“I don’t,” is all I say. Aiden’s worry is not misplaced. There’s a solid reason why I try to limit my drug intake. After a binge, I’m scathingly cranky and ‘flipping psychotic, man’—his words, not mine. Okay, I’ll admit I can get kind of testy. I’ve been arrested for getting caught up in car chases, fights and general domestic disturbances, and a few months ago, twacked out of my mind and all rational thought, I was so confident of my invincibility that I flung myself off my friend Jasmine’s house. I only managed to dislocate my leg and break a couple fingers. The bruising and scrapes were icing and sprinkles on the hellish cupcake that is my life. When the paramedics arrived, I was laughing my ass off, too amped off speed and adrenaline to feel the pain. If it wasn’t my drug of choice, I’d have kicked it a long while ago.

I fill the chamber and snort some more to spite him and Spencer, who’s sitting in a corner table. Spencer sticks out like a lady in a room full of whores. There’s no pretense about it, Spencer looks like the minor that she is. Apparently, some of the people here tonight are into that because I’ve watched her fend off three advances. A guy in a sleazy suit just won’t let up. He comes back with two drinks. She shakes her head and he takes a seat. He scoots his chair closer. Spencer’s eyes dart around the club and finally land on mine. They scream ‘help me,’ so that’s what I do.

“Leave, asshole,” I growl at Mr. Sleazy. His eyes dart from me to Spencer, and back. “Are you retarded?” I ask. “You must be if you think that this girl is legal, or are you just a perv?”

“Uh, sorry. I didn’t, um,” he mumbles as he scrambles away, tail tucked between his legs.

“Come on,” I tell Spencer, cutting off her stuttery ‘thank you’. “I can’t have fun if you’re in constant danger of becoming a rape statistic.”

She follows me to the table and weakly waves at Gabby and Aiden before ducking her head and taking the only other empty seat. “This is Spencer,” I introduce. I steal a sip from Aiden’s drink.

I see his face light up over the rim of the glass. “So, where are you from?” he asks.

“Ohio,” she says. “My family’s moving to Los Angeles in a few weeks.”

He nods his head, pretending like it’s old news. “Cool. How’s Ashley been treating you?”

Spencer’s face flames up. “She’s—“

“Don’t answer that,” I warn. “Aiden, shut up.”

Gabby’s feeling my leg up under the table. She’s batting her best bedroom eyes at me. If Spencer wasn’t here, I’d have taken the bait and excused myself to go fuck her in one of the bathroom stalls. Spencer’s noticed Gabby’s forwardness. I’ve caught her shooting me questioning looks, like she’s trying to figure me out. I can’t take sitting still anymore. I need to move. The speed in my system fuels my restlessness. I grab Spencer’s arm and tug her with me. “We have to book. I told my Mom I’d have Cinderella home before she turns back into a pumpkin, or something like that.” I ignore Gabby’s shattered face, and peck Aiden on the cheek. “I’ll call you,” I say.

“Bye, Spencer,” he yells after us. “It was nice meeting you!”