Chapter 3: Sloe Gin Fizz

Big Time Warning: OK...this chapter will reveal some secrets. Drug and alcohol use and abuse is discussed, though not graphically at this point.

Emma tried to slip in the door without Alex seeing her, but it didn't work. Alex was standing in the kitchen and looked up when she heard the door open. Her eyes widened at Emma's bruised face.

"Emma!" she muttered in shock as she hurried over to examine her eye. "What the hell happened?"

Emma sighed and jerked her head back from Alex's gentle touch. "It's nothing. I just ran into Aaron, and had a little chat with his fist again. No big deal."

"No big deal? Em-"

"Jay came along just in time, don't worry. I'm fine." Emma shrugged. "He thought…he thought I came back to the ravine for…but I didn't. I just needed a walk."

Alex grabbed Emma's wrist and led her into the kitchen. "Sit," she muttered as she turned to make an ice pack for her friend. "Why would you go back there?"

Emma sighed. "I was just…I thought walking in the last place that Sean…that he…" she sighed in frustration, wincing as the ice pack pressed the tender flesh of her eye. "Everyone tells me that I can't move on if I don't make myself. So I figured I'd do it."

Alex laughed and sat across from her friend. "You're a drama queen…you know that, right?"

Emma shrugged and smiled. "Yeah, well…I'm gonna' hit the shower. But thanks for the pack," she murmured as she shoved the ice pack back into the freezer."

Sean stared out over the water, waiting for Tyler to come back with the police. A smirk played on his lips. At least he wouldn't get stuck going home tonight. His dad would probably sober up enough to remember what Sean had done to him. Old Papa Cameron would knock his head off his shoulders if he had the chance.

"Not today, Old Man," Sean muttered with a soft chuckle. "Hopefully never again."

Tyler walked up the beach, a towel in one hand, a can of soda in the other. He sat next to Sean with a pained grunt. "Who you talkin' to? Imaginary buddy, Buddy?" he asked as he handed him the can.

Sean shook his head and laughed. "I'm not that far off yet, Guy." He sighed and leaned back. "So…when can I expect the men in little white coats?"

"You can't."

"What?" Sean asked, beginning to panic a bit. "I thought…I mean I…I tried-"

Tyler shook his head and snatched the can from Sean, taking a drink. "Cut the shit, Cameron. Your old man was just looking for you. I saw the shiner you gave him…and I know why you pulled that stupid stunt."

Sean snorted angrily. "Fine. Whatever." He stood. "So what? I go home, get the shit beat out of me, and the cops haul me out of that hell hole anyway." He shrugged. "Either way-"

"Sean, if it's so damned bad, then why don't you go home?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Home. As in Toronto. Go back…win your girl back-"

He rolled his eyes. "Which one? Ellie…the girl who probably took a blade to her arm the moment she walked back into our old apartment without me? Or do you mean Emma…the one itch I never could seem to scratch?"

Tyler smirked and shrugged. "The hot one?"

Sean shoved him playfully. "Oh, that really helps!"

Emma brushed her wet hair and pulled it into a ponytail. She slid her legs, which still bore the effects of her rapid weight loss (and the roughness of Aaron's hands earlier in the day) into a pair of worn black jeans. She frowned. How in the hell had the knees gotten ripped out like that?

She grabbed a black tank top from Alex's closet. She'd just turned to the mirror and began to tuck in the shirt when a memory flickered into her mind.

"Hold her legs!"

Emma gasped sharply and jerked her head up to look at her face in the mirror. The laughter burned her ears and her stomach turned. She looked deeply into her once soft brown eyes…now dull and lifeless. She heard herself screaming.

"Shut her up! Shut her the fuck up!"

Emma walked out of the room she shared with Alex and into the living room. Alex took one look at her and frowned. "You need to talk about it," she told her friend again. "What the hell happened?"

Emma shook her head and grabbed a bottle of gin from the cabinet. She pulled out a few glasses and tossed some ice in them. She poured the alcohol into the glasses. "When are they getting here?" she asked absently.

"In about an hour. Plenty of time to spill-"

Emma shook her head again and went to the bookshelf, pulling out a Shakespeare book and opening it. The book had been hollowed out to make a neat little hiding place. She pulled out a tiny box and opened it. Inside were three joints and a pipe. She pulled out a joint and waved it at Alex with a grin. "Guess Kwan was right when she said Shakespeare was useful."

