Hospital.

After work I changed into some baggy pajama bottoms and an over sized  jumper. I let my hair down and begun boiling some pasta over my stove. I was half way through when I heard someone knocking at the door which I assumed was Billie however James was standing there instead.

“James, if you’re here for another fight I’m not in the mood,” I told him, not looking him in the eye.

“Can I, can I come in?” he asked, his voice husky and dry. I sighed.

“Okay, but Billie is coming over soon,” I warned him, holding the door open for him. He walked past me and stood in the middle of my apartment.

“Scarlett, help me, I don’t want to be like this anymore,” he said suddenly collapsing into a ball in front of me.

“James get up,” I said but he didn't reply, “James!” I hissed.

“Help me Scarlett, I’m dying!” he cried. I noticed his body begin to shake.

“James, what are you doing?!” I exclaimed, falling to my knees and trying to pull his arms away from his face.

“You have to help me!” he wept, reaching out and grabbing my fore-arm.

“James, what have you taken?!” I asked, noticing the sweat dripping down his fore-head.

“They were after me, they are going to lock me up!” he cried.

“James, let go of my arm, I need to get help,” I said, trying to pull my arm away but his grip was too strong. “James!” I snapped.

“Don’t leave me!” he cried reluctantly letting go.”  As soon as his grip loosened I got up and ran out of the apartment. I ran to Matt’s door and knocked as loud and fast as I could.

“Hey, hey, what’s up?” Matt groaned opening the door. He was wearing his bed clothes and looked as if he had been asleep.

“Come please, my friend, I think he’s over dosed!” I cried, grabbing his hand and dragging him out of his apartment.

Mat and I rushed back into my apartment to where I had left James on the carpet. When entered the room Matt rushed over to him and tried to turn him over.

"James can you hear me!?" He asked. I backed into the corner unable to do or say anything. "Scarlett he’s not moving!” Matt shouted.

"What do you mean he’s not moving?" I suddenly I couldn't breathe. My hands started shaking at my sides and I felt my body freeze.

"Call an ambulance for god sake!" He shouted.

I stood shaking in silence as the paramedics rushed into my apartment and swept James away on a white stretcher to the ambulance I could hear wailing outside. As I ran after them the whole experience felt like it was in slow motion. I could see James’s body shaking and I suddenly froze. I felt a someone’s hand on my shoulder and spun around to face a woman wearing dark green staring at me.

"What happened to your friend?" She was shouting. I shook my head.

"I need to you to tell me everything! This is serious!" She was saying.  

"She doesn't know okay!" Matt interrupted. I was shaken out of my trance. 

"He took drugs, he’s addicted!” I burst.

"Do you know what kind?" She asked me. I shook my head. She then rushed back over to the other paramedics. I flew my arms around Matt and sobbed.

"He’s going to die!" I cried.

"He’s having a seizure Scarlett they are taking him to the hospital now, do you want to go with him in the ambulance or do you want me to take you?” he asked.

"I’ll go with him, I need to be with him," I told him nodding my head. He nodded. 

In the hospital the wait felt like forever. I wanted to call Billie but I knew she was going to blame me for this, especially if something happened to him. It was only when I was about to call Ace I realised how selfish I was being, Billie deserved to know first.

"Scarlet what’s going on?" She asked rushing into the waiting room fifteen minutes later. I stood up. 

"Billie I’m sorry I couldn't tell you this..." I replied.

"Scarlet just tell me!" I could tell by her raising tone she was getting annoyed.

"Listen I wanted to tell you but I didn't for James sake!"
She sighed angrily.

"James is addicted to drugs," I said softly.

I watched as her mouth dropped and her eyes widened. 

"What the fuck Scarlett?! And you didn't think to tell me this till now!?" 

"Billie I wanted too," I tried to say.

"Where is he now, what happened Scarlett?" 

"I don’t know! He had a seizure or something!"

"Fuck! I don’t believe you!"

"What? Billie James told me he didn't want you to know!" I pleaded.

"I can’t believe he told you and not me!! I’m the one who always spends time with him not you!" She snapped.

"Billie don’t be so immature," I sighed.

"Me immature? You’re the one who doesn't tell me that my best friends on drugs!"

"He’s my friend too okay?" I shouted.

"Obviously" she muttered under her breath.

"Ladies," we both turned around to a doctor standing in the door way holding a clipboard. "Your friend has been stabilised but I’m afraid he’s had a serious seizure.'" 

"What does that even mean!?" Billie interrupted. 

"The seizure was the result of a large overdose of cocaine, his body couldn't handle it, but luckily his heart is fine.'" I nodded, that was a good sign I guess.

"Will he be okay… in the long run?" I asked.

"It depends how much he’s swallowed, although it wasn't enough to cause heart failure-"

"He swallowed, cocaine!?" Billie burst. The doctor nodded. 

"And when can we see him?" I asked. 

"As soon as possible, but please be patient with us'" I nodded.

"I understand I’m a vet myself" I said trying to smile. He nodded and walked back out of the room. 

"I still can’t believe you didn't tell me this until now when it’s too late for me to help him!"

"I knew you’d act like if you had known everything would have been so much better! I couldn't tell you okay, you hate drugs and you would have hated him if you knew he was taking them!”

"I hate him more because he didn’t." She told me.  I sighed and collapsed onto my chair.

"I just thought we were all friends, I didn't think you’d go behind my back and lie to my face! 

"It wasn't like that; I didn't think he would get addicted like he has!”

"And what happens now?" she sighed.

“I don’t know Billie, I want him to get help but he refused to stay with me any longer.”

“This is crazy, why wouldn't you-“ she was about to start having a go at me again but then gave up. “I’m going to speak to the doctor,” she said getting up off her chair and walking off. I sighed realising how stupid I had been. If I had just told her it wouldn't be like this. I pulled my phone out of my bag and noticed it was half 1 and we were still waiting to see James. I knew I wasn't going to make it into work tomorrow so I decided to text Michael as he would appreciate me telling him sooner rather than later.

Hey Michael, I've had a personal emergency and been at the hospital all night, might not make it into work tomorrow morning, sorry.

I closed my phone and rested my head back on the wall behind me. I must have drifted off to sleep because when I opened my eyes Billie was standing in front of me nudging me.
“I’m awake,” I whispered, my head aching.

“I got you some more coffee, the doctor said we can see him soon,” she said handing me the coffee and sitting down on the chair next to me.

“That’s great,” I said, sitting myself up properly and taking a sip of coffee. We sat in silence till about 10 minutes later when the doctor reappeared.

“Would you like to follow me?” he smiled. We both nodded and got up quickly.

When we entered the room where James was laying Billie immediately burst into tears.
“What have you done to yourself?” she cried, leaning over him and holding his hand. I watched as a tear rolled down his cheek.

“I had to tell her James,” I said softly.

“Billie I’m sorry-“

“James I’m not mad about the drugs, I’m mad you didn't tell me okay?” she told him. There was silence.

“Are you feeling okay?” I asked, trying to sound positive.

“Nope, I feel like death, and they say its only going to get worse…you know, when it comes out the other end,” he told me. I winced thinking how painful it sounded.

“Why did you eat cocaine, you know your meant to snort it right?” Billie asked, trying to make a joke. He smiled meekly.

“I don’t know,” he groaned, “I just want to get out of here,” he told us. I smiled sadly. Billie and I stayed with him until the doctor told us we had to leave. I felt bad leaving James but he needed to rest and apparently a psychologist was going to visit him in case he was suicidal. After we left Billie didn't say a word to me, nor did she share a taxi with me.