"Please…with sugar and cherries and chocolate and whatever the hell else you want. Please." Yup there went my straight face. Of course Mel's flair for the dramatics always did two things brought a smile to my face and made me give in to whatever the hell she wanted, to a certain extent. She still hadn't gotten me to do drugs with her.
"Fine, I will drive you. But we are stopping at McDonalds, before we get there this time and you are buying me whatever I want." I said pointing my finger at her as I began putting my shoes on.
"Thank you, thank you, and thank you." She jumped with a squeal and kissed me on the cheek and went to get her shoes, jacket and purse. I just shook my head and laughed, as I finished with my shoes, grabbed my keys and went to kitchen to get two bottles of water. After about the third time of driving Mel out to meet with her dealers I realized we didn't just pick them up and leave, no we stayed and talked and hung out till they were done and then we usually went to their place so Mel had someone to get high with. Both her and her dealers always tried to get me to take "just a line, one little line", but I have yet to give in.
We got into my lovely old Passport, and immediately started jamming to whatever Mel thought was a good song off my iPod. She finally turned the music down when we reached the McDonalds.
"Who is out there tonight?" I asked as I scanned the late night menu.
"Ummm….hold on." She quickly pulled out her phone and texted one of the guys. "Ok, Spink, Joe, and Heco."
"Shit guess that means if we am gonna be nice to Spink and Joe, we have to get Heco something to huh?" Mel just laughed.
We ordered two Big Mac meals, three of their new Angus burger meals, and an extra large order of fries. Once we got our order we drove out to this little spot under the highway bridge. It was a scary part of Boston, and I am smart enough to know not to go there, but then Mel became my roommate and well I ended up becoming friendly with the most notorious gang in Boston. So what was extremely dangerous before was now just mildly dangerous now. I think we had met everyone of the gang except two. These were the infamous two, the leader Billy and his right hand man Bodie. I had seen both of them, they always came by to pick up the money but like always I drifted into the background for the short time that they were at the house.
I remember the first time Mel took me on a drug run with her, I don't think I have ever been so fucking scared in my life. But for some reason I am a good friend who supports very bad habits. See Mel doesn't have a car, and well the bus just doesn't make drug runs. So six months ago, after only knowing me for four, she asked me for a favor and me being me I said yes.
Six Months Ago:
"God damn it Mel, will you sit fucking still for once. I need to get this shit done." I ranted as tried as hard as possible to concentrate on my five page lit paper that was due in two days and was only a quarter of the way done.
"Sorry." She meekly apologized for the umpteenth time that night.
Ten minutes later I was yelling at her again. "Jesus fucking Christ, what the fuck will it take for you to calm the fuck down?" I snarled getting frustrated, both because my paper was making no sense and I had had writers block for the past two hours and because Mel kept getting up and rummaging through all the kitchen cabinets but not doing anything, just opening and closing the doors. When she finally sat down across from me on our kitchen table, folded her hands and smiled what I guess she thought was an innocent smile, I knew this was not gonna be good.
"Addie how long have we known each other." She calmly asked.
"Four months since they housing department roomed us together. Why?" I asked raising my eyebrow.
"Ok, so we weren't friends before but I would like to think we are now right? And I mean friends don't just judge friends right?" She asked.
"Mel, get to the fucking point please. What do you want?" I asked with a frustrated sigh.
"Canyoudrivemetogetsomecokeplease." She quickly let it out as she looked at the table, and then slowly raised her head to me.
"Will it get you to calm the fuck down?" She simply just nodded.
"Fine."
"Really?"
"Yeah, let me grab my keys. How long is this gonna take?" I asked getting up and heading to my room.
"Umm…Addie you know when I say coke I'm not talking about the drink, right?" She asked from where she sat.
"Yes I know you meant the drug. And honestly I don't care what you do, but here are my requests for me saying ok to this." She simply nodded and looked at me. "There will be NO and I mean never ever any drugs in this apartment, or my car. EVER. And I will not take you more than once every other week, because I will not have you spending our rent and food money on drugs ok?"
She jumped from her chair with a squeal and ran over and hugged me. "Oh my god you are the best."
"I take it that means you agree right?" I asked with a laugh.
