Corey's Secret

Chapter 7

Poor Feeney

Once again the sun began its journey across the sky. Topanga had awoken and come out from the bedroom only to find Corey fast asleep on the couch. She did not bother to wake him but rather proceeded with making breakfast. But soon he was awoke by wandering aroma. "Good morning my Topanga." She stopped with a plate in her grasp. "Hi Corey"

"Hi that is all I get?" He said as he stood up and made his way over to her and wrapped her in his arms.

"Corey what are you doing? Just sit down and eat breakfast please. I must get ready and be off." So he let her go and they both sat down at the table.

"Topanga."

"What Corey."

"We need to talk."

"About what?"

"About what has been going on lately."

"Oh I see, so now you want to talk." She replied as she took a scoop full of eggs onto her fork.

"Yes Topanga, you see I just wanted to protect you and did not want you to worry about me…"

"Well you certainly have done that! Corey I have been worried sick over you!"

"I know Topanga, Let me tell you what has really been going on."

"I know what has been going on…you….you….are addicted….to drugs! How could you possibly do this Corey, then you try to keep it a secret!" She screamed in anger then broke down in tears and dropped her fork.

"Topanga, please don't cry just let me explain." Corey pleaded as he brushed her hair from her face.

"Corey…"

"You see that night when I came home late, well I was at the ATM and these gang members came up behind me and pointed a gun at my head. They said that they were very unhappy with my job at the café and that they would make me pay. But just then is when a police car came around the corner with its lights flashing. The next thing I know I was waking up on the ground."

"That is horrible. But Corey I still don't understand how and why you became addicted to drugs?" She questioned as her face filled with confusion and disbelief just as a glass of water would fill to the brim before overflowing.

"Let me finish, once I woke up and got off the ground I noticed that something had fallen as I had made my way to my feet. So as I was confused as to what was going on, I picked up the item to examine it. It was a small bag that contained a substance that was a greenish brownish color, I really had no clue what it was but I wanted to know so I put it in my pocket and came home. Then that next day when you left for class I went to the library and looked it up. Once I had realized it was…"

"Pot" Topanga interrupted in a clam almost nonexistent voice.

"Yes, Pot I got really scared and did not know what to do with it, so I hid it. Topanga don't you understand I am not addicted to drugs it was an accident."

"Corey I wish things were that simple but I don't see how anyone could not know what drugs look and smell like, I am sorry I want to believe you but I think that you are in denial. That is the first sign."

"Topanga no! I never have had a drug problem and never will!"

"Oh Corey, the hardest part is to accept that you have a problem and get help to treat it. But I will help you. I promise"

The next thing they know the phone suddenly rang and interrupted their conversation. Topanga answered it as quickly as she could. "Hello." Corey could hear the person on the other end. He quickly noticed that the more the person talked the more Topanga's mouth dropped open. Her entire face drained and by the time she hung up the phone she was no longer aware that Corey was even questioning her about the news. "Topanga…Topanga!" The words bounced off like a metal shield was surrounding her. Finally she slowly dropped into the chair as if she might soon faint. "Topanga, what is wrong? Why do you look so pail?"

"Uhhh…Feeney…Feeney…."

"What about Feeney."

"He…he is in…in the hospital." Her eyes remained in a glazed over state as she spoke.

"Why is he in the hospital?"

"He…uh…he was in an accident." She stated as she swallowed. Corey went into a state of panic and grabbed Topanga's hand and pulled her out the door. "Let's go, let's go see Feeney."

After only a few minutes they had arrived at the hospital and had located the room, which Mr. Feeney was placed. They both stood in the doorway looking him over from head to foot. His face had scratches and cuts all over and in some places there were stitches. Both left and right arms were in big fat, white casts and his right leg was in a cast and was suspended in the air. There were enough i.v. solutions and tubes that he looked like a string puppet that was not being played with. As they stood there tears slowly squeezed their way out and trickled down their noses and onto their lips. Topanga's lips began to quiver and she looked over to Amy and Alan, which were sitting at the foot of his bed. "What happened to him?"

"Well he was driving down the neighborhood street when another car swerved over into his lane and hit him head on."

"The police think that the other drive, a teenage boy, was under the influence of drugs at the time of the crash. That is why he swerved into Feeney." Alan added as he leaned forward and looked directly towards Corey.

"Is Mr. Feeney going to be ok?" Corey questioned.

"Well, the doctor said that they think he will be fine but of course with injuries of this impact there is always a chance that he won't." Finally after talking with Alan and Amy Topanga pulled Corey out into the hall by his shirtsleeve. "Corey look at what happened to Feeney." She wiped the tears from her face.

"I know what happened to Feeney, what about it. It was an accident."

"Yes but the other driver was high Corey. Don't you get it? Look how drugs can effect not only yourself but others around you."

"Topanga, I know that drugs are bad and I know that they can hurt people."

"Then why are you using them?"

"For the last time Topanga I don't do drugs. I personally can't believe what you are saying to me. You know me and you know there is no way I would ever do drugs. I would rather be buried alive than to do drugs. Topanga, I don't know what it is going to take for you to believe me."