Beth slowly rolled up to the Git N Split, her heart beating erratically. Putting the car in park, she turned to eye Rio who appeared completely unfazed in the passenger seat.

"Once I go in, circle around the store and stop by the door with the firewood next to it. Be ready to book it once I get out. We'll start off going south towards the post office and then take a right on Birch, then wing it from there."

Beth nodded nervously. She took a sharp intake of breath when she noticed Rio taking out a black revolver from the glove compartment. "What is that?"

"The quickest way to get a cashier to open up the register," Rio replied as he nonchalantly stuffed the gun in his hoodie and pulled the hood up over his head.

"Wait," Beth cried, touching Rio's arm. "I don't...I don't want anyone to get hurt."

Rio eyed her as if she were crazy. "Nobody's gonna get hurt. People cave at the threat of death. The gun's just for show and maybe a warning shot." Looking through the window, Rio noted, "The guy working the counter doesn't care about this place. He's just here to collect a paycheck. He's not looking to be a hero. I should be in and out in two minutes."

Beth's hand was still on his arm. "Promise me," she said.

"Promise what?" Rio asked, starting to look impatient and annoyed.

"Promise me you won't shoot him. If he won't give you the money, just run. I don't want someone's death on my conscience. I don't need to pay rent that badly."

Rio shrugged out of her reach and opened the passenger side door. "Don't worry, boo. I've got it handled."

Da-tump, da-tump, da-tump, Beth's heart beat loudly in her ears, overwhelming her as she drove around to the side of the store that Rio had indicated. She looked around, noticing the gas station was completely dead at 2:30 in the afternoon. They were the only ones there. Through the window, she watched as Rio made himself a hot dog which she thought was kind of an odd choice, but she'd never robbed a store before so what did she know? Maybe it was to lull the cashier into a false sense of security.

She continued to watch as Rio strolled over to the counter with his hot dog, a bag of Doritos, and a Coke. The tall cashier bagged the items in a bored, apathetic manner. Her heart jumped into overdrive as Rio took out the gun and pointed it at the employee. The other guy's hands immediately went up into the air. Rio motioned towards the cash register and the cashier immediately started filling the bag with cash. After the bag was full, Rio said something that made the other man turn around with his hands linked behind his head and sink to the ground. Checking to make sure the employee hadn't turned around, Rio took off, quickly leaving out the side door.

Beth put the car in drive as Rio jumped in. Exhilaration rushed through her as she speedily took a right out of the parking lot and headed in the direction of the post office.

"Take a right here," Rio reminded her. "Then, take a left on Redwood."

Beth drove only slightly above the speed limit to make a hasty getaway but also as to not cause any suspicion by going too fast.

Rio grabbed the hot dog and Coke out of the bag and began eating.

Beth shot him some side eye.

"What? You want a bite?" Rio asked, holding out the hot dog.

"No, but is right now really the time to eat? We might have the cops on our tails."

"Sorry, princesa, I didn't get a chance to eat lunch today. I'm starving."

Beth rolled her eyes. "Whatever. So...are we headed back to the school...?"

Mouth full of food, Rio shook his head no. "Not yet. Let's count the money back at my place. Nobody's gonna be home this time of day."

Beth nodded, slightly on edge. She didn't know how she felt about being alone with Rio again especially so soon after that hallway kiss. Also, she was really kind of worried that the cops would come after them.

"The cops aren't going to come after us," Rio reassured her.

"How do you know?" Beth asked somewhat accusatorially. How could he know for sure?

"By the time the cops even get down to that gas station it'll be four o'clock at the earliest. This area isn't exactly high priority for Detroit PD. We'll already be long gone by the time they take down his statement. Home boy wears the thickest glasses I've ever seen. Reliable eye witness, he ain't. At best, he'll say he saw a tall Mexican rob the place."

"But what if he turned around and took down the license plate?"

"He didn't," Rio said, opening his Doritos.

"How do you know?"

"I just do."

