Erica closed the front door quietly as she looked across the street to the empty Hanson house. Out of nowhere she suddenley missed Taylor. She wished that he was right across that street so that she could talk to him like she had always been able to. Not that she had anything to say, but it would have been nice. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath as she thought of Taylor. A small smile crept over her face once she had a mental picture of him. She opened her eyes and took another look at the house before quickly running across the lawn and hopping into the passenger side of a 98 Eclipse. She grinned quickly at everyone in the car.
"What up Crash?" the driver asked her as he quickly pulled away from her house and turned the corner.
Erica grinned again,"Not much, Hecks."
Hecks nodded at her usual response,"We got some new shit that we need you to push tonight, Crash. You up to the challenge?"
She glanced back at Slowy, Elmer and some strange girl before snickering,"What do you think?"
Slowy laughed stupidly,"Yo, this bitch is fucking nuts! I love you Crash!"
Hecks moved his hand from the steering wheel and rubbed her knee,"That's my girl." he said glancing at her and smiling. He took his hand away and pulled out a couple of dime bags. He tossed them in her lap before lighting a cigarette for himself,"Skunk." he said bluntly.
Erica picked up one dime bag and examined the contents,"Looks like hydro, a little greener maybe." she scrutinized.
Hecks cackled,"Yo, does Crash know her shit or what?" he asked to no one in particular.
Elmer nodded,"It's twisty fucking bangin." he sang.
Erica laughed at the the two of them. Whenever she was with them she always felt so accepted. And they were so burnt that they could make any depressing day and/or situation fun. With them, she learned how to laugh at herself. She turned serious as she remembered her job,"This better be some bangin weed, like you say. I'm not losing any of my customers over some imitation pass off shit."
Hecks nodded as he inhaled his cigarette,"It's bangin, it's bangin. Trust us Crash. Keep a dime for yourself and see what it's all about."
Erica grinned,"Bangin."
Hecks pulled over to the curb in a sleezy part of Tulsa by a dark back alley. He shut the car off and pulled out a wad of cash. Erica shoved the marijuana in the pocket of her black coat as he spkoe,"Listen Crash, the po-po's are getting wise to Gay Boy's place. We don't wanna blow up his spot so you all are meetin out here tonight." he shoved a wad of cash at her,"This is to buy all of the E that you can."
Erica took the money for the ecstasy pills and turned around,"Ready Elmer?" she asked staring into the backseat.
Hecks jumped in,"Yo, Crash, there's been a change for a little while."
Erica stared at him hard,"What change?"
"Well, you'll be working with Biscuit now." he said motioning to the girl in the backseat.
Erica looked the girl over,"Awe fuck no! What the fuck are you thinking? Look at her! That girl has never been on these streets a day in her life and you're gonna send her out with me? Fuck no!"
"Erica, you're the best." Elmer spoke up.
She glared at him,"It's Crash." she shot back,"Crash." She hated it when people in the business used her real name, but somehow it was sort of different with Elmer. They had a history, a complicated history, and in a moment of weakness she caved in and gave him her real name. She could kick herself for it everyday.
"Look, it's not a fucking debate. You know the streets, you need to show her the ropes and shit like that. Once she's got it down you are back with Elmer. They wouldn't have given you her if you weren't the best out here." Hecks explained.
Erica sighed,"Drug dealers." she mumbled under her breath as she kicked the car door open,"C'mon Biscuit."
Biscuit quickly exited the car and came over to Erica's side. Erica looked her over again. Kind of tall, auburn hair, grey eyes and freckles. She shook her head. Elmer hopped out of the car to climb in on the passenger side. He stopped next to Erica,"Chill out. Give her a try." he whispered.
She stared angrily into his blue eyes,"Fuck it." she mumbled back,"I don't fucking care. You guys don't listen to shit."
"Chill!" he smiled as he placed his hands on her shoulders. He placed his lips next to her ear,"Besides, I need to get away from you before I rape you. You are fucking gorgeous, ya know that?"
Erica rolled her eyes,"Whatever Elmer." she said backing away.
He stared in her eyes,"Later...Erica."
"Taylor! Tay!" Isaac said rushing into their hotel room.
Taylor looked up from his book The Scarlet Letter,"What?"
Isaac grinned as he hovered over him,"I met these two girls down in the lobby. They're cute, nice, funny and waiting for you and me right now." he raised his eyebrows.
Taylor closed his book,"What do you mean, me and you? I'm not going down there."
