A day has passed after meeting the freshman about Big El. I felt uneasy every time Big El appeared on my mind. Why is he dealing drugs here even though he got kicked out?
Tonight I decided to go to the frat house because Simon told me Mason would be here. Meanwhile, I'm trying to relax a bit. It wouldn't hurt to relax a little, would it?
I sat on a couch with vodka on my solo red cup, taking a small sip because I didn't want to get wasted before I asked Mason some questions. I didn't take Stephanie with me again because we needed to lay low for a while.
When I searched my leather handbag for my weed, I also found a lollipop that Stephanie gave. I thought about our deal to try to lower my bad habits. I can smoke as much as my heart desire since she's not here, but I ignore the weed and take the lollipop. I took off the wrapper and put it in my mouth.
I enjoyed my peace of quiet by looking at people enjoying the party and the music blaring from the speakers and a familiar figure walking towards me. I was distracted by her curly brown hair and dark skin as her brown eyes met mine.
Joanne took my lollipop from my mouth and put it in hers, "Since when did you eat candy?"
"Since I was starting not to care about my teeth," I was intrigued by her gesture, and she never failed to make me more attracted to her. I took the candy and put it back to where it was before. I laughed, "I'm joking. Stephanie gave it to me as an alternative for my bad habits."
"Which one?" she teased, asking about my bad habits. She sure knows that I have a lot of bad habits.
"Well, smoking is one of them," I replied.
"Did it work?"
I shrugged, "how do I suppose to know? It's my first day."
She cackled a laugh, "speaking of Stephanie, and I start to notice that you two hang a lot now. Not to mention she is dating David now."
"So what? It's not like I flirt with her here and there. She's just a friend- wait, are you...." I left the sentence hanging as she quickly knew what I was talking about.
"Oh, hell no," she groaned as I loved to tease her a lot. I know she's a bit jealous. Since I help Stephanie with the case, I feel like I haven't hung out with Joanne for a while.
Deep inside her. I know she's happy that I made friends, even though Stephanie is my old friend, but I rarely hung out with anyone other than Simon. Joanne knew that every time she introduced me to her friends, I ended up in my bubble because I was too socially awkward, even towards girls. I like hanging out a lot with the boys, just having fun without talking about anyone behind their backs—girls with their gossip.
I searched for my stash and handed it to Joanne, "You can have this. I won't be needing it for now."
She looked at my eyes for the second time, looking if I was serious, "wait, you're serious about stopping?"
I nodded in response, she accepted them happily as she instantly took one of the weeds, and I helped her lit it up. She inhaled and exhaled the smoke in relax, "it's your loss then."
I nodded. I took my candy and licked it sexually in teasing.
"I like when you were teasing me as I'm about to get high," she laughed and leaned over to my ear as I could feel her breath, "maybe we can take this somewhere private?"
I bit my lips. Although I was intrigued by Jo's offer, I tried not to get ahead of myself. I leaned back, "Sadly, I have to pass your offer because I'm here not to have fun."
She groaned, "Ugh, since when you became busy. Is it the drugs? Or Stephanie? You need to sacrifice one of them so I can hang out with you for once."
I laugh. She's starting to get a little high now because she wasn't this clingy before. I hold her waist pulling her closer, "I'm not busy, Jo. You just asked me in a bad time."
And finally, Mason was visible. I excused myself and walked towards him, "Hey, I need to talk to you in private."
He tilts his head in curious, "Aren't you still mad at me?"
I rolled my eyes, "I forgot and moved on. Can we talk now?"
He chuckles as he nods in response. We walked upstairs and went to one of the rooms. There weren't many people upstairs, so I figured no one would hear us talking, "So what do you wanna talk about," he sat on a chair.
I was thinking of asking him if he knew anything about Big El because he would know at least something. He's well known for dealing drugs in this town, and I'm still confused why he is not in jail now.
I took a deep breath before opening my mouth, "Did you know that there's someone other than you supplying drugs here?"
He shrugged, "I don't know anyone other than me."
I nodded in response, so that means Big El must be dealing secretly. I showed Mason the picture of Big El, "do you by chance know this guy?"
He studied the picture and creased his forehead, "Elijah- wait. How did you know him?"
Who is Elijah? is he referring to Big El? I continue asking him, "well, I caught him dealing this in the library, so maybe-"
"What?!" he stood up in furious, making me jump, "are you sure it was him."
I nodded slowly, carefully answering the right question. It was him, right? I mean, he has worn the same outfit in the picture and when I saw him.
He paced the room back and forth. What's going on? He knows him, right? Is he panicking or something?
"He's fucked up. I warned him before. I told him to stay away from my territory, so what is he doing here?" he muttered to himself.
"Care to elaborate, Mason? I'm confused. Should I be panicking too or what?" I asked him.
"I'm not panicking, Cathleen," he shook his head as his hands tightened into a fist, "I haven't told you about this, but I think you should know since you're working for me now. If you think you know everything about dealing drugs here, you don't. We're strict with the territory, and my territory is Trinity College. Everyone has their territory, and when they tried to deal drugs outside of their territory, they are fucked."
As I learned something about drugs in this town, I knew I was starting a war between gangs.
