AUTHORS NOTE:

This storyline is the start of some big stuff! The coming chapters will be really emotional and intense at times. I hope you all really enjoy this part of the story as much as I enjoyed writing it. Brace yourselves :)

Thanks to everyone who is continuing to support my story through reading and through reviewing.

Chapter 52: Introduction to drugs

It had been a few months after Heath had turned fifteen that he had started to hang out more and more with the surfie gang who were huge on drugs, especially Amphetamines and Cocaine. One of the gang members approached Heath after he had been with them for several weeks.

"Here." One of the members handed Heath a small package.

"What's this?" Heath asked.

"It's drugs stupid." Heath looked confused. "We want you to sell some of it."

"What? I don't know what to do."

"You get lots of money from it and they're a great distraction from your reality when you take them. Here." The guy pushed them into Heath's hands.

Heath looked down at the yellow and white pills in his hand. "You've got Amphetamines...Speed."

"What does it do?" "It gives you a high energy drive."

Heath thought for a moment, he really did need something to pick himself up after all the late nights of hearing his parents arguing and his father coming home late at night drunk.

"Sell as much as you can on the streets, but don't get caught. You'll make loads."

The gang wandered off and left Heath to ponder on his decision. His family did need a lot of money after all. Heath stuffed the drugs in his pocket and headed home.

Heath walked through the front door to the smell of alcohol and his mother passed out on the couch. Brax and Casey were nowhere in sight, Brax must have taken Casey out, he thought. Heath walked into his bedroom, shut the door, and pulled the drugs out of his pocket. He wanted to escape this reality, he needed too. He picked one tablet out of the plastic and swallowed.

"I don't feel any different." He mumbled, he sat down on his bed and put his headphones on.

Within half an hour Heath started to feel more energetic and overconfident, he got up and left the house. When he finally arrived back home Brax was inside playing with Casey.

"Where have you been? I had dinner ready hours ago."

"I'm not hungry." Heath replied and walked straight to his room and slammed his door, leaving Brax baffled by his behavior.

Two weeks passed and Brax became more concerned over Heath's change in behavior and mood, he had become more aggressive than he used to be, he stayed out all night, and he had lost weight. Before Brax headed to work one morning he approached Heath who stumbled out of his bedroom looking worn out.

"Heath what has gotten into you?" "Nothing I'm tired."

"Don't lie to me Heath, what's going on?"

"Back off Brax and mind your own business!"

"I don't have time for this attitude of yours Heath! Just look after Casey today while I'm at work." Heath grunted. "Heath!"

"Yeah alright."

Brax glared at him before heading out the door, wondering if it was such a good idea to leave Casey with Heath but he had no choice, no-one else could look after him and he had to get to work. They were struggling with the bills as it was.

Casey woke up and walked into the lounge room and saw Heath sitting on the sofa.

"Where's Brax?" "He's at work, you're stuck with me kid."

"What are we going to do today Heath?"

"I'm going down to the beach to do business that doesn't concern you."

"Can't I come?" Casey asked.

"No. Stay here." Heath walked out the front door and left Casey alone in the house.

Once Heath walked a distance away Casey snuck out and followed. He watched as Heath spoke to his mates at the beach and saw one of them hand Heath a bag of tablets. Casey saw Heath take one of the tablets then began walking away from the gang. As Heath walked up the beach he saw Casey. Heath ran up to him and grabbed him.

"What are you bloody doing here? I told you to stay at home!" He started to drag Casey towards home. "I know, but I just..."

"Shut it." They reached the house and Heath threw Casey inside and left to go to his bedroom, again leaving Casey alone.

Casey turned on the TV and sat down, not understanding why Heath was behaving the way he was. Brax arrived home at 4pm.

"Hey mate." He walked up to Casey and ruffled his hair "How was your day?" Casey looked up at Brax with a sad look.

"What's wrong Case?" "Nothing." Casey mumbled.

Brax looked around. "Where's Heath? Heath get out here now!"

Heath entered from his bedroom, with his overconfident, high energetic behavior. "I thought I told you to look after Casey today!"

"I did, he's alright." Brax sighed in frustration.

"Honestly Heath, what's wrong with you these days?"

Brax walked over to Heath and grabbed his shirt. Brax looked Heath in the eye and noticed his eyes were dilated.

"What the hell? Heath are you high?" Heath shrugged "So what if I am."

"You're so stupid! For how long?" Heath didn't answer so Brax shoved him up against the wall roughly.

"How long!" Brax shouted again. "A few weeks." Heath replied in a short tone.

"So that's why you've been behaving differently. What were you thinking?"

Brax glanced down to see Casey looking at them."Case could you go into the kitchen for me and start cleaning up please." Casey nodded and walked out of the room.

Once Casey had left Brax shoved Heath up against the wall again, tightening his grip on his collar. "Drugs are dangerous and stupid Heath and not to mention dealing with this around Casey. This stops now! Ya hear!"

He released Heath and lightly slapped him over the head. Brax left and walked into the kitchen to help Casey, while Heath stormed back into his room.