by Daniel Wiernicki

Created on: February 03, 2007   Last Updated: May 17, 2007

This is a short story about Peer Pressure.

If I were to talk from past experiences, I would say that peer pressure is something you don't want to be victim of. Two years ago the victim was myself, it was the worst time of my life that I will never forget.

It was a regular Friday night, the night where everyone went down to the playing field to socialize. Well we said that's what it was but all in all, it was a night of violence and underage binge drinking. Anyway, as usual, I met my best friend Chris at the bus stop before going to the shop to buy alcohol.

Then, we then walked down to the playing field, taking the back route so police patrolling the streets didn't see us! On arrival, the first bottle was opened, closely followed by the next and so on. Soon, everything we had bought had gone and from what I remember, I was pretty drunk and feeling a little sick as usual. I never did enjoy drinking, just did it to fit in. Everyone did it and I don't think there is anything worse than being the odd one out is there?

Just a little later on that night, things were about to change. Chris's friend Mark pulled up in his car pleading for both of us to get in. Mark had created a name for himself around the town to be an idiot, driving recklessly and taking heavy drugs. I was not getting in the car, I had boundaries but only until Chris got in. They were about to leave me alone on the dark, cold field so I forced myself to board the vehicle. Yet again, I was doing something I didn't want to do in fear of being deserted.

After around ten minutes driving, we arrived at what seemed to be a planned location. Chris and Mark got out of the car so I followed yet again, through the pitch black and down a steep grass banking until vague outlines of other people started to become visible. The people were Mark's friends who they had planned to meet for a session', or so it was called. Everyone were drinking and taking drugs, I felt like an intruder, very uncomfortable but trying to bluff to avoid being the laughing stock. I had never attempted anything worse than alcohol before and promised myself not to, but that night, the pressure drove me to do it.

Soon after taking some type of substance, I felt completely off. I vaguely remember stumbling around, feeling terribly sick and my eyes being blinded by the dimmest of lights. What had I taken?

Dan Dan, are you with us?' I woke up in hospital, face to face with a doctor. I was left alone that night and found the following morning. Doctors were saying I was so luckily to have pulled through, but was it all worth it to avoid looking stupid? I beg to differ.

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