Free Helios Beginnings (The Helios Chronicles #0.5) by Tawa M. Witko

shit we got last time.”
    “Really?” Andrew asked as he reached for it.
    Andrew went through the process of doing up his kit, dropping some of the white substance on his spoon, and squeezing the water from his syringe on it. He quickly flicked his lighter underneath it until it dissolved and then brought the needle to the clear liquid. Andrew glanced up to see Tyler watching him, just shaking his head. Andrew shrugged and ignored him. Tyler always thought that Andrew was bit paranoid, but Andrew didn’t care. He didn’t share his kit with anyone and he didn’t use anyone else’s things. He recognized that was unusual for an addict but he didn’t trust people, not even their water which was why he always brought his own. He breathed in deeply as he quickly tied up his arm and inserted the needle. He immediately got lost as the drug entered his system, feeling that perfect and tranquil euphoria when it first hit him and was flowing through his system. In that one moment he had a sense of clarity. In that one moment, everything seemed right. He didn’t feel anything anymore. He didn’t care anymore and he didn’t need anyone or anything.
    When Andrew was younger and his parents would leave him places so they could go and get high, he never understood why it was so important to them, why it meant more to them than he did. But now he got it. This was way better than living a life in hell. He often thought about doing the world a favor and actually killing himself. In his mind, death was truly the only answer left for him, but since he saw himself as a coward he knew he wouldn’t actually do it. As such, this was the next best thing.
    Andrew lobbed his head over to glance at Ty. He watched as he did himself up as well. He barely knew him other than the fact he was messed up more than Andrew was. In fact, since they had started hanging out together Andrew had gotten in the habit of using several times a day. He knew that wasn’t the smartest move on his part, but at this point he no longer cared. Andrew blinked his eyes as he looked around the room. There were lots of people drinking and getting high. Andrew leaned his head back against the couch and snapped the tie off his arm, letting the drug fix all that was messed up in his life. He was smart enough to know it wouldn’t last but temporary relief was better than no relief at all.
    “My name’s Ashley.”
    Andrew licked his dry lips and opened his glassy eyes. There was now a pretty blonde on his lap. He wondered when she had gotten there and how long he had been zoned out. He inhaled and could smell the booze on her. She grinned at him and pushed her breasts out of her tank top. She smiled when he traced his tongue over his lips again. He automatically brought his hands to her breasts and squeezed them before moving his mouth to her skin. She didn’t object. If anything, she leaned in to him. Andrew looked up at her just before she kissed him soundly on the lips. He could taste the vodka she had just drunk on her tongue but he didn’t care right now. He thrusted his hips against her, letting her feel his erection.
    “You are so fucking hot. I have been watching you all night.”
    “You’re hot too,” Andrew replied, swiping his tongue across his lips again and swallowing several times trying to coat his dry throat.
    “You need a drink, baby?”
    Andrew nodded lazily and she leaned back to grab the bottle of vodka off of the coffee table. She poured some of the clear liquid into his mouth, giggling as it dripped down his chin. Andrew swallowed quickly and motioned for the bottle taking a couple more quick swigs of the awful liquid as she licked the vodka on his chin.
    “You wanna fuck?” she asked boldly.
    “Yeah, that’d be cool,” he mumbled as his lids began to droop closed once again.
    She smiled and brought her mouth to his, kissing him wildly, swirling her tongue fiercely around his as her hands entered his hair, fisting it tightly. Andrew moved