"Yes, I mean I understand both of them, and I should have figured you would come at this with a good clear idea. And since you don't want to have the drugs here that just means we are gonna have to do them at Joe's place which means hanging out with dealers for a little while. You might want to bring you paper." I just sighed and packed my stuff into my book bag.
Twenty minutes later we were pulling up to the same spot we were headed to now. Mel sat in the passenger seat and gave me directions. When we pulled up and I saw the looks of the guys, I knew the fear in my voice showed when I asked. "You do know these guys right?"
"Yeah I use to date Joe's brother." Know you see at that time there were two MAJOR miscommunications in that sentence. One, I thought she meant date as in boyfriend girlfriend dating, no she meant she got high and would sleep with Joe's brother on random occasions. And two, she failed to mention that Joe's brother and Joe for that matter were Darley's and therefore the most notorious gang in all of Boston.
When we pulled up, there were three guys all heavily tattooed, and had a look about them that said get the fuck away. Mel had me park beside the car that was there. I could tell this was not the usual because all three guys watched my car and hand their hands near their belts, or their back, ready to what I had guessed, pull out a gun and shoot us on the spot. I saw all their expressions change though when Mel jumped out of the car and headed over to where the three guys stood.
I got out of the car and only went as far as my back bumper, which I used as a seat; as I crossed my arms against my chest and watched the four interact from a distance.
"Thought you said you couldn't get out here anymore?" A one in the red leather jacket asked as he wrapped his arm around Mel's shoulder.
"Well unlike my last bitch of a roomie, Addie is fucking awesome and we came to a deal." After she finished she obviously realized I was not right beside her and began looking for me. When her eyes finally landed on me she let out a laugh, grabbed another one of the guy's hands and dragged both guys over to me. I instinctively stood up.
"Addie this is Joe and this is Baggy." I nodded my hellos, but said nothing more. "Guys this is Addie my new roomie, well sorta new, you guys haven't met her before she is four months old and we have known each other but she doesn't know you so she is--."
"Mel they get it." I interrupted her rant, with a sigh, smile and a shake of my head.
"She been like this all night?" The guy that was named Baggy asked.
"Yup, why the hell do you think I am out here? I got a paper due in two days and I can't get shit done with her bouncing off the damn walls." I explained. Mel just unwrapped herself from the guys and came and wrapped her arms around me.
"Aww come on you know you love me!" She said giving me puppy eyes.
"Uh huh, right." I replied to her then looked back at Joe. "You mind keeping her away, while I write my paper?" I asked.
"Sure you just dropping her off?"
"Nah I was gonna stick around, I brought my stuff with me I was gonna let the tailgate down and do it here." I replied. "I mean if that is alright?"
Joe and Baggy shared a look. "He coming by tonight?" Baggy shook his head no. "Then yeah you're good. We will keep her occupied." Joe said waggling his eyebrows, as he grabbed Mel and pulled her away. Mel just laughed and smacked him as she walked away with them, throwing me a smile over the shoulder.
I got all my stuff out and got situated in the back, and finally got to work. It was the perfect place to work. My car gave me light, and it was quiet, but not. The four gave me just enough noise to let me know I was not alone and yet were quiet enough for me to concentrate. I was done with my paper in forty minutes. When I looked at the time on my computer it was just a little past eleven. I realized I had brought my other books as well and just continued working. I got through all my chemistry and ethics homework that wasn't actually due till next and was finishing up my sociology homework when Mel, Joe and the guy I had yet to meet walked over.
"You still writin' that paper?" Joe asked.
"Nope I finished that," I looked down at the clock it was now one thirty in the morning. "Holy shit, two and a half hours ago. I was doing some homework ahead of time, so I don't have to worry about it later."
Joe just nodded his head and gave Mel a look. "Yes, I am a nerd and I am damn proud of it. You got a problem with it take it up with my 3.5 GPA." I snapped back with a smile on my face. Joe just smiled and laughed.
"Oh right, Addie this is Spink, Spink this is Mel."
"Hi." I replied, he simply nodded his head. "So what are you guys up to now?"
"Well the boys are done and we are gonna head over to Spink's house to finish out the night. That way I can obey our little agreement." I nodded my head and started backing up all my things, which meant I just threw them into the backseat.
"Right lets go then." I answered closing the tailgate.
