Lyla's P.O.V:


A loud, incesant ringing pulled me out of my sleep. It took me a while to distinguish it, but I soon realized it was my phone. I moved my hand around the bed blindly trying to find it.


"Hmmm," I muttered when I answered it, not yet able to form full words.


"Did I wake you?" It was Vic, his voice full of confusion.


"Mhmmm," I responded.


"Lyla......it's 3 in the afternoon." He basically scolded and I just grunted. "Are you okay?"


"Peachy," I responded as I sat up rubbing my head. "Did you need something?" I asked as I looked around my room, my mind cloudy and confused.


"I wanted to apologize for not being around the last few days. I just- I don't have an excuse for you, babe. I'm sorry for the way things have been with us lately. It's not right, and it's not the way I want us to be because I love you so much. But tour is almost over; 2 more weeks and I'll be coming back to Cali and we can fix this and get it back on track." I smiled a little even though it hurt to smile.


"Yep, sounds good Vic," I responded and I rubbed my throbbing head with my hand.


"You know I love you, right?" He said, his voice sounded worried now.


"Yeah, Vic I know. I love you, too." My response was half-hearted; not because I didn't love him, but because I was just confused right now.


"You sure you're okay?" He questioned again.


"Yeah just had a late night. I'll call you later, kay?" I hung up before he could even respond and rolled out of bed, sighing at my reflection in the mirror.


This was the 3rd day in a row I had woken up in the middle of the afternoon, in the same clothes from the night before with no recollection of the night's events, let alone how I even got home. My makeup was streaked across my face, my hair a rat's nest, and my nose burned. I started the day the same way I had every day this week; it was starting to become a routine. I popped some asprin before hopping in the steaming hot shower, washing last night off of me. I got out and dried myself off before sitting on the edge of the tub and pulling the razor blade across my legs, cringing at the stinging pain, but internally it felt euphoric.


After I cleaned myself up I got dressed and put makeup on; I had a meeting with my manager in half an hour. I finished getting ready and walked into the kitchen. I tossed a shot of Jack back before I grabbed my keys and headed out the door to my car.


----------


The meeting only lasted a few hours, and we managed to book me several shoots within the next couple of weeks; modeling was slowly taking over, photography only an after thought at this point, though if asked I would probably be up for doing a session. I couldn't pass up these opportunities, the money was too good and I had made several new friends in the past few days.......probably not the best people to be around, but I was having fun.


After our meeting my manager drug me to dinner with a few other people that he worked with or for, and I ate my sushi like I hadn't ate in days......probably because I really hadn't. My leg was shaking uncontrollably under the table as my brain begged for a fix. As if on cue my phone buzzed and I smiled as I read the message.


Amy: Party at your place tonight? You provide the booze I'll bring the good stuff ;)


I bit my lip at the thought, my leg picking up its jittery pace out of sight.


Me: Deal. See you later biotch


I put my phone away and focused my attention back on the conversation at the table. I started to relax knowing that in only a few short hours It'd all be okay again.


After dinner was over I rode with Frank back to his office. He handed me my schedule for the next few weeks and a paycheck from a photo spread I did for Macy's several months ago before sending me on my way. I drove to the nearest liquor store and made my way inside grabbing whatever sounded good. I paid for the alcohol and winked at the guy flirting with me at the counter before getting back in my car and speeding home.


It was about an hour later when Amy showed up with some of her model friends that I had hung with yesterday I think: Breanna, Leslie, Justin, Max, and Carly. They all came inside and we all started drinking as I turned the music up loud. I danced around with Breanna and Leslie for a while as Amy worked her magic over at the coffee table.


I walked over to her and sat on the couch. She handed me a straw and my body was shaking in anticipation. I gladly took it from her and leaned over, quickly snorting my first line as the sensation filled my body. Amy followed suit and we both started laughing. I pulled out my phone and we took a bunch of pictures of each other and us together being stupid......I think we even kissed in one....I don't really remember at this point. I loaded a few onto Instagram......a decision that I would surely regret, but I was so high I didn't care. After we felt ourselves beginning to come down I got up to get us some more to drink as she prepared round 2. I had downed half of my drink by the time I reached the couch again. I handed Amy her drink in exchange for the straw. I inhaled my second line, the high coming on much faster this time. Amy and I got up and danced around like crazy; I felt so good like nothing could go wrong.....it was pure euphoria and I loved every minute of it. Over the loud music I heard someone pounding on the front door.


