"Revelation"

(this chapter is short, but eventful, for the most part. you didn't see this coming. you really didn't.)

Angel was upstairs talking with Alex, whom he had stopped on her way to the bathroom.

"Hey, Alex. Can I talk to you?"

"Sure, man. What about?"

"Iciss. Man, I like her. She's, I dunno, really interesting. I think this may lead somewhere."

"Like...where? Like, dating, or...monogamy in general?"

"Uh, yeah, maybe. I dunno."

"What about you and Sofi? How was that working? Is that no more?"

"I don't think so, no, I think me and Sofi are done."

"You sure you wanna do that?"

Angel just shrugged, and shook his head unsurely.

"Okay, um, I can't help you out with that. I can give you sound advice, give you a good perspective, but only you can make your own decisions. Just glad you asked for my opinion." She smiled, silly. "I feel all special."

"No problem, and thanks."

"Anytime."

Angel went downstairs, and sat down, joining, uh, whoever was down there.

A few minutes later, Iciss went downstairs, Angel in the living room, with Jack and Katrina, who seemed to be spending more time there than usual, for obvious reasons. "Hi, everybody."

"Hey." Angel said, and followed her into the kitchen. "I don't know what the plans were for tonight, but Kat is staying over, meaning she takes the couch. And I'm only assuming that you'll be in my room."

"Uh, Angel, what did you, uh..."

"What?"

"Huh? Um..nevermind. Um, I gotta go make a phone call. Check in with my roomate. She hasn't seen me in two days, and she might worry."

"Okay." He said, and returned to his siblings in the living room. Iciss went to the phone, picked up the receiver, and dialed.

"It's me. Hi. Yeah. I got your page. I don't wanna do this no more. No, I, I don't think so. Okay, fine, I'll see you tonight. No, there's no one else. No. No one important. No, you're the only one. Yeah, Baby. Bye." She hung up.

Iciss, that night, went to a motel, where she and another man went inside. She walked in, and sat on the bed. The man sat down next to her, and then spread to lie down. Iciss turned around, and she her got on top of him, and well, worked her way down. Then she started to undo his belt and--

um..yeah...anyway...

Iciss had told the guys they might be gone all night, she was to visit a friend. She awokethe next morning. The man had left, but left something behind, on the nightstand next to Iciss. After he was gone, in a bit, Iciss awoke. She noticed the item on the nightstand, and sat up. She picked it up, and pulled off the cap. It was a syringe.

She came home, still a little high. Alex was awake, in the kitchen. She came out.

"Morning. Where were you? Friends?"

"Y-yeah. Hah. You're up early."

"Not too early, but yeah, I guess."

"K, I'm gonna head on up so--" Iciss started walking up the stairs, but Alex grabbed her arm.

"Iciss."

"What?" She went back to standing in front of Alex.

Alex turned Iciss's arm over, revealing the inside, opposite her elbow, to show little holes, little syringe insignia, the trademark of a hypodermic needle.

"Hey!" Iciss cried, pulling her arm away.

"Iciss! You're high. You've been shooting up. I know that look. I've HAD that look."

"You don't know anything."

"I can't believe this, Iciss. Of all people, you. Who's been supplying you."

"Just..no one...a guy..."

"Angel..."

"Don't tell him. Please."

"I'm not going to cover up for you."

"Then what kind of friend are you?"

"The kind who is loyal to her friends. Angel just happens to be one of them. And so are you. Which is why I'm offering you an opportunity."

"What?"

"First, come to terms. Tell us you have a problem. If you don't think you have a problem, you can't fix it. Then--"

"Rehab? You're gonna take me off this stuff?"

"If you want help, I'll provide it."

"What if I don't WANT help! Maybe I think I'm fine now. Maybe," Her voice got quieter. "Maybe I like this feeling."

Alex shook her head. "You don't want this."

"It feels good. I like this high, Alex. You have stress. I know a guy, he can take it all away."

"Stop! Just, stop! No! I had a problem, and yes, I knew mine was a problem, but it's over. I'm over it now. I don't need anything but my own will. I'm stronger than this. I thought you were, too. But you, you do this to yourself and you have no remorse. Do you even like Angel?"

"He was fun, sure. But everything's a doozy when you're high, isn't it, Alex?"

"Shut up." Alex said, her teeth clenched.

"Isn't it, Alex?" Iciss asked again.

"Shut up, shut up!" She screamed. "You've played me, my family. I want you out."

"Yeah, I'm leaving." She walked outside, but turned around. "You never know, I might change."

"Maybe."

"I might not, though."

"Only you can decide what you're gonna do about this. It's not my problem. Or whatever you wanna call it."

"Tell Angel, tell him..."

"The truth."

"Yeah. You do that. Until next time."

Alex only nodded. Iciss started walking. "Hey!" Iciss stopped, and turned. "Yeah?"

"Strike two."

Angel sat next to Alex, leaning, his elbows on his knees. "She never liked me."

"She, uh, she is...bad."

Angel couldn't help but crack a smile at that. "Nicely put, thank you."

"She's what we like to call 'crackwhore'." Bobby said.

"Thanks, Bobby."'

"Not a problem."

"I hope she gets help." Jack spoke up.

"Me too." Alex said. "But only Iciss can make that happen. She has to want to change."

"Does she? Do YOU think she does?" Kat asked.

"Somewhat. We were talking, it was like, talking to an enemy, and then a friend, all in one person. But, not now, no, she's gonna stay like that, I think." It was silent for a few moments, before Alex spoke. "I need something to drink. You guys want?"

"From here?" Bobby asked. "Nah. Maybe if we go down to the bar..."

"Only if they won't check my ID."

"You're kidding, right? C'mon."

"Actually, man, I don't feel like goin'." Angel said. The room was once again silent.

"Huh?" Jerry asked, confused. "You, not drinking?"

"Uh, I'm not feeling up to it, man. I'll just hang here, k?

"No problem, Angel. Well, everyone else is in, right?" Jack surveyed. The room agreed. "Ok. See you later, man."

"Yeah, later."

When he was alone, Angel went into the kitchen, picked up the phone, and dialed.

"Hey. Sofi. It's Angel. I wanna apologize."