Pulling my keys out of my pocket, I rushed out to my car. I was going to go to Nicki’s, and I was going to leave with what I wanted. But I wasn’t going to deal with her. I’d find what I needed somehow.
As expected, Nicki’s street was lined with cars. Parking at the end, I turned off the car and walked up to her house, entering through the garage. The kitchen was full of people who luckily didn’t see me when I walked in. When I looked around, I tried to find anyone I knew I could get something from. Even just a few.
I spotted Evan and ducked behind the counter so he didn’t see me. If he found me, he would for sure call me out and tell Nicki I was there. Walking in the other direction, I saw one of the guys that was with Evan at our house the other night.
Nodding in greeting, I walked over to him. “Hey man. How’s it going?” The guy asked.
“Not bad.” I didn’t want to have small talk. The goal was to get what I wanted and get out. “Hey, you wouldn’t happen to have a few I can buy off you, would you?”
The guy just frowned and shook his head. “Nah, man, sorry. Talk to Evan though.” He casually pointed to the other side of the room. Quickly, I said my thanks and ducked away.
As I walked through the house, trying to avoid Evan, Nicki walked out of the hallway with TJ. She was laughing animatedly, and he wrapped his arm around her shoulder. Another idea popped into my head. It was really fucking stupid, but it could get me in and out quick.
Ducking down the dark hallway, I silently turned the doorknob to Nicki’s room and shut the door behind me. It was exactly the same. Everything was cast in that god-awfulpink hue. Fake fur decoration and pink cheetah print decorated nearly every surface. It was like a pink animal threw up in here. Walking over to her nightstand, I opened the drawer to find a stash of pills. Nothing was labeled and was just separated into individual baggies. I looked for the pills that looked familiar to me and shoved the bag into my pocket.
When I walked down the hallway, I was stopped by hands on my chest. TJ stood in front of me. His lime green hoodie was as gross-looking as ever. “What the fuck are you doing here?”
“It’s a party, right? Just came for the party.” I said, trying to brush him off.
“Nicki’s outside, so why were you back here?”
Turning around, there were multiple doors behind me, and one of them was the bathroom. “Had to take a piss, TJ. Want me to check in with you next time so you can hold it for me?” Pushing him out of the way, I continued walking down the hallway. Making a beeline for the front door. Now I just had to get out before Nicki or Evan saw me.
There was a hand on my shoulder, and I was jerked back. TJ sucker-punched me in the face, and stars flashed in my vision as I stumbled, catching myself on the back of the couch. “Get the fuck out of here. Stay away from her.”
I burst out laughing. “Oh,” I managed to choke out between laughs. “You’re still delusional.” I wiped under my nose, pulling my hand away and seeing no blood thankfully. “Good luck with that.” My laughter continued as I walked out the front door and back to my car.
I took two pills as soon as I got to the car, swallowing them dry. When I got home, I crawled into bed with Dexter and Marlowe. She had her arm wrapped around him and was lying on his chest. I maneuvered my way between the two of them, and we settled into a comfortable cuddle, sleeping through the night.
twenty-five
battle of the bands - round 2
Marlowe
“We’re opening the doors in 15 Mar!” Naomi shouted from the back. The second round of Battle of the Bands shows started tonight, and the line to get in was already wrapped around the corner. “Hey, can you get the back door? I think the guys are here.” When I turned the corner, Naomi was pushing a box of liquor from one end of the room to another. I ran by to open the door. Dexter, Bunny, Rich, and Chris all stood at the back entrance.
All the bands had come by earlier to set up their equipment, and the shows would start an hour after we opened. When I let the guys in, they filed through the door, greeting Naomi and me, then walked over to the backstage area of the bar.
I returned to the bar and started messing with the clean glasses. Reorganizing them, even though they were in perfect order.
Naomi stood beside me with her arms crossed on her chest. Her pitch-black hair was pulled up into a tight ponytail. Hersharp eyebrows and black lipstick made her look fierce as ever. “Why the fuck does Bunny have a black eye?”
My anxious movements stopped, and I looked over at my best friend. I hoped she could read the worry painted across my face. By the way her features dropped, I could tell she could. She pulled me into a hug, and I relaxed into her. “He left randomly last night, came home late, and woke up with it. It’s just gotten worse through the day. Every time Dex or I ask him about it, he brushes it off. Keeps snapping at both of us about it.”
Fighting back tears, I pulled away from her. “We just want to make sure he’s okay, you know? But I’m pretty sure he went to Nicki’s. Probably got pills or something. Dex said he can get like this. But I fucking hate him blowing us off.”
“Talk to him, Mar. You can’t just let this shit sit with you. Fucking talk to him or I will.” She gave me a serious look, and I knew she meant business.
I nodded and walked to the front door. The security guard, Dave, was able to high-five me when I told him he could open the doors. He was an aging tattooed guy who had lived in Middleton for over 50 years. Dave said he had been in the military or something. Apparently he was in his 70s, but the guy barely looked 55.
As the bar filled with people, Naomi and I got to work mixing drinks and pouring beers. I kept a close eye on the clock for when I would need to go back and help the guys get their equipment switched out for their set.
Setting two drinks down, I turned to Naomi. “I’m going to go help them, you good?”
Dave walked up behind me. “You go, I’ll jump in.” Turning around, I stepped out from behind the bar and pushed my way through the crowd to the gate to backstage.
Stevie pushed the barrier out of my way as I approached. “Hey, Marlowe.” He waved as I scooted past. Smiling, I continued back to where the guys were.
