My dreams faded in to darkness as I drifted back to consciousness. My sheets hugged my skin, they were sticky and damp and my hair felt greasy and stuck to my face with sweat. It's the hottest summer since 1998 in Texas and is more than uncomfortable. The temperature has already reached over 80 degrees and it only sunrise. I took a swig of warm water from my dresser and clambered out of bed to sit next my fan that I switched to full power. I lay my bear back against the cold wood of my bedroom floor and let out a long sigh.

I heard a light knock on the door. "It's Shane, you up?" I padded across my room and opened the door.

"Hey" I croaked.

"Wow, you look rough" Shane giggled.

"Thanks" I said sarcastically, "you don't look any prince charming yourself."

"Seriously, clean up before you come down for breakfast. You'll scare the neighbours." I gave him the middle finger and pushed past to get to the bathroom. I started at myself in the fingerprint covered mirror; I really did look like a wreck. My face was blotchy, I had a horrific case panda eyes and my face was starting to blister from my sun burn. Ouch! It wasn't just my appearance that was awful, my stomach churned and my head spun. I splashed my face with cold water and raided the medicine cupboard for drugs. I found many questionable substances which were most likely illegal and children's cough medicine well past its best. I took a small clear bag from the top shelf and shock a few of the pink tablets onto the palm of my hand. I briefly examined the pills before I swallowed two. I knew it was dangerous and unlike me to do something that reckless but I couldn't possibly feel any worse than I do now. I gave a last glance at myself in the mirror then made my way down the stairs.

Shane and Eve sat at the breakfast table munching on their toast while Michael loaded the dishwasher.

"Finally the princess has awoken" Eve chuckled.

"You look a hell of a lot better" Shane said smirking.

"Don't fell it" I said groggily as I slumped down into the chair next to Eve.

"You want something to eat" she said amused.

"I think I'll pass"

"You want any medication" Eve asked.

"What have you got?"

"Will parecetamol do? Ow and whatever you do don't take anything from the cupboard upstairs ok?"

"Why" I asked trying to hide my panic and failing by the look on Eves face.

"Claire please tell me you didn't take anything!" she boomed

"Ummm..." my hands became clammy and my breathing uneven.

"Oh my god! Claire those are illegal drugs." She said the last part quietly.

"I guessed" I confessed. When looked up from below my lashes everybody was staring at me with wide eyes. " so I presume I'm in trouble then."