Tegan awoke in her own apartment all alone. She has felt terrible all night, what Mike said to her really hit home. He’s never been so mean to her before. Yeah he’s said some real shitty things but to practically say she isn’t welcome or wanted in the Fuentes’ house hit her like a ton of bricks.

She cried herself to sleep not just because of that but because of everything that had been running around her mind. She didn’t feel up for school today but she made a promise to herself to make her attendance and grades as good as she can possibly get them this year.

When she went to her kitchen she pulled out some pop-tarts, the only thing she had in the house since she’s never there. Luckily they were still in date. She popped them in the toaster and checked the time. She was already about an hour and 15 minutes late for school, hopefully Vic will have told the school she had a doctor appointment this morning and that she’ll be in by third period.

Once her pop tarts were done she sat on her couch in the lounge and put cartoons on the television when her phone began to ring. She looked at who was calling and really didn’t want to speak to him but for some unknown reason answered the phone anyway.

“What do you want Mike?” She spat out, Tegan really wasn’t in the mood for his shit today

“I wanted to see if you were okay?” He asked calmly

“Oh yeah Mike, I’m all buttercups and daisies. You went too far last night, what you said hurt so fuck off and fuck you” She shouted into her phone

“You know what you’re just a spoilt fucking brat. I tried to help you and you just threw it back in my face and then I try to apologise and you do the same thing. I really don’t get why Vic or my parents think you’re some kind of angel because you’re not. You’re a stuck up fucking bitch who needs to pull her head out of her ass. Jesus Christ Tegan”

“Seriously Mike, I’m the spoilt brat? Your family do nothing but treat you with love and respect and you are nothing but rude and disrespectful to each and every one of them. I can take it because you’ve always been a dick to me but how do you think Vic feels when the only time you’re nice to him is when you want something out of him? Don’t you dare try and lecture me on being the perfect person when you are one of the worst people I have ever fucking met” The anger was boiling in her veins at this point.

“You know what Tegan, fuck you. Go snort your coke and act like a little princess because I’m done trying to help you”

“What don’t you get Michael, I don’t want or need your fucking help” She screamed her final sentence into the phone and hung up.

She threw her phone onto the couch and stood up going over to her coat that was by the door.

Tegan went into her coat pocket and took out a small clear baggy that contained plenty of white powder. She had got a new load on her way over to the apartment last night. She sat back down at the coffee table in the living room and lined up three straight lines of cocaine.

She snorted the first, and the second and finally the third. Something felt wrong after the third and Tegan began having some sort of seizure. She fell to the floor and began frothing at the mouth.

No longer than ten minutes passed and Vic was letting himself into Tegan’s apartment, he was worried that she hadn’t got to school yet and wasn’t answering her phone. When he walked straight into the living room he wasn’t expecting the scene in front of him.

Tegan, his best friend, his girlfriend was sprawled across the floor, seemingly lifeless.

“Tegan shit, come on, wake up” He was shouting at her, tears already coming down his face. She wasn’t answering, he looked for a pulse and there was one, barely there but it was enough.

Vic took his phone from his pocket and called for an ambulance, the operator stayed on the phone with him giving him advice on what he should be doing and what felt like only minutes went by when the ambulance crew were knocking on the door.

Vic got up and let them in and they rushed to Tegan, doing all sorts of medical things to her.

Vic had taken her bag of drugs and put them in his pocket because he didn’t know if they would get in trouble or not, he didn’t even know Tegan could get hold of something like cocaine.

Tegan’s phone was ringing on the couch when the paramedics were taking her out of the apartment. Vic picked it up to see Mike was calling, he thought that was odd but answered the phone to his brother.

“Mike, why are you calling Tegan?” He said before Mike even had a chance to speak

“Well when you said she wasn’t at school or anything I thought I would try and ring her, see if she answers or something” Mike was proud with how quick and believable his lie was.

“Oh cool, well we’re on our way to the hospital” Vic said with a worried tone as he followed the emergency team and Tegan to the ambulance “Meet us there, I have to go” He hurried the end of the conversation and sat next to Tegan, holding her hand the whole ride there.

Mike was worried now, Vic didn’t tell him why they were going to the hospital and all sorts of things entered Mike’s mind. He punched the wall that he had been smoking by, he had been bunking all his lesson since he got into school; typical Mike. He then ran to his car and made his way to the hospital.


“We found a large amount of cocaine in Tegan’s system and had to flush them out, does she take drugs often?” The doctor asked Vic who was sat in the chair next to her bed; she was still out of it.

“No, I’ve known her my whole life and she’s never done drugs before” Vic said thinking about how little he really knew the girl he thought he knew everything about.

“Well maybe it was a first time thing and it was an accidental overdose, not knowing how much to take. When she wakes up she should be okay to go home” The doctor gave Vic a warm smile and left the room as Mike entered.

“Dude, what happened?” Mike asked as he walked over to the bed, in shock of the sight in front of him. Vic was in tears still and Tegan was hooked up to a few machines.

“She overdosed on cocaine. Fucking cocaine, since when the fuck does Tegan do drugs?” He asked himself more than anything.

