There was a long pause that followed Jackson's words. Everyone looked around at each other, but all heads turned in one direction when someone broke the silence.
"It's mine."
An uproar of voices followed, and Jackson, calm as ever, put his hand up.
"One at a time." Jackson said. "We have to solve this in proper manner. Who wants to say something?"
Everyone's hand shot up except for Taylor's.
"I think I saw Daley's hand first." Jackson said, "Go ahead, Daley."
"Eric!" Daley stood and raised her voice, "How could you do this? I mean, to bring an illegal drug on a school trip, do you know how stupid that is? What if you had gotten caught? That's so irresponsible! I can't believe that-"
"Excuse me." Eric cut her off, "Can I say something?"
As Daley was about to retort, Jackson stopped her.
"Let him talk." Jackson waited for Daley to back down. "Eric, please."
"Well," Eric started, a tormented look on his face "I just want you all to know that I didn't bring it on purpose, okay? I was somewhere else right before we left for the trip, and I must've just left that in there by accident."
"Alright. But why did you have it to begin with?" Jackson's voice remained steady.
"Well, I'll tell you guys the entire story. Is that okay?"
Jackson nodded.
"About two years ago, my friend Macy invited me to go with her to this rave downtown. Without anything else to do, I went with her. At the time, I didn't care what happened to me. My parents were never home, my little sister was at school across the country, and I had nothing to truly live for." Eric took a small pause and swallowed, "I went with Macy, and that night I discovered how much I loved the night life. I gradually started going out. Every other week I'd hit the clubs, and once or twice a month a rave on the underground. I met some other friends at the clubs, and they eventually invited me to start smoking with them. And, I did. I told myself I wouldn't do anything more than that. But, a while later I started dropping acid with a bunch of others at the raves. I even nearly did heroin one night. God, I'll never forget that. I nearly screwed up my life for good. " He took a deep breath, and looked up at the people around him, "But about the pot in the bag…About a week before we left, I took that bag out with me. I had spent the night at a friend's house, and we were going to a party the night after. I had brought the pot with me in that bag with all my other stuff."
"Eric…" Jackson started, "Do you know how bad that shit is for you? I mean, I've been around the block a few times myself, and-"
"Jackson." Eric stopped him, "I know. That night…That night was the night I vowed to never do drugs ever again."
"Why is that?" Taylor asked. Eric turned his head quickly in her direction as if he were startled, and he slowly relaxed as he saw her eyes boring into his.
"I had a friend, Brendan. We'd known each other forever. And there was his younger sister, Carly, who was just a year younger than us. They were like my family. They cheered me up, and begged their parents to let me stay at their house for the night whenever I got lonely at my place all by myself. See, the morning of the party I went to, Brendan called me and said that Carly was going to a party herself, but that he had to work, and that there was nobody to pick her up. He asked me if I could, and I told him that I would leave my party early to get her. I promised. I made a promise. And I broke it." Eric shuddered lightly.
"And what happened?" Melissa asked, out of her normal curiosity.
"Well," Eric's voice became uneven, "Two hours after her party, she figured I wasn't coming, and she started walking to her house which was miles from where the party was. And, the next morning I got a phone call from Brendan saying she got hit by a car. Saying that she died. After he hung up I just couldn't believe that I didn't even think about picking her up, I was just so fucking high."
Tears began to flow freely down Eric's cheeks as he held his head in his hands. He began to shake with the feeling of regret. Taylor got up and sat next to him, rubbing his back gently.
"Hey, Eric." Jackson sympathized with him, "Why don't you go for a walk? Come back when you're ready. We'll be here."
Eric rose without a word and walked away from the site. Taylor stayed for a moment, unmoving. As Eric became almost impossible to see, Taylor abruptly stood and ran after him into the distance.
- - - - -
So, my people. It has been a while. Anyhow, to clear up any future confusion, the party that Eric went to and the party that Carly went to were different parties.
Anyhow, I am seriously considering starting up an iCarly fic. It's one of the few "Teen Nick" shows that I enjoy. And I've lately become obsessed with it. For those of you that watch this show, here's my idea: Something happens (I'm not positive what) that causes Freddie, Carly, and Sam (with Spencer) to have to go on the run and leave Washington. They take on new names, a new look, and ultimately, a new life.
Give up the opinions on an iCarly fic in a review if you know the show! Thanks to everyone!
