City at Dawn

Chapter Six: Erica

Erica Humphrey

Life can be hard.

But why would I complicate my life by brooding with what could've been or what I should do to make my life better, when I can just live in the moment and enjoy my young and irresponsible life?

I live my life at the fullest and usually never regret a damn thing. I mean, you only live once right? Cliche, but true.

And as I danced to the beat of the music at the club, I couldn't help but think sometimes I used these things as ways to keep from thinking of the depressive shit that goes through my mind. A very efficient way of making my mind feel happy was getting high. And right now, man, I'm high as fuck.

I grind myself against the guy dancing behind me. His hands roam through my stomach as we sway to the rhythm of the music. It's Tuesday and I'm probably gonna get laid tonight. Yep, Drake is not the only one that can go to a club on a Tuesday, alright.

I know Izzy and Kalili (especially Kalani) would disapprove of me getting high, but it doesn't hurt if they don't know right? Besides they're probably doing homework right now or some shit and I seriously am not in the mood of anything besides party and the hot guy that's currently sucking my neck.

Earlier today my mother told me that my older brother, Thomas is returning home at last. After spending six months on rehab my parents and my sister loudly hope that he got better. But I know the truth. Thomas is a weak guy and once he gets back to New York, he'll fall back to his old habits.

I've never tried heroin but that's my brother's poison of preference. I'm more of a marijuana, coke girl than anything else and It's not like I'm addicted, so I'm not as gone as my brother is.

You'd think I would care that the first thing that my brother is gonna do when he gets home, is call his dealer. But I'm a strong believer that you get what you deserve and after he made my whole family suffer by his antics, I won't be so forgiving.

HYPROCITE! My mind screams, but I ignore it. Instead I let the hot guy, whose name I don't know, take me home for some pleasure that will sure help me forget.

***

Of course, even with the pounding headache, I'm still forced to attend school. I'm the youngest of my siblings and the only one that's still in school, so my parents tend to pay a lot of attention to me.

"You look like death, Erica." Dad comments as he drizzles honey into his waffles. The same thing we have every fucking day. Waffles.

"Yeah, well I stayed up late doing an assignment." I shrug and take a sip of my water.

"You shouldn't have left it until the last minute." Mom preaches me and narrows her eyes.

I roll my eyes and change the subject. "When is Bianca coming home, anyway?"

"She says she'll be here tomorrow and Thomas will be here next week, finally having recovered." I can see the relieve in my mom's eyes and it makes me wanna puke from guilt. She looks so happy to have all her children together and healthy at last.

"That's good. Maybe we can go shopping tomorrow and make it a girls day?" I suggest, trying to make things better, to keep my mind at rest. Fuck this shit.

Mom squeals from excitement and grips my dad's arm making his water spill into his pants. Dad groans, but mom doesn't pay him any attention as she exclaims, "That would be great, honey!"