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Chapter 20
Karen's POV
I swear I feel like I didn't get any sleep last night. After Drew and I found Kenny getting high, I was up most of the night trying to console him. We probably got about two hours max of sleep. I struggled to get out of bed and get both of us ready for school in the morning.
As we're headed out the door, we're stopped by Kenny. "What are you doing?" He asks.
"I'm going to take Drew to school." I tell him.
"He rides the bus."
"Yes, but I still have to go to school so I need to drop him off."
"I can take him to the bus stop." He tries to pull Drew towards him, but Drew pulls away.
"No daddy!"
Kenny and I are both taken aback. "What?"
"I don't want you to take me!"
I can see a look of sadness on Kenny's face. I want to feel bad for him, but I don't. "Why not?"
"You lied to me!"
Kenny kneels down in front of Drew. "I know and I'm sorry. I promise it won't happen again."
"I don't believe you!" Drew turns away from him and starts to cry.
"But Drew-"
"Kenny, just leave him alone." I step in.
"He's my son…"
"I know, but as you can see he's very upset."
"We'll talk when you come home, Okay buddy?"
"No! I don't want to talk to you!"
"Come on Drew." I tell him as we leave. On the walk to school, I decide to text Stan.
Hey Stan, it's Karen.
Hey Karen. How's it going?
Bad news. Kenny is using again.
Are you fucking serious?
Drew and I walked in on him getting high in his room last night.
Damn, I can't believe he had to witness that.
Tell me about it. I hate to bother you with this, but I think it's time for an intervention.
I agree. Wendy and I will come after our last class.
Thank you. I'm not sure if Stan and Wendy will be able to help, but it's worth a try. As angry as I am with Kenny, I don't want to give up on my brother. I want him to get help and beat this addiction.
Kenny's POV
I'm in my room getting high. I feel like just this morning alone, I've gone through every ounce of heroin I had. At least I'm not feeling as down as I was earlier. My phone rings and I see it's Megan. "Hi Megan!" I answer cheerfully.
"Kenny! Why did you go back to Kevin? We had a deal!"
"Because I don't want you to cover for me."
"It's okay. I just didn't want you going down that path again."
"I'm use to it. The thought of you screwing random dudes for money made me sick to my stomach. I can't do that to you." I begin to feel pain in my chest. I put my hand on my chest and start to breath heavily.
"I can't believe you would do this for me."
"It's done! Now…let's move…on." I say between breaths.
"Kenny...are you high?"
"What?"
"Are you high?"
"Why do you ask?" I don't know why I would try to deny it to a former drug addict.
"You sound like you are. Don't try to lie!"
This pain in my chest is getting worse. It's unbearable and I'm truly in pain and start crying. "Maybe I am! My son…hates me!"
"No he doesn't."
"I've let him down! I've let everyone down! Even…you…"
Megan is silent for a moment. "I'm coming over! You shouldn't be alone right now."
"Please don't. I want to be alone!" The last thing I want is for her to see me in pain like this.
"I'm worried about you."
"I'm okay…I promise. I want to…apologize…to you."
"For what?"
"For everything…I've done…to hurt you."
"Kenny…"
"I have to go Megan. I…I love you." I quickly hang up. I lie down in my bed and continue clutching my chest. I get an incoming text from Stan. I tell him I'm sorry. I really can't text or talk to anyone right now. I'm in too much pain…
Stan's POV
Wendy and I arrived at Kenny's house. We've knocked on every door and window and there hasn't been a response. Wendy is texting Karen to see where she is. I'm looking at a text I got from Kenny hours ago telling me "I'm sorry". I'm trying to figure out what it means. "I don't know Wendy, it felt like a goodbye to me."
"I really hope not."
"I wish Kyle could make it. He always had a way of getting through to Kenny."
"Between you, Karen, and me, I'm sure one of us should be able to get through to him. Karen said they'll be here in a few."
