CHAPTER 10

             It was the morning after my little party, and I was just getting over my hangover. I ended up sleeping until well past three in the afternoon, sleeping right through the harsh effects of the hangover. Katie had done the same thing, I found out, when she wasn't awake when I pulled myself out of bed.

           I grabbed a clean cup off of the counter and got myself some water. I felt horrible, and didn't really want to do anything but sleep. My head hurt like you wouldn't believe, and I was so sick to my stomach that I had to sit down. I took my water to the living room and curled up with one of my blankets on a beanbag, and let myself relax again.

           Katie came stumbling into the living room and looked at me, "You messed up too?"

           I nodded my head without even lifting it off of the beanbag, "Yeah, I'm pretty darned messed up."

           Katie walked over and plopped down onto the other beanbag, and put her hands over her eyes, "Man, I keep telling myself that this comes along with massive alcohol, but I never seem to catch on."

           I closed my eyes, causing the room to start rocking back and forth, "This is the first time, I've had it, and I'm not sure it's quite worth it."

           Katie rolled over and looked at me, "What time did we stop drinking last night?"

           I shook my head and laughed, "I don't know, I don't even remember how we got back here."

             "Oh, I think Isaac and Aidan took us," Katie said as she shrugged her shoulders and laid her head back, "You know you're Aidan's girl now, right?"

           I stared at the ceiling and smiled, "No, no, no... Aidan's mine. We're just like you and Isaac now, huh?"

           Katie nodded at me, "Yep, you sure are."

           I sighed as I ran the thought through my head. Two guys in one month. Who could ask for more. The only better thing was that Aidan was now mine, and I didn't have to worry about losing him. I didn't have to worry about running away and leaving him. I rolled over and looked Katie in the eyes, she just smiled at me.

             "So, do you want to do anything?" Katie asked as she sat up, holding her head like she was afraid of it falling off.

           I lifted my head slightly, sending the room spinning in circles, "All I really want to do is sleep some more. I don't think I have the strength to move."

           Katie laughed as she leaned back, sinking into the beanbag, "Yeah, I know how you feel. But don't worry, it doesn't last forever."

             I rolled my head over so I was looking at Katie, "I don't even remember what happened last night."

             Katie giggled at me, "You tried out your first highball. Trust me, you had fun, even if you don't remember it."

             I rolled myself onto the floor and carefully got on my hands and knees, taking a couple drinks of water. I was actually feeling better, I just needed to get going. It was nearly five now, and my stomach was aching so much now that I needed to eat something. I used the wall to brace myself as I stood up. I walked over to Katie and held out my hand.

            Katie looked at me and laughed, "You actually got up on your own, I'm shocked."

             I almost fell over as she grabbed my hand and used me to pull herself up, "I'm hung over, not drunk. That was last night."

            Katie laughed as she almost fell forward when she stood up, "My God, I keep forgetting how much I hate this."

            "So, what is a highball anyway?" I asked as I dragged Katie into the kitchen to get her something to drink.

            "Oh, you don't know, do you?" Katie questioned me as she took a drink of water, "Inhalants sweetie, the wonderful world of paints."

            Maria came crashing through the front door, "Taya, the cops are going door to door looking for you!"

            I dropped my glass of water, the glass breaking as it hit the floor, “What?! No, no, no.. they can't!"

            Katie looked at me wide eyed as Maria nodded her head, "You really are a runaway, aren't you?"

            I shook my head frantically, "It doesn't matter now, I'm finally enjoying life, this can't happen, not now!"

            Katie walked over to Maria, "Where are they now? And has anyone spoken up?"

            Maria shook her head, "They're four blocks down now. We only have to worry about Bella, no one else will speak up."

            Katie grabbed me by the arm and ran out the door dragging me behind her, Maria followed us, "We have to get you to the house quick so they can hide you."

            Katie looked around as we ran, making sure no one saw us. Maria ran up to the other side of me, "You know Colin and Aidan were runaways, too. And Katie, she was too."

            Katie turned and looked at me, "They've protected all three of us, they can protect you too. You are one of us now, after all."

             Maria ran ahead and threw open the door, "Quick! We have cops headed this way looking for Taya!"

            All of a sudden everyone went crazy. They were hiding everything, making the house look like every other one on the block. Spencer and another girl named Sophie dressed down. All of us headed down to the basement where we were told to remain completely silent until they came down and gave the all-clear. Only the two of them were ever allowed to show themselves.

            It felt like hours, trapped beneath ground listening to everyone breath. Katie held my hand tight as she just stared at me. They'd gotten away with this three times before, surely they could do it again. All I knew was that I didn't want to go back home.

            After only about forty minutes Spencer came down to give the all clear, "Alright Taya, for now you're safe. I'll be putting watches out for the next couple of days to make sure we're ready if they ever come back."

            Everyone filed upstairs cheering. Aidan followed behind me, with Katie leading me. Spencer made sure everyone was up, nodding at me as I walked past him. They had saved me from being taken back, they did protect me like they had said.

            The six of us headed to the living room to relax. I was ordered to stay there for the next couple of days for 'safety reasons', as they told me. I wasn't too upset actually, the room I was sleeping in was nice and warm, and the door even shut. I had several people outside of my door just to make sure I was safe. I felt more cared for than I had my entire life. Katie told me they were actually protecting their investment, but I didn't care.

           I headed out to hang out with the others to relax a bit. We had all popped heroin, and were all laying around the living room enjoying the effects. Aidan moved over and laid down next to me, laying right up against my back. I was so relaxed I didn't even care. I just stared into Katie’s eyes, as she lay across the room from me. She looked as though she were out of it, but she was staring back into my eyes. Her eyes kind of looked glazed over. She smiled at me, and I smiled back at her.

            Marie was in the corner of the room making out with Colin, and Katie was laying on Isaac just relaxing. Isaac was running his hands over her lower back, and Katie didn't seem to be bothered by it. Aidan was running his fingers through my hair, and I felt too relaxed to do anything about it.

            Katie smiled at me as she turned to Isaac, almost melting into his body. I knew what was expected of me now. I rolled over so that I was facing Aidan. I stared into his deep brown eyes, him staring straight back. I swear I could see his soul just by looking into him. I relaxed even more as he moved his hands over me. I felt myself melt into him as I had watched Katie do to Isaac. I was safe now.