Alex chuckled and pulled a lighter from her pants pocket. "I always wondered where you hid your stash! But…I'll let it slide since you share."

Emma grinned and snatched the lighter from Alex.

Sean felt a cold chill sweep through him as he stared out over the water.

"Something wrong?" Tyler asked, noticing Sean shiver.

"Just…a weird feeling is all." He sighed and tried to shake Emma's screaming image out of his mind.

"You should just call her, Man," Tyler said knowingly.

Sean sighed and stood up, shaking his head. "Can't do it."

"Why not?"

"Cause…you see how screwed up I am! I need to get fixed before I can talk to her. I can't bring her into my shit…never again."

Tyler shrugged. "You had your chance. You blew it. Jenkins told you how to help yourself."

Sean snorted. "Yeah. He told me to forget about her. Like I can forget the sweetest, most innocent and loving chick on the planet!"

Alex and Emma had finished smoking the joint and Emma lit a cigarette while Alex poured them more drinks.

"Are you ever gonna' talk about what happened to you in that-"

"Hurry up, Man! I want a go!"

Emma shook her head sharply. "Nope. Not worth discussing." Emma took a big swig from her glass. She laid her head back on the couch and listened to the radio, which was blaring loudly in the tiny apartment.

"Don't trust me, huh?" Alex teased. "That's OK…I don't have any feelings to hurt anyway." She started to get up, but Emma caught her arm.

"Where are you going?"

"I forgot the bottle in the kitchen. I need a refill."

Emma nodded and let go of Alex's wrist. "How much longer?"

"Oh…about…half an hour."

Emma smiled, a strange laugh erupting in her throat. "You know…I got some stuff today."

Alex frowned. "What? You did what?"

Emma laughed again. "Yup. Spread my whoring little legs. Did you know I'm only worth four pills now?"

"What the hell, Emma!"

Emma's laughter broke into sobs of pain. "Sixteen and overused. Do you know what that's like…to know you're worn out?"

Alex sighed and knelt in front of Emma. "Stop it. That shit's just an old wives' tale."

"H-How do you know? Y-You're not like me!"

Alex sighed and sat next to her. "Things are messed up for you right now." She frowned. "You said you got the pills. Where'd…did you take any?"

Emma shook her head. "Nope. I…I just wanted…you know…to have them…to know I could get them. I'm not gonna' take them. I promise. I'll just give them to one of Jay's friends or something."

Alex nodded. "As long as you promise…"

"I do."

Alex sighed and laid her head on Emma's shoulder. "Weird how we're friends now. Who'd have ever thought-"

Emma's lips found Alex's. Alex didn't fight her back and Emma deepened the kiss, her tongue slipping into Alex's mouth. Alex moaned softly and cupped Emma's cheek before pulling away. She dropped her forehead to Emma's. "Em…you're not…don't try to do this to make Sean go away. Cause he won't. And you'll only screw yourself up more," she murmured softly. She dropped a soft kiss to Emma's head and stood up, leaving the room.

Sean shoved the bits of paper into his pocket and slowly walked up the steps to his trailer. His hand shook as he opened the door. His fear intensified when he walked into the living room to find his mother lying in a battered heap on the floor.

"Mom?" he gasped as he knelt in front of her. "What-"

"Get out of here, Seany!" she whispered as a sob bubbled forth. "He's-"

Sean felt the sharp stab of pain to his ribs as his father kicked him. He yelped in shock and tumbled to the floor.

"Stop, Chet!" his mother cried.

"Little bastard! Think you can waltz in here and deck your old man?"

Sean felt another blow connect with his midsection and he curled up to protect his stomach.

"You need to learn not to mess with me!"

"Please, Chet-"

"Shut up, Bitch!" he screamed. "Shut up or he'll get it worse!" he shouted as he stomped down on Sean's back.

Sean let out a scream of pain as the blackness took over. The last thing he remembered was the realization that he couldn't feel his legs…and the familiar male shout of another person in the room. It sounded distant…far away as he slipped into the darkness.

Did he hear a gunshot?