Chapter 71 BUSTED
CHAOS.
I sat in my car with Valtor, the smoke from my cigarette curling into the air as we watched the crowd of people streaming toward the football field for the home game.
I felt a little bit of envy and frustration from just watching everyone was buzzing with excitement, laughter echoing through the air, while I was stuck here, like an outsider looking in.
I took another drag from my cigarette, the bitter taste mirroring my mood. It felt unfair, watching my friends cheer and celebrate while I was sidelined. I could almost hear the roar of the crowd, the adrenaline pumping through the air, and the truth was I wanted to be part of that energy, to lose myself in the thrill of the game, but instead, I was confined to this car. Well, not confined, but I just couldn’t join in the fun.
Valtor's hand suddenly gripped my shoulder as he turned to me, “I’m blaming today for your shitty mood over the past week.”
I gently shrugged his hand off and from the corner of my eyes, I noticed him studying me.
I shook my head before replying. “I’m not in a bad mood,” I said, but the words felt empty even to me.
Valtor scoffed, crossing his arms. “Come on, man. You’ve been lashing out at everyone. Skipping meals, training like a madman after hours, and smoking through seven packs of cigarettes a day. I know you and that’s not normal. Even for you.”
I shot Valtor a warning look, but he just smirked. “And now you’re looking all murderous because I’m calling you out on your bullshit,” he teased.
I took a long drag from my cigarette, letting the smoke escape slowly as I tried to brush off his concerns. “I’m fine,” I insisted, but deep down, I knew he was right.
I hated how I was feeling. I felt like I was spiraling out of control and I didn’t know how to stop it. These days, I felt trapped in my own mind and I was using cigarettes as a way to cope, but it wasn’t working. Nothing was working! And I was losing my shit! Even my bestfriend didn’t know.
I turned my attention back to the crowd, trying not to focus on my mood. I knew the cause of this: the elixir. For the past seven days, I’d been dosing myself with it, and now, as I hit the final stretch, I was down to my last dose.
It helped, but the side effects were brutal.
My temper was a beast I could barely control, my appetite had vanished, and all I could think about was Merrielynn.
I shook the thought away and I realized that Valtor had completely stopped bringing up Merrielynn. I felt a strange sense of gratitude for the silent agreement between us. I mean, even when she had interrupted our conversation in the courtyard last week, Valtor hadn’t said a word. It was strange but I preferred it this way.
After a moment of silence, Valtor sighed, breaking the tension. “Whatever, man. I’ve gotta go.” He opened the car door and stepped out, heading off to prepare for the game. “I’ll see you around,” he called with a wave of his hand.
I knew I should have stayed home, considering how I was feeling, but I couldn’t bring myself to miss the game. I just knew that being here would lift my spirits, even if it was just for a little while.
Now that Valtor was gone and I was alone, I realized I needed it—the elixir. I needed it to stay sane. It had become my new high. And even though I didn’t enjoy taking it, I felt like I had no choice.
I quickly pulled out my phone and dialed a number, my heart racing as someone picked up the call. “Hey, I need you to come to my school,” I said into the phone urgently. “I know it’s last-minute, but I really need you here.”
There was a long pause on the other end, and I could feel frustration bubbling up inside me. “Just give me an answer, damn it!” I demanded, cutting them off before they could respond. “I can’t wait around for you to think about it.”
Finally, I heard a reluctant agreement. “I’m on my way,” he said and I ended the call, trying to steady my breathing.
Forty-five minutes later, a car pulled up, and I stepped out to collect what I needed.
The guy handing it over looked me in the eyes, and I could see a bit of concern on his face. “You’re using this too fast,” he warned in a low voice. “When the elixir stops working—and it will—you’re going to have a hell of a time controlling yourself.”
I simply stared at him, not responding and also not dwelling on what he had just said. I simply handed over the cash and headed back to my car.
Now that the elixir was in my hands, I needed a bottle of water to dissolve the dose, but there was none around.
I shuddered at the memory of taking it raw that one time—never again.
Instead, I got out of the car and made my way to the now-empty locker room.
Thankfully, I found a bottle of a water and grabbed it. I unlocked the cap, quickly dissolved the elixir, and downed it in one long swig.
The burn is as intense as ever, forcing a cough from my throat and a grimace from my face.
I tossed the bottle aside, leaning against the wall to recover, trying to shake off the intensity of it all.
That’s when I felt a presence—one I initially assumed was just my imagination.
But when I looked up, my breath caught in my throat.
I straightened to see who it was and that’s when Merrielynn stepped into the light, her wide eyes darting between me and the discarded bottle on the floor.