Another boring school morning had passed and Emma couldn't wait to get her hands on the weed in her backpack. It was all she could think about. Time was going at snail's pace and she didn't have her phone to listen to music to help. When the lunch bell rang, she ran out of her class, towards Eva's locker. When she got there, she was greeted by Chris.

"Heard what happened to you."

"Yeah… whatever I don't really give a shit. My Dad's up my ass about it though." After going to the tree stump with Jay, she forgot all about it while organizing CI files. There were so many and it confused her sometimes. This fucking sucks.

When Eva arrived at her locker, they left for her car. They decided the safest place would be behind the convenience store a couple blocks away, it was always desolate there.

/

For some odd reason, whenever Emma had her first puffs, she always remembered her mother. She remembered the times they shared together when she was younger. She remembered all the private talks they had when Jay wasn't around. One particular one came to mind. The conversation was from when Emma was around 14 years old.

"I know he seems really overbearing right now, but you'll realize it's a good thing. When he was in school, he had a lot of problems with the other kids. He was bullied a lot and because of that he didn't have too many friends."

Emma sat on one of the barstools next to Erin. She had been talking to Jay earlier, she was starting her first day of high school in the morning. He always gave her the same talk every year about the importance of coming to him or Erin if she was ever having any issues at school. This year, she wasn't particularly interested, which Erin noticed.

"Well… I don't think I need the same conversation every year, Mom. It's like he has it memorized word-for-word now. Also, you two said you would give me space as I grow older… where's the space now?"

Erin's lips curled into a sympathetic smile. She remembers back to when Emma was a baby and how she had Jay had a conversation about teenagers and giving them space. He protested it a lot. He said he didn't want to be like his father.

"When your Dad and I first started dating, we had this case. There were these 2 boys who were sexually assaulted by their swim coach. One of them was shot dead. Both boys didn't have a father in the picture. You also know why none of us talk to Jay's dad either. His Dad wasn't a good Dad either. He doesn't want to make that mistake with you. He loves you more than you'll ever understand and sometimes it'll get annoying. He's annoyed me quite a bit too." She chuckled at her statement. "But Em, you need to realize how lucky you are. You have a man that would give up his life for yours in a split second. He's always going to protect you and care for you. Not too many Dads out there would do that. Mine certainly didn't."

Emma smiles at her mother, the same smile etched in her face matches to the man they're talking about. She just nods her head.

"May I be excused, I wanted to meet up with Eva before dinner?"

"Of course."

/

Back in reality, the joints have been smoked. Emma smoked more than usual today and while she sits in the car, she begins to feel sick. Chris turns around, noticing her delusional attitude.

"Here take some of this, it'll make you feel even better." He hands her a ziplock baggie, filled with a white substance.

"What is this stuff?" Emma asks looking at the bag.

"Sugar." Chris replies slyly.

Her delusional state doesn't ask any more questions so she shrugs and opens her mouth.

"Wait! You gotta take it through your nose or it won't help you." Eva is looking at Emma, not interrupting the conversation. She needs to drive back to the school so she's trying her best to make sure her brain isn't floating like the last time.

Emma doesn't argue. She happily obliges.

/

Eva drove 10 miles under the speed limit. The dividers in the road seemed the keep moving and she couldn't keep the car going in a straight line.

When they arrived at the school, they noticed no one was outside. No teachers and no students. Eva glanced at the clock, 1:35. 35 minutes late to class.

They walk into the building, not giving much attention to their surroundings. They were almost in the clear when the principal walked out of the office.

"You three, come here!" A weight dropped on each of the teenager's hearts. They turned around walking slowly towards their principal.

"Where have you been?! You're over half an hour late."

None of them say a word. Emma is extremely wobbly on her feet, not going unnoticed by the principal. Her head is spinning and she can't pinpoint where she should be looking.

"All of you… show me your eyes…" He had caught on by now. They each carried an odour with them. When each of the teenagers showed the principal their bloodshot eyes and dilated pupils, he escorted them into his office.

/

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