Remnants of Evil

2

Soft orange light emanated from the cigarette Scott was working to light. The shadows that were cast across his face exaggerating his sunken cheeks and his heavy lidded eyes. He inhaled, the warm light disappearing, leaving the bright red cherry in its place, his face now only illuminated by the dull streetlights that were next to the car.

"You sure we're at the right place?"

I took the cigarette as he offered it, rolling my eyes in response. "Jus' be patient, you know they're on tweaker time."

Scott continued to puff impatiently on the cigarette, his eyes constantly flicking up to look in the rearview mirror. He was about to complain again as there was a tap on the rear window. The door opened, the newcomers jacket rustling as they adjusted in the backseat.

Her brown hair was pulled up into a messy bun, her thin face sunken in, even under the big jacket she wore you could tell she was a stick.

Scott started up the car, pulling out onto the street. I turned slightly in my seat to look at her, quickly lighting up another smoke before speaking. "I thought Jeremy was comin' with you?"

"He started noddin' so I left him at Patrick's," she thanked me as I passed her the cigarette, "would you mind givin' me a ride back there when we're done?"

I nodded, reaching under the seat and pulling out the ziploc that contained the smaller drug bags. A few Xanax in one, a fat bit of crystal in another, three Roxie's, and the last a quarter gram of brown.

"Solid $175 no less," Scott sounded from the driver's seat.

"Shut up, our woadie here can walk with it for $165," I rolled my eyes at Scott, turning towards Hannah in the back, watching her quickly count out the twenty dollar bills, throwing in five ones. I traded the baggie for the bills, recounting and making sure it was all there.

We pulled up to the curb in front of a single wide, saying our goodbyes as she hopped out, watching her disappear into the trailer before taking off. Scott smirked, side eyeing me.

"What, I got somethin' on my face?"

"Nah, it's just fun watching you make 'em feel like they're gettin' a hot deal. It's almost like you've been doin' this as long as I have."

"Because I have, you dumbass," I smacked his arm and he chuckled. Bitch was really gonna pretend as if we hadn't started selling weed together in middle school, hell, the first time I even smoked was with him and Aristos. Scott and I had hustled together since day one and I'd be damned if I let him forget it.

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Ari was still up when we made it home, camped on the couch watching a cheesy 80's horror flick. He opened up his arms as I sunk into the spot next to him, pulling me into his chest and kissing my forehead. Scott disappeared into his bedroom

"Do you gotta work tomorrow baby?" my arms were wrapped around him, and I was surprised he could even hear me with my face buried in his chest.

"Yeah, got a ten hour shift," he exhaled, leaning his head back. He hated his job, always working overtime for no extra pay, averaging fifty hours a week. That's the joy of working in food service. "Do you?"

"Yeah, Kaitlyn took it off so I gotta cover the day drunks," I grumbled into his shirt. I worked at a bar on Bourbon Street, constantly full of tourists at every hour of the day.

"Hopefully no one tries to get in your pants again," he chuckled, "but then again, it just gives me a chance to show off that you're mine." He placed a finger under my chin to tilt my head up. His brown eyes gazing deep into mine before he gave me a peck, his soft lips brushing over mine.

"You're so fucking cheesy."

I let him pull me into his lap, his hands tracing along my sides. His eyes sparkled with lust, or love, or both. Drawing me in, just like they had years before. I felt his lips part as I pressed mine to his, quickly welcoming me as I flicked my tongue across his lower lip.

My skin felt hot beneath his touch, my heart speeding up as his hands slid underneath my sweatshirt, finding their place on my lower back. He let his fingernails trace into my skin, smiling against my lips as I let out a soft whimper.

I allowed my hips to grind against him, purring into the kiss as I could feel him growing through his sweats. He started to push my sweatshirt up, trying to pull it off.

"Can y'all wait on fuckin' till I make some nachos?"

Scott's voice made me jump, quickly sliding off of Ari's lap. I just nodded and he laughed, I could feel my cheeks burning red.