"Umm…well Baggy hasn't finished and that is his car so you mind driving all of us?" Mel asked with her puppy eyes. I looked at the guys.
"You guys still have the drugs on you?"
"Nope we are done with ours, Baggy the only one that got shit left." Joe replied.
"Alright then fine, but umm I thought you were going back to do them so how do you have none on you? And I don't want any guns either." I asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Because it's at the house, smartass. And we can leave the guns with Baggy." Joe replied.
"Ok get in." We all piled into my car, with Spink in the front so he could give me directions. About a mile after we left the underpass, blue lights were flashing in my rearview.
"You have to fucking be kidding me." I cried out. I pulled over and patiently waited until the cop came up to my window, for the first time ever there was someone at the passenger window to.
I rolled the window down. "Morning officer? Did I do something wrong?" I asked.
"Please turn off the car and put the keys on the dashboard." I did as he requested and then turned back to him. The cop put his flashlight on Spink in the passenger seat.
"What do we have here?" He asked with a slight happy tone, as his flashlight continued to the backseat showing Joe and Mel. "I need you all to step out of the car and stand in front of it, please." We all did as we were told and watched as the cop from the passenger side of the car went back to their car and brought out a dog.
"Ummm…I'm sorry, but what reason have you to search the vehicle we have done nothing wrong. Unless there is some traffic violation that I made that I am unaware of at the moment." I asked.
"Well our reason is that you standing with Joe Darley and one of Darley's lackeys and you just pulled out of an area where it is known they sell drugs. That reason enough for you?" I nodded my head and took a step back, and away from the other three, shooting Mel a glare.
"Any weapons or drug paraphenial you want to cough up before we search?" The other cop asked.
He looked straight at Joe and Spink, both shook their heads no. Everyone's eyes turned to me in surprise when I spoke up. "There is a gun under the passenger seat and a knife on the side panel of the driver's side door, as is the clip for the gun. The registration for the gun and permit for carrying concealed is in the glove box." Both cops just looked at me with surprise. "What? I am a girl who lives in a dangerous city; I know how to protect myself." I said with an annoyed tone. The cop with the dog just laughed and began his search. They checked my registration and made sure my gun wasn't loaded, as are the terms of the concealment permit. When they found nothing in the car, the brought the dog over to us.
"I need you guys to stand in a line and be still." We did as told, and there were no drugs or weapons found of any of us when the dog passed both Joe and Spink without hesitation I almost cried to know that they had told the truth and had nothing on them. Who knew you could take the word of a gang member.
The cop with the dog, looked over at the other and shook his head. "Well, aren't we lucky tonight. Catch ya later Darley." And with that they left.
"Fucking Dodson." "Asshole." Both Joe and Mel called out. I just shook my head and headed back to the car. When we were all loaded up and ready to go, Mel finally spoke again. "We can just drop them off and go home if you want to."
"It's fine." I turned in my seat and looked her in the eye. "But next time, give me all the details instead of just some, for instance when you say were meeting your friend, you might want to mention his LAST NAME, so that when the cops pull us over and my car is searched I can not freak the fuck out as to why."
"Ok, sorry."
"Its over don't worry about it. And I don't mind going to Spink's." I replied as I turned back in my seat.
"So wait you don't care who we are?" Joe asked, using my seat to pull himself up.
"Should I?" I asked locking eyes with him in the rearview mirror. He just laughed and shook his head.
When we got to Spink's, who happened to live in the same apartment complex as the rest of the gang, the three of them traded off doing lines and tried to get me to join them, but I stuck with my rum and coke that Spink had made me. I ended up falling asleep with my legs across Spink's lap on the couch. And didn't wake up until my phone alarm went off at ten am. When I woke up, Spink was still in lounged out on the other side of the couch with my feet still in his lap, and I could see Joe in on Spink's bed through the open door, but I didn't see or hear Mel anywhere.
I tried to carefully move my feet without waking him, but failed. "Morning." I replied. He just nodded his head with a grunt. "You know where Mel is?" "Ask Joe." And with that he turned over and went right back to sleep.
I walked into where Joe was sleeping and lightly pushed at his shoulder. It took a good couple of minutes to wake him up. "Wha ya want?" He sleepily asked. "Where is Mel?"
