Lost Cause (Tyler Carter)

Chapter 24

I snuck back into the house through the door. The house was still as it was when I left.

I went into Rachel's room. She looked so peaceful asleep in her bed. It kills me that I have to lie to her like I do. It kills me that I have to lie to her at all. I shouldn't have to. I shouldn't have to live my life by lies. I don't want to lie, but what am I supposed to do? Tell Rachel the truth and get thrown in jail? I can't even tell Michael. There is no one that I can tell that I can trust to keep their mouth closed.

I reached into the closet and got the box that contains my duffel bag. I opened the box and put the gun in my bag, then put the box back in the closet.

I took off my shoes and my hoodie and climbed back into bed next to Rachel.

"I love you." I whispered, even though she was asleep and couldn't hear me.

I feel terrible because tomorrow is Rachel's birthday and I have no money to buy her something. I would buy her a little something with the one hundred dollars I have but I have to save up to pay Curtis.

I got my phone out and scrolled through Facebook. There was a post from a guy in the grade above me.

Party at my place tomorrow night. Hit me up w some dope shit.

I opened a message to him.

Saw your post. What are you looking for

What do you have

I've got all you want. Hit me with your offer

90.

70 will get you one g. Good amount though. Meet me behind the gym tomorrow before school

See you then. Better not be any dank shit.

I put my phone away and slowly drifted off to sleep.

--

Rachel and I said bye to her mom and proceeded to walk to school.

"So, you're finally sixteen." I said. "How does it feel?"

She shrugged her shoulders. "Normal."

"Wow, that's exciting." I joked.

She giggled. "So, have you figured out what you're going to do with the stuff those guys gave you?"

My heart skipped a beat as I came up with a lie. "Yeah, I'm going to give it back. There's no way I'm getting myself involved in that shit."

"When?"

"I don't know. It'll be hard, but I'll figure it out." I said.

She nodded and smiled.

Once we reached the school, Rachel went to her class and I snuck behind the gym to meet Jeremiah.

He was there, and let me mention, looking shady as hell. He had his hood up and he was holding fifty and twenty dollar bills in his hand.

"Yo, you can't stand behind the gym holding seventy dollars in broad daylight." I said.

"Why not?" He asked.

I chuckled. "Because you look shady as shit." I said. "People are going to be suspicious."