Back to Reggie's laptop...
Being in the hospital wasn't a fun time at all for me. The worst part was the drugs being drained out of my body. It was a slow and painful process. Being without cocaine, I thought I was going to kill myself. The time I spent in the hospital helped me realize the course of my actions...I wasn't myself, I was hostile towards the people who loved me, I used a guy who cared about me for my own pleasure. Cocaine, as I didn't realize it, made the problems worse than they already were. With help from being in the hospital and from support from people who care about me, I was able to cope and beat drug addiction.
Reggie closed her laptop and felt nothing but satisfaction at the fact she had written an article for the first Zine issue in a while.
A month later...
Monday morning, Reggie sat in her kitchen reading her Zine issue. The article about her drug addiction became controversial and the new issue sold out. Otto came down and said, "Hey, Rocket Girl. How are you feeling?"
"Good." Reggie replied turning around. "And you?"
"Feelin crazy as usual." Otto chuckled. "Ready to face everyone?"
"What choice do I have? I have to face them eventually." Reggie shrugged.
"You nervous?" Otto asked.
"A little." Reggie replied. "I know they know. They knew before the article came out."
"You'll be fine. If anyone says anything, I'll tell them to fuck off." Otto said making Reggie smiled.
"Thanks, Rocket Boy." Reggie said.
Otto smiled and took a bagle that was sitting at the table.
"Hey, Twister and I are skating to school today." Otto said.
"Is Sam going?" Reggie asked.
"Nope. He is taking Sherri out for breakfast and they are going to school after." Otto rolled his eyes. "Anyway, you wanna skate with us to school?"
"Oh. I was actually going to ride with Lars today." Reggie said. "But tomorrow?"
"Sure." Otto replied. "See ya at school."
Once Otto left, Reggie ate her breakfast alone in her thoughts.
Like she said, Reggie hitched a ride with Lars to school. Ever since she got out of the hospital, he helped her pull through. He coached her through everything, such as when she felt like she wanted to use drugs again. Aside from her friends, he had really been a big help in her road to recovery. Sometimes, he'd sneak over to her house when she was scared from a nightmare and he would hold her. They haven't had sex since the last time but all Reggie knew was when they did decide to again, it was going to be when she was not on drugs and it would be beautiful.
Looking out the window, she was nervous about going to school. While parking the car, Lars noticed and said, "Babe, you don't have to go in. I can call your dad and ask him to pick you up."
"No." Reggie reassured him. "I'm okay. I'm ready to go in."
"You sure?" Lars asked.
"Very." Reggie replied.
The two got out of the car and walked up to the school. While making their way into the building, all eyes were on Reggie. The word about her doing cocaine got out. Some people whispered, sneered, snickered and made comments about how Reggie was in the hospital and made rude comments like, 'Junkie' or 'Coke head.' Lars put his arm around her and pulled her close. He whispered, "Ignore them. Their assholes."
Reggie nodded her head and they walked together inside the school. Once inside the building, people stopped and stared at her. Lars glared at anyone making comments. One kid they walked by yelled, "Hey Cokehead Rocket! How was life at rehab?"
Lars let go of Reggie for a moment and pushed that kid up against a locker and put him in the chokehold. At that moment, a teacher walked out and gave Lars a look. Look looked at his teacher and let the kid go. He then said to the other kid, "Watch it. I don't mind getting suspended again."
The other kid ran off only for Reggie to say, "What a little bitch."
"Bitches ain't shit, babe." Lars replied making her laugh.
Walking towards her locker, one obnoxious kid pretended to cough while saying, "Cokehead." It was all fun and games until Lars shot him a look and he ran off. Reggie opened up her locker and got her books. At that moment, Trent walked up to her. Lars made a face and was about say something until Reggie stopped him.
"Let me hear him out." She said and then turned to Trent. "Hi, Trent"
"Hi, Reggie. I just wanted to say that I heard you were in the hospital and I'm sorry to hear what happened." He said.
"It's no big deal. I went through drug addiction and I'm recovering." She simply said.
"I hope I didn't cause anything that made you..." Trent was cut off by Reggie.
"No. Not at all." She said. "I had a lot on my plate and I turned to the wrong thing."
"Okay." Trent was a little flustered now. "Um...look...I would've visited you but...me and Mel..."
"Trent," Reggie cut him off, "I didn't expect your company while I was in the hospital and I don't expect it now. I have accepted I not good enough for you in your eyes and on the contrary, it isn't my problem. Besides, I had people who actually care about me and think I'm a good person by my side. Good luck, good bye and have fun with Melissa."
With that, Reggie shut her lock, took Lars' hand and walked off to her homeroom with him. Lars shot Trent a look and walked off with her. Once at her homeroom, she saw Sam, Trish and Sherri waiting for her. She looked at Lars and said, "I will take it from here."
"You sure you don't want me to walk in with you?" Lars asked.
"I'm okay. Sam and the girls are there. Plus you maybe late for homeroom." Reggie giggled.
"Who cares about fucking homeroom." Lars replied with an eyeroll. "Can I see you for lunch?"
"Yeah." Reggie said.
Lars kissed Reggie before taking off to his homeroom.
"Oh, Lars." She called back and Lars turned a heel.
Reggie came closer to him and said quietly, only so they can hear, "If we ever make love again, I want it to be beautiful and worth remembering and not when I'm high on drugs."
Lars smiled as if he agreed with her. She gave him a kiss on the cheek before going their separate ways. Reggie took in her seat and was greeted by her homeroom teacher.
"Regina, so glad to have you back." She said.
"Thank you, Mrs. DeJesus." Reggie smiled and took her seat.
Sam came over to her and said, "How did you do?"
"I survived the people talking shit and whispering." Reggie replied. "And I saw Trent."
"Ew, what did he say?" Trish asked.
"Told me he would've visited me but I told him nicely to fuck himself." Reggie snickered making her friends laugh.
"Good for you." Sherri replied.
The kids were approached by Mrs. Lee, who wanted to speak to Reggie outside.
Reggie looked at her friends and followed Mrs. Lee out in the hall. Sam, Sherri and Trish watched wondering what happened. Once alone, Mrs. Lee said, "I'm happy to have you back in school."
"Thanks, Mrs. Lee." Reggie replied.
"And I'm mostly happy you are back to writing your Zine. So much that a the Ocean Shores Times got in contact with me and said they would like to give you a position in their work study program. They had read your latest issue and said your article about cocaine addiction was realistic and something worth reading." Mrs. Lee said.
Reggie's eyes went wide and said exclaimed, "Are you serious?"
"Yes. So will that be a yes or a no?" Mrs. Lee giggled.
"Absolutely. Wow...I didn't think my article would get that much appreciation." Reggie replied.
"They want you to start after school next week. Be by my office to fill out paper work." Mrs. Lee said.
"Of course! Thank you!" Reggie said and went back into homeroom to her friends.
She kept a not to herself that she had to tell Otto, Twister and Lars later. Sam looked at her and saw her smiling. Before he can ask, Reggie said, "I have a workstudy program with Ocean Shores Times. My issue got me a very good work study program!"
"That's awesome!" Sam exclaimed and hugged her.
"Oh Reg, let's celebrate at the Shore Shack after school!" Sherri added.
At that moment, the bell rang and it was an indication that the school day had begun and everyone took their seats. Reggie sat in her seat smiling to herself. She beat cocaine addiction, got the thing she wanted just by writing about her addiction and it seemed like everything was slowly but surly falling into place.