prologue
-Felicity-
I sat in an uncomfortable chair, stacks of one-dollar bills piled up on the kitchen table in front of me. I found a twenty buried in the pile of uncounted money, and smiled. "Wow, some people really do tip well." I said to myself, putting the money in rubber-banded stacks of $100 in a shoebox. I checked the clock. 12:57. Not too late to head over to Amanda's and see if I could get something. I dropped some treats on the floor for my cat, Athena, and carefully locked the door behind me before walking down the street to Amanda's house.

Amanda lived in a shoddy two-bedroom house with two guys and about five dogs. I often wondered if she even paid any rent, or if she paid it off by sleeping with the guys. Honestly, I wouldn't put it past her. She wasn't my friend. She was just my dealer.

I knocked on the door, and the peephole turned dark for a moment. The door opened, and Madison smiled his dirty, perverted smile as he let me in. "Hey there, Felicity." He greeted me, putting his hand on my shoulder and letting it creep down, closer and closer to my chest.

"Hi, Madison. If that hand gets anywhere near my chest, it's coming off." I threatened in a straight voice. He dropped his arm back down to his side. "Is Amanda around?"

"Yeah, she's in the kitchen cooking something up."

I followed Madison into the kitchen, where I saw Amanda bent over something. "Hey, girl. What are you cooking?"

"I'm just making a hit for Adam." She set her spoon down gently on the countertop and stuck a syringe into it. "You want?"

"Eugh. No. Thanks, though. I'm just here for my usual." I held up the wad of bills I had in my hand.

Amanda nodded simply as she took my hand, leaving Madison to carry the syringe and leather belt to the bedroom with us. When Amanda opened the door, I noticed that there was another guy sitting in the room with Adam, leaning over the small coffee table and making an incredibly unattractive snorting sound. He threw his head back, eyes closed, taking deep breaths. When he opened his eyes, he smiled at me.

"Well, if it isn't my favorite girl." Adam said when he saw me. He came over to me and gave me a hug. "This is my buddy, Zac."

"Hey." I greeted him with a feeble wave.

"Hi." He said, grinning as he sniffled.

"So is this business or pleasure?" Adam asked, sitting back down and taking the cut-up straw that Zac had handed him.

"Business. I can't stay too long, I have to go have breakfast with my mom in the morning." I replied as Adam bent over and snorted a line of cocaine. He offered me the straw, and I took it, snorting my own line gratefully. I closed my eyes and leaned back, breathing heavily. I could feel Zac's eyes on me, and looked over at him.

"So how much do you want?" Amanda asked me, opening a large box that she kept her various drugs in.

"Um…I've got 300, so if I could get 200 in coke and 100 in ice, that'd be awesome." I grinned. Amanda handed me three bags, two of cocaine, and one of ice. I handed her my money, put the bags carefully in my bra (made easy by my low-cut shirt) and stood up. "I'd love to stay here and shoot the shit, but I've gotta head out. Can't let the family get suspicious." I rolled my eyes. I really did have to have breakfast with my mom, but I wouldn't be going to sleep when I got home anyway. I just generally didn't like hanging around. I preferred to just get my shit and go.

"Do you want someone to keep you company on the walk home?" Zac asked me. "After all, a girl like you could get hurt on the dangerous streets of Tulsa."

I snickered. "Dangerous, my ass. This city makes Mayberry look like Vegas. Thanks for the offer, but no, I'm good."

Zac shrugged and got up. "I'm out, Adam. See you later." He walked out, holding the door open for me as I left as well. We walked out of the house, and down the street.

"Um, Zac, I said I didn't need anyone to keep me company."

"Don't flatter yourself. I live down this way." He replied. "So what's your deal, anyway? Family never treat you right? Work stress you out?"

"What do you mean, what's my deal? I don't have a deal." I said, not looking back at him.

"You have to have a deal. No other reason why you would be carrying that load around in your bra."

I turned, stopping him in his tracks. "You know, you're right. I do have a deal. My deal is crazed kids following me home asking me what my deal is." I continued to walk, ignoring the shocked look in Zac's eyes. "I should be the one asking you what your deal is."

"Have you got three hours?" I heard him say in a sullen voice. I stopped, turning back around to face him. He smiled at me, a slow, sad smile. I couldn't imagine what kind of pain this kid had gone through to make him smile like that. Suddenly I felt my heart going out to him.

"I do if you do." I replied to him. I kept walking, now with Zac by my side.

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