Cartels

chapter 1―karma

❝ everyday is like survival ❞

-culture club

❐ ❐ ❐ ❐

7 years ago...

I turned off the engine as I opened the door of my crusty, dusty Toyota sedan, and grabbed my book bag. My shift at the local supermarket―which wasn't so super by the way―started in a few minutes. Pausing to glance at the ancient 'Super-Duper Mart' sign, I scurried inside before I froze my toes off. As usual, the place was deserted.

"Hey, cookie," Donna greeted from behind a cashier. Donna was a drop dead gorgeous brunette who couldn't be a day over thirty. She could pass as a supermodel, which confuses the hell out of me about why she would want to work here. Regardless, I don't know what I would do without her, she's more of a mother to me than my actual one. Donna's been with me through the thick and thin of the last three years, however she had been in the dark about my past.

"When are you going to stop calling me that ridiculous name?" I asked.

"You know you love it," she replied cheekily.

"No, I love you. I do not, however, like being named after a snack!"

"Well, you know it's a habit! I mean, at least I didn't steal Oreos at midnight from the store!"

She's talking about the night we met. I was a rebellious 14 year old with a dark past, so one night I thought it would be a fabulous idea to shoplift luxuries my parents couldn't afford. In order to stay stealthy and avoid being caught, I stole small items like food. But as luck would have it, the one time I go to shoplift Oreos at 'Super-Duper Mart', Donna catches me. I swear she was like a shark who can sniff thieves from a mile away. Anyways, after she caught me smuggling the cookies into my tiny bag, she offered me a deal. I was to work at the hellhole in exchange for her silence about my basically illegal shenanigans. It was the best deal anyone could have offered me because now I can contribute money for my family's sake.

"My shift starts in two minutes, so I'm going to get changed. When does your shift end?" I questioned. Noticing Donna's large smile falter, I shifted towards her.

"Oh cookie," Donna said solemnly, " I have some bad news I have to share."

"What is it? Did something bad happen?" I asked anxiously.

"No, no nothing like that. I'm afraid I have to leave."

"Leave....? I'm confused."

"Well, my husband got...promoted," she paused, "and we decided that there's no need for me to continue working here. I will miss you dearly, darling."

"Well, w-where are you going?" I looked at her, frantically thinking of anything to keep her here.

"New York," Donna replied sadly.

I stared at her for a few more moments before embracing her in a tight hug.

"I love you very much, cookie. Never forget that. You're basically my daughter."

"I love you, too" I sniffled into her 'Super-Duper Mart' vest.

❐ ❐ ❐ ❐

Present...

I jerked out of bed when I heard the front door slam shut. I glanced at the alarm clock by my bed. It was 1:30 in the morning and my dorm mate from hell, Jenny, was furiously sucking face with another one of her jock boyfriends. Sighing deeply, I turned my body to face the wall away from their PDA session. After a few minutes, I noticed the lip smacking stopped from across the room.

"Are you sure? You're roommates right there," the guy whispered.

"It's fine! She's sleeping! She won't here a thing lover boy!" Jenny said and fell back onto her bed which was only a few feet from mine.

"Okaaayyyy! I am most definitely not sleeping because you woke me up from your game of intense tongue-hockey." I stated as I faced them.

"Flee, bitch!" Jenny yelled.

Normally, I would respond, but I needed my beauty sleep for a big exam tomorrow. I rolled my eyes and dialed the number of my best friend. After a few rings, she picked up.

"Hello?" A voice answered from the other line.

"Cass! I need to sleep at your place tonight."

"Um, okay sure."

"Thanks! I'll be there in a few!" 

After hanging up, I tucked my pillow and blanket under my arm, grabbed my phone and bid a sweet farewell to Jenny by screaming "I hope you catch a case!" as I exited. 

Cassidy's dorm was only a few stories above mine so I arrived at the location shortly. After knocking, Cass opened the door with a warm smile. Her dark brown hair cascaded down to her shoulders and her chocolate eyes welcomed me.

"So what did Jenny of many do again?" she asked as I entered her spacious dorm. Cass was a lucky ducky because she was blessed to live in one of the biggest dorms in the building. Well, she did come from a pretty rich family. 

"She brought her boyfriend over," I replied as I threw my belongings on her couch.

"Mark?" she asked, walking to the other side of the room.

"Yeah, I think that's the one." I replied absentmindedly as I tied my brunette hair up into a high ponytail.

"Wow, two years and still going strong. Well, Fran's never here, so you can sleep on her bed if you want," Cass suggested. This was a tough decision to make. Should I sleep on the cardboard bed or the sofa made of concrete? Cardboard bed it is.

"Okay so I have your Kit-Kat bars. Do you have my gummy bears?" Cass asked as she tossed me a bag of my favorite candy. 

"Oops..." I muttered as I flopped on Cass's roommates bed.

"Come on, Chanel! You know I love those gummies!"

"Fine, fine! I'll go back and get them. Let's just hope Jen isn't f*cking that guy when I walk in," I said as I scrunched my nose.

After popping a few Kit-Kat bars in my mouth, I headed back to my apartment. When I reached my dorm, I put my ear to the door for safety measures. Sure enough loud moans and groans were emitted from the other side of the door. Just as I was about to turn and leave, I heard Jenny scream "Devon!" at the top of her lungs. Devon? I thought her boyfriends name was Mark. The noises never halted, so I quickly sent a text to Cassidy.

Chanel: Hey, what's Jenny's boyfriend of two years's name again?

After a few seconds, Cass swiftly responded.

Cassidy: Mark? Why?

I internally laughed like a maniac before an evil idea popped in my head. 

Should I do it? I mean, Jenny did put permanent green hair dye in my shampoo bottle, and let me tell you, re-dying your hair is expensive as hell. And her and her friends do beat me up on a weekly basis and I can't do anything about it because she's loaded and I'm not. She knows that I have to have a spotless record or else I'll be kicked out of school, and I can't afford that. So instead, she wakes up everyday and chooses violence. But I guess I'll save this for a rainy day.

Smirking, I dug my phone out of my pocket, pressed it against the door, and opened the voice memo app. Then, I pressed the record button.

Karma's a b*tch, Jenny.

❐ ❐ ❐ ❐

{A/N}

hey guys! It's been a while but I'm slowly working on this book and I have very exciting things in store! and just as a welcoming gift, i bestow upon you 5 new chapters! so please vote + follow for more updates! and don't forget to add this book to your library to get notified!