Never Enough Winstons |The Outsiders|

Jack The Junkie

Jack Micheals.

A nineteen-year-old dope fiend bumming around Windrixville. His father calls him Jack, his friends call him J. Well, they would if he had any. His dealer calls him Jack the Junkie.

Dallas Winston calls him cousin.

Things were getting bad again, and Jack knew it. Dad was outta town, something about his sister getting sick in New York, doctors didn't think she'd make it. Dad was a real nice guy, always able to keep Jack on the right path. Now that Dad was gone, Jack scavenged the streets feverishly, searching for the only thing that could scratch his itch.

I just need a little bit, it's my last time. I'll get clean tomorrow Dad, promise.

How could some white powder turn everything upside down?

A few seconds of peace often come at a price. It was a price Jack couldn't pay.

His nose ached as the concrete swayed underneath him, his eyes watered with every step he took. The price of cocaine was getting high, and funds were getting low. Now, Jack needed money unless he wanted his face bashed in again.

But that's when he saw him, a flash of white-blonde hair in the distance. It wasn't every day Dallas rolled into town, but Jack was glad he was here today. There were two other people leaning against the t-bird with him, a girl and a guy. The girl's hair was a dark blonde, nearly ginger. He couldn't tell about the other boy, he was wearing a cowboy hat.

All three of them stood up as Jack stumbled across the parking lot, oblivious to the way Dallas tried to hide his sister behind him.

"Oh man, am I glad to see you. You gotta help me, Dal. I need money, please-"

Dallas sneered, his blue eyes glaring like daggers. "Why would I help you?"

"Please Dallas," he begged. "He's gonna kill me if I don't pay up."

Jack stared at him pathetically, a few miserable tears rolling down his cheeks. "I don't got any cash. I just need fifty dollars, I'll pay you back, Dal, please-"

Dallas pushed the boy away savagely while the girl watched from behind him. "You shoulda thought about that before you became a fuckin' junkie, Jack."

"I'm clean now, I've been clean for six days. I just need some money!"

Jack ground his fists together furiously, he knew his time was running out.

"C'mon man, I told you about the church on Jay Mountain, you owe me."

"I don't owe a pot to piss in. Now fuck off before I have to beat some sense into you," he snarled. The threat never reached his ears though, Jack was too distracted watching the girl behind him. Suddenly, her name lit up in his mind like a set of headlights.

Hannah.

Verna's baby girl sure ain't a baby no more.

"Hannah?"

Jack knew he was right when Dallas growled. "Don't fucking talk to her."

Hannah pushed her way to her brother's side. "What's it to you?"

'I'm your cousin," Jack started. "Verna is my dad's sister. You look just like her. Hell, last time I saw you, you was just a baby. How old are you anyway, seventeen maybe eighteen?"

Dallas moved forwards again, shoving Jack square in the chest. Hannah and the other boy quickly ducked into the t-bird.

"She ain't even sixteen, and I told you not to talk to her. You've got a lotta nerve, Micheals, I'll give you that. Now get outta here before I beat the tar outta you. You look like shit and smell even worse."

Anxiety flowed through his veins like poison, rage clouding his vision. Pulling himself to his feet, Jack's pale eyes glowed with hate.

"I'm not gonna forget about this, Dal. Watch your fucking back!"

Dallas was nearly sitting in the car when he yelled back. "Shut the fuck up! This is why your mom left!"

Three days passed. Three days passed and Jack was no closer to paying off his debt. His heart clenched painfully as the moon rose to its peak and someone knocked on the door. He knew it would be worse if he didn't answer, they'd never believe he'd run off.

Eddy was nearly six foot four and two hundred pounds of muscle. If he wasn't terrifying enough, the three large figures behind him were the cherry on top. "I gave you one week to pay me back, J. Nine days later, and my hands are empty. Whatcha gotta say about that?"

"I know," Jack said weakly. His sweaty hand clenched around the rusting doorknob as he racked what was left of his brains.

Think Jack, there's gotta be something else you can give 'em.

Eddy chuckled darkly. "If you know, then where's my fucking money? Huh, kid? I'm not fucking around!"

Eddy reached into the pocket of his dark jacket. The pale moonlight danced over the barrel of a gun.

"I'll give you something else, something better," Jack shouted desperately. Eddy's narrow eyes shone with amusement. "Go on Jack, tell me what you got."

"I can't get you the money but...Uh, I could get you..."

"I'm not a very patient man, Jack. Let's hurry this up, shall we?"

Suddenly, her name lit up in his mind like a set of headlights.

"How about a girl?"