm going to bed," She mumbles, slipping past her best friend and towards the stairs, "I'm so fucking tired."

Camilla stands still for a moment, eyebrows furrowed while she watches her best friend blankly trudge up the steps. What doesn't she know? She swallows thickly, rolling her shoulders back before heading towards the base of the stairs, hand resting on the banister, "It's a party tonight at Ale's!" She calls out, causing Alexis to pause, "You're coming because he's expecting me to be there. And I never do anything without you."

Alex isn't sure if Cami meant that as a sinister remark to hint that she knew, or that she was being serious. The pair very rarely do anything without each other, the whole island knows it.

"Yeah, sure. I'll come," She mumbles, nodding and sending her a thumbs up, "I'll be five minutes."

She rushes up the last few steps, shoving into her room and being almost shocked by the best set up and made bed before she collapses onto it, limbs spread and eyes squeezed shut. Great, another party at Ale's.

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short first chapter.

word count: 1703

very lightly proof read.