He sat back in his chair and tried to calm himself, "Sorry, I got carried away. What information do you need from Elijah?"
I was shocked at how he was quick to calm himself, "I'm guessing Elijah is his name. Maybe you can tell me about him?"
Then he starts to tell me about Big El. He said his real name was Elijah, and he was in the same class as Elijah, AKA Big El. Mason and Elijah chose them to continue his senior career dealing drugs, but he was getting ahead of himself. He couldn't control his addiction towards his muscle as he was using steroids over and over and over. He was getting weaker, getting high all the time, and being more careless until he was expelled. Mason realizes that he is no good. Then, Mason kicked Elijah out and had never heard anything from him ever since.
I couldn't believe hearing Mason's story, and I didn't realize these drug dealings would be this deep. His senior's passed their drugs career to Mason like it was some tradition or something. If Stephanie and I finally reach the end of this case, will the legacy end? I guess it's for the better.
I was trying to comprehend his story. This is going to stress me out again, "That's... Crazy, Mason."
"You tell me, it's complicated," he raked through his brown hair, "Is there more you need to know?"
"Do you know where he lived? or maybe his territory?" I asked again.
He shook his head, "No, I know his parents live outside of town, and there's no way he's there since you got his photo in here. The last time I talked to him was when I kicked him out of the group."
I took a sharp breath. At least I know his name, Elijah.
"By the way, how did you find him? I know you found him dealing drugs inside the library, you could have ignored it, but you chose to look after him. Why is that?" he asks.
Oh shit, I can't tell him the truth that I was working on a case. I tried to make an excuse, and I spoke, "because I hear him saying MDMA, and I know you don't sell MDMA on campus, so I was curious because of him selling dangerous drugs, someone could overdose just like the Freshman from the Halloween party."
He was buying it as he nodded in response, "you're a good person, but your kindness could lead you to something terrible. Sometimes if you're curious, try not to get involved deeper. You know the quote, 'curiosity killed the cat,' right?"
I nodded. How could I forget about that quote? That quote is the one that reminds me of every decision that I would make.
I think I already have the information I needed, "I guess that's all, Mason. Thank you for sharing."
He nodded, "Of course, and also if anything happens, don't hesitate to tell me."
I left the room, giving him space to think about all of this.
I know that it would trigger Mason to do something about Elijah dealing drugs in his territory because of me. What's going to happen next? Should I investigate more? I should talk with Stephanie about this.
I rushed downstairs, searching for Joanne. As I found her playing beer pong with her groups, I instantly hugged her from behind, trying to find comfort in her because I was too overwhelmed by what I had just learned.
She jumped a little, "Cathleen? What's wrong?" she turned around as she snaked her arms around my neck. She looks worried.
"I can't tell you about it, not now," I stated.
She got rid of a piece of hair blocking my face, pulling it to my ear, "then, when?"
I smirked, "maybe after I got wasted, and after that, we can go back to my dorm."
She smiled. I know deep inside her that she wants to know about my problem, but she always respects me.
Then after that, I had fun drinking my sorrows. I always use alcohol for my distraction. I know running away is wrong. But I will handle this when I am ready.
~~~
"What do you want from me, Nichole?! it was an accident! I was drunk!" My dad exclaimed. He got caught in something, and My mom has been furious about it, and I don't get what they're talking about now. Every time they had arguments, my little brother and I just stayed in my room, hoping they would stop.
"Are you kidding me?! You seduce her Will! You can't say that was an accident," my mom stated.
What is going on? My dad seduces someone?
"Look, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to do anything to her. She was attracting me-" my dad added.
"No girls would try to attract a fuck up like you. She was wearing a dress, wasn't she?!" my mom started to yell.
"That's it! I had enough!" my dad snapped, and I heard my mom scream.
I felt my heart drop to the ground, I was going to check what was happening outside, but my little brother, Aiden, stopped me from opening the door, "Please stay with me, Cathleen. I'm scared," he sobbed. As much as I want to see what's going on, I can't leave my ten years old brother alone.
We went back to my bed, and I hugged him, hoping my parents to stop. It's scaring me, and it's scaring us. I don't know how long they are going to keep this up. Then Aiden started to sleep, and when I was trying to sleep, I heard the door open.
I opened my eyes and revealed my mom with a bruise on her eyes, and I saw a red mark on her hands. What happened?
He took Aiden and carried him. After she kissed my forehead, she said something, "I love you, honey, I'm sorry."
Then walk to the door, and I was confused. Where is she going, "Mom, where are you going?" as I thought the thing was going wrong, this makes it even worse, "mom, take me with you, please."
She shook her head and went through the door. I walked out of the room and stood in front of the stairs. I can see my dad lying on the floor with blood on his head. I was stunned to see my dad lying down unconscious. Is he dead? What is he doing?
I went to my dad, "Dad? are you okay?" I shook his body, and there was no response. I heard the entrance open and saw my uncle at the door as my mom passed Aiden to him.
"What about Cathleen? Are you going to leave her there?"
She shook her head in response, "No, she's his favorite," then she closed the door.
I was confused about what was going on. My mother, leaving me as I just turned fourteen...
I ran through the door, and I was too late. The car had already left.
I felt my knees getting weaker as I felt tears falling.
~~~
Edited: 31/12/2021