"Alma, I'm really trying here. You've gotta work with me." Ethan was attempting to get an extremely cold Alma out of the bed.

"Too cold." she said back, her teeth chattering, crying. "Ethan, it's so painful."

"I know." he rubbed her shoulder. "But your fever is really high. We've gotta break it, okay?"

"No." she said back, ducking under the blanket as she shook. Each time she shook, her entire body felt like it was cracking in half. Alma had begged Ethan not to tell anyone about her addiction, because if her mom found out, it was literally be the end of the world. He resulted in talking back and forth with Rues mom, taking her advice on what to do. "I can't do this."

"Yes, you can." he promised her, scooting in. "It'll be real quick then you can come back to the bed."

Alma sobbed as her hand clutched the bed. "I can't do this. I can't do this."

Ethan leaned down, moving the blanket off her head to plant a kiss to her forehead. "I know this is so bad for you. I could never understand it but I want to help you, Alma. Rues mom says we need to break your fever first."

Alma inhaled, rolling over. He whipped her tears with his thumb. "It hurts to move."

"Okay, one sec." Ethan said, standing up. Alma stared at the full glass of water by her bed, hadn't touched it in two days. She'd been stuck here, not being able to move, only crying, shaking, puking, frozen in pain. She managed to convince her mom that she had a student council trip. She let her go, because she'd just been glad she finally was involved with something.

"Hey." Maddy stood at the doorway, looking at her. "You can't move?"

"Maddy." Alma whined, her lip trembling.

"Her entire body is gonna hurt for a while until she gets past the withdraws." Ethan looked to the Perez girl. "She's gotta get in some water though."

Maddy walked over, rubbing Almas hip. "Come on, for me."

"I can't." Alma said back, her chest shaking. "I can't do it."

"What if you keep your clothes on?" she suggested to her. "You won't be so cold then."

Alma looked at Ethan as he walked over. Him and Maddy made eye contact, nodding as they got on either of her sides. Ethan pulled her shoulders up slightly. "Okay, okay, we're almost there."

Alma winced as Maddy wrapped an arm around her waist, her and Ethan both lifting Alma to her feet. "Yeah! See, you got it."

"Where are we going?" Maddy asked Ethan.

"Just right outside the door." he said back, helping Alma and Maddy into the bathroom. The bath water bad been there for a few minutes now, Ethan thought he'd made it too warm originally, glad it probably got colder now. "Okay, clothes on?"

Alma hummed, putting her leg over the tub as she shook her head. "It's too cold."

"I know, but your fevers gotta go down." he promised her, really hopping they wouldn't have to force her into the bathtub, because that was the last thing he ever wanted to do. "It'll only be for a few minutes then we'll put a rag on your head."

Alma knew she was being difficult, she felt horrible about it, but it was hard. She'd been told about withdraws before, but maybe apart of her was convinced she'd never have to face them. She shook, freezing as she slowly got lower into the bathtub. Ethan lost his balance at the way she yanked on him, falling forward but catching himself. Maddy nodded. "Has she drank anything?"

"Not for the past two days. I've been trying to get something down her but she just gets sick after." Ethan shook his head, kneeling next to Alma as her teeth chattering echoed loudly, leaning on the side of the bed. "Hey, you want some food? Waffles? You love those."

Alma shook her head, trying to count the seconds until she could get out. Maddy frowned. "I'll make her some soup. At least it'll be something."

Ethan nodded, Maddy leaving the room. He rubbed Almas back, knowing it had to be extremely uncomfortable with wet clothes. "This won't be forever."

She didn't say anything, counting under her breath. Ethan kissed the top of her head. "I'm proud of you for doing this."

"When can I get out?" she begged, looking up finally.

Ethan frowned at the sadness on her face. "Just a few minutes, okay?"

He placed a hand on her head, trying to feel when her fever was gonna go down. Alma sniffled, rubbing her glistening nose. "I'm gonna be sick again."

Ethan's eyes widened. "You are?"

She nodded quickly, he grabbed the trash can for her. Alma had gotten use to throwing up now, but it didn't make it any better. Ethan, on the other hand, had not. He tried not to gag, rubbing her back. Usually Maddy was a lot better at handling this part, but occasionally he'd get the short straw and have to deal with it. Alma groaned, Ethan pulling the trash can back and got it as far away as possible. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry."

"You're alright." he promised her, her head in his hands as he looked down at her. "You're gonna be okay."

The fourth day was a lot better on Alma. She wasn't necessarily pain free, but it wasn't as bad. Her fever had broke, and she'd manage to keep soup and water down. Maddy came and went, but Ethan stayed with her in his room. Mallory, his sister, had convinced their parents that the three of them should go visit their grandparents for the weekend. Now, it being Tuesday, Alma would spend her days at Ethan's while his parents worked, and her nights at Maddys.

"Told you you'd like this show." Ethan confirmed as Alma curled into his side, the pair watching the show he picked out on his laptop. "You hungry?"

"Not yet." she confirmed, his arm that was around her rubbed her back slightly. "Do you think i'm disgusting now?"

Ethan tried not to chuckle. "No."

"Are you sure?" she asked him again.

"I'm sure." he confirmed, his chin nudged the top of her head. His phone kept buzzing, hanging it up each time.

Alma became curious. "Telemarketers?"

"No, it's Lexi." he said back.

Almas eyes widened in realization, rolling off of him. "Your play. You haven't been to rehearsals."

