Far Behind

Chapter 7: Caring Can Hurt

Dustin groaned, as he began to wake up. Forcing his eyes open, he adjusted it to the sun's light that was shining into the white room. Moving a bit, he noticed that he was in a hospital bed. Parts of his body felt sore and the other part felt numb. He wasn't sure what to think, what kind of emotion he should be having now. He was all drained out of them anyway. He didn't care about anything, his breathing was steadily and his head was pounding. He didn't know how long he was out of it, or even what happened. The last thing he remembered was storming into his dorm room, angry at himself. Angry at everyone. He tried moving his body, but he was so weak. Just laying there, he felt helpless. A feeling he had long been use too. He starred at the wall in front of him, waiting for someone to come in the room. The silence was killing him, well the almost silence. The life support system beeped, every few seconds. Annoying him, as it echoed in his mind. Suddenly someone walked in the room, Dustin tilted his head to see who it was. The green flannel shirt gave it away. Cam walked in, holding a bouquet of roses. He slowly walked over and recognized he was awake.

"You're awake.." He whispered.

Annoying his shock, Dustin smirked, "Dude, what's with the flowers? You love me or something?"

Cam rolled his eyes, "Very funny Dustin. There from Tori."

Dustin grunted, coughing a bit. Cam placed them on a table and grabbed a chair, putting it next to his bed. Dustin tilted towards his direction and forced a smile.

"So anyone miss me?" He curiously asked.

Cam looked away and sighed before facing him again. Dustin bit his lips, afraid of what he was going to say.

"Do you know how long you were out?" He whispered.

Dustin arched his eye brows. He shook his head, waiting for him to tell him exactly how long he was out. At the same time, he had a strange urge to get wasted again. He could feel the with drawls in his body. He tried to ignore any outrages thoughts and listened closely to Cam as he spoke.

"3 and a ½ weeks." He informed him.

Dustin's eyes widen, "Are you serious?"

The brunette repeated the fact again in his head. It explained why is body was feeling weak and craving that familiar drug that sent him here in the first place. He sighed.

"What else.?" Dustin wanted to know.

"Well, all your grades are on hold for college. Shane won a skate boarding tournament. Um, Hunter and Tori are dating.. What else."

"Wait what?" Dustin tried to sit up, but he couldn't, "Hunter and Tori? Dating!?"

Cam nodded, Dustin groaned at the thought. He didn't know that Tori even had any feelings for him. It was a total shocker, even after he thought there could of been something between him. Damn, it took years to even get where he was and, Hunter three weeks. The bad news made him a bit angry.

"Your also going to rehab.." He informed him, "For you addiction."

"What? I don't have a addiction." He retorted.

Cam sighed and stood up, "Yes you do." He said firmly, "It's a special rehab. 10 days in a solitude room. So anything left of the heroine can leave your system and it can break your addiction."

"This is so stupid."

"The doctor said it might be painful for you. The withdrawal will be pretty bad. The only reason you haven't had any now is because your body shuts down when your in a coma. At least your mind, and it can't send signals to the rest of your body. At least that's how I look at it. You'll feel angry, depression. Even fits of laughter."

Dustin listened as he went on and on. He didn't care, he thought it was stupid to begin with. He could feel the craving, but he wanted it. He hadn't learned his lesson and he didn't want to. Life to him didn't mater, not if things continued the way it did. He never met a negative person till he met himself. He sighed.

"Anyways, I best get going. Since your awake, there going to transfer you to the rehab center. I'll let the others know. See you around."

Dustin looked at away as Cam sighed and walked away. The brunette was curious of how Cam really felt of the whole situation. He wondered how everyone felt. They probably thought he was the stupidest person they met. He pulled the I-V needle out of his top hand and winced in pain. He pulled off all the wires and climbed out of the bed. He wobbled a bit, he hadn't used his legs for so long. He grabbed onto something and slowly walked, trying to get feelings back into his toes. The doctor walked and shook his head.

"Where do you think your going."

"I'm leaving. I don't have to be here." Dustin stated.

The doctor looked at his clipboard, "Actually your in our custody. In till you do this rehab process, you can't leave."

"Try and stop me."

He stormed past the doctor and out the hall. He looked back at the doctor and then turned and bumped into two people. He backed away and noticed that they were two city police.

"Eh. Hey Officers.."

"Your coming with us." One of them said firmly.

Dustin turned and then quickly, tried to break through them. The officers grabbed him by the arm and started to drag them. Dustin felt too weak, and couldn't break himself free. His legs weren't working with him anyways.

"No. Let me go!" He demanded, "I'm not going! I don't want to!"

