Author's Note: Hey y'al. Sorry this chapter took a little longer than usual. I have some bad news. Ashley's home computer is broken! She doesnt know when it wil be fixed but her stepdad is working on it so it shouldnt be too long. But all the same, please be paicent with us. The credit for the end of teh chapter goes to Ashley. Please review! Thanks
-Cailee and Ashley
Chapter 4
I was trying to sleep after crying my eyes out, but all I was doing was tossing and turning. I was totally stressed and all I wanted was my stash, but I have no clue where dad and Joe hid it. I got up and checked to see where Billy and Joe were, both in their rooms. I walked out into the living room and started searching, no drugs. I checked the garbage, nope. I moved over to the couch, looked under it and in between the cushions- still nothing. Lastly I checked by the TV.
After finding absolutely nothing, I tiptoed over to Uncle Joe's room. I slowly opened the door and saw him lying on his stomach; I looked in all of the hiding spots for my drugs and still found only dust bunnies. I sighed and closed the door. I took a deep breath and opened Billy's door. Quietly I walked around and saw he was deeply knocked out, I got down on all fours and looked under his bed, I looked everywhere. Finally after searching for an hour in his room, there were no drugs of any kind, anywhere.
I went back to my room and grabbed my messenger bag, opened the fire escape window and climbed out. I made my way to the strip club where Annie should have been, where she is there are drugs. I know dad will be disappointed if he found out but right now all I could think about was the feeling heroin gave me. On 12th Street was the club, I opened the door, and stepped into the smoky atmosphere.
This time there were a lot more people at the club, but not as many as there are on Fridays, I walked over to the bar where Annie had her head down. "Hey Annie."
"Parker? What are you doing here? Its after 1 a.m."
"I just wanted to hang out, I couldn't sleep."
She sighed knowing me, "No, you just wanted drugs. Your not getting any Parker, Billy caught you. I would be stupid to go against him after he wants you to stop."
"Come on, just give me enough for one time, then I'll stop. Promise."
Annie shook her head, "Sorry Park, but no." she left to go wait on a guy at the other side of the bar, when she came back she looked in my eyes and saw how badly I wanted the heroin, all it did was made her more resistant.
After begging for a few minutes, and throwing a fit, the owner of the club Lucy came over. "Parker, you have to go home NOW! You're not getting anything, and your disturbing my customers."
I just ignored her, Lucy sighed and went into her office. I was sitting on the stool when I heard the club door open and I saw Billy standing next to the bouncer, Vinnie. They spotted me and slowly walked over, "Come one Parker, we're going home.'
I glared at him, "No."
He looked at me cheerlessly, and just picked me up, I started hitting his shoulder and kicking but nothing I did slowed him down. We walked by Lucy and she looked at me disappointed, "Thanks for calling me Luce."
She nodded her head, and we walked out to the car. Billy opened the door and put me in the back seat, then put it back to its normal position and climbed in. I had tears coming down my face but just glared out the window, after a few minutes I mumbled, "Daddy?"
"Yeah Baby?"
"I don't feel good, I hurt, and I feel dizzy."
He sighed and came to a stop; he got out then moved the seat up. As he helped me out he replied, "Its part of the detox, your going to hurt for a while, feel nauseous, feel hot and cold at the same time, you won't sleep much, you'll probably puke too. Just to tell you, your not going anywhere, and nether am I, we're going to stay in the apartment until you are done detoxing, and when you won't want drugs anymore."
I was still crying as we made our way up the stairs, dad opened the door and there was Joe and Landen on the couch, they looked over and saw me but I refused to look anyone in the face, I just kept my head down. "Parker, you'll be okay in the end." Joe told me.
I sniffled and nodded, not really believing it, "I'm just going to go to bed."
"Go into my room, you'll sleep with me tonight, when I got the call, I saw that you searched." Billy told me.
If possible I dropped my head even further down, and sniffled again, Joe stood up and gave me a hug. I dug my head into his shoulder and started crying even harder. He stated rubbing soothing circles on my back and whispering comforting words to me.
