LÍO

ZARCO II

"... You what, Marco?!" Zara exclaims and lets out a gasp. "What the hell?"

"I... I can explain..." He pauses as electricity creeps up his spine and sweat drips down his chest. His breathing starts to become shallow as Zara shakes her head.

"This better be good." Zara glares as she props herself up. "You should have told me sooner."

Marco shakes and wipes his eyes as he attempts to hide his face under the pillow. "They... they cut me off." Tears fall onto his hands. "I... have no experience... and I'm not proud of it... Zara... I love you... and I'm trying to find stable work... but it's hard... I mean well..."

Zara pauses for a moment and slowly reaches in to stoke his head. She doesn't know if she should laugh, cry or feel sorry for him.

"Marco... I didn't realise things were this bad." She says softly as she comforts him. "I'm sorry... I would help you if I could..."

Marco looks up at her with his watery eyes. "I know... I'm sorry for not telling you sooner..." he replies as he wipes them again. I didn't want you to... think I was weak... and a bad boyfriend..."

Zara hugs him. "I heard Carrera's is hiring."

"... Really?"

Zara nods. "You live across the street and you never knew this?"

Marco sighs. "I never considered it... and I dunno if I can..."

"...Why not?"

Marco moves the pillow down and looks her in the eyes. "I... uh... have debts that I need to pay back some people... very soon... and I'm not sure that working at Carreras would cut it..."

"Marco... to who and how soon?"

"Well, there's a man... and he's probably coming soon... and yeah... some more men..."

Zara raises her eyebrow. "Men like who? The dude downstairs?"

Marco lets out a laugh. "Armando? No, he's like below me in the hierarchy... no he's on the same level... basically a street level dealer..." he says, glancing across at the clock on his bedside table. "No.. no.. he said he was gonna be here tonight... today's the ninetenth, right?"

Zara rolls her eyes. "Marco... just tell me what's really going on... please?"

"I.. I.. it's hard to..."

"... I'm your girlfriend... and I at least deserve to know what's going on at the very least..."

"I'm... I'm scared..."

She takes his hand and sighs. "I know... but I love you and I want to help you."

"I know... I know... Zara... but I'm just so..."

"Scared? I know, Marco, but just try and explain it to me. Please?"

"Ok.. ok..."

"There's a man... I dunno his name... but he has a gun... and he's scary... and he... he shoots people if they don't pay on time... and I... I am kinda behind on my payments..."

"How behind?"

"Like... uh a month... or two?" Marco adds as he scratches his head. "So yeah... he gave me a second chance... but he said that... that... I need to pay up... like tonight..."

"And how much money do you need?"

Marco sighs and starts counting frantically on his fingers for the next minute or so. "So... like five hundred euros?"

Zara facepalms. "How are you getting this?"

Marco groans. "I dunno? I can't ask Armando for money..."

"Why not? You could pay him back, right?"

"He needs to pay them too..." Marco thinks for a moment. "...And I think he'd not lend me the money."

"Do you know anyone else?"

"I dunno, Zara!" Marco exclaims. "Do you know?"

"I have no idea—"

"—Exactly! So do you wanna help, or not?"

"What do you think I've been doing for the past ten minutes, Marco? Be grateful." Zara shakes her head. "I don't know everything."

"Well... sorry..." Marco sits up. "I dunno either..."

Zara gets up. "Well, you can figure it out yourself because I'm going to go now."

"No, wait!" Marco yells as Zara slams the door behind her. "You can't leave me like this!"