Olivia parked her dad\u2019s car in the underground parking space, we took the elevator to the main floor. The ceiling was decorated with beautiful carvings and art deco arches. I\u2019d been there before. In a drunken stupor, a few friends and I tried to sneak in and break out onto the balconies on the top floor. We\u2019d been caught by security before we even made it to the elevators.<\/p>\n
I held her hand as we wandered down the main street, lightly debating on what to have for dinner. We settled on a Chinese buffet, which suited my growling stomach and Oliva\u2019s vegetarianism.<\/p>\n
I paid for dinner, and we left. We wandered a few blocks down to a movie theatre and went inside. Olivia had shivered, complaining of the cold. I moved my arms around her and rubbed her arms gently to warm her.<\/p>\n
She smiled and fit herself into my body perfectly.<\/p>\n
I paid for our tickets to the movie we decided on, ordered two drinks and a bag of popcorn to share.<\/p>\n
The movie was a chick flick and during a few parts, I had to struggle to stay awake. Olivia was very interested in it, and was glued to the screen for almost two hours. At times she would lay her head on my shoulder, or her hand would meet mine in the bag of popcorn like we were in a tacky movie. Each time I couldn\u2019t hide a grin.<\/p>\n
At the end of the movie, I pulled on my coat and waited patiently for Olivia. I helped her with her coat, and watched as she put on her gloves and scarf again.<\/p>\n
We walked out to the lobby of the movie theatre, she stopped. \u201cOh, wow. It\u2019s really snowing out there.\u201d She mused, peering through the glass doors.<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe we should cab it back to your dad\u2019s place. We could stop there, and I\u2019ll take the cab home.\u201d<\/p>\n
Olivia shook her head and shrugged lightly. \u201cIt\u2019s just snow. I think we\u2019ll be okay to walk to my dad\u2019s and I\u2019ll drive you home. It\u2019s not a big deal.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you sure? It\u2019s kind of a long drive\u2026 I could always go back to your place and call one of my parents to come and get me.\u201d I shrugged.<\/p>\n
This was such a pain in the ass. I hated to have to call my parents for a ride. Having my license would have really been a lot easier. It was at times like this probation seemed unfair. Just taking away my ability to drive would have been punishment enough without probation tacked on top of it.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s okay,\u201d Olivia looped her arm through mine and we walked out into the falling snow.<\/p>\n
She smiled. \u201cI must say one thing; this town is very pretty in the snow.\u201d She mused, looking up at the tacky snowflakes, decorated with lights and garland.<\/p>\n
\u201cI love the snow.\u201d I mused.<\/p>\n
\u201cMe too.\u201d Olivia hugged my arm lightly. She smiled at me.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, well. Look who it is.\u201d A voice came from behind us.<\/p>\n
When otherwise I would have simply ignored this, I somehow knew that this sentiment was meant for me.<\/p>\n
I turned around and realized why I knew the voice. The girl who\u2019d gotten me into more trouble than I ever thought possibly was standing next to one of my best friends, and my former drug dealer.<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t have to be a rocket scientist to know that these two were trouble, and this chance encounter was not going to end well.<\/p>\n
Pinkie\u2019s bright pink hair was standing up in all directions, like she\u2019d cut it herself again. She had on an ill-fitting men\u2019s combat jacket, which she\u2019d drawn on a pentagram in black nail polish. She\u2019d added two more piercings to her face; one in her nose and the other in her lip. She looked like she\u2019d drawn on her eye make up with a sharpie.
\nJimmy\u2019s mohawk was long enough for him to pull back with the shaved part showing. He looked as though he hadn\u2019t showered or shaved in a few days. Instead of wearing a coat, he was wearing two sweaters and a plaid flannel hunting coat. A lit cigarette dangled from between his lips.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, hi, Jimmy\u2026 Pinkie.\u201d I said awkwardly. I reached for Olivia and carefully moved her behind me.<\/p>\n
I knew enough that even though I hadn\u2019t ratted on these two, I would be viewed as no longer an ally; therefore I would have been automatically branded an enemy. I wasn\u2019t going to take any chances with Olivia there.<\/p>\n
Pinkie narrowed her eyes at Olivia. Pinkie was trouble, and I knew by the way she was looking at Olivia, she was looking for a reason to fight. She was reckless and determined to prove herself. She would fight anyone and everyone without consideration for her own safety.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo you\u2019re out of the big house, then huh? I heard you were going away for a long time.\u201d Jimmy smirked crookedly.<\/p>\n
\u201cUh\u2026 yeah. Still on probation though, so I\u2019ve got to be getting home.\u201d I shrugged. \u201cSorry. I\u2019ll give you a call though; we could maybe hang out or something\u2026 still at the same number?\u201d<\/p>\n
Pinkie scoffed. \u201cNo. Don\u2019t you pull that horse shit. We know you\u2019re probably some sort of a narc now, There\u2019s no way they\u2019d let you out of the slammer like that.\u201d She snapped her fingers. \u201cAnd you show up back here with valley-girl-Barbie over here and act like everything is cool?\u201d She pointed her finger at Olivia.<\/p>\n
