Ecstasy

Chapter 1

The speed accelerates and quickly drag the steering wheel to right, taking the curve under the bridge precisely. A dark blue car passes on my outside. The radio in my passage seat sparks.

"Give up, Hun. You can't win." A dark voice says, laughing at the end. I bite together hard, changing the gear.

Fight he want, fight he'll get.

Pushing the gas, I speed in the inner lane, streetlights flashing over the side window. The blue car holds his position in the outer lane, making it kinda illegal to pass him. Who said drag racing was legal? I pass him, out in the other lane, and past the three other cars I let up ahead. With screeching wheels I am the first one to stop by our masters. Young men in suits, seemingly out for a smoke, if it wasn't for their location. Standing in the left lane when I arrive, then moving towards my car as the rest whistle in.

"Five, ten, fifteen thousand." Larry counts up, handing the cash to Mike as I climb out of my car. "She's a keeper, dunno how she caught up to 'em." Oliver got a sour look on his face, glaring at his contestant, whose sickly green car just brakes in by us, black tire traces on the asphalt. He steps out with a snort my way, lighting a cigarette, the red dot glowing strongly in the dark.

The rest of the men move to their drivers, and Mike comes up to me.
"Here's your five grand. Well done." He hands me the money. I don't count them, trusting him means he'll trust me.
"Thanks." I sloppily fold the bills together and put them in my jacket. "If you need me again let me know." Since the race is over for tonight I decide to go back home to sleep.

**************

My alarm buzzes through the apartment. I groan, turning over on my stomach, pushing a blonde strand of hair out of my face and glaring at my phone. Finally I slam my hand on it, silencing it. Three hours sleep ain't much, but it'll be enough for today. I sit up, covers in a twisted mess under me, flattening down my hair a bit against my head. My feet hit the hardwood floor, as I walk to the kitchen. Turning on my coffee machine I reach back to scratch my left shoulder. A slight yawn escapes my lips. This day rhythm is normal for me, but that doesn't mean I'm not tired in the morning.

My phone buzzes on the counter. I pick it up, leaning my back against the counter with my eyes closed.
"Wassup?" The sunlight shines in through the window, warming my bare skin.
"Emily!" Tic exclaims with faked excitement. "How's our lovely girl?"
"Skip the sugar talk, what is it?" He laughs.
"Can't I call a friend just because I wanna talk?" I open my refrigerator to get out bread and jam.
"Normal people can, not you." He laughs again, as I hold the phone between my cheek and shoulder, preparing my breakfast.
"I need ten grand." I groan loudly. "I promise you'll get them back." He continues to further persuade. He already owes me a load and now he wants more?
"No way, uh uh." The coffee tastes bitter and strong, just the way I like it. "What do you need them for anyway?" More debts I suppose.
"There's this guy-"
"Who is your drug dealer, and got hold of a new stash." I interrupt him, knowing I'm right. "No thank you."
"C'mon!" Tic complains. "It's really good."
"It will ruin your body, mind, and life." I say, quoting my high school teacher. He snorts.
"Like you never tried it." I smile.
"You know I haven't." Standing by someone smoking a normal cigarette doesn't count in my world, and I refuse being in the smoke-filled rooms where new drugs are being tested, and philosophy on a higher level practiced. It has always felt suffocating, the light smoke filling the air, sweet like cotton candy and just as thin. "By the way, how was the last pleasure you borrowed money for? Did the girl think it was worth it?"
"Fuck you."
"I bet she would have done that rather than you."
"Fine, and I will pay you back, you know that." He says, not mad anymore.
"I know. See ya." I hang up, and go to finish my breakfast.