Just as I Begin to Fade

Five. The Past

Later that evening, Gwen had taken off Lindsey's flannel and she hung it on the back of her doorknob, kind of smiling at the thought of somebody caring for her. Even if it was to cover up.

"Hm..." she turned away from the door and she tossed her hair to the side, looking around her room. She then went for her backpack and she pulled the envelope full of money. She started counting it, just to make sure her half was there and it was.

When doing her so-called "odd" jobs, she often got paid half before doing the job and then the other half after it was done. Sitting on her bed; she was happy to know she got the full five hundred she was waiting for.

She stood up and walked her money over to the small, metal lock box she had and she added most of the money to the rest of her saved collection since she kept it hidden because she was afraid her bank account would get raided by her mother for money.

There had been a couple instances where her mother lost a large portion of her own money and she needed money, therefore she would go into her daughter's account in order to withdrawal. She was only able to do that since she was a minor and her money was sort of jointed with her mother's.

And at the ripe age of sixteen, she did not want to be accused of drug dealing because she didn't ever handle the drugs---she never touched them, she drove them around. She didn't want other adults to look at her sideways since she had money.

Pretty soon, there was a knock on her bedroom door.

"What?" she slid the box under her bed rather quickly.

Stevie pushed the door open, "Derek's here for you," she semi slurred with droopy eyes.

"Okay, I'll be out of your hair in a minute."

"You do like to play victim, don't you?"

"Me?" she questioned as she wrapped her leather jacket around herself. "Never---I just don't want to be here when your boyfriend of the week shows up," she tossed her hair out of the collar, never losing eye contact.

"Well, I'd ask if you need money, but I guess I don't need to," she commented.

"No, I don't want your money anyway. I'm sure there are things you'd rather buy," she arched a brow, implying of drugs.

"When will you be back?" her mother then asked.

"Uh, hopefully not too late. I would like to get some sleep since I didn't really get to last night."

"Are you telling me or blaming me?"

"Nah, I worked last night, I got home late, I did homework... I'm tired," she shrugged. "Then I couldn't sleep and I had to get up early."

"Well, then don't stay out late."

"I just said--" she stopped. "You got it," she nodded. "You should also try and get some sleep, by the way. Mixing uppers and downers, mom, you should really cut back before you land yourself in the hospital."

"Don't worry about me. I'll be fine..." she wrapped her daughter in a warm embrace.

There was a honk outside.

"Okay, mom, I have to go. I'll be back soon." She had to pry the woman off her before picking up her helmet.

"I'm sorry, I'll see you." Stevie then watched her girl get into the truck with her boyfriend and once they disappeared, she spun around and plopped on the couch with her mixed drink in her hand. She then popped a pill in her mouth before getting comfortable enough to lay down along the sofa.

---

"So, where've you been? I stopped by earlier."

"I go to school," she smirked. "I stayed a little later... Apparently with my essay, I was a candidate for the school newspaper."