"I don't know is the money still on the table?" I shook my head no. "Then I'm guessing she is with Billy." I just nodded my head and continued to stare at him. "What?"
"Well I have class in an hour and I need to get back but I don't want to just leave her, can you call her or him?" Joe let out a laugh.
"Yeah you wake him and you askin for a death sentence." I just raised my eyebrows at him. "But we can go up and look and see if she is with him. That good?" I nodded and followed him out of the apartment.
We walked up three flights of stairs and went to the last door on the right, Joe pulled out a key and opened the door, before now he didn't care what sound he made, but now I wasn't sure I had ever heard someone be so quiet. We walked into the apartment, and took a slow look around, it was pretty much the same layout as Spink's but the main difference was this was a two bedroom apartment and Spink's was a single. I continued to scope out the apartment of the feared ganglord, and something caught my eyes. Surprisingly it wasn't the drugs, guns or money, that were all over the freaking place, but the bra that Mel had just bought two days ago when we went shopping at the mall. I remember it specifically because it was a fifty dollar bra and it had M's on the left breast. Which is the whole reason she got it of course.
"She is here. But how safe is it to get her?" And with that question, we heard a door opening and both our heads turned to hall. Mel walked out with her jeans on and was using her shirt to cover herself.
"I was looking for that." She said with a smirk as she grabbed it out of my hands. She went into what I guess was the bathroom and changed, and then came out again.
"Did ya fun sunshine?" Joe teased with an all knowing look. Mel swatted at him, and then gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Thanks for everything Joe, see you in what," She looked at me with a smile, "two weeks was the agreement right?" I nodded my head, waved goodbye to Joe and the two of us left.
"I am so freaking happy you came out when you did, cause even Joe was scared to go in and get you and I didn't want to just leave you there." I said as we headed down the stairs.
"Yeah I figured as much, but I remembered you had a class today so I set my alarm on my phone. I figured after last night I better not piss you off anymore." She replied.
"I wasn't pissed off I mean I actually got a lot done while I was waiting for you guys and after the whole cop debacle I actually had fun hanging with you three. But umm…what the hell did I miss cause the last thing I remember before falling asleep was you mellowed out in the chair." I laughed, as we reached the car.
"Well you fell asleep at like three, and then I got my second wind around three thirty. And then Billy came in to collect the earnings around six, and I just decided to go with him, cause, well he is fucking amazing in bed and I haven't had a good lay in a while. I was actually heading back downstairs when you two came in." She replied once we were both in the car and were heading back to campus.
"Did you sleep at all?" I questioned.
"Nope, I mean Billy can go for a while if you know what I mean, so we had probably finished about five minutes before you came in, so yea." She replied all smiley.
"Well I am glad I didn't walk in and hear that!" She smacked my arm. "Hey driving here. Jesus."
Since that night we have been pulled over by the cops the next four times and after that they finally stopped, once I threatened to file harassment charges.
When we pulled up the guys were in the middle of a deal, so we just went around and parked, and flipped the tailgate down and began munching away. When they were done all three walked over to us. Joe gave both me and Mel a hug and sat in between us, Spink went over to Mel and gave her a kiss on the cheek and then came over and gave me a hug. And leaned up against my side of the car. I handed Joe and Spink their burgers and fries, and Mel handed out the drinks. I grabbed Heco's and held it out to him, when he reached for it I pulled it out of reach.
"You can have this, if you be nice for the night. Which means no hittin on me, or pickin on me cause I chose the good path with my life, got it?" I snapped. Heco and Dog always teased me about being a goody toe shoes, and how I thought I was better than drugs, which in turn meant I thought I was better than then, though no one else that we hung out with shared that opinion of me. But I have yet to hang with Billy, or Bodie, so they might share the same opinion.
"Fine but only for tonight, or until ya feed me again." I just shook my head and handed him his food. The five of us ate and joked around till midnight. All joking stopped when a car that matched Heco's except the colors were reversed pulled up. I noticed two things right away, there were three people in the car, and the guys that were with us all stood at attention. I then noticed the movements of the Joe, and Spink. Joe took a step in front of Mel, and Spink took a step in front of me. Almost like they were trying to hide us from view.
I watched from behind Spink, as the car stopped and then turned off, and all three men got out. It was Billy, Bodie, and Baggy. Baggy caught my eye and gave me an apologetic smile. That sent my nerves into over drive.