Two hours had past since Dustin had awoken up and been dragged away by the two officers. Tori was out shopping, and no one could get a hold of her. For the last three weeks, she had done her best to try to move on and waited patiently for him to come back. She saw Hunter on one of the campus bench. Walking over, she gave him a sweet kiss on the cheek.

"Hey Hunter." She smiled.

"Hey." He responded.

Hunter had been there ever since Dustin was in a coma. Always there to talk to when she needed it. Things began to gradually change and she started to develop feelings for him. Tori sat down next to him and fixed her hair up a bit.

"Great news Tori. Dustin has waken up."

Her eyes widen with excitement, "Really!? Are you serious!?" He nodded and she totally freaked, "Oh my god! Let's go see him!"

"Uh, I don't think-"

Before he could finish his sentence, Tori jumped up and dashed towards the campus parking lot.

"Idea.." He finished.

He sighed, getting up to catch up with her. She climbed into her trusty old baby blue van and the two of them began driving off. Hunter decided to stay quiet, though he thought she should tell Tori that it's not a good idea. He didn't want to break that smile on her face.

"He's at a new location. This rehab center. It should be here." He explained.

Hunter handed her some direction and she nodded, driving as fast as she could. Minutes had past and she had finally made it to the building they were suppose to be at. The building was white, a one story building. A large sign was in front and a pathway to a door. Tori climbed out and walked towards the building, with Hunter following close behind. They entered in and felt the cool air of the air condition. Tori walked up to the desk and watched as the lady was writing notes on a paper.

"Um, excuse me. Is it okay to see a friend? Dustin Brooks?"

The lady looked up and typed a few things on a nearby computer. She was locating where Tori's friend was locating in the building. She nodded and looked back at the blonde.

"Down the hall, 3rd door to the left."

Tori smiled and walked over to the door and entered the hall way. Hunter sighed and took a step forward, putting his hands on the desk.

"Is it all right to see him? I mean, in his condition."

She shrugged, "I'm not sure. Were having some problems. He's just being loud." She informed him.

Hunter bit his bottom part of his lips and thought for a second. He swiftly moved into the hall way and caught up with Tori. They walked over to the third door on the left. Tori was about to open it, when Hunter stopped her.

"Is this a good idea?" He asked, "To do this now?"

Tori nodded, "I have to. I want to." She said, "I'll be back in a few seconds. Let me talk to him in private."

Hunter let go of the doorknob and took a few steps back, "All right. I'll be here."

Tori smiled, giving him a soft kiss before enter. She found herself in a small hall way. She walked down and heard screams of pain and anger. She could recognized the voice, it was her best friend. Another scream startled her as she moved a bit forward and found a large window against the wall. She looked inside and noticed a large room, with Dustin on the floor.

"Dustin?" She whispered.

Dustin looked up and noticed her. He scrambled to his feet and ran to the glass, slamming his fist against it. He was sweating, his hair was a mess. Sweat stains could be seen all around his shirt. The withdrawal were killing him in a metaphoric way.

"Tori. Let me out." He begged, his tears weld up, "You got to let me out Tori."

She bit her lips and tried to force a smile, "How are you Dustin?"

"Let me out!" he screamed, slamming his fist once more against the glass.

The tears ran down his cheeks, the pain was too much. He had such an urge to jump off a cliff. To get hit by a bus. His craving for heroine was killing him. He was thinking of all his problems, he needed something to lose his mind with.

"I can't." Tori whispered.

Dustin groaned, grabbing his hair. He paced around before running towards the window again, punching it. The glass was thick, he couldn't break though. He kept pounding, startling Tori every time. She stood there, she could feel his pain. It scared her.

"How can you do this to me!? Let me out Tori! Please!" He begged, "Or. Or get me something. I need something to ease this pain! Help me stop thinking! Please!" He kept begging.

Tori looked at him, he looked terrible. The tears, the pain. The sweat. He looked like a mess. Even more then usual. Tori stand strong, knowing that things will get better. She slowly shook her head.

"Come on!" He screamed, "I thought we were friends! You promised! You said nothing will happened."

She slowly walked forward and placed her hand on the glass. Dustin breathed heavily, as he tried to calm down. His hurt eyes starred at hers. She closed them and opened them up.

"It was nice seeing you again." She softly spoke.

She turned and started to head towards the door, listening to Dustin continue screaming. Continue banging against the glass.

"Tori! I'm sorry! Please! Don't leave!" He cried.

She closed the door and saw Hunter leaning against the hall wall. He took a step forward and she dove into him, hugging him hard. Tears flow through her eyes and down the cheek. Hunter held her tightly, not saying a word. He knew this was a bad idea. He could hear Dustin still screaming from the other side of the door.

"How long must this go on" Hunter thought to himself.
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