I nod. "Good, I'm really worried. Between the text and Kenny not answering the door." I hear the sound of a car door closing. I'm hoping it's Kenny, but no, it's Megan and she's coming this way. I frown. "What the hell are you doing here?" I ask as I walk towards her. She backs away and Wendy pulls me back.
"Stan, don't do this!" Wendy tells me.
"Haven't you caused enough damage? Get out of here!" I yell.
Megan backs away some more. "Stan, I know you don't like me, but I'm Kenny's friend just like you. I have as much of a right to be here as you do."
The nerve of this girl! "No you don't! You're the reason Kenny relapsed! No one wants you here so take a hike!"
"Stop it Stan!" Wendy gives me a warning look. "You guys have to stop blaming Megan. Kenny is a grown man and can make his own decisions."
"Thank you Wendy." Megan smiles. "I'm not going anywhere until I talk to Kenny. I spoke to him earlier and he sounded like he needed a friend."
I nod. "That's what we're here for. His REAL friends! What are your intentions with Kenny anyway?"
She raises her eyebrow. "Excuse me?"
"I'm sure you're well aware of Kenny's feelings for you. Are they mutual?"
"Stan, don't put on her the spot!" Wendy whispers to me.
"No! I want her to answer the question." I glare at Megan. "Well?"
"Kenny is a nice guy." She looks away.
"That's it? You do realize he sees you as more than "nice girl", right?"
She nods. "I know, he said he loves me. But Kenny isn't in any position to have a serious relationship. He needs to focus on getting better so he can build a better life for himself and Drew. I think it's best that we remain friends."
"If that's how you feel then why were spending so much time with him and Little Dude? You had no business getting close to that kid if you don't want anything beyond friendship!"
"What's wrong with me getting close to him? He doesn't have a mom so I'm sure he doesn't mind having a mother figure around. Kenny can't fill that role no matter how hard he tries."
"That's what Karen and Wendy are for. They'll always be in his life…can't say the same about you."
"That's for Kenny to decide, not you!"
"I'm sure he'll make that decision soon enough." I smirk.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
I shake my head. "Nothing."
"You're going too far." Wendy tells me narrowing her eyes. "Leave her alone."
"Uncle Stan! Aunt Wendy!" We turn and see Little Dude running towards us to hug us. Karen is right behind him hugging us as well.
"Thank you for coming." She looks at Megan and frowns. "Why is she here?"
"Karen, we've already been through it. We'll explain later." Wendy tells her before kneeling to Little Dude's level. "Drew, would you like to go to the playground?"
"Now? But what about homework?" He looks at Karen.
"It's okay honey, you can do your homework later." Karen smiles and rubs his back.
"Okay! Let's go!"
"So you still haven't gotten a hold of Kenny?" Karen asks once Wendy and Drew are out of ear shot.
I shake my head. "Nope, no one is answering the door."
"I hope Kenny is out somewhere." Megan steps in.
"As long as he's not with Kevin." Karen says as she unlocks the door. "Let's check his room." We go in Kenny's room and he's in his bed sleeping. We all let out a sigh of relief.
"Could he have been here sleeping this whole time?" I chuckle. We were worried for nothing.
"Kenny?" Karen shakes him. "Stan, I think something's wrong! He's not moving and his lips are blue!"
"Do you think he may have overdosed again?" Megan asks.
I examine Kenny and I notice he's breathing. "He's still breathing, but it's very faint."
"I'm calling an ambulance!" Karen announces.
"No need if you have Narcan." Megan tells her.
"Kevin does, but I'm not calling him! Like I said, I'm calling an ambulance! Hopefully they'll get here before it's too late!"
A/N: I hate to do this to you guys, but I'm taking a small hiatus for a few weeks. Sorry to leave you with a cliff hanger, but I have to go enjoy some of my summer with and take a mental health break while I have some time off. I'm sure you guys understand. The story is more than halfway done. What would you like to see or what do you think will happen in the next half of it? Take care and see you in a few weeks! :-)
