Sugarpill

NOTE: This is the FINAL chapter of yet another wonderful ride! I'd like to thank those who have faithfully kept up with the story. In the same manner, there will be NO "Sugarpill" sequel, however- there WILL be a Meridian Hollister spin-off story, coming possibly at the end of this year, or in 2012- it depends on how quickly I finish the other two projects that are ahead of it. Once again I'd like to thank everyone who gave this story the time of day, and I hope that you stick around to read more of my work in the future..

-8.

Solidarity

                   It was 9 o’clock Saturday morning…I slowly pulled up to the putrid green house, with white trimming. It didn’t look bad, but it was a two-level house, as most of the homes in the Hilltop. I looked to Jassandra. “Are you sure you want to do this?”

                   “I feel I need to,” she said, trying to convince herself, more than me. Jassandra let out a breath of air, then took a deep breath. I placed my hand on top of hers. “I am with you…whatever you decide,”

                   Her eyes looked to mine, searching for confidence. She gave me a wry smile. “Let’s go,”

                   We stepped out of the car, as a couple of people looked at us, more so at me, than Jassandra. Ray Halliday walked up to the scene, looking quite offended. I held my hands up. “Ray…we don’t want any trouble. We are just here to pay our respects,”

                   Ray started to say something, but then changed his mind. He walked away, shooing us off. I turned to Jassandra, who had stopped, waiting on me. I followed her, as we continued our “voyage” to the front door. Jassandra and I stood there, at the door. She gazed to me, then to the door…I raised my hand, and rapped my knuckles on the wooden door.

                   A minute or two, passed.

                   “Maybe she’s gone?”

                  “Give it a minute,” I said.

                  The door finally opened… we stood there in the judging eyes of Lynda Hammond, Dre’s mother. Even I was a little terrified- her son hated my guts…why would she be any different? If word did get back around to her, they more than likely said I killed Dre, instead of Jassandra. After all, I do recall issuing the threat myself that day on the basketball court after I had finally beaten him, in a most brutal fight…

                   “If you come near any of my family again, I will not hesitate, to end you,”

                  The words resonated through my mind, with echoes, as I now stood before the woman who gave birth to him. The look on her face was unreadable…if I was a little nervous, I knew Jassandra, was trembling- she had pulled the trigger, that ended Dre’s life.

                   “Um, Mrs. Hammond…I’m”-

                   “I know who you are. Both of you,” she said. She stepped back, opening the door wider. “Come in,”

                   We looked to each other, then walked in slowly, as she closed the door. “Have a seat…can I get you anything to drink?”