"What the fuck do we have here?"Billy called out as he walked over to us. Mel stepped around Joe and went to Billy, she got about two feet from him, before she stopped from his glare. Then she took a step back and retreated to Joe's side. "This what you fucking call working?"
"Come on Billy we were just having a quick snack." Joe spoke up.
"And why the fuck are the whores here, huh?" With that I stood up, grabbed the stuff off the tailgate, and slammed the tailgate closed. I handed Spink and Joe their stuff and tapped Mel on the arm and nodded toward the car. She looked at me and then she looked at Billy.
"Where the fuck you think you goin?" Billy snarled. Taking a step toward all of us.
"Home." I replied tapping Mel again. I don't know what his problem was or what he was capable of but I was not gonna stick around and find out. When she began to turn to the vehicle, I did to. I only stopped when I heard a whimper escape her lips. When I turned around, Billy had grabbed her and practically threw her into Bodie and was now making his way to me. Since I already had the driver door open I reached into the side compartment as quickly as possible and shoved my knife into my pocket.
"And what the fuck you think you gonna do with that, princess?" SHIT. How the fuck did he see me grab my knife I have no fucking idea.
"Keep you at a safe distance, thanks." I replied with a sarcastic smirk. To my surprise he stopped walking and actually started to laugh.
"I got to give your ass credit, you ain't as fuckin stupid as I thought you were. But that knife aint gonna do shit, against a gun, princess." He shoot me a sarcastic smirk right back, pulling up his shirt just enough for me to see the gun tucked into the front of his pants. And couldn't help but notice that the stomach behind said gun was very defined and VERY nice to look at. I shook that thought out of my head and pulled the knife out of my back pocket, waved it to him, and made a point of showing him that I was putting it back.
"Good girl, now how about you move your ass back over here, huh?" He said motioning to where Spink and Joe were standing. I did and even though my nerves were going absolutely crazy I made a point to not make it seem like walking that close to him scared the shit out of me. When I was finally next to Spink I made a motion with my arms in a you-happy-now.
"Right so, now that everyone is fucking paying attention. WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU ALL THINK YOU'RE FUCKING DOING?" He snarled making sure to glare at everyone while he talked. After a moment of silence, he spoke again. "Well one of you mother fuckers better start fucking talking or I'm gonna start fucking hitting."
"We were doing what you told us. I swear, Billy." Heco spoke up. Both Spink and Joe added words of agreement.
"So explain the girls?" Billy shot a glare at me.
"Well you know how Mel comes to the house and hangs and does a few lines, after. Well her and Addie usually hang around till me and Spink are done, then we go back to Spink's." Joe explained looking at the ground the whole time. "They only do it twice a month, though." He quickly added finally locking eyes with his brother.
Billy brows knitted in confusion and put his attention back to me. "Why the fuck only twice a month?"
"Cause I want to make sure I have a place to live and food in the fridge, can't do that if she spends all the money on drugs." He just nodded his head in understanding, and then stuck his hand out in a gimmie motion, I just looked at it then back at him. "What?" Now I was the one clearly confused.
"Keys." It wasn't a question or request, it was clearly a demand. I shot a look at Mel, then Joe and Spink, they all nodded their heads. I slowly pulled out my keys from my pocket and locked eyes with Billy as I placed my only way of escape if something bad was to happen in his hands. Once he had them he turned and tossed them to Bodie.
"Take Mel and Joe back to the office." With that all three started going to my car. I turned and went to join them, when I felt a hand grab my elbow. When I turned I followed the well defined, nicely tattooed arms to the face of Billy. I just gave him a what-now look.
"Your with me, princess."
"WHAT?!?" It came out as more of a screech then a word, resulting in the corners of Billy's mouth twisting up in a smirk.
"Come on." He let go of my arm and began walking to his car. As I watched Bodie leave in my car. "You too, Spink, Baggy. Heco you finish your shit here." All three guys walked to Billy's car. When Billy was about to get into his car, he turned and realized I was still in the same spot. "Look I ain't gonna fucking hurt you unless you really fucking piss me off, so get in the fucking car."
As I slowly walked to the car all I could think was at least he was honest. The only other thought was…here I go again.