Soon, Billy carried me to his bedroom and laid me on his bed, he took off my jeans and put on a pair of my pajama bottoms. Dad covered me up, and kissed my forehead, then he went into the bathroom but left his bedroom door open so Landen could see in here, he made his way down the hall,
"Be right back, Joey." He made his way towards me, and knelled, "Hey kid,"
I just looked at his face, but didn't answer him.
"I know you're probably mad at me for blowing your secret, but it is for the best. I don't want you buying from my sellers, you are a Darley and sweetheart they know that now. They see you; they're bringing you to me right away. I may be B Street, but I grew up with you, I saw you grow, hell; I protected you from that Billy punk, now I am going to help your dad and uncle detox you for good. I will know when you're in my territory, I run B Street now. I am the new gang lord."
I looked up at him and another tear escaped from my eye. He wiped it away. "Landen, I'm sorry."
"It doesn't matter, it's all over now, so don't worry about it. I mean it is Jerry's fault that he sold a 14 year old drugs when I said 17 and he kept selling to you for two years, but hey, he's the one that will pay tomorrow not you."
"What are you going to do to him?"
Landen smiled at me, "He's been acting disrespectful towards me so, I am just going to teach him some respect, and teach him not to sell to a Darley."
I smirked and felt my eye droop, he laughed. 'Looks like your night is catching up to you kid. You should get some sleep now."
Just then Billy walked in with only bottoms on, no shirt, he nodded to Landen, while he walked out, "Night Landen."
"Night Park."
Dad crawled in next to me, and I got a little closer to him. He wrapped his arms around me, and like I did when I was little, I started tracing his tattoos starting at his neck. He smirked at me and I felt him run his hand through my hair. I love this side of my dad; only a select few get to see the soft side of Billy Darley. Finally, after a long ass night, I fell asleep.
8888888888888888
RING! RING! RING!
The house phone blasted next to my ear, I felt Billy reach over me to get it, "Hello?"
"God damn it. Tell him to get his ass over here, I can't leave cuz, of Parker." He turned off the phone.
"What's going on dad?"
"Nothing kiddo, Heco just ruined another batch, and stole some drugs. Sorry kid, but I'm not going to be helping much today, mostly yelling when he gets here."
I nodded. "Its okay, I wanna hang out with Tyler today, anyway."
Billy's head snapped to the side, "You're staying in this apartment, not going to Tyler's. Got me?"
"Yes sir."
"Good, now go jump in the shower, Heco should be here any minute if the bastard wants to live." That made me giggle even though he was probably completely serious..
I got up and went into my room to get a change of clothes and smiled at Landen on the way to the bathroom.
"How ya feeling kiddo?" he called.
"Like I got hit by a truck."
Landen gave me a sympathetic smile. When I got into the bathroom, I shut the door and went to lock it, when I noticed the doorknob was missing.
Dad!" I shrieked. "What the hell?"
"What is it?" Billy asked, rushing to me. I scowled and pointed at the doorknob. "Oh. That? I took it off."
"Why?" I bit out through me teeth.
"So that you couldn't lock it. Why else?" he said, looking bewildered at my outburst.
"Ugh," I groaned and slammed the door in his face.
I striped down to my underwear and bra before I noticed my reflection. My skin was pasty, unhealthily white. My once-plump face was now hollowed out, giving me a ghostly appearance. The rims around my blue eyes were red and irritated. My hair was the only thing that looked how I remembered it- reddish-brown curls to my mid-back.
There were Goosebumps on my arms and the hot water of the shower did little to help that. I wondered if this was a part of the detox. Probably, I decided. How long would I feel this way? I did the mental math- it had been almost thirty-six hours since my last hit. I had never gone that long before.
I hopped out of the shower as quickly as I could and wrapped myself in a fluffy green towel. I was brushing my teeth when the first wave of nausea hit me. I threw up right there in the sink, all over my toothbrush. "Dad," I croaked.
Uncle Joe banged on the door. "You okay Parker?"
"Get dad," I said as I whipped my mouth with the back of my hand and started to cry.
"Why? What's wrong?"
"Just get him!" I screamed.
Joe opened the door as he yelled for my father. I was still leaning over the sink.
"Oh man Parker," he said. He reached around me and turned on the faucet.
