Page 134 of Under the Influence

Don't sabotage every good thing in your life.

Corinne hasn't responded to my texts, and I haven't seen her since I convinced her to ride to school with me a few days ago. Mom insisted that I leave the recovery facility to go find her. She said, "You need someone like her. Someone that is going to protect you, fight for you, even if it's saving you from me."

Realizing the shit storm that I'm about to start, I walk confidently to the front door and knock. Sure I could've snuck in, easily went through her window, but not anymore. I'm not hiding it.

Jovie's mom, Lauren, opens the door ushering me inside. Coach Clark is standing in the middle of the living area, with an annoyed look on his face, attempting to put something together. The pieces are strewn all over the floor.

"It's good to see you, sweetie," Lauren coos. "Jovie is just up in her room, if you wanna go on up."

"Actually, I'm here to see Corinne."

Coach Clark turns his head in my direction, and Lauren smiles kindly but confused, "She's upstairs. You can go on up, or I can go get her for you?"

I don't hang around for them to ask questions. I make my way up the stairs, passing Jovie's room, only to hear her calling my name and following me.

Jesus. This is why they call her crazy Jovie.

I barge into Corinne's room and slam the door right in Jovie's face. She yanks the earbuds from her ears with wide eyes, "Nash?"

Fuck. My. Life.

As if my restraint wasn't already weak as hell, she's gotta be dressed like that? The shortest shorts I've ever seen and a tank top that doesn't hide that she isn't wearing a bra.

"What are you doing here?"

I blink, feeling like an idiot. I didn't come here with a plan. I just came. It's a little awkward. Nervously, I fidget with the hem of my hoodie, considering small talk.

"Are you alright?" she asks, slipping off her bed.

"Yes… No…" I stutter.

"Are you high?" she asks, standing up to push my hair back out of my bloodshot eyes. "Oh my God, you are!" She steps away, pissed. "What the fuck do you want, Nash?"

Evidently, I made a mistake coming here. I didn't think she'd be so pissed. "I'll go… I just thought," I pause, looking around. "Well, I don't know what I thought."

"Why are you trying to mess with me?" she asks. "I don't know what you and Jovie have planned in those twisted minds of yours but leave me alone."

"Jovie?" I ask.

"Yeah, she's up to something. She had my car delivered from Chicago. How did she know that would upset me, Nash? Huh? You guys think it's funny, right? What happened to me is just some big joke to you!"

"No—"

She holds up her hand, "Save it. I'm not interested in whatever lie is about to dump out of your mouth. You guys have fun at homecoming. Enjoy it."

Homecoming?

"I'm not going with Jovie. I'm probably not going at all."

She rolls her eyes, "Jovie seems to think otherwise. In fact, she's probably down there right now steaming her six hundred dollar dress."

"Are you jealous?" I ask, a grin spreading the length of my face.

"No," she snaps. "Didn't really have 'Hoco with Hades' on my list when I moved here."

I sigh. Does she really think I'm so terrible? Of course, she does. How could she not? I think fast. "Hades rarely ever left the underworld, the sole time being to find Persephone."

Corinne crosses her arms over her breasts, ready to argue with me, "He kidnapped her."