"But how?" Beth persisted.

"I told him that if he turned around before he counted to one thousand, me or one of my associates would shoot him."

"You didn't?!" Beth gasped. A question popped in her head. She wasn't sure if she should ask it or not but couldn't seem to stop herself. "Have you ever...you know...shot anyone?"

Rio threw his head back, laughing. "Oh, girl, you say the craziest sh—"

"Well? Have you?"

Sticking his tongue in his cheek reflectively, Rio shook his head. "Nah. Never needed to."

Beth breathed a sigh of relief. "Good," she said, smiling and nodding as she took the entrance ramp onto the highway that Rio motioned to.

"Five thousand, three hundred fifty-six dollars," Beth stated as she finished counting the money on the coffee table. "Who knew that a gas station could make that much money? It doesn't seem safe to keep this much on hand."

'The owner's a moron," Rio said, pushing a few stacks of cash her way. "He got the business from his dad and has no clue how to run it. He only deposits money into the bank like once a week."

"How do you know all this?" Beth asked, moving from the floor to the couch.

"Brother used to work for him. Treated him like dirt too. Don't really feel bad for holding up the joint. That racist MF'er deserved it."

"You have a brother? I've never seen him around school. What's his name?"

"Marcus. You wouldn't. He's five years older than me."

Starting to feel awkward, Beth wasn't quite sure what to do or say next. Looking deep into Rio's eyes, she started to think it wouldn't be so very bad if he kissed her again.

"You did good today," Rio said. "Much better than last week. You still have a lot of learning to do, but I can see your potential. You were real cool, calm, and collected."

Beth blushed. "Today was kind of fun," she giggled nervously.

Licking his lips, Rio nodded in understanding. "Necessity's what makes you turn to this life, but the thrill of it is what makes you stay. That and the money."

"I really appreciate all that you did for me today. I don't know how to say thank you," she said, reaching for her cut of the cash.

"Hold up," Rio said, putting his hand on her wrist. "What'd you think this was a hand out, Elizabeth?"

"No, I thought we were 50-50."

"50-50? You didn't hold up that gas station. I did."

"But I drove the car..."

"You do the easy part and you think you deserve half the cut?" Rio asked, incredulously.

"But you're giving me two thousand..."

"Yeah, as a favor, since you're going through tough times and all. It's an advance not a donation. You still got work to do, ma."

"Pizza!" Annie cried as Beth walked in the door with a red cardboard box.

"Thought it would be a fun treat. Hey, mom," Beth greeted. "It's good to see you out and about."

Susan Marks was in her early forties, but a lifetime of smoking and the past five years spent drinking heavily made her look like she was ten years older. She was a curvy, average height woman with medium length dirty blonde hair that looked like it needed to be brushed. Beth's mom hadn't always been a mess, but her dad deciding to leave them five years ago had broken her. Of course, it hadn't helped that her dad came back every year or two to make her mom believe they were going to get back together only to leave yet again. Her dad was at best flighty and at worst inconsiderate. He was an artist who'd had a steady job as an art professor at the community college until he'd decided that that wasn't enough for him and had taken off to pursue his dream of being the next Rembrandt or Picasso or something. When he started to feel guilty, he'd visit his girls who'd fall in love with his zany self again only to have their hearts broken when he decided he wasn't fulfilled by the humdrum of middle class life.

Beth's mom came over and took the pizza box out of her hands. "Ernie called and said he'd gotten the cash you'd dropped off for our rent. You really shouldn't have. I would have found a way to pay him."

Sure, you could have, mom, thought Beth skeptically, but outwardly she smiled lovingly. Her mom was just too fragile for the realities of this life. Dad's last visit had been about nineteen months ago and had done a real number on her mom. She spent most nights out drinking at the local bar and most days asleep in bed. If it wasn't for Beth, there would be no food, no clean clothes, Annie would skip school and watch cartoons all day, and the list could go on and on. She was the sole reason this family was even considered somewhat functional and it would be nice if just once her mom would recognize ALL she did for them.