"What's going on Joe?" Billy demanded as he came to the doorway. His eyes immediately softened when he saw the state I was in. "Get this cleaned up Joe," he instructed. "C'mon Parker."
He put an arm around my shoulders and guided me out of the bathroom. "I-I'm s-s-sorry daddy."
"You have nothing to apologize for, Parker. This is just part of it." I nodded and sniffled. He led me into his room and sat me down on the edge of his bed.
"Wait here while I go get your clothes," he ordered gently.
"Kay."
I slept most of the day, waking occasionally to throw up or beg Billy to give me back my heroin. I think it was taking its toile on him, seeing me in such pain. But if I hadn't known him so well, it would be nearly impossible to see that. When I woke up around midnight, I knew I was up for good. The chills had gotten so bad that they had woken me up, despite me being under three blankets.
More then likely I had a fever. "Dad?" I called, though my voice was horse. No answer. "Daddy?"
I waited for five minutes before coming to the conclusion that he hadn't heard me. I rolled out of bed and padded out into the hall. I could hear several voices coming from the living room and I paused to hear what they were saying.
"How's she doing?" what sounded like Bodie ask. Billy sighed and the couch squeaked as he dropped into it.
"Alright, I guess. She hasn't been awake for long enough for me to get a real good idea of how she feels. I know she's in pain, but it's not as bad as it could be."
"How long is it gonna take for her to be back to normal?" Tyler asked hesitantly.
"Couple a days."
"And she'll be, ya know, back to the way she was before the heroin?"
"Yeah Tyler."
8888888888888888
"Where the hell have you been?" Billy boomed. "You should have been here an hour ago!"
Heco came into the apartment building followed by Baggy, who went to get him. "S-sor-ry, B-b-Billy."
"I don't wanna hear it." Billy growled, I could hear him from the bedroom, "You know that if you steal from me, you pay. You've learned that before, but it looks like you need a refresher course. And you messed up another batch, third time this week Hector. One more time and you might find yourself either in my trunk or the bottom of the lake next to Bones."
"S-s-sorry boss."
I chose this time to enter the room and head for the kitchen.
"Why aren't you in bed?" Billy asked, being the first to see me. Suddenly, Joe, Bodie, Tyler, Heco, Landen, and Baggy were looking at me too.
"I'm thirsty."
Billy shoved Hecco into the couch and growled, "Don't move." He followed me into the kitchen and watched me as I got my water and pulled out a granola bar.
"So what'd Heco do this time?" I asked nonchalantly.
Billy stiffened. "Nothing you need to worry about."
"I hate it when you do that," I mumbled.
"Do what?"
"Act like I'm not important enough to know what's going on. It's not fair."
"Parker, with what you're going through right now, you don't need to be worrying about anything."
I nodded, "I still want to know."
He pinched the bridge of his nose between his fingers and shut his eyes. "Parker," he said in a strained voice, "go back to bed. This isn't your concern."
"No," I growled stubbornly. My father opened his eyes to galare and take a menacing step toward me.
"Now, Parker Mackenzie." His voice was low and deadly.
I jutted out my chin in defiance. "No."
"I said now Parker."
"Yeah, and I said no." Wow. I must be gutsy tonight.
Billy took two long strides toward me and shoved me back into the counter. "I'm not in the mood for this Parker. Go. Back. To. Bed."
I looked behind him over to where Landen and the rest of the guys where. My dad saw me hesitate and started to get even angrier. Billy griped my chin and forced me to look at him. "Parker," he growled.
"Sorry sir, " I squeaked.
I noticed my hands were shaking. Not from fear-- my dad would never hurt me-- but from the length of time since my last. Billy glanced down at them and visibly paled, apparently assuming the former.
He grabbed my face in his hands, "Its okay Parker, but you have to tell me exactly what symptoms you got."
I lowered my eyes. "Um, I threw up not too long ago. And I've been getting cold flashes. And shaking." I held up my hand as proof.
"Okay," Billy said softly. "Let's get you back to bed, huh?" I let him pick me up bridal-style and rested my head against his chest.
"She okay?" Joe asked as Billy walked past him.