"It's fine. I wanted to take care of you." he answered her, as if missing school wasn't bad enough. "It's totally fine."

"No, bring me to Maddy. You need to go to your play." she said back, sitting up slowly. "I know you're excited about it."

"Alma, seriously, it's fine." he sat up with her, pausing the show. "I'm more excited to get you all better."

Alma met his eye with a frown. "I'd feel a lot better if you were still having a life."

He frowned in return. "I don't wanna leave you yet."

"I'm getting better." she promised with a nod. "And i'll be with Maddy at her rich kids house."

Ethan hesitated. "I'm still gonna leave early."

Alma nodded, ducking her head down to get a quick forehead kiss.

Alma was laid in one of the guest bedrooms of the kid Maddy was babysitting. It wasn't long until she felt someone dip behind her, laid there. "Kids down for a nap."

"I wish I knew how to nap." Alma said honestly, inhaling as Maddy wrapped an arm around her. "Are you a big spoon?"

"Not usually." Maddy chuckled slightly, making Alma smile. "How you feeling?"

"Weak." the Darling girl said in return. "But at least i'm not grossing Ethan out anymore."

"He seriously can not handle puke." Maddy laughed slightly from behind her, noticing Alma smelt a lot better, indicating she'd finally managed to get into the shower these days. "You asked on New Years about heavier drugs and I didn't realize you were actually wanting to try them."

Alma sighed. "It's not your fault."

"I know, but I wish you would have came to me." Maddy said honestly, Almas hand ontop of her arm. "Were you scared?"

"I just didn't know I had a problem." she said in return, her eyes shutting. "I'm sorry for laying all that on you on your birthday."

"No, i'm glad you did." the Perez girl said in return, sighing. "I shouldn't have just decided one day that we were gonna be best friends. Not after how much of a cunt I was to you."

Alma agreed. "I just wanted us to talk about it."

"I didn't want to because I just couldn't imagine being so mean to you." Maddy said honestly, her head pressed into Almas shoulder blade. "Like, I trust you so much and you're always such a good friend to me, and you know when to put me in my place when i'm in the wrong. I'd literally fuck anyone up if they did what I did."

Alma sighed in minor relief. "We can move on, I just have to know that we won't just forget about it either."

"No, never." Maddy hummed, moving her head on the pillow. "I'm sorry for telling you to shut the fuck up at Cassie's."

"I'd probably have said the same thing. I'd be really pissed." Alma said in return, feeling Maddys body sink slightly. "I'd never do what Cassie did. You know that, right?"

"She was my best friend." Maddy whispered, her chest heaved when she breathed. "I loved Cassie so much."

Alma put herself in Maddys situation and couldn't even begin to understand if it was her, she loved Ethan so much. "I can't imagine what you're feeling, Maddy. But, I can imagine how you'll be once this pain wears off. It won't always hurt this bad."

In a completely different way, they were the same right now.

Maddy exhaled. "I wish we'd always been friends."

"Me too." she said in return.

"Did you see what Easthighdirtysecrets said about her and Nate on their instagram?" Maddy laughed slightly. "Straight up exposed their asses and had the comment section pissed."

"I know." Alma smiled slightly. "They had it coming."

About an hour later, Maddy walked outside to talk to Kat on the phone. Alma wasn't very good alone, when someone was with her it was a lot easier to forget the pain. She resulted to google, searching for someone who would understand what she was feeling. Alma knew Rue would understand, but she wasn't totally prepared to talk to her yet. So, she searched for people that knew what emotional drug withdraws was like.

She came across a article saying how much prison inmates have to get sober when they first get locked up, because most were drug addicts before. She was hesitant, but the link to a website were you could chat with an inmate caught her interest. She didn't even know they were allowed on the computers, let alone to make online friends. Then again, she could imagine how lonely it would be. So, she set up an account, for her sake and the others. She was paired with a boy not too much older then her, just five years.

almanolastname2: are you online?

it took a moment, but she was accompanied quickly.

inmate831: yes. you have no last name?

almanolastname2: just to hide my identity a little bit better.

inmate831: that's understandable. alma was my great grandmothers name.

almanolastname2: it's an old one, i'm pretty sure. my dad said it's from a 60s movie he liked.

inmate831: that sounds sweet.

almanolastname2: can i ask you a question?

inmate831: sure.

almanolastname2: did you have to get sober when you first went to jail?

inmate831: no. never had a thing for drugs.

Alma exhaled in sadness and defeat.

inmate831: but my cell mate did.

almanolastname2: do you know how he handled things? emotionally.

almanolastname2: sorry, i know you probably don't.

inmate831: he started doing yoga in the common room lmao.

Alma laughed slightly, rolling on her side to type.

almanolastname2: yoga?

inmate831: i guess it helps clear his head some. he meditates every morning too.

Alma dropped her phone, sitting up straight. She crossed her legs, shutting her eyes. She'd meditated before, not a lot though. Inhaling, she focused on her breathing and focused on her clear head. Doing that a few times, and she felt lighter, like her mind wasn't racing so bad. Obviously, meditating wasn't gonna cure withdraws, but it felt nice to have a clearer head. She grasped her phone.

almanolastname2: thank you for that.

inmate831: my computer time is up. do you want to talk again tomorrow?

almanolastname2: sure, i'll be around whenever.

almanolastname2: i forgot to ask your name, inmate831?

inmate831: Tyler.

•

kylie speaks

let's get some answers
from ash next chapter
heck yeah.