"Annie and I were just headed out to Blockbuster to get a movie. Anything you want to see?"

Beth shook her head. "I'm fine with whatever."

Susan smiled, pinching Beth's cheek. "Great. We'll be back in twenty."

Worriedly, Beth looked her mom over for signs that she was fit to drive. It wasn't unusual to find that her mom had been day drinking.

"I'm fine, Beth," her mom replied. "I'm still the adult here. Stop worrying. Hey, why don't you and Dean go out tonight? I'll watch Annie."

"That would be great, mom, but, uh...Dean and I broke up."

"What?" her mom gasped. "When did this happen?"

"Earlier today. Don't worry about it. It was just a misunderstanding. He and I will work everything out soon. If you're not going out tonight mom, then I'll go over to Ruby's and hang out with her if you don't mind."

Beth's mom nodded. "Sure, have fun, sweetie."

"You robbed a gas station?!" Ruby couldn't help herself from practically shouting.

"Quiet down...your mom will hear you," Beth warned.

"I thought you guys were just gonna sell more weed to some pot heads."

"Me too, but it turns out that robbery is way more lucrative. We got five thousand dollars."

"Five thousand dollars?" Ruby gasped.

"Yep, paid off rent and bought pizza for dinner."

"Well, at least it's a one and done deal. You don't have to worry about working with him anymore."

"Actually," Beth started, grimacing awkwardly. "About that...he says the two thousand he gave me was just an advance and that I've still got to do more work for him."

"I told you didn't I? I told you this was a bad idea," Ruby said, shaking her head self-righteously. Beth loved Ruby to pieces but sometimes she was just TOO straight and narrow. There was no wiggle room morally. No grey. Just black and white. "You're getting sucked into the crime world."

"I'm not getting sucked into the crime world. I'm just...paying off a debt."

Ruby harrumphed. "Sure, whatever."

This evening wasn't turning out as Beth had planned. It was getting less and less enjoyable by the minute. "Hey, you know what would be fun?"

"What?"

"If you called trombone man so you can get trom-boned."

Ruby reached behind her, grabbed a pillow, and thwacked Beth with it. "Shut up! You are so lame and corny."

Laughing and raising her arms to block the blow, Beth replied, "Come on. Take a risk. It's not even a real risk. You know he'd say yes if you asked him out since he's already asked you out like five times." Picking up Ruby's phone, she handed it to her and urged, "Call him."

Ruby immediately shook her head and hung the phone back on its hook. "No. I don't think that's a good idea."

"Come on," Beth teased. "He's got such a huge crush on you and I think you've got a crush on him too."

"It doesn't matter," Ruby hissed. "I'm not going to call him."

"Why not?" Ruby asked, genuinely curious.

"Because it would be too embarrassing. What would I even say? I don't know how to flirt. It would just be a bunch of awkward silence until he got so uncomfortable he hung up."

Beth nodded. She wasn't that great at flirting either. The first couple of times Dean had talked to her she'd just sat awkwardly and replied with one word answers. She definitely wasn't as flirtatious as Cindy.

"Well, you could at least smile at him to give him encouragement and for heaven's sake if he asks you out again say yes."

"I just get so nervous around Stan. He's so handsome and it's like my brain forgets how to make words when I'm around him." Pausing, Ruby bit her lip. "I really do want to go out with him though."

Patting Ruby's arm, she whispered. "I know you do. You want to watch some TV? I think Law and Order's on."

When Beth returned home a few hours later, she went straight to her room, exhausted from the ups and downs of the day and ready to crash. She turned on the lights, immediately noticing a white piece of paper with Elizabeth written on the front lying next to the pillows of her immaculately made bed.

Stepping forward, her breathing quickened. She had a sneaking suspicion who had put the letter there. Picking up the note, she opened it and read:

Meet me the under the bleachers right after school tomorrow. I've got a job for you.

- R