"Yeah, she'll be fine," Billy told him.
We walked back into my dads room where he pulled out another blanket, along with the heating pad we've had since he got shot when I was 4. Billy placed me under the four blankets with the heating pad directly on me. "Call for me if you need anything. I'll leave the door open."
"Okay daddy," I whispered. I curled up into a ball and squeezed my eyes shut. This is all Michelle's fault, I thought. If it weren't for her, none of this would have happened.
8888888888888888
When I woke up again, I realized it was morning, I looked at the clock and saw that it was 1 p.m. the door was still open from last night, as I got up, I realized that I felt better today, maybe Billy will let me outside. I walked out and into the living room; dad was watching a foot ball game with Joe. They noticed me coming.
"Hey baby, how are you feeling?"
"Great. Good enough to get some fresh air." I replied.
Billy sighed, "I don't know Parker, you might not be ready yet."
"C'mon dad please," I begged. "I promise I'll be fine."
Billy sighed and heaved himself off the couch. "Go get dressed, then we'll go."
I ran excited to my room to get dressed, I'm free! When I was ready I went out into the living room and saw Uncle Joey,
"Hey Parker."
"Hey! Do you know where we're going?"
"Your dad has some errands to run so you'll probably be tagging along for those."
"No she's not," Billy interjected.
"Why not?" I asked, confused.
"You'll be board Parker," he said, brushing me off. I fought the urge to roll my eyes or argue. If I argued, he would just leave me here.
"So where am I gonna go then?" I wondered.
"Tyler's gonna take you to the park or Four Roses or something."
"Oh," I grumbled.
8888888888888888
I sat on the park bench next to Tyler while watching the little kids play.
"So Billy feels that you're fine now?" Tyler asked again.
"YES!"
"I'm just making sure-"
"I didn't sneak out, I know." I finished. "So, do you know what my dad's up to?"
Tyler looked at me, "I don't know what you mean."
"Please. I'm not stupid. As much as everyone tries to keep me out of it, I know you and Aden were initiated last month."
He looked at me surprised, "How-"
I interrupted, "Which means you know what my dad is really doing right now."
Tyler sighed, "He's talking to Michelle."
I bristled. "About what?"
"You."
I glared. "I KNOW that idiot. I meant, what exactly."
"How the hell should I know?" Tyler demanded.
"Don't you ever listen in when you're not aloud to? Get info that's supposed to be a secret?"
"No because I know how to keep my nose out of peoples business."
I stood up and started yelling, "This is my business too, it's about me… damn it."
Tyler stood up too, "Parker you have to calm down."
"Calm down? That's funny. My parents are talking about me somewhere, my dad could be killing my mom, and your telling me to calm down?"
He put his hands on my shoulder to steady me. "Yes Parker. Calm. Down. You shouldn't be getting so worked up in the condition your in."
"Condition? CONDITION!"
Tyler cursed, realizing he had said the wrong thing.
"Look, Parker just chill out--"
"Get off me!" I yelled, reaching out of his grasp. I took off running in the direction of the road.
"Parker!" Tyler called after me. "Parker, stop!"
I broke into a sprint then, and ran for the public bus that was loading. "Wait!" I waved my hand in the air at the bus driver. He held the door. I hopped up the steps. "Shut the door, shut the door!"
"Okay lady, sheesh."
Tyler smacked the closed door with his open palm and cursed loudly when we pulled away. "Damn it Parker!" he shouted. I stuck my tongue out at him, unable to resist.
8888888888888888
The bus pulled up to Four Roses and I got out,
"You sure you want dropped off here kid?" the driver asked.
"Yeah. I'll be okay, thanks."
I sighed as I walked into the smoky atmosphere of Four Roses. I shut the door behind me and started looking around for my dad, after a minute I found him and my jaw dropped. There on his lap was a 30-look-like-15 year old woman. He was playing 7 minutes in heaven with her neck, besides getting grossed out; I was starting to get pissed. My dad knows I hate him with other woman. It's all because of Wendy Fitzgerald.
I had just woken up from a nightmare when I was three and I had walked into the living room kitchen looking for Billy. He was sitting on the couch with some girl who looked about 18- his age. They were laughing and drinking beer.