Isaac stared blankly at his brother. It had been months since he had lied to his brother about Erica, and he still felt horrible about it. Taylor had not perked up one bit and Isaac was more sure than ever that Tay would never utter a Thank You his way. What had he been thinking when he listened to Chris Sabec and everyone else? They severed the brotherly trust between the two. Although Ike did not want to admit it, he could tell that Taylor sometimes thought that Isaac had just made up everything about letting Erica go. He had to do something to pull his brother from this rut.
"Oh yes you are. You are going, and you're going to enjoy it." Ike said defiantly, pulling Taylor from his chair.
Taylor dug his heels into the floor and clenched his teeth,"I don't want to go." he growled.
Isaac faced his brother with a cheesy grin,"Awe! Okay, baby Tay. I'll leave you with your itty bitty book so you can stay away from the big bad girls." he mocked.
Taylor sighed,"It...it's not like that Ike. I've just had no desire to hook up with anyone since...Erica."
Taylor's eyes glazed over. Just the sound of her name inflicted pain into the very depths of his heart. He still felt some sort of connection with her. So, in his mind, any contact with any other girl might soil the sanctity of that bond.
"I know that you said I would let go if I loved her but," Taylor turned his back to his brother,"well the truth is, I'm still trying to let go."
The guilt of telling Taylor that lie only gnawed at Isaac's impure conscience more now. He had to convince Taylor that another girl would be just the thing he needed. Wait Ike, more lies? How many lies are you going to tell him before you wreck his life? he thought to himself. Another little voice spoke up in the back of his mind Why not lie again? I pretty much killed my brother anyway. I might as well finish the job. His current condition couldn't possible worsen, it could only improve.
"So Biscuit, what's your real name?" Erica asked as they treked through the dark back alleys of Tulsa to meet up with Gay Boy.
"Patti." she answered without hesitation.
Erica grabbed Patti's sleeve and stopped dead in her tracks,"Wrong. This is your first lesson, if anybody ever asks you what your real name is out here, you tell them to fuck off. Never, ever tell anyone anything. That way if you ever get caught doing this there is a better chance that you won't be recognized."
Patti bit her lip,"Um, okay."
Erica scrutinized her again,"Why are you here anyway?" she crossed her arms,"You look to pure to be out here."
Patti fiddled with her jacket sleeve,"Cause I need the money." she answered honestly.
Erica laughed,"That's your reason?"
Patti frowned,"Yeah, that's my reason." she said coldly.
Erica shook her head as she continued to walk,"That's really gay. You should be in the business because you hate your patents or something. Money is only the side reward, and you only make money when you're good." she explained.
"But, you're the best so..." Patti started as she fell into step with Erica.
Erica chuckled,"The best? There is no such thing as the best out here. I've just been lucky enough to survive. I am only considered the best because I have yet to fail, but you'll see. This shit only cathes up with you. Sooner or later luck runs out."
Patti nodded as if she understood,"So, why are you in the business?" she asked in an effort to keep the conversation going.
"Because I'm fucking nuts." Erica looked at her and grinned.
Patti smiled back. She wasn't sure if Erica was joking or not. She had a feeling that everything Erica said could be interpreted in many ways.
Taylor dawdled behing Isaac as they entered the lobby. Another girl...another girl... Taylor kept thinking as his stomach flopped around as if auditioning for the olympics. His mind tried to convince him that he was ready for this next step, but his heart was rapidly beating in protest.
Isaac grabbed Taylor's arm and pointed towards two girls on a couch with his free hand,"There they are. Cute, huh?" he whispered.
Taylor glanced at his brother in disbelief. Was this his brother who used to be head over heels and heart over mind madly in love with Stacie? He was so bruised and broken when Stacie died. When did Isaac decide to become a turtle and live life in an emotionally protective shell?
Isaac sighed while waiting for Taylor to answer,"Come on, Tay. All you have to say is hi. Baby steps." he said as he pulled Taylor towards the girls.
Taylor took a deep breath as he studied the girls from a closing distance. The one on the right had bright red hair and blue eyes. She looked very thin and very pale. The girl on the left had blonde hair and deep brown eyes that mixed nicely with her tan. The girls smiled as Tay and Isaac stopped in front of them,"Hi." they said to Taylor in unison.
"Tay, this is Allison," Ike said pointing to the redhead,"and Kristin." he pointed to the other one.
Taylor took another deep breath,"Hi." he whispered.
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