The Addiction

The Addiction - Chapter 8 Prt 3

I walk down Jergen's Square, thinking back to this morning. Chloe had asked me not to bring her to Elize's doctor's office for a dna test. She also begged me to lie about it if Elize ever brought it up. 

I feel grimy, as if a layer of dirt had clung to my skin. Why did I promise that I would lie? She's been nothing but a torture to me since I've started working as a maid.  After serving her breakfast in the morning, I wanted to go confront her and tell her I wouldn't do such a feckless thing, but my mouth stayed glue shut when she summoned me for errands. 

Now I'm holding two target bags full with fiber bars and heading to a expensive shop for clothes. I still haven't made up my mind on what I'll tell Elize. 

"Elize, I'm sorry but Chloe might not be telling the truth because she came up with this really pitiful plan to not get a DNA test which I can assume means-"I say, but abruptly stop. I swallow as realization hits me like a bag of bricks. A stream of strangers past by me as I slow down my walking. 

Chloe's lying about the pregnancy. It had occurred to me that this might be the predicament but I haven't really come to terms with it. If she is, Elize has to know about it. He must know about it, despite me promising Chloe that I wouldn't say anything. My bags begin to weigh down on my shoulders. Just as I'm a few blocks away from the clothing store, I feel little drops of water on my forehead. 

I look up and sure enough, its drizzling. I pick up my pace and open the glass doors that leads into a very extravagant mall full with endless amounts of money hungry establishments. My skin pricks at the aspect of going into a store and talking to the employees to get the specifics off of Chloe's list. 

Speaking of the list, I take it out of my pocket to know which store to go to. Enderolse. Huh, that's a new one.

I walk through the mall for what seemed like 15 minutes before I actually stumble onto the store. Behind its glass doors are golden lights hovering over expensive designs I wouldn't be able to afford in a life time. The women shopping inside are terrifying. They look like they could buy me if they wanted to. 

I take a deep breath and reluctantly go into the store, the door swinging shut behind me. As i walk forward I can feel eyes on me, and it made me a little nauseous. I ease myself into a part of the store that's more secluded and closer to someone who looked to be a employee. I ask for them shyly.

"H-hi. Um, I'm trying to get a pre-ordered dress for Chloe Renegal? This is the name and the code of t-the order." I say as I show her the list. The woman looks down at it and nods, motioning me with her fingers to follow.  I do, but I still feel conscious of the judging glares around the room, even though I'm not quite sure of where its coming from. 

She leads me to the back and there's this shelf filled with neatly packaged dresses in plastic wraps. 

She takes out a bag from her stands and grabs one of them, putting it into the store's carrier. 

"Thank you." I wearily say as I take it from her. I'm just about to go when she surprisingly grabs my elbow. It takes everything in me not to yelp. 

"Tell Chloe that we appreciate her choosing our shop for her needs." She adds before letting go. I gradually nod as I walk away, using the store's back to get out without passing any unknown faces. That was weird, I mean LA is weird, but that had to take the cake for unnecessary employee conversations. 

Now I start my trek back towards the apartment complex. The Los Angeles sun is still high and mighty in the sky, beating down on my forehead and shoulders. The air smells the post-rain. I can feel the insides of my shoes getting patently sweaty and the armpits of my dress soaking. I feel a mess. Just when I'm about to round a corner, I accidentally stub my toe on a crack on the sidewalk and almost fell. 

Even though I'm able to regain my balance it still doesn't take away from the embarrassment I feel. Everyone's looking probably. I breathe harder as I realize that I had dropped the bag with the expensive dress on the ground, and the fabric is now hanging out onto a dirt puddle.

"Oh no, no, no."  I say in a frenzy as I bend down. 

I pick up the ends and roll it back into the bag. Its not as artfully folded as it once was before. I push back a piece when I feel something hard under my prodding. I wrap my hand over it and sure enough, its some type of cylinder, hiding in the fabric of the dress. For a moment, my anxiety dulls and I maneuver my hand through the bag, curious. 

What is it? My fingers finally touch something smooth and I pull it out, and at first I didn't know what it was. Its a orange tube filled with... pills. I clamp a hand over my mouth as I stare down at it. Pills, its filled with unknown pills. 

I pocket it before anyone can see it in my hand. No, this can't be right. This is... no I'm not a carrier for drugs. How long have I been... 

My heart beats faster in my chest as I stand up abruptly. As I walk I can faintly hear the pills bumping along the walls of the medical tube. 

It takes me minutes to arrive to the complex. I buzz myself in and am just about to press the elevator button when something slams into me. I double over, making sure to put a firm hand over the pocket the pills are in. I don't want it falling out. 

"Who...?"

"I'm sorry Miss! I should've watched where I was going." A small man with black puffy hair stands in front of me. Strangely, he looks familiar. I don't want to converse though because of the probably illegal drugs stashed in my pocket so I rapidly say its okay before pressing the button. 

"No I'm really sorry! I was just trying to take some pics of someo- uh the lobby's decor when I smashed into you." I look down at the camera in his hand and I realize who it is. The man bent outside of our apartment door when I was arriving with Nick, trying to take photos of god knows what. I slowly look back into his eyes, my anger bubbling against my skin. 

I've had enough of this! Leave me alone or I'll- I'll call the police! Is what I wanted to say, but it came out sounding like this:

"Look, I'm in a hurry and I'd really like to be left alone."

"Oh I know! I pretty sure a woman as of yourself must have so much to do." He replies

I nod as the elevator door opens, and I'm just about to walk in when he moves in front of me, making my heart speed up from anger and apprehension. I clutch onto the pills in the inside of my pocket, now becoming a lot more aware of them.

"But I'd like to ask some questions."

have a good day! :)