"Daddy?" I called as I rubbed my eyes. He looked up and annoyance flashed across his face but it was gone when he saw I was crying.
"What is it Park?" he asked as he scooped me up.
"I hadda bad dream," I whimpered.
"What was it baby?"
"The monsters again Daddy." I looked over at the girl next us "Who dat?"
She looked at me like I had three heads. I cringed away from her nasty look. "That's my friend Wendy." I frowned up at him.
"Your fwend?"
He chuckled. "Yeah. Now why don't we get you back to bed?"
I shook my head quickly. "I don't wanna go back to seep! The monsters will get me!" I clung tightly to his shirt.
Billy sighed. "Sorry Wendy but we're gonna have to do this another time. Rein check?"
Wendy pursed her lips. "I guess." She paused. "You know, I'm great with children, I could probably get the rascal to sleep."
I shook my head quickly again, "NO! Don't leave me daddy! Pees."
He looked up at Wendy who was glaring down at me, how Billy missed it, I don't know, "Thanks, but we have to go through this routine just to get her to go back to sleep."
Wendy forced a smile and put down her beer, then picked up her purse, "Its okay, hey you said earlier you couldn't find a sitter for tomorrow, how about I watch her, then later you can reward me with a little of your uninterrupted time?"
Billy smirked then stood up with me in his arms, "You got a deal. Can you be here by 3 P.M.?"
"I'll be here."
Finally Wendy left, and Billy took me into the kitchen, he grabbed down one of my Dragon Tales bowls, and an adult one for him, "We can't eat to much baby, okay."
"Tay daddy." I replied.
He smiled and got the cookie dough ice cream out. One scope for me, one for him. We sat at the table and after eating ice cream Billy took me into the bathroom to wash my hands and face off. Lastly he tucked me into bed and read me an Arthur story- the Christmas one.
8888888888888888
"Daddy, I don't like Wendy very much," I said between bites of cereal.
Billy laughed slightly. "Why's that?"
"She doesn't look very nice," I told him
"Well maybe we shouldn't judge people before we get to know them, Park."
"I guess..." I said reluctantly.
"Parker, Wendy is coming over in a little while to baby-sit you."
"NO!" I shouted.
Billy sighed, "Parker don't start, I have to go do some stuff for grandpa. It wont be long, just till Uncle Joey gets out of school. He'll be home soon."
When really it wouldn't be for at least four hours.
"No! That's not fair! I wanna go to Aden's house instead!"
"I am NOT leaving you with Baggy again. He's watched you enough already this week."
"But I wanna go to Aden's!"
"Enough Parker!" Billy shouted, finally fed up. "If you don't cut it out right now you are going to be in timeout for the rest of the day," he threatened.
"But daddy I don't like her!" I kept on shouting.
"Parker Mackenzie, corner. Now."
I stood up and stomped over to the chair in the corner of the kitchen.
"You can finish your breakfast when you decide to fix that attitude of yours."
I sat staring at the wall, crying. I don't wanna be left alone with her. Billy could hear me crying from the table where he was cleaning up the mess I made. He just ignored it… he knew that I wasn't physically hurt. I was just mad.
He came into the kitchen to put stuff in the sink, I looked up at him, "Daddy?" I whimpered.
"Parker your on timeout. No talking."
I looked back at the wall, rubbing my face with my hands. Then the door buzzed. Dad walked over to it and pushed the button that unlocks the main door. He knew it would take a few minutes to get up to the top floor so he came over to me, and turned the chair around so I was facing him.
He bent down to my level so he was looking me in the eye, "You're going to behave while Wendy's here Parker. Do you understand me?"
I nodded.
"If I find out you were a bad girl, you butt will hurt from sitting in that chair for so long. Got it?"
"Yes Sir."
"Good. Now go in your room and play."
I stood up, "Daddy?"
"Yeah baby?"
"I sorry." I sniffled.
Billy smiled and picked me up, holding me close to him, "Its okay, and kiddo, just be a good girl while I'm gone."
He set me down at the door of my bedroom, "Wove you daddy."
Billy gave Wendy her instructions quickly and then left. She bent down to my level and gave me a nasty smile.
