The picture book

“Maybe we could have a study date?”

Greg cringed as if he thought I would say no. At least he didn’t give up on me. I smiled a little bit.

“Sure. I am sorry if you felt like I was trying to blow you off there. Lately my life has been a little hectic and I been having trouble concentrating in school.”

He blushed trying to hid his face behind a hand, having himself exposed like that seemed very awkward to him. He coughed a little bit.

“Yeah, well like I said before I saw you around school.That necklace was the only thing that got me enough nerve to say hi. Then from those days on I been hoping to get the nerve up to ask you out.”

Now I really wished I was paying attention to what he said before. I tried not to blush. Why would he be so intimidated by me?

“Well I won’t bite you, I am just rally busy. I would like to chat more but I have plans with my sister. Maybe you can call me later.”

I scribbled off my number on a scrap of paper, then left. I couldn’t help but notice the lost look on his face. What did he think of me running off like this? I might never know.

I ran home, plopping my album next to my bed where it belonged. It was tempting to open it and see if Oliva was OK but I had a lot of things I needed to do. First I phoned the hospital telling them that I had to stop volunteering due to the fact my life had gotten too hectic lately. They seemed pretty understanding about the whole situation. Just as I was about to call Laura I heard the voice of my sister yelling across the room to get permission to go out. I hung up the phone and ran over to Denise knowing mother wouldn’t answer her unless she came over and spoke like a normal person.

“Denise whatever you were going to do, you have to change your plans. This is really important!”

She grunted watching me wave the flier from school around as she started to head to my mother’s room. She pushed me away. It was pretty clear my sister wasn’t happy with me. Was she still angry about how mother found out she was doing drugs? I jumped pushing the paper in her face.

“I care about you sister and you keep treating me like a pest. If you come to these meetings maybe you won’t feel like you need to take drugs anymore!”

My sister picked up the paper and ripped it into two pieces, walking over to mothers room. I kept following her around feeling like I wanted to punch her for how she was acting. Denise pretty much ignored me and asked about going out again. I put the shreds of paper together showing it to mom.

“Come on mom, your not going to welsh on your grounding so soon. If you are at least make her go to this with me, she might learn something.”

Denise was turning red in rage at me. Mother looked over the paper and nodded.

“This group seems like a good idea. It is either that or just stay at home Denise. Your going to be in trouble for a long time.”

Denise started to yell at the top of her lungs, then stomped off to her room. Well I guess she was choosing to stay home. That’s what I get for trying to help her out I guess.

I headed up to my room to open up the photo album, had a little chat with Oliva then laid down on my bed wondering if Denise was going to start acting human again.

I must of dozed off for a moment. The only way I could explain what I saw and heard was a dream. Though possibly being so close to Oliva had granted me the sight to see more ghosts. I saw a man standing by my bed with an angry look on his face, staring me straight in the eyes. Seeing him made a shiver go down my spine.

“Don’t let your sister push you around like that! You need to gain control. Just pick her up by the arm and drag her if you must. This meeting is very important!”

My eyes fluttered open, and the vision of him seemed to fade away. I knew what he said was true. But Denise was a difficult person to deal with. I got up out of bed and sighed heading towards her room. So many thoughts were in my head. Who was that guy? Was it really a dream or what? The thoughts made me dizzy. Getting my bearings I leaned on my sister’s door and gave a rap on it. I heard Denise’s voice from her room.

“If this is my sister, get lost! I don’t need to go to this meeting. I am not an addict!”

I opened the door, looking inside her room. Denise was laying on the bed twitching and taking deep breaths. She picked up a pillow and threw it hard at me. She sat up, seeming to try to hide something by pushing it under her blanket. I grabbed it seeing some pills.

“So what is this then? You have a problem Denise. Nip it before you end up wasted.”

She pushed the blanket over them, grabbing her alarm clock shaking it at me. She had a look of anger that frightened me over her face. I felt a strange shiver come up my spine. I grabbed her and tackled Denise down to the bed with a strength I never knew I had.

“Listen up girl. Taking drugs is bad shit. Your body and mind starts to whither away. You been only been taking them a short time. Yet you keep wanting to sneak away and take them. They are latching on, making themselves a part of you. Just waiting to make you nothing but a freaking zombie!”

