wicked games // ethan cutkosky

I

     i watched the smoke leave my lips as my head fell back gently, meeting the metal steps of my fire escape. my phone vibrated in my pocket; i reached for it without moving my eyes from the active world below me.

"yeah?" i said before taking another drag of my newport. "you busy?" valeria asked me through the other line. i studied the thick smoke until it vanished into the cold air. "not really, why, what's up val?" there was giggling followed by a pause. "im with lola, wanna fuck shit up tonight?" she said, her and lola laughing in harmony. i closed my eyes and smiled. "be there in five." "mwah," val kissed through the phone and ended the call.

   i flicked my unfinished cigarette over the rail and watched it meet someone's outdoor garden on the fire escape below me. i sighed and climbed back through my window.

   i turned on my bluetooth and began scanning my closet for something that didn't look like a teenage boys outfit. my wardrobe was a mess of dirty vans, ripped jeans and oversized t-shirts.

"im sure whatever we're doing tonight won't be that extravagant," i thought to myself as i tossed the mini cocktail dress with the tags still on it across my room.

    lil peep echoed through my two-bedroom studio apartment, making ms. soule's yorkie yelp in the apartment next to me. god, i hated that thing.

      i finally decided on black sweats, my white air force 1's, a supreme hoodie and my black steelers beanie. i wrote on a pink sticker note and stuck it on the fridge.

             mom, went out with friends. be back tmrw. love u <3
xoxo, evie

my mom was never home. it's only been me and her since she kicked out my dad for having an affair with a 22 year-old a few blocks over. it went on for weeks until the name "hungry howies" in his phone started calling him "baby." she eventually caught on and kicked his ass to the curb. that was 7 months ago, we haven't talked to him since. fucking deadbeat.

    my mom started working all these hours ever since that happened which leaves the apartment to me all day, every day. i only see my mom for 10 minutes a day before i leave for school, or a few minutes at night if i'm awake when she gets home. she gives me a quick hug, a peck on the cheek and goes to bed.

       
        i take the twenty from the counter my mom left for dinner, grab my north face, and lock the door behind me. *ping.* i pull out my matte black iphone 7. i was one of the few rich kids in the southside, but i didn't show it. "wya??" valerie texted. "leaving now," i replied. i toyed with my adidas lanyard until i reached the builded-in parking garage for our apartment complex. i unlocked my audi, throwing my north face in the backseat as i climbed in. the radio blared through my car, making my crystal pendent hanging from my review mirror sway. i turned on my bluetooth and scanned my soundcloud likes. "bounce" by flatbush zombies came on when i hit shuffle. i rapped along, my fingers tapping the steering wheel to the bass until i was cut off by my annoying ass ring tone. "yessss?" i emphasized. "don't pull in the driveway, my parents are still awake," i slowed down. "im here, i'll park across the street. i ended the call and sparked a cigarette.

      i heard distant laughter and seen lola and val climbing out val's window. a few seconds later, they hopped in my car, fighting over shotgun. "fine bitch, but i get it next time," val said, in between laughs. "so what's the plan?" i said, before exhaling a cloud of nicotine. lola leaned forward from the backseat and took the cigarette from in between my fingers. she pulled out 3 tickets to Rolling Loud, a huge music festival that was held in chicago this year.  "shut up!" i squealed. "what the fuck lola, how?" i asked excitedly. "i know some people," val replied with a smirk. my smile quickly faded when i looked down. i looked back up at my two smiling best friends, "i can't fucking go like this. i look like i just woke up." i looked in the review mirror at my messy hair and bare face. i hadn't  even bothered to put on makeup. lola smiled and started to reach for something.  i shifted in the drivers seat to get a better look. both hands in her prada tote bag, she pulled out a see-through, lacy black long sleeved top with a black bralette to go underneath, followed by a high-waisted pastel pink mini skirt. i looked over at val, unsurely. she gave me a cheesy smile. i turned my head back to lol, who had a pair of open-toed strappy black heels in one hand and a diamond choker with matching earrings in the other.  "thank me later," lola said, flattering herself. i looked at val, then back at lola. "i don't know guys.. this isn't really my-" "style?" val finished my sentence. "we know, but your gonna look hot," lola chimed in, fanning herself with her hand. "cmon ev! you can change when we get there," lol said, eyebrows raised. i sighed, "okay, okay," i emphasized. they both squealed and hugged me. "this night is gonna change your life!" val said over the music blaring from the door speakers. i gave a nervous smile and put my car in drive. little did i know, she was right.