Chapter Six: What Happens When You Don't Pay Attention In Health Class
By Natali
James and Lily headed home, at about two a.m. that morning. They were planning to sneak inside…
"Well, well, well. Look who we have here."
The light switched on and the other four people in the house stared at them, arms crossed.
"Hey, guys," James grinned, squeezing Lily's hand. "We're going up to bed. I suggest you guys do the same. Mum wants us over at her house for breakfast at seven."
"Mum?" Lily asked warily. "Who's mum? And why?"
"James' mum," Remus piped up. "We go to her house for breakfast every Sunday. She makes us-not that I'm complaining. The food kicks arse."
"Poor Lily… With James two days, and already has to meet the parents," Jenny giggled.
"'Night, guys," James said, trying to head for the stairs.
"Not so fast, mate," Sirius said, catching his arm. "We're going to have a chat with dear Lily here."
"Yeah," Jenny nodded. "Have a seat, will you?"
Lily sat on the couch, waiting to see what was wrong. James hung around, wary of what his friends were planning to do.
"Oh, James, you can head upstairs," Mel smiled sweetly. "Lily will be just fine without you." The stubborn look kept James from arguing.
"Sorry, Lily. You'll be fine."
Jenny waited until James had disappeared, before pulling a pill bottle out of her pocket. Lily instantly recognized LSD, the psychedelic drug she'd been taking for over a year. A rosy glow flooded her cheeks.
"We found those in your jeans pockets when I went to do laundry early this morning," Sirius muttered. "I wasn't snooping, they just fell out."
"We were wondering if you were ok?" Remus asked softly. "I mean, if you need us-"
"I'm fine," Lily cut off, getting up and snatching them from Jenny's hands. "I stopped those months ago. I just have them in case I need them, which I don't."
"Then you won't mind if we throw them into the dustbin?" Mel asked casually.
"I wouldn't, except that they're expensive. I'm really tired, so do you mind if I head up to bed?" Lily asked, a little angry. They had no right. Turning on her heel, she headed up for her room.
Once there, she shut the door and fell against it.
She felt so many things at one time! Happy, sad, depressed, in love, hate… Her head just couldn't make up its mind. Or was it her heart?
Tipsy-turvy, upside down…
Why couldn't everything just be balanced for one in her life? If it wasn't one problem, it was another. James… was great. Everyone was.
She wasn't.
He didn't know.
It'd been about twelve hours or so since she'd popped a pill, and she felt the effects of it. Even two hours ago, she'd had trouble concentrating on conversation. Thankfully, James hadn't seemed to mind just sitting quietly.
She couldn't keep lying.
"Lily, you perfected the art of lying years ago, so don't kid yourself," said part of her, the "devil side". A replica of Lily in tight, red spandex clothes appeared before her. Instantly, the "angel side" of her popped up too, dressed in a glowing white robe.
"No, not this again," Lily groaned. "Stop it, I don't want to see you two again."
"Not really up to you, sweetie," the Good Lily said. "You should stop lying, Lily. I've been telling you that for as long as I can remember."
"You don't even exist," Lily whispered rocking back and forth. "You don't exist!"
"Yes, we do," the Bad Lily insisted. "You created us. In your mind."
"My mind is a dark place… Get out, I'm tired of hearing you two. I don't need your advice, and I don't need this bloody stuff anymore." Lily made to throw the bottle against the wall, but the Good Lily stopped her.
"They make you feel better though," she reminded her. "Makes everything seem so good and so colorful. Don't you feel awesome whenever you just slip a couple into your mouth, when you're having a hard time? Don't you want to take some now? You look tired and stressed, Lily. No one would want a girlfriend that looks half as bad as you do now."
"You're supposed to be the good one!" Lily gasped, shutting her eyes. Please go away. You're only an effect of LSD. I don't want to keep doing this. Please don't make me.
"There's no escape," the Bad Lily whispered, disappearing with a small pop. The Good Lily followed.
Lily let out a dry sob. Why was it still happening? Why did she have to keep tormenting herself?
But she knew the answer.
Because there was no escape, just as the Bad Lily had said. Because she'd always be tied to what she was, what her idiot muggle father made her.
Knowing she was falling straight into the trap, she opened the bottle and popped about 300 micrograms of pure LSD into her mouth, and swallowed. Considering a normal dose was within 50-150, she was in for a serious trip…
She couldn't find it in her to honestly care anymore.
*~*
The group of four sat in the front parlor, looking at each other. Lily had gone up about hour ago, and they still hadn't made a noise. There was a very important decision to make: turn her in, regardless of whether she was still using LSD (which they all believed she was, no matter what Lily had said), or keep quiet and possibly hurt James if he got in too deep.
