Those Who Remain

Four - Negligence

- failure to use reasonable care, resulting in damage or injury to another.

Smoke filled the small living room as glass bottles clicked against the table. Music blasted from a large speaker in the corner as Cash cracked a window near the door.

Angel's house was on a dead end with an open field on one side and another small house on the other. Cash never saw the neighbors when she came, but she knew someone lived there because the lights were usually on. Angel's house had dingy gray siding all around except for a brick frame around the door he had replaced a few years ago after the police raided it one night. It was one story with two bedrooms and an unfinished basement. Angel kept it pretty dim, only using a lamp in the corner of the living room when it was dark and he had to count money.

Cash assumed he lived alone, yet there was always some random girl there. She only saw a few of them more than once. Other than that, it was usually full of Angel's crew; which Cash was now part of.

"You don't like the smell, shawty?" Angel asked. Cash looked at him to make sure he was speaking to her.

"No, it's just hot in here," she said. Angel eyed her for a second before nodding.

"How work go this week?"

"Same," she said, smirking. Although she was nervous when she started working for him, the last couple of months had been as smooth as it could be. Cash hadn't realized how many of her peers were actually getting high until Jojo put her into the scene. She usually was empty before lunch time and that made her less nervous. Anyone who got caught wouldn't dare give up the supply and ruin it for everyone else.

"You always say that," he said, holding his blunt between his lips as Cash handed up the money bag she always gave him at the end of the week. "I told you to take your cut out."

"Nah, you got it," she said, nodding. Angel looked around the room and chuckled before counting her bills out.

"Young the most honest out of all you niggas," he teased. A few of them groaned and eyed her.

"Even me?" Jojo asked. Cash looked at him and laughed.

"You always being extra," she said, poking his arm. He swatted her hand away and walked towards the kitchen. Cash watched him until she felt Angel push the money in her hand.

"You staying?"

"Nah, gotta get back to Yani."

"Tell Jo to take you."

Cash nodded before pushing the $300 in her back pocket and walking into the kitchen.

Angel watched her from his peripheral for a moment before going back to counting his money. He shook his head, feigning off the thoughts he's had lately about the young girl.

He noticed her before he even brought it up to Jojo. She was quiet and reserved but she stood out as a natural beauty to him. Angel was used to young girls trying to look grown, especially when he rolled up to the school. He loved the attention he got from it. The younger girls weren't looking for exclusivity and didn't nag him about what he did like women his age. All they wanted to do was be seen with a baller and get a little cash. They did almost anything he wanted and he used that to his advantage. That was the only reason Angel kept Sasha around.

He'd met Sasha when she was a freshman and he was a senior. She followed him around school like a lost puppy but it wasn't until Angel graduated that he gave her any play. He'd put her on, upgraded her appearance and even helped her mom with bills. She was a single mom of 3, so her daughter dating a drug dealer worked out in her favor.