Nor⭐️Cal

XVI.

Nor⭐️Cal

Nicole

"Mom, I'm heading out. I'll be back in a little while." I called out to her as I was walking down the hall with Mom's keys in hand.

"Where are you going?" She asked stepping from the kitchen. Her hands and forearms covered in flour with a look of concern on her face. "It's after seven, where do you need to go?" Mom was paranoid about me going out at night. All because of one bad night of drinking at a friends house, since then she's never liked me going out but as if her paranoia stops me.

"A friend of mine left some papers in my car. She texted me asking if I could drop it off. I'll be right back and I have my phone on me so I'll see you in like a hour or two tops."

"It doesn't take an hour or two to drop off papers, Nicole." She said harshly in reply.

"I'm going to stay there for a bit to hang out. I'll be back, bye." Before she had the chance to interrogate me some more, I slammed the front door behind me and continued to Mom's car. "Hi Dad." I said with a quick wave as be pulled up next to me.

"Where are you going?"

"Mom knows. I'll be back in a little while." I closed the car door and started the car. Checking the time, I think I should get there after everyone has left but just before he leaves.

I have to say, based on what Imani's told me, I'm surprised at all the things that have unfolded since Vanity and CJ met. From the bad deal with Malik to she possibly being pregnant with his child- if it's even his- I've got to say, they go through too many problems in such a short amount of time. I've recently learned of Mickey's death... How nice of Vanity to let me know about my friend passing away. Maybe if she wasn't on all that ecstasy she'd be in the right mindset but her focus is all for CJ, who's now her supplier. It was only a matter of time till he got her to buy from him, especially since she's rich. I bet he figures she'll drop hundred a week to calm her addiction.

The hook is in deep and now it's left her like this. Such a shame.

In just a few short minutes, I pulled into the empty parking lot. There was one other car not too far away and that was the sign that I made it at just right time. I got out of the car and walked along the usual pathway, opening the large wooden doors and continuing on my way.

"Good evening Mr. West, is it too late to do confessions?" I asked him as he was setting up for tomorrow morning's usual weekday service.

"Not at all. Please come have a seat."

"Actually, I'd rather not call this confession, I'd call it needing to seek advice because I've been told some things that have me worried sick about a good friend of mine." I said taking a seat in the front most pew next to him. My hands folded over one another in my lap, he looked at me intently.

"Well you know you can always seek the advice of a pastor. You don't need to give out names if it makes you uncomfortable but feel free to speak when you're ready." He said in such a comforting tone. I had only met him through the church, never at his house or even formally introduced by Vanity.

"You see, I met a girl towards the end of the school year. She and I became good friends up until she was partners with this nineteen year old drug dealer for a school project. I'd vouch for her by saying she was with me doing this project when she was with him. An issue occurred but was resolved just for another- more serious issue to arise. This drug dealer sold her and some other girl into a sex trade business in exchange for two hundred thousand dollars. Time had passed and he got her back but now has her addicted to ecstasy that he sells to her. Now she's more likely pregnant with his child and she doesn't even talk to me anymore. Just stays home or is with him and I don't know what to do to try to help." I said solemnly.