Luke's POV
"There's something going on with Molly," I declare walking into my best friends' apartment.
"Here we go again," Michael laughs, muting the television.
"Hello to you too, Luke," Ashton adds, giggling. I frown at the two of them.
Calum sends me a sympathetic smile, "What's up with Molly? The same thing as before?"
"Thank you Calum," I start, "And yes. But it's weirder. Three hundred dollars was taped to the top of the money jar." Their mouths drop open in shock.
"Holy fucking shit," Michael mumbles, "Can I work wherever she does?"
"What does it feel like to hold three hundred dollars at once?" Ashton asks, his eyes wide.
I roll my eyes, "I asked her where it came from, without saying anything weird, and she said that it's probably been taped there this whole time, and I'm just oblivious. She started going on about how I never notice what's right in front of me. What if she's, like, taunting me?"
"It is getting a little weird," Calum agrees.
"But there's still no proof," Ashton cuts in.
"She's lying to me," I blurt out.
"How do you know?" Michael asks, leaning forward, clearly interested now.
"Back when she first started school, I was asking if she made any friends, and she told me about this girl, Marie, who she had math and English with. Today she said we was going out with a friend, I asked if it was Marie, and she had no clue who I was talking about until I kept repeating it. Then Molly suddenly 'remembered' her. I asked if they had science and Spanish together, and she said yes," I explain, feeling miserable.
"Wow," Ashton finally spits out, sighing softly, "Luke, I'm sorry."
I flop backwards onto a chair, "I don't know what to do guys. I mean, I'm the one who brought her here. What if she is selling drugs, and it's my fault that she got into this? That she has this opportunity? Our neighborhood is prime market. Should I send her back home with our parents or keep her here or not do anything until I'm absolutely sure?"
"Luke, we can't tell you what to do about Molly," Calum starts, making me groan loudly, "You have to listen to your gut. I mean, that's the whole reason you brought her here in the first place."
"Fair point," I mutter, still feeling miserable.
"So what's your gut telling you?" Ashton pokes, his head tilted to the side. All three of them stare at me in curiosity.
"Molly needs to stay," I finally admit, "I can't send her home guys. Even if it did feel right. My parents would just be mad and take it out on Molly."
"Well I'm glad she's staying," Michael chirps, lightening the mood, "Molly's such a sweet kid, but she's an asshole at the same time. Those kinds of people are the best." I crack a smile at the thought.
"It would be cruel to send her back," Calum agrees, "She's really starting to warm up to us, and I don't want to have to start all over again. She's a fun kid."
"Molly stays," I repeat, taking a deep breath. She's just a kid. How much trouble can she actually be getting into?