"We should tell James," Remus said slowly. "I don't think taking LSD is normal. And I don't believe that she's stopped using it. Have you seen her? She looks near to dead. It sure would explain a few things…"
"But she doesn't look like the type to take drugs, especially not abuse them," Mel said, pondering. "I mean, what business of ours is it to meddle with something she obviously didn't want us to know about?"
"Because it involves James," Remus replied. "That does make it our business."
There was a short silence.
"She must have been very unhappy at school," Jenny said. "I would never have guessed it though. She always looked so…"
"Accepted?" Sirius offered scornfully.
"You make it sound as if we were some sort of Hogwarts rejects," Mel smiled. "School wasn't so bad, Sirius. Just long."
"It was a bunch of back-stabbing gits who just all happened to have a wand and knew how to use it. It's so judgmental and stupid," Sirius snapped. "It was a waste of time."
Remus sighed. "Besides that, we have a crisis here."
"Yeah, well I don't know what we should do," Jenny murmured. "Maybe we should tell
James…"
"Yes, maybe you should tell James that his girlfriend is taking drugs and is nearly passed out in her room," James said, stomping down the stairs. "Call Mum. She'll know what to do." He raced back up the stairs.
"Passed out?" they echoed.
"Oh, that isn't good," Sirius said. "Not one bit."
"Thank you, Sirius, for another obvious remark," Mel muttered, hurrying after James.
*~*
"I think she'll be fine," Kathryn Potter said, coming out of Lily's room. "I don't think it'll be too bad. When was the last time she ate?"
"Must have been lunch yesterday," James muttered. "I don't think she ate after that. I haven't either for that matter. If it helps, we each had about two drinks dancing last night."
"Well, I'm not sure that helped any," Kate sighed. "She's so skinny, and she told me she must've taken about 300 micrograms or so. You really chose an awful drug to hit me with. I haven't dealt with LSD since I was in training for my Healer career. And that was, what, 24 years ago? More? Wizards like magical drugs more than muggle ones. The effects are more intense." She shrugged.
"If she doesn't get better within a few hours," she proceeded, "then call someone who actually knows about the stuff, not a forty-six year old retired Healer who spends most of her days cooking."
"Thanks, Mum," James said. "And the other gel caps?"
"I confiscated them, and threatened that if I ever found out she was using them again-and I do have my ways-that I'd turn her in. It's illegal, and you better be happy she seems to be a very nice girl otherwise, James." With a wink and a smile, she disapperated.
"I didn't even tell her about us!" he exclaimed.
"Yeah, well…" Remus chuckled. "You were the one doing all the talking. You're about as obvious as straight man in a gay bar."
James glared at him. "Piss off."
"Well, go in and stay with her then, while Jenny and I make some food," Mel said, practically shoving James in. "And if anything changes, call a Healer."
James consented and went in, pulling a chair next to Lily's bed. She was awake, eyes open and staring at the canopy of her bed, unblinkingly.
"Lily…" he said, a bit of disapproval in his voice.
"Don't start," she pleaded. "Just… don't." Tears welled up in her dilated eyes. "You don't know what it is to be me."
He sighed. "We just talked about this two nights ago. I thought-"
"People don't make life-altering changes overnight, James," she interrupted, swiping at her tears as more came. "That's not the way it works."
"You're stressed because you don't think you can fall in love," he said softly, silently adding: with me. Sighing, he got up. "You can go if you want, Lily. No one is making you stay." He headed for the door.
"But James," she whispered. "I don't want to. Please don't make me." Her face took on a panicked look. "Don't. I want to have the best time while I can. I'm not sure…"
He didn't let her finish, gently putting his lips against hers. They shared a deep, wet kiss before James pulled away, frowning.
"You're warm."
"Side effect," she shrugged. "Don't talk so loud."
"I'm not."
"Could you get me some water? My mouth feels dry," Lily asked. James nodded, heading for the pitcher at the other side of the room. She lay there, staring at the canopy, the tears finally quelling. At least, they would've, if…
The Bad Lily popped over the edge of the bed, scaring Lily. "Boo."
Lily screamed, throwing out her hand in an attempt to hit the image. Her hand met with air-as she had subconsciously known it would.
"Lily?" James asked, walking back to her, cup in hand. "What's the matter?" He sat on the edge of the bed and hugged her to him, rubbing her sweat-soaked back.
"Oh, gosh, make it stop," she sobbed, tremors going through her body. "I'm tired of having those annoying bitches follow me all the time!"
"Who are you talking about?"
"Oh, you don't get it," she shook her head, closing her eyes as his lips brushed her heated temple. "No one does."