"Do you wanna play a game?"
Wendy plopped down on the couch and turned up the volume on the TV. "Nope."
"Wanna color and watch TV?"
"Nope." She answered again.
I huffed. "Where's Tyler?"
"Don't know?"
"When's daddy going to be home?"
"I DON'T KNOW! JUST SHUT UP AND GO IN YOUR ROOM!"
I went running in there. About an hour later she came in, picked me up and put me in my bed. Wendy shoved all my toys onto the floor dumping the box of crayons that I would have to have cleaned up before Daddy got home.
"Hey!"
"Its nap time." She told me.
She roughly put me under the covers and slammed the door on her way out. I started crying into my pillow and wished that Billy would be home when I woke up.
When I did actually wake up I walked into the living room where I saw Wendy sleeping. I looked at the clock and saw that it said 4-0-0. Which meant Uncle Joey was down stairs. I slowly opened the apartment door and closed it quietly. I got in the elevator and pushed the button daddy has me push to go downstairs. When I got there I saw Uncle Joe walking in the door with his backpack.
"Uncle Joey!"
He looked over towards where my voice came from, "Parker?" he growled. Joe stomped over and roughly picked me. "You know you're not aloud down here by yourself."
"Sorry!" I squeaked. "But Wendy was seeping and daddy's not home yet."
"I don't care, your dad told you if you did this you would be sent to the chair."
"NO!" I shouted, "I'm sorry Uncle Joey, I won't do it again. Promise."
Joe sighed. "Fine. Come on, lets go up stairs, I'll let you push the button."
When we walked into the door Wendy was up and acting all worried when she saw Joey holding me. "Oh there you are! I was worried sick about you Paris."
"Her names Parker." Joe told her furiously, putting me down so he could take off his backpack.
Wendy ignored him; she grabbed my hand and smacked it hard. "OW!"
"You'll be in big trouble when your dad gets home, you don't run away from me. Got it?"
"Hey. Leave her alone." Joe yelled. "Parker should have never have been out of your sight. She's three years old, you can't sleep while watching a three year old." He sighed, "Look. Billy said to just go to the club and meet him there when I got home. I'm here now, go."
Wendy popped her gum loudly and just grabbed her purse, slamming the door leaving.
"I'm not in trouble with daddy am I?" I asked.
"I'll make sure your not, kid. I don't like her either."
Uncle Joe set up some coloring books for me while he did his homework. We were still sitting at the table when daddy came home.
"Parker. Didn't I tell you to behave for Wendy?" Billy demanded.
Before I said anything Joe stood up, "Billy, can I talk to you alone before you start yelling at Parker?"
He sighed and nodded. "Keep on coloring till we get back Park." Then they went into dad's bedroom. I just sat there coloring for a while till they cam out. I noticed that my hand was still red from how hard Wendy hit me, when they came back.
Billy came up to me and picked me up, "Let me see your hand baby."
I showed it to him and he sighed. "Did you walk down there when you know your not supposed to?"
I nodded and looked down, "Do I have to go on the timeout chair?"
"No, but you do have to go pick up the crayons in your room. I know Wendy knocked them down, but just go clean it up. Okay?"
"Tay Daddy."
Billy put me down and I went into my room. Since this day I haven't seen Wendy, back then dad only worked for Bones, he might have killed her, but I don't know. I haven't bothered asking him or looking for her.
I turned around when I felt someone behind me, Tyler.
"You knew, that's why you told me to calm down. You knew my dad's errands was really a date."
Tyler sighed. "I wasn't supposed to know, I listened in when I wasn't aloud to, so there's the real answer to your question."
I turned back around and looked at my dad, he looked kinda happy. "Is he really that unhappy and lonely?"
"Parker I know what you're thinking, and your wrong." I looked up at Tyler. "His life would be worse if you weren't around."
"How do you figure that? I mean, look at him. That could have been Michelle. If she would have succeeded in the miscarriage, or taken me away with her when she ran, he'd be happier."
"That's not true. Why can't you believe me?" Tyler asked.
"Because I know the truth." I replied with tears coming from my eyes. Then I bolted for the door and ran.