\u201cExcuse me?\u201d Olivia asked in surprise. She tried to move away from behind me, but I moved to block her further.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was uncalled for, Pinkie. Really. Look, I\u2019ve grown up a lot in the past couple of months. I don\u2019t have time for this. I\u2019ve changed.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSee, that Green?\u201d Pinkie smirked. \u201cTold ya he went soft in rehab. I think you should hit him, lets see how soft he really is.\u201d She encouraged, hitting Jim in the arm.<\/p>\n
Olivia gasped behind me.<\/p>\n
\u201cNah, I\u2019m not going to hit him.\u201d Jim said. \u201cHe knows too much about us. If he tells the cops we\u2019re done for. I\u2019m not doing more time.\u201d He took a long drag of his cigarette and let out a lazy puff of smoke.<\/p>\n
I breathed an internal sigh of relief. I knew that Jimmy was probably higher than a kite. And I knew that when he was stoned, he wouldn\u2019t back down. He was reckless and would either take me down or kill me trying.<\/p>\n
Olivia let out a strange sounding sigh of relief behind me.<\/p>\n
We were interrupted by the sounds of sirens and a panicked look crossed Pinkie\u2019s face. \u201cGreen, we gotta go!\u201d She tugged his arm. I noticed when she turned that there was clearly something shoved into her jacket that didn\u2019t belong. They were probably shoplifting and returning stolen items for extra cash.<\/p>\n
\u201cShit. See you around,\u201d Jimmy smirked at me. They both turned and took off down the street, pushing through bodies of pedestrians.<\/p>\n
I turned around quickly and turned Olivia around. \u201cLets go. We\u2019ve got to get out of here.\u201d I moved my arm around her and ushered her across the street.<\/p>\n
\u201cWho-?\u201d She began to ask.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll explain later.\u201d I insisted. \u201cWe just have to go before they come back, okay?\u201d<\/p>\n
Olivia nodded and let me tow her along.<\/p>\n
After we were almost a full block and a half away, I slowed my pace to a walk. I could feel Olivia\u2019s eyes on me. \u201cIke\u2026 can you explain now?\u201d<\/p>\n
I nodded. \u201cWhen we first met, do you remember me telling you the story of the girl who\u2019d gotten me into a ton of trouble at school?\u201d<\/p>\n
Olivia\u2019s eyes widened. \u201cThat was her?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah. And the guy she\u2019s with? He goes by the name Green on the street. He\u2019s a small time drug dealer, who makes most of his money on the smaller drugs like acid and pot, but he does also push the harder substances. I used to get high with that guy all the time. He\u2019s hardcore, you do not want to mess with him. Or her for that matter. She\u2019s a small person, but she\u2019ll kick ass when she needs to. And if she\u2019s in trouble, she usually packs a knife on her.\u201d<\/p>\n
Olivia gaped at me in disbelief.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey were probably stealing from the stores down here, which is why they\u2019re running when they heard sirens. A lot of time they steal from stores and return the items for the cash. But they might have even been swiping cough syrup.\u201d<\/p>\n
Olivia frowned. \u201cTo get drunk?\u201d<\/p>\n
I shook my head. \u201cNo, you need cough syrup to make meth. His buddy is one of the biggest meth pushers in town. Another reason you don\u2019t want to mess with Jim. If you mess with him, you mess with the meth dealer.\u201d<\/p>\n
Olivia pursed her lips.<\/p>\n
\u201cWho knows, they might have even been selling. He usually gets Pinkie to sell for him; she doesn\u2019t raise as much suspicion as he does.\u201d<\/p>\n
Olivia was silent for the remainder of the walk. We reached the lobby of her dad\u2019s building and I stopped her just inside the door.<\/p>\n
\u201cLiv, I\u2019m sorry. I didn\u2019t want to bring you into this stuff, I\u2019m sorry. You\u2019re too good of a person to be brought into all of this stuff, and I\u2019m sorry it ruined our evening. I\u2026 I can understand if you don\u2019t want anything to do with me\u2026 but you have to believe me that I\u2019m not like that anymore. I\u2019ve changed, that isn\u2019t me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Olivia nodded. She laid her hand on my cheek gently. \u201cI know. I understand completely. You\u2019re not that person anymore\u2026 It was just a little scary for me. I\u2019ve never been that close to a drug dealer before\u2026 and she\u2019s\u2026 well, she\u2019s a piece of work.\u201d<\/p>\n
I smirked. \u201cI really am sorry, Liv. I hoped I could protect you from that, but clearly the universe had other plans.\u201d<\/p>\n
Olivia nodded. \u201cIt\u2019s fine!\u201d She smiled. \u201cCome on, we can talk about it on the way to your place. I\u2019ll need to know how to get there for tomorrow when I get to meet your parents.\u201d She beamed happily, taking my hand.<\/p>\n
\u201cRight,\u201d I mused.<\/p>\n
We walked through the lobby to the elevator and once inside, Olivia turned to me suddenly. \u201cYou don\u2019t really think I\u2019m a vally-girl Barbie do you?\u201d She asked.<\/p>\n
I laughed. \u201cYou are the complete polar opposite of Barbie.\u201d I grinned. \u201cI\u2019m pretty sure Barbie ate meat.\u201d<\/p>\n
Olivia laughed and playfully shoved me.<\/p>\n