Page 87 of A Tragic Melody

“Tues, what stuff?” I shake my head. “Tell me, please.”

“Ecstasy and coke.”

“How much?”

“A lot.”

“How much is a lot?”

“Two pills and a few lines.”

“Okay,” he says, studying me. “New dealer?”

I nod.

“Ice water,” Quinn says.

“Good. Drink this.” He holds it out to me. My hand shakes as I reach for it. He sighs. “Okay, tilt your head back.” I do as he says and he brings the cup to my mouth. Slowly, he pours some water into my mouth. “Swallow.”

I do as he says, feeling some water drip down my chin. My heart won’t stop beating.

“How do you feel? Can you describe it to me?”

“Buzzy. Heavy. Light. Weird.”

“You’ve done this before, correct?” I nod. “But this feels different, yeah?”

Again, I nod. “Am I overdosing?” I ask softly.

“I don’t think so,” he says. “I think something you took was laced.”

“Laced?”

“With meth,” he clarifies. “Does your jaw feel tight?” I nod. “Listen, it’s probably the coke if you just started feeling like this. Is it a different batch then you’ve been using?” I nod. “Fuck.” He pushes some of my hair back. “Drink more.”

I swallow the water he pours into my mouth.

“Any fucking day now,” Paulie says.

“Paulie, shut up, “Wyatt snaps.

“What do we do?” Quinn asks. “She can’t sing like this.”

“Just give me a second to think.” Wyatt sighs.

“Am I going to die?”

“No,” Wyatt says, stroking my cheek. “You’ll be fine. I promise. Do you have any Xanax? Oxy?” I shake my head. “Weed?” Again, I shake my head.

“Kellen has weed,” Quinn chimes in.

“Alright. Have him meet me outside, quickly, and cut two songs.” Wyatt drags me through the backstage area until we are outside. I shiver from the change in temperature. “Tues?”

“Wyatt,” I mutter. “I feel too fucking high.”

“I know.”

“I’m sorry.”