"Shit! Someone's at the door!" I yelled as I turned the music down a little. "Amy stash the stuff somewhere. Put it under the couch or something!" She ran over to the couch and grabbed the baggie, straws, mirror, and blade and shoved them under the couch cushion. She tossed a magazine over some leftover residue. I smacked myself on the face a few times trying to bring myself down enough to act normal. I walked to the door and pulled it open slowly.


Fuck! Of all the time's Austin decides to randomly stop by.........


"Hey!!" I yelled a little too cheerfully as I flung myself into his arms, hugging him tightly.


"I missed you too, Lyla," he said, his face contorted with confusion at my actions. Austin peeked behind me into the apartment, probably wondering what all the noise was from.


"Who's this?" Amy suddenly appeared behind me staring up at Austin.


"Amy, Austin. Austin, Amy." I said introducing them to each other. Austin just smirked, but Amy was beaming from ear to ear. I smacked her arm. "Stop it, slut!" We both laughed and she turned around and went back inside. Austin just stood there giving me a weird look.


"Are you having a party?" He asked out of nowhere. I started to get the chills as I reached the height of my high, and I started to sweat a little. I was doing everything in my power to keep it hidden from Austin how high off my ass I was right now.


"Not a partyyyyy......just a few friends hanging out and drinking." I shrugged and he raised an eyebrow at me.


"I've never seen these 'friends' of yours before." He stated, his voice laced with worry.


"They're new friends. I met them earlier in the week at a couple of shoots I had." I replied.


"Shoots as in modeling shoots?" His voice sounded a little angry. I just shook my head in response. "You're really doing that again?" His stern words and actions were bringing me down from my high quickly. I could feel my leg starting to jitter again.


"Sorry that I have bills to pay, Austin," I replied. I wanted to continue but I couldn't focus on my words. Austin just stood in front of me. My nose started to ache and without thinking I reached up and pulled and rubbed at my nostrils. My eyes widened when I realized what I had just done, and I prayed that Austin either didn't notice or wouldn't think anything of it. "I gotta get back in there, but I'll call you tomorrow? We can go to lunch or something? I really do miss you. Bye, Austy!" I leaned up and kissed his cheek before disappearing into my apartment, slamming the door behind me.


"Round 3 anyone?" I asked smiling.


--------


Austin's P.O.V:


Lyla slammed the door in my face and I stood there stunned for a while before turning and heading back to the parking lot. I got in my car and pulled out my phone, dialing the first person who popped into my head.


"Hey, man what's up?" Vic answered after only a few rings. I rubbed the back of my neck as I took a deep breath.


"Hey. I, uh, don't want to worry you or anything-" I couldn't say anymore before he cut me off.


"What's going on? Is Lyla okay?" He sounded worried; I was trying to avoid a big dramatic blowout, but something wasn't right and I couldn't just leave him in the dark. I couldn't tackle this on my own.


"I-I don't know, man. I showed up at her apartment because I haven't talked to her in like 4 days and she was having some kind of party with all of these people that I had never seen or heard her talk about in my life. When I questioned her about it she said that she had only known them for a few days and that she met them at a 'shoot'" I paused a minute letting Vic catch up.


"She's modeling again? I thought she hated that and only did it for some extra cash?" He responded.


"Yeah, man me too, but i don't know. Something just wasn't right. She hardly acknowledged me and she was acting really strange...." I paused.


"I'm not sure where you're going with this, dude." He said. I took a deep breath.


"I don't know this for a fact, Vic, but.........I'm pretty sure she was high." I spit the words out cautiously. It was silent for a while.


"Fuck." He yelled through the phone.


Yeah........fuck indeed.