Devil

-33-

-Esla-

I missed having contact with people but I wasn't sure how much more I wanted to tell my mother. After I had confessed a bit about my "kidnapping", she had told me to go back to sleep and think about things. Now I was impatiently sitting at the breakfast table while my parents argued, and my stomach grumbled.

"If the girl can get us the money we need, then why not let her? Either way she goes, she's already caught up in this mess! Getting the money won't get her further caught up," my father argued.

"She is our daughter. Our only daughter. This is about teaching her morals. This is about dealing with criminals," my mother listed off on her fingers.

"Haniella listen," my dad hobbled towards my mother, winching a bit as he tried to hug her.

"No," my mother deviantly turned away from him, arms crossed over her chest.

"So what do you want me to do? Turn them in? They'll kill me, my friends, my family, everyone," I said quietly. I started to find my voice. "It's just hush money, and my friend Coco knows her-

"Coco? How did you meet this friend?" my mother turned to me. When I had thought I had seen anger, it was actually concern in her eyes. "She's Maly's new best friend," I explained. "Malybu?" my father asked. I nodded, "She's a good person," I gulped, "she uh, buys stuff from her. She'll know how to talk to her the best."

"Has she ever actually met this Nicotine girl?"

I wasn't sure of that but I lied anyways.

"Well, we need to work out a plan."

"I want to go over to Maly's," I told them. "We can all make a plan there," I suggested.

"Malybu knows?" my father asked.

"No, unless Coenna told her."

"Coenna?" he asked.

"Coco," I corrected myself.

"Alright," my mother sighed. "Go ahead and contact Coco or whoever." I was surprised she had given in, but I didn't mention that. "I'll start on breakfast." I was staying home today since my school had agreed on a one-day suspension that wouldn't go on my record. Thomkeesha was banned from school, but that only made me worried that she'd want to come to my house and start something again.

I went back upstairs like I was going to contact Coco, secretly wishing Nicotine or Devil would ship me my phone or another one so I could be connected to the world.

I came back downstairs a moment later, watching my mother whip a pancake into shape while my father relaxed on the couch. I paused at the edge of the staircase, watching my two parents in their own separate worlds. Yesterday I had felt so small, and weak. But my love for my family was bigger, and it was also consuming.

Maybe we could make it without the cash. If it kept my mother from worrying, and kept me from having to see Nicotine or Devil again- I was all in. I bit my lip. But some part of me did want to see Devil again. She confused me because my brain was screaming "stupid" and "danger" but my heart was crying "I want". And my kitty...

I smirked to myself then saw my father starting to stand up. I started walking back down the stairs as he caught my eye. He offered me a quick smile then focused on something else. I felt so conflicted inside. Decisions were pulling me right and left, and I felt like I'd snap in half. Maybe after breakfast I could chance going over to Kiersten's to clear my head.

My mother laid our breakfast down on the table and we dug in. After breakfast was over, I pushed down my rising anxiousness and met my mother's gaze. "I'm not gonna take the money," I told her, then looked over at my dad. My mother appeared relieved but my father frowned. "But there's no risks in taking the money," he said.