Chapter 5

"Stephanie, don't make me kill you, girlfriend," Jennifer said firmly, as she and Roger grabbed Stephanie around the waist.

"But Jen, I want it!" Stephanie said, as she struggled in their grasp to get to her beloved needle and smack. "Just one! Just one and then I'll be fine! Honest!"

"No, Stephanie," Jennifer demanded. "You can't shoot up anymore. You're on withdrawal, remember? That means no smack."

"No shit, I am," Stephanie snapped. "But I want it, Jen! Screw withdrawal! It hurts so bad…" She clutched her stomach in pain, as she started to cry.

Roger picked her up and carried her over to the couch. She yelled and screamed and hit him on the side of the head as he set her on the couch, but he didn't give in to her. He held her and rocked her, as tears of fury and pain streamed down her face. Finally, after several long minutes of furious struggle, she relaxed and collapsed against him, her chest heaving and her body shook with sobs.

"There," Roger said, holding her close, "it's over, Steph. You're OK, sweetie, calm down."

"How long is this gonna keep happening to me, Roger?" Stephanie asked tearfully.

"A couple more weeks, maybe a couple months," Roger said. "It varies with every addict. We just have to wait until the stuff gets out of your system, Steph. Then you'll get used to being without it and will start your journey of being clean. It feels good, trust me," Roger said, smiling down at her.

"I do trust you, Roger," Stephanie said, looking up wearily at him. She laid her head against his chest and gradually fell into an exhausted sleep.

"I would like to propose a toast," Collins said, standing up with his champagne glass. "Congratulations to Stephanie, our dear friend, on her one-year anniversary of being clean." He looked at her, standing next to Roger, smiling. "Congratulations, Baby girl. We are all so proud that you made it through."

"Thanks, Collins," Stephanie said, smiling up at him as he hugged her. "I'm happy Jen and Roger gave me the strength and support to do it. Without them, I probably wouldn't have made it to my 20th birthday." She held up her glass of apple juice. "To Jennifer and Roger, two of the best friends a girl could have."

"Amen to that," Collins said, and they lifted their glasses and clinked them together.

Roger took Stephanie's hand, an hour or so into the party, and he led her away from the Bohemians. They stood still for a few moments, gazing into each other's eyes. Then Roger swallowed nervously past the lump in his throat and spoke.

"Steph," he said, biting his lip, "I… I have something to tell you."

Stephanie looked up at him and he saw the old, familiar steely glint in her blue eyes, something he hadn't seen since before the concert and the accident so long ago. "What?" she asked. She nudged him playfully. "Don't be so nervous, Baby."

Roger looked down at her, surprised. "What did you just call me?" he asked.

"I called you 'Baby'. Is that OK?"

"Well, yeah, but usually, that would mean…" His voice trailed off.

"That I love you, too?" Stephanie suggested. She smiled seductively. "Yeah, it would. I do love you, Roger. I, your biggest fan, love you, the man who saved my life. You saw me when I was invisible, Roger, and that's the most important thing that could ever happen to me."

Roger looked down at her. "Wow," he said, "that was deep. And you know what?"

"What?" Stephanie asked, looking up at him and grinning as she moved closer to him.

"I love you, too, Stephanie Bradford. I'm so glad I saved you and saw you when you were invisible."

"So am I, Baby," Stephanie replied, and she leaned in to kiss him.

Alas, after all the stress of not being able to update, and finally finding a way around that (thanks, Tina101!) I've hit a wall. Any ideas on where I should take the story from here? I really do want to continue it, but I'm not sure how. Please leave any ideas in reviews.

Until next time, lots of love,

Renthead07