Page 71 of Ivy's Venom

Me: I’m assuming you mean recreationally?

Neil: Yeah.

Me: Once. After my Grandma died.

It was the worst experience of my life and that night ended with a catastrophic event. That’s why I swear off the hard stuff and stick to the mild shit. Like weed.

Neil: What was it?

Am I being interrogated? And what do I say if he asks where I got it from? What’s making him even ask these questions?

Me: Oxy.

There it’s out but if he asks where and how I got it, I’m not answering him. I breathe with relief when the line of questioning stops.

“Ivy!” I hear Flower’s little voice as the front door opens, “Saxon! Did you guys miss me?”

I step out of my room at the same time Saxon does and we both head down the stairs.

“Mommy and Daddy found another old car!” She giggles when I pick her up and kiss her cheek.

“Cool.” Saxon says and kisses her other cheek.

Mom and Dad come in the house and give us both hugs. Then Mom heads straight upstairs to her room, she looks exhausted and there’s what looks to be a bruise on the edge of her jaw.

“Did she have a fight this weekend?” I ask Dad.

“Nah,” Dad replies, his eyes following her up the stairs, “she took a hit while sparring with Uncle Trent.”

Uncle Trent never gets the jump on Mom and I see his jaw clenching, telling me that he’s not being completely honest.

“Thanks for sticking a stalker on me this weekend.” I tell Dad, changing the subject.

“He’s a good kid,” he smiles at me, “and you guys used to be tight. Thought you could help each other forget the hard things you’re going through for a short time.”

“He wants to bone her.” Saxon states.

“What the fuck?” I turn on him.

“Oh!” Dahlia squeals, “five dollars, Ivy!”

“What do you know about boning?” My dad chuckles as he locks Saxon into a headlock, “let’s go discuss it further.”

I laugh as Dad drags Saxon into the family room.

“What’s boning?” Dahlia asks me.

I step out of my car and stare across the parking lot towards Precious Blood Academy. I decided I was ready to come back despite feeling nauseous this morning and wanting to crawl back in bed.

This recent bout of depression has taken its toll more so than the others, I’m tired, and my body feels like lead, but it was time to drag myself out.

I walk through the large wooden doors and head to my locker, I have a bag stuffed with ten textbooks and there’s no way I’m carrying this around.

Lucky me, Veronica, Amber, and Tanya are standing in a small group as I’m making my way by.

“Oh look,” Veronica sneers, “she didn’t kill anyone else after all.”

I stop at the vitriol in her words and turn to look in her face.

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