#c:harlow1

[pascal-andean-blog]

[text] if the punch isn't spiked by seven p.m., your sister's going to have another 'accidental' drug overdose

He wasn’t entirely sure how long he’d been standing there, dumbstruck and in the middle of a busy hallway, staring at his phone with wide eyes and his mouth hanging open, when someone bumped into his shoulder on their way to class. He’d received the text earlier that morning but had waited until after his first few classes to check his phone, worried it might be another pathetic attempt to get in touch by his parents. Instead, what greeted him on the screen was far worse. The chat and laughter of the people around him had died down to a buzzing background noise, and all he’d been able to hear had been the rush of blood in his ears and the steady beat of his heart.

‘another drug overdose’

He’d found out about Paige’s addiction a month after it had started, by accident, walking in on her doing a line. He’d kept his mouth shut as she’d begged him to, told no one about it - even during the long, painful hours of waiting after he’d discovered her overdose. She’d brushed off all his attempts at getting help and so he’d stopped trying, forced to watch her slowly go deeper and deeper. And as with almost everything concerning his sisters state, he blamed Adrian.

The phone felt heavy in his hands as he walked, footsteps thudding along the floor. Quite unaware of where his legs were taking him, he only realised where he’d gone after coming to a halt in front of a familiar looking door. Without a moment’s hesitation, he knocked, still holding onto the phone with shaking hands. Spiking the punch didn’t seem like such a bad thing to do, right? People would probably manage to get alcohol even without his help. He’d be doing the entire school a favour, and saving his sister at the same time. Prank text or not, a thick knot clotted in his stomach at the mere thought of Paige being hurt.

As the door opened to reveal one of the room’s inhabitants, Pascal blanched, slowly raising the phone for her to read.

“Help me.“

@harlowxanderson