"I'm so sorry, Lily," he whispered, nuzzling her neck. "I wish I did. I really do."
*~*
Aphrodite observed Artemis as she looked at the scene currently in the glass floor: Lily and James hugging on her bed.
"We all have our devils," Aphrodite said, stepping up next to Artemis.
"Yes, but I don't think she deserves them," Artemis sighed.
A frown was formed on the other goddess's lips. "You're getting too attached. She's just a human."
"And you, you waste of breath, are only a nymph-and not a good one at that," Artemis snapped back. "Maybe the reason that you don't do your job correctly is because you don't get too attached." She looked hard at Aphrodite. "Just remember: you're not the only nymph out there. And you're seriously starting to get on my last nerve."
"Thousands of years," Aphrodite snapped back, walking away, "and you're still jealous that I am the people's favorite." She walked around the corner, a smug smile on her face.
Artemis stared after her, fists clenching. "Top class bitch, aren't you?" Still fuming, she turned back to her subjects. James was comforting the still sobbing redhead. Suddenly, she got an idea.
"Oh, this is only too good."
*~*
James walked down the stairs a few hours later, looking tired. "She's finally gone to sleep. Her fever's down too."
Jenny walked over and gave him a hug, which he returned awkwardly.
"I know it's hard for you," she told him. "Maybe you should tell her about-"
"No," he replied curtly, stepping away from her. "Mel, is there any lunch left over?"
"Yeah, there's some in the kitchen."
"Thanks."
Once there, James reflected on what had happened in the past few hours. He hadn't known-couldn't even have guessed-that she'd been taking anything. Yes, she looked emaciated and drawn and sick of her life, but that didn't mean…
He stopped pouring himself a glass of milk and leaned on the counter, closing his eyes. Was Jenny right? Should he tell her? They had started discussing it that night in his car…
He looked at the window at the battered, old thing, smiling in spite of himself. He'd never been one to brood much. The glass was always half full, after all.
James looked down at his hands and realized they were shaking. He was being a little dramatic. It wasn't such a big deal. She'd only passed out for a few minutes, from what he could tell.
He knew he was in love, but was still a bit angry with himself. He didn't know her-what had happened earlier was proof of that. He was in love with someone he had created. He wanted someone who was perfect.
But she is perfect, he thought to himself, sipping his milk and leaving a mustache as he was wont to do. Just with a few imperfections.
James sat down at the table to eat his late lunch/early dinner, and wished instantly that Aphrodite hadn't stuck her nose into something that wasn't any business of hers.
It wouldn't be the first time nor the last that he thought this, but this was certainly one of the times he'd considered doing physical harm to her.
How to kill a nymph?
*~*
A/N: Thanks to everyone who reviewed, and aren't you glad I'm on time?! Lol. Actually, this is earlier than usual because I woke up at 6:30 this morning… But I went to sleep at 7 yesterday, so no worries. (I know, that's a long time to sleep!)
Now, I debated whether or not to keep the LSD scene. I didn't know if it was too dramatic, and whether it was worth keeping-I didn't find it incredibly original. The first time around, I remember hunting for days for something illegal that wasn't majorly illegal (like cocaine or anything) and that didn't have extremely lethal side effects. Mind you, I did a good amount of research on this, so I don't think the 300 microgram dosage was lethal, just enough to knock you out. I hope. I don't know, I deleted the link to that web page.
So, I'd like to hear whether or not this scene was worth keeping. I almost-almost-deleted it (and then thought about putting another chapter in front of it instead and bringing up the LSD later), but thought better of it. I couldn't think of another way to show how utterly desperate Lily was.
Another thing was Good and Bad Lily. Now, these characters were quite fun to play around with, and I only wish I'd had more fun. While they are disgustingly cliché, I felt I sort of broke out of that by making Good Lily a tiny bit bad (or very bad, more like). The type of thing that makes you wonder whether or not even good things in this world are truly good. I labeled her as "good", because she wanted Lily to take the LSD for "good" reasons (i.e.: they make her feel good, make the world seem colorful, etc.). Bad Lily was just the opposite-take it because they're not allowed and they hurt you. So, I went a little in depth in this, and I'm sure you don't care, lol. I hadn't originally planned it out that way, but reading it again made me realize that I did indeed do it, if subconsciously.
Thank you once again to all my readers/reviewers, and I can't wait to hear what you all say!! See you all next Saturday! (Speaking of, next Saturday is my dad's weekend. So I'll either A) post Friday afternoon or B) post Sunday afternoon. It's a bit difficult on Saturdays because Daddy keeps me busy.)
Much love,
Natali
And, I do believe this is one of the longest author note's ever. Lol.
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