The One I Love

> “What he didn’t tell you is I had him sell for me. He skimmed off of the product and then flat out stole money from me. Somehow he thought I wouldn’t notice.”

“George,” I turn to him, blood boiling beneath my skin unable to forgive him for this. I walk forward and put the twelve hundred on the table in front of Corky.

“What’s this shit?”

“It’s the money I brought. Sell the car you kept and then George can pay you back the rest from working. Once he’s clean he won’t need drug money anymore.”

“That’s not how this business works. Charlie, you should know better than anyone.” Corky nods at one of his goons and they produce a knife. “We’ll just cut a finger off and hold that until he can give the money, or maybe we’ll just shoot you.”

The guy pulls the gun from his waistband and I realize things got out of hand quickly. Before I know what’s happening, he’s pulled the trigger. It’s pointed right at George and there is no way I can get to him before it hits. In a split second, I realize I’m about to watch my friend die right beside me.

By some miracle, the gun doesn’t go off. I see the guy’s wide smile turn to frustration. He hits the butt of the gun on his hand at the same time the guy with the knife moves forward. Some strange survival instinct kicks in and I grab George’s shirt pulling him through the door.

My heart beats through my chest as we run. The only place to go is down the back alley. We rush through dark streets, behind dumpsters, and around homeless people. I can hear them yelling as they chase us. I wonder how I found myself in this situation again after I got out.

“If we survive this, George, I’m going to kill you.”

“Why didn’t you just give him the money? You know how he is.”

“Because you are the one who screwed up. How could you steal from a drug dealer and not warn me?” We stop behind an abandoned flower shop and I bend over my knees trying to listen. I know the area like the back of my hand but something tells me the guys following us do too.

“I think we lost them,” George says peeking around the corner of the building.

“For now,” I say thinking this night is going to have some serious consequences. “Stay away from me George, I mean it.”

“Come on Charlie, I didn’t have anywhere to turn.”

I don’t listen to him as I walk away from the building heading towards a more populated area to call another Uber and get the hell out of this part of town. Once I’m safe in the car I let the night’s events playback in my mind. I could have been killed, George still might be killed. My stomach hurts and I just want to make it to my house to go to sleep. Oblivion is the only thing that is going to keep me sane tonight.

When I get home, of course, I can’t sleep. My sanity isn’t as important to my brain as I thought it was. I’m consumed by what just happened by what could have happened. I could have easily died tonight and it really bothers me. I’m not ready to die. Hell, my life is just starting to take off. Why would I want to end it when the possibility of greatness is looming around the corner?

George should have never put me in that position. He did it knowing exactly what was going to happen to me. I’m too trusting. I slug my pillow trying to get it comfortable enough to allow me to drift to sleep. After punching my pillow into more shapes than it ever thought possible, I fix a strong drink so I can at least relax even if I don’t sleep.

Something tells me I’m going to be having nightmares if I do ever pass out. And that pisses me off even more.

Chapter Thirteen

Ada

I take more care getting ready Wednesday morning knowing I have to teach Madeline’s homeroom and her English class. She always looks so pulled together I don’t want to fly into their classroom looking like the queen of frump. I do my hair straightening it out and weighing it down with hairspray. Once my makeup is on and I put on the brightest floral dress and cardigan I own, I feel pretty good about myself. I didn’t have a lot of time to plan for the classes so I would be winging it most of the day. I came up with a writing assignment for homeroom and a movie that they could watch and I could ask some questions about the story, but other than that I would be flying by the seat of my pants.

I leave the house feeling somewhat proud of myself which is right before I catch the fact there’s lipstick on my teeth as I get out of the car. So much for feeling good. Oh well, it lasted longer than it usually does. I have fifteen minutes before the final bell rings and I want to already be in the classroom and set up before any students arrive.

Walking through the halls I say hi to teachers and students I know. I’m in the process of working on building up confidence. The pep talk I gave myself before leaving my apartment today seems to be sticking with me. It even only unnerves me a little bit to see Penny and Hallie outside the room huddled together.

“Hi ladies,” I say causing them to break apart. Each of them has a hard to read smirk on their face.

“Morning Addy. Good luck with subbing today.”

“Thank you,” I say unease rushing through me and it’s all caused by their odd behavior. An image of the three of them gathering outside Madeline's classroom for some strange ritual pulses through my head. The picture I imagine has them wearing witches hats and makes me smile. They give me an odd look when I just smile waiting for them to move out of the way. Finally, they relent and make their way down the hall to their homerooms and I pop into mine.

The walls are covered with quotes from famous authors and a bulletin board that covers a whole wall with pictures of the students. It’s a themed spread and Madeline has put each student in an apple on a tree. It’s the most unoriginal thing I’ve ever seen. I’m not surprised to see her picture larger than everyone else’s at the top of the tree.

Gag me.

“Well she does like attention,” I say as I stare at her frozen smiling face.

‘That’s for damned sure,” a voice says behind me.