Chloe sat at the edge of the bed and smoked, listening to the arguments downstairs. Her mom and stepdad had been at it ever since she'd gotten home.
All around the room was in a state of chaos. Dirty clothes were scattered all over the floor, along with manga, CDs, and a bunch of other shit that she couldn't even recognize. A big Confederate flag was draped over the window, casting a reddish light.
I'm in Hell.
She took another drag from the cigarette then opened her eyes and put it out. It just wasn't enough. Her heart was beating from the constant stress - the cunts at school, her falling grades, her prick of a stepdad. What she wanted - what she needed - was to get high. Just close her eyes for the rest of the day and listen to music.
But money. Well. That would be a problem.
She called up her boyfriend in hopes that he would come through, but he didn't answer. When at length he picked up he explained he was busy.
"Busy with fucking what?" asked Chloe.
"My dad's fixing up this bike and I gotta help him."
"Are you serious right now? I need you here."
"I can't just leave-"
But she had already turned off the phone. Fucking dick. He started calling continuously the moment after but she simply put the phone on silent and ignored it. After four missed calls he started texting: "sorry," "I love you," "pls don't be mad," and all sorts of crap.
What was the use of words? All they ever had were words and they did nothing for Chloe.
So she waited until she heard her stepdad slam the door and head out, followed by her mother. When they both got into the car, Chloe made the call.
She knew that she could get in trouble for ordering something she couldn't pay for, but she was too desperate. At best, she would get her fix; at worst, he would leave. She was willing to take that risk.
In the minutes she had to spare she tried to make herself look as stable and as decent as possible, and slightly attractive. She put on a tight white tank top cut low enough to show her bra and leave her tattooed arm uncovered. Her neon blue hair was too messy to be dealt with in time, so she dragged a beanie over it and called it a day.
When at length she heard a car pull up, she headed downstairs and opened the door.
Nathan, her dealer, stood there texting from his phone. He was older than her by a few years, and had been out of high school by the time she entered. Still, people there remembered him even now for his... unorthodox occupation.
Not that she knew him well beyond the occasional purchase. The group she hung out with tended to be other losers like her, either alternative or goth kids, and always white. Nathan was part of that popular group of people that never got in trouble despite stirring up almost all of it. Not only that, but he was black, which in Chloe's group and family was as bad as it got.
"Hello, hello," he said, putting his phone away. "Do I have a surprise for you." A transparent bag filled with weed came hovering in front of her face.
Chloe was so needy she winced just from seeing it. She put her hand out to take it when he pulled it away.
"Not so fast, girlfriend. Cash first."
Chloe sighed. "Look, about that. I can't find my money. I thought I had it on me - but I don't know. Is it okay if I just pay you later?"
"Hell no that's not okay," he said angrily. "What am I a fucking sucker? You think I go around chasing people just to get my pay? Nuh-uh, you pay now, girl."
"But I don't have it!" she cried, both pleading and angry. "Look, what's the big fucking deal? You know where I live. You know my name. What the fuck do you think I'm going to do, cheat you out of a hundred bucks? Give me a break, dude. I just need this, okay? I've been buying from you for what - a year? Don't be an asshole. I swear to fucking God I'll pay you back tomorrow at the latest. I'll get the money from my boyfriend or something."
"Why don't you get it from him now?"
"Because he's
busy.
."
Nathan gave her a look and sniffed. "That so?"
As she prepared to give another speech, he slid past her and walked inside the house. "Where are you going?" But he went on, studying the pictures on the walls, glancing inside every room.
"Your room upstairs?" he asked.
Chloe crossed her arms. "Yeah. Why?"
"Let's go then. Come on, move it."
She took heart in the request, hoping she might get her way after all, but she also had a bad feeling about it. They went up the stairs together, then she guided him inside her room.
At first she couldn't tell what he was staring at until she remembered the Confederate flag hanging on the wall.
"It's not-"
Nathan snorted. "Calm down, woman. I don't give a shit. I've dealt with people with fucking swastikas tattooed on their heads. I'm not so easily fazed."
Still Chloe felt awkward, and now that they were in her room, she wasn't sure what was going to happen. "So?"
"If you can't pay for the weed, what do you say you earn it?"
Chloe snorted. "And what? Suck your dick? Forget it."
But Nathan suddenly grabbed her by the waist and slowly pushed her against the wall. He was much taller and stronger, and especially at such close range, he towered over her, snatching away all the light.
"You said you got a boyfriend."
"Yeah..."
"You love him?"
"I guess."
"What do you mean you
guess
? You do or you don't."
Chloe sighed. "Okay, fine. I do."
Nathan smiled. His black fingers started to caress her bare shoulder. "What's your favorite memory with him?"
"The fuck are you asking me this for?"