Mike felt like he should speak up and say something but he couldn’t. He knew Tegan would flip a shit big time if he said anything and that would cause more problems than if he kept his mouth shut.

“I don’t know man, that’s fucked up. Is she okay though?” Vic nodded at him and looked back at Tegan. Vic had decided he was going to confront her about it when they got home; he still had her load in his pocket.

He had a cocktail of emotions running through him right now, sadness, guilt, anger, worry. He felt guilty because he thought it was his fault, like if he had gone to the apartment with her or made her stay at the house then this wouldn’t have happened. Sadness and anger because his best friend didn’t trust him enough to come to him with a drug problem; worry because even though the doctor said she would be fine, he still had doubts. She might physically be fine but how about mentally. Her mental health must be quite something for her to turn to cocaine.

Vic and Mike were in Tegan’s room for a while before she woke up and they were relieved when she did because they both hated hospitals.

“You’re awake” Vic observed as Tegan blinked her eyes a few times, adjusting to the light of the room.

“Hey sweetie” She said softly as she sat herself up and got a glass of water.

“What are you doing here?” She asked with anger as she noticed Mike was on the other side of her bed.

“He was worried when I told him you hadn’t turned up at school when you said you would and I told him to meet us here” Vic informed her, Tegan just scoffed at his answer.

“We can go home soon, the doctor just needs to take your vitals to make sure you’re okay and we can go. I left my car at the apartment so Mike can take us back there and then we’ll go home” Tegan nodded at him, thankful that he hadn’t bought up the obvious elephant in the room.

Vic now knew about the drugs but didn’t know that Mike knew and Tegan knew they both knew and it was quite a situation she’s gotten herself into.


Mike did as Vic said he would and dropped Tegan and him off at the apartment. Tegan and Vic got straight into his car and headed home. They had all agreed to not say anything to Mama and Papa Fuentes. It had only just gone school hours and the parents wouldn’t be home until 6, which meant they wouldn’t find out anyway.

When they got in Tegan made herself and Vic a hot chocolate and headed for his room, he followed after picking up his own drink.

“Tegan we need to talk about this” He said as soon as they entered. He locked the bedroom door and looked at Tegan who was sat on the edge of the bed, she was dreading this talk. Vic was never supposed to find out, ever.

“Do we really?” She whispered knowing the answer

“Of course we do Tegan; you were just in fucking hospital for crying out loud. When the hell did you of all people start using drugs and cocaine no fucking less?” Vic was coming off angrier than he wanted but he was angry he was more hurt and worried but angry too.

“It’s nothing to worry about, this was an accident it won’t happen again” She finally looked at him but looked away almost as quick because she couldn’t bear to look in his eyes, they showed just how much his heart was breaking.

“Damn right it won’t because you’re going to throw this away” He said as he pulled out the bag with the remaining powder in it.

“What?” Tegan laughed at him as if he was mad

“This isn’t funny Tegan, I want you to flush this or I will” Vic thought getting her to do it herself would make some sort of point.

“You’ve got to be kidding a) do you know how much that cost? And B) I need it” She had stood up and was trying to reach for the bag.

“I’ll pay you back if the money is that important and what do you need it for Tegan. Whatever you’re going through you know you can come to me. I’m actually really hurt that you didn’t come to me first” The sadness and hurt was overtaking the anger

“I just do okay, you wouldn’t understand” She shouted at him as she sat back on the bed, knowing she wouldn’t be able to get her baggy back.

“What wouldn’t I understand? Just fucking talk to me” He was now frustrated.

“Where do you want me to start? How about with the fact that I have no future, seriously Vic what do I have? You have your music and that band that you and Mike are in and if music goes to shit you can draw so you can do something with that and I have nothing. I have no talents and rubbish grades I’m going nowhere. Then there’s the fact that I practically mooch off you and your family and when I leave here after school and go back to my apartment I’m just going to become a useless bum because I can’t get a job I’ve been looking for ages and nowhere wants to employ me. So I need that because it relieves me momentarily. It helps me forget all the shit going on” Tegan’s voice was raised and cracked. The tears were flowing down her face and suddenly Vic felt guilty for making her cry. He pulled her into a hug and kissed her forehead

“Come on now, you are so clever and you can do anything you put your mind to, you know that. You do have a future you just haven’t worked out what you want to do, you still have a whole year to figure it out. And you don’t mooch off of my family because you are my family, don’t ever think that. The shit that Mike said last night, he didn’t mean it and if he did then I’ll kick his ass” He pulled Tegan’s face up so their gaze met and smiled an endearing smile; he leaned in and kissed her on the lips, a soft kiss.

“I love you okay and we’re going to work out what your future is going to be together. We can get through this but you can’t be doing things like this, please. Tegan it’s dangerous and I don’t want you to end up in hospital again, or worse dead. I was lucky to find you when I did so please, for me. No for you, just flush this away” Tegan wiped the tears that were staining Vic’s cheeks and nodded.

He passed her the bag of powder and followed her into his bathroom as she flushed the substance down the toilet. He pulled her into another hug and they went back to the bedroom, sitting on the bed drinking their hot chocolate. Tegan decided she wanted a nap and Vic joined her.