The Degenerates - Under Edit

t w e n t y t w o

Trey did not answer his phone when I called him three times earlier. I stuffed it back in my pocket angrily and got changed.

I stood outside his apartment door impatiently, as I knocked furiously. "Let me in Trey, I don't care if you're a suspect, just let me the fuck-"

The door swung open forcefully, and I was tugged inside like a ragdoll. My arms were tender now from where James had wrapped his hands earlier. I winced, but I shoved him off angrily. What was it with these guys and tossing me around like a bag of flour?

I stumbled back in shock as I took in Trey's appearance. He wore his usual dark clothing, but his face was beaten and bloody.

His cheekbone was inflamed and purple, whilst his bottom lip and eyebrow were deeply split. He looked like he had face planted into a boulder.

"What the fuck?" I demanded.

Trey sat down. "It's fine,"

"Then what the fuck-"

"Theo," he said with a sigh, as if remembering he had obliged to tell me everything that went on, "insurance."

I remembered Theo saying to James that Trey was clean, and I understood now.

"Then why is your name all over the campus news?"

"Because I used to supply drugs, I live the closest to where the body was found, I don't exactly have a pristine record of assault." Trey explained, holding a bag of peas to his face, "it's fine, I didn't do it. They have nothing on me."

"Well someone thinks you did." I started and he laughed.

"Yeah? Those lousy patrolmen that came around?"

"No," I answered, scowling, "if you let me finish, did you ever consider James?"

"James? James thinks I did it?"

I nodded, "Yeah," I answered, deciding not to stir up the dirt that had just settled between the three, "I overheard him on the phone with someone, probably Theo, right?"

"Yeah," Trey concluded, "probably what earnt me a right hook."

"So he's convinced you did it. Why?"

There was a pause but then Trey threw the peas on the floor forcefully and stood up from his place on the lounge, "I always knew that fuck would try to stitch me up."

"What?"

"That asshole," Trey began, resting his hands on the coffee table, "Is responsible for setting half the shit in this town on fire, you know how I know?"

I did not answer.

"Because he tried to set my old place alight, that's why."

I shook my head, trying to piece together this information, "Why would he do that?"

"Neijla that's a great question." Trey spat, "Actually, let's just ask him."

I stood up after him, bewildered, "Excuse me? What do you think you're doing?"

Trey already had the phone to his ear, and even in his beaten state, he was still strong enough to pin me around the corner with one arm, ignoring my every objection.

-

After Trey and I had argued intensely for the last ten minutes, he finally convinced me to get in his black car with him.

We arrived at a warehouse about 10 minutes out of Alsbury. Trey spoke heatedly to somebody on the phone, and I had to brace myself to find out what we were doing out here.