((AN: Still no ownership of American Idiot or Next to Normal. Still the owner of this idea. Reviews still appreciated. There of talk of doing drugs in this chapter, but nothing detailed because: a) this is only rated T, and b)I honestly don't know much about how heroin is done. Like, the preparation. Or, about heroin at all… All of my information is gained through research. So, I stuck to being vague! ))

Natalie's POV

I groaned when my alarm clock went off at 7:30, slamming my hand down on the top and hoping I hit the off button. I don't think I'd even been asleep for an hour, but I was up now. I had thirty minutes to get ready for school. That was if I didn't get caught in traffic once I left. I sighed, forcing myself into a sitting position. My head was spinning, I could barely keep my eyes open. I could vaguely remember Jimmy saying something last night about fatigue. He said the heroin would help with that. I couldn't go to school high. That was crazy… Then again, driving to school like this wouldn't be possible… I stood and grabbed my purse, pulling the small plastic bag out. Just a little bit would be okay. It would help me get through the day. I wouldn't do all of it. Just enough to get me through.

It didn't take long. I could feel it in my blood stream soon enough, waking me up. I closed my eyes for a moment, letting the buzzing feeling take me over, enjoying the added energy. While getting ready for school seemed like an impossible task only minutes before, it was definitely manageable now. I got dressed, brushed my teeth, grabbed my backpack, and was out to my car just in time. There was a little traffic, but it wasn't too bad. I made it to school before the first tardy bell rang, at least.

I shut the engine off and got out of my car, heading straight to my locker. Henry was there. I sighed, working wordlessly on undoing the lock. I could feel him staring. Maybe he was waiting for me to say something. I didn't plan on it though. He could stand there and stare for as long as he wanted, I knew what he wanted to talk about, he wanted to question me about last night, and I wasn't in the mood for it.

"Hey," he said softly when he realized I wasn't going to start talking on my own.

Getting the locker open, I turned to look at him. "I don't want to talk, "I snapped impatiently. "Class starts in like, two minutes, you should go," I turned back to my locker as I finished talking, trying to focus on pulling out the things I needed for my morning classes. To my surprise, Henry grabbed my arm, turning me around to face him again. I dropped the book out of surprise, vaguely satisfied that it landed on his foot, though he didn't react. "What the he-"

"Nat, you're on something now." It wasn't a question. It was a statement, full of disbelief, and frustration, and anger. I stared up at him with wide eyes. He was about to keep talking. I clamped a hand over his mouth desperately, casting a glance around the mostly empty hallway, afraid someone might have overheard.

"What the fuck is wrong with you! Shut up, you're going to get me in trouble!" The words came out in a frantic, almost whisper. I continued to hold my hand over his mouth for a moment, staring up into his eyes. Finally, I let him go, bending to pick up my book with a sigh. When I straightened up again I could tell he wasn't going to just let it go. I turned away, starting to shove books into my bag without paying much attention to which books I actually needed and which I was grabbing just because of their proximity and my desire to do something.

"Natalie, you can't keep doing this. At least tell me what you're on…" His voice was gentle, calm. I still couldn't take it. I slammed my locker shut, whirling around to look at him. He almost looked afraid now.

"You know what, Henry?" I snapped back, shouting now. "I don't have to answer to you, okay! I don't have to answer your stupid questions! So you should just go! I don't need you here doing this to me!"

I could see that he was hurt now. There was anger and pain in his eyes. "You don't need me here? " He replied, trying to keep his voice level and below a shout, though it shook with the effort. "Fine. But next time you're at a club and you need someone to take you home, find someone else. "He turned away then, starting off down the hallway.

"Fine! "I shouted after him. "Fine, I won't!" My voice was mostly drowned out by the tardy bell that was ringing now, but I was fairly sure he heard me. I shut my eyes tightly, sinking back against my locker. I don't need him. He's just a pain in the ass lately anyway. I'm fine by myself. I shook my head angrily. No matter how many times I told myself that, part of me wasn't going to believe it. Part of me wanted Henry here, held at arm's length maybe, but close enough to come running when I called.

I pushed myself away from the lockers, turned to face them, and kicked one a few times. In the end, my foot hurt more than anything, but I had succeeded in leaving a dent in the metal. For a few minutes I could only stand there, staring at it. I didn't care if I'd be marked absent or if dad would be called, I couldn't stay here. I felt trapped.

I turned around and headed for the parking lot, walking with measured and meaningful steps. Nothing would get you caught faster than looking like you were somewhere you shouldn't be. Once I was outside of the building and to the parking lot, I dashed toward my car, stopping in my tracks when I noticed someone leaning against the gate.

I glanced back at the school for a moment. No one had followed me out. I took a deep breath and looked back at the figure at the other end of the parking lot before approaching him. I reached silently into my pocket, fingers curling around the cash I hadn't had to give to him the previous night. Finally, I pulled it out and handed it to him as inconspicuously as I could. I slid my hand back into my pocket as soon as he'd taken the cash, wanting to look casual. For a few moments we both just stared at the school. Finally, I turned to look at him. Jimmy. St. Jimmy. "Did you just plan on waiting here all day?" I asked in a quiet voice. He simply shrugged in response. I watched his face for a moment, noting how I could see him much more clearly now. I bit my lip, having a moment of internal debate, then pulled more cash out of my pocket, holding it out to him. He looked at the money for a moment, then back up at my face, raising a questioning eyebrow. "Do you have any more?" I asked, voice slightly louder than it had been a few moments before. There was nothing I needed more than to get fucked up at a moment like this.

His questioning expression quickly became a smirk. It was almost challenging, almost made me feel like I'd asked a stupid question. "You got a car?" He finally responded.

"Yeah," I answered, a little confused. I pointed in the direction of my beat up old car. " The Accord." He nodded in response, striding over to the car. After a moment of shock, I followed, unlocking the door and getting in. I fastened my seatbelt in silence, noting that he left his off, and quickly adjusted the rearview mirror before finally turning to look at him. "Where are we going?"

((AN: I gave Natalie my car. I didn't realize until I was done writing. Ha. ))