Denise wiggles under me, her eyes growing wide. Where had those words come from? I felt as frightened as my sister most likely did. What had made me do that? This was so weird. I had a feeling things weren’t going to be normal for me anytime soon.

“OK I will go, just get off me!”

The trip there was dripping with silence. I wished Denise would say something. I knew she was angry at me for forcing her to go to this meeting. She didn’t think she had a problem. The fact she had taken drugs more than once seemed like that to me. As we walked into the room I looked over the crowd. Many of the people in there seemed pale, shaky and had dark circles under their eyes.

“See what I mean?”

I said poking at Denise, who was picking up one of the name tags and brandishing a sharpie to jot down her name. She looked at me, then took a glance around the room shrugging her shoulders in confusion.

“Huh, what are you talking about? I swear you have gone crazy sis.”

“I mean about drugs turning you into a zombie.” I said, giving an exasperated sigh.

“Gee why don’t you talk a little louder so everyone can hear you. Don’t look at me later when an angry mob is after you!”

Just then a chipper looking women with streaked brown hair came up to us with a big smile on her face. On her name tag was written Candy with big looped letters and a cute little heart scribbled next to it. She held out her hand.

“Hi! Denise and...Ayita goodness what a exotic name! Welcome to our group! You guys must be new since I never seen you here before. I hope it is, like helpful to you. We should be starting up pretty soon so sit down and make yourself comfortable!”

I couldn’t help wonder what she was on.

The meeting was mostly boring, except for the stories the people told about how they got into drugs. Denise didn’t talk, she just played around with a pamphlet that Candy person had passed out to everyone. This pissed me off, this wasn’t going to help her if she just sat there like a lump.

Candy looked over everyone, with that smile that seemed to be permanently plastered on her face. Sweeping her hand over the group.

“Listen up people, we have two new members! Ayita and Denise. Why don’t you come up and tell your stories?”

I balked.

“Um, it is my sister who has the problem. Not me. I just came to support her”

Denise glanced up at Candy calmly. “I don’t have a problem. I just take drugs at a few parties. That’s all.”

“Then how come I saw you smoking pot in your dark room!” I yelled. Candy put a finger to my lips so I would hush. Then she started to go on about denial and what not. I glanced to my sister, who had just taken out a file and was buffing her nails. I just hoped some of this was getting to her.

After the meeting, everyone got coffee and chatted to one another. I noticed my sister talking to a rather grungy looking fellow that I could only imagine that she thought of as cute.

I was thinking about just heading home, when I noticed someone staring at me with a weird look gracing his face. The only way I could describe how they were looking at me is as if...they saw a ghost or something.

“May I help you?”

He blinked, with a look of surprise on his face. Wiping his sweaty palms on his pants he stared at me shaking his head, speaking in a Mexican accent.

“Excuse me, you just look familiar to me.”

Maybe an ex-girlfriend he had a bad break up with or something judging on that look. I nodded a little bit.“Oh really? Care to tell me just who it is?”

The man looked like he wanted to run away.“My neighbor. I...am sorry to bother you miss.”

I couldn’t help be curious as the guy darted for the door. I decided to follow him. I yelled out.“I am guessing you had a bad experience with this girl. You came here to talk. I am pretty good at listening. My sister is busy trying to score with someone in there so I have nothing to do.”

He looked thoughtful, licking his lips.

“She...died and it is all my fault. I was setting off fireworks, and one landed in the window. That is when I turned to drugs. I lie to everyone here. Nobody knows I am a killer.”

I gulped.“What was her name?”

I was afraid to know the answer. The man bit his lip, looking in my eyes seeming unsure if he should trust me.

“It was Oliva.”

Is this why I was brought here? Was this man the one who killed her. I put a hand on his shoulder, trying to comfort him though I was shaking like a leaf.

“I am sure it isn’t your fault, Emilio...”

He smiled nervously, then looked off to a car that was waiting.

“Thank you. I feel like a weight has been lifted from my shoulders.”

That weight must of been transferred to me I thought as I started to head for home, breaking into a run when he couldn’t see me anymore. Denise could take care of herself I was sure.