I, I can't get these memories out of my mind,
And some kind of madness has started to evolve.
And I, I tried so hard to let you go,
But some kind of madness is swallowing me whole, yeah
Adam opened the fridge and removed a water bottle, quickly taking a drink from it and setting it down on the table. He could hear Ava squealing at toys while his mother and Tati's mother argued over whether or not the TV should be on.
Adam slid on the couch next to his cousin, looking at her. The girl shrugged, silently saying "I know, I know, they're insane". Adam nodded for her to follow him out onto the fire escape, where they both sat, the door and curtains shut behind them.
"We should do something tonight, what do you think?" Adam asked, removing a pack from his back pocket and lighting a cigarette. His cousin raised her eyebrows, but said nothing. When he held one out for her, she shook her head, not another word on the subject was exchanged.
"What kind of places do you have in mind?" Tati asked, leaning over the edge and coughing a little. Adam ignored her, letting some smoke out of his mouth and looking at the view in front of him.
"Club," he said, looking at her with his Adam-like grin. "It could be fun! I haven't been to one yet. I say we do it."
Several hours later, once Adam's mom had gone back home, the two waited until everyone else was asleep, then headed out the door, leaving behind a lie in the form of a note, and within minutes they were at the club.
Adam held out his fake ID, gesturing for Tati to do the same with the one he'd given her once they were out the door. Soon they were inside, and Adam pushed his sunglasses further up on his face. His cousin barely recognized him; in his low-hung jeans, designer sunglasses, chains and long shirt with a leather jacket overtop.
The music blasted through the speakers as Adam ordered a drink. Within half an hour, he was tipsy and dancing with every woman he could find. When one pulled him into the middle of the floor and began to make out with him, he didn't protest. Tati groaned and walked off, into the silence of the unoccupied hallway, and dialed a number. When a groggy voice answered on the other end, Tati smiled a bit.
"Hey, Emily. Sorry, it's late, but I'm at a club - I know, I'm not normally a club person, but Adam.. I dunno, something's wrong with him." She paused. "The cousin I'm staying with, yeah. He's not acting like himself - " She was cut off as she heard the sound of screaming, and recognized one of the voices immediately. "Um, Emma? I'll be right back, if I don't get into contact with you in half an hour call my house." She hung up and ran back into the club, and was met with a scene she could barely comprehend at first.
Adam was standing in front of a woman (whose lipstick was smeared all over her face) and in front of him stood a man much taller and buff than him, and he looked angry. Adam's bottom lip was bleeding, and his face was.. terrifying.
Adam had been drinking, not thinking straight anymore. A man approached him, muttering something about how a child shouldn't be at a club. Adam had almost smirked, and glared at him. "Yo, dickface," he called, to which the man turned around slowly to meet his eyes. "Got a fuckin' problem?"
"Who the fuck do you think you are?"
Adam had growled at the man, staring into his eyes. "Adam. Adam fucking Fuller. Now, I'm going to ask this again. Got. a fucking. problem?"
The man smirked. "You think you're better than everybody else, Adam. Let me tell you this. You're fucking not. You're a pathetic, cowardly, child. I bet you haven't done one bad goddamn thing in your life."
Adam's eyes had narrowed. Without a second thought, he grabbed the man's girl and kissed her full on the lips. She'd bit him, causing his lip to bleed... but Adam didn't stop.
"What the fuck do you think you're doing, macking on my fuckin' girl?!" The man growled, attempted to punch him. Adam's hand met his, and he twisted his wrist, spraining it immediately. The man groaned in pain and kicked Adam back, but Adam immediately leaped forward and shoved him off.
"This," Adam growled, sweeping the girl in his arms and making out with her once again. The man's face turned red, and Tati started attempting to make it through the crowd before this fight ended with Adam's life coming to a pause.
The man jumped forward, and Adam pushed the girl off himself. They began to fight, giving each other an equal amount of bruises, before the taller man pulled out a knife. Tati swallowed her terror and leaped forward, shoving the man off. It was too late, though, he'd already gotten the side of Adam's forehead, and blood began to fall into his eyes.
"Fuck off!" Tati hissed, grabbing Adam and dragging him out. Once they were outside, she turned to him. "What the fuck are you thinking?!"
"I'm thinking you should mind your own fucking business," Adam growled, shoving her away from him and walking off, removing his shirt and wiping the blood off his face and sniffing the blood back up his nose.
"Adam!"
"You're not my fucking mother!" He said angrily, running back to her. He raised a fist and approached her angrily. Tati stared at him in terror. This.. wasn't Adam. "You don't run my fucking life!"
"I'm not saying I do, Adam, but this isn't you - " She began to insist, but Adam cut her off.
"You don't even fucking know me, kid. You've barely been around, especially when I needed you! This is what I've become. Do you understand that? I've lost.. EVERYTHING. For once in my goddamn life I'd like for something to go fucking right, but it never fucking does! Don't you understand this?! I can't keep coping with this!" He dropped his shirt on the ground, walking away angrily.
"So what, you're just going to go numb?" She called after him, crossing her arms over her chest, as though she could possibly feel any smaller.
"If that's what it goddamn takes," Adam replied, turning a corner. He wouldn't be home until the next morning, and he'd be hungover after a night of drinking, partying, smoking, and making out.
Tati made her way home, sniffing the entire way back. Once she got back, no one was awake. Her own mother was staying with them now, but she wouldn't be awake until much later. The girl made her way to the fire escape, and sat there, staring at the ashtray she hadn't noticed was there before.
Without thinking, she grabbed it and tossed it off the roof. When she sat back down, she quickly dialed that familiar number again.
"Emily? It's me again. Yeah, everything's fine. Are we still on for camping? .... what about tomorrow?"
