fast car | STEVE HARRINGTON [2]

22. lady and the tramps

Impatiently, after three seconds she knocked again. If no one was going to answer, she was going to stay all night until someone did. She was angry, heartbroken and still drunk - an absolutely awful combination.

Violet Ashford was wearing a bitter expression the second she opened the door, eyeing the visitor with distaste and pointedly looking at her watch to show the hour was too late for an unexpected arrival before she spoke.

"Can I help you?" she greeted with forced hospitality, scraping her gaze over Ringo's disheveled appearance and looking over her shoulder to ensure her husband was nearby in case he was needed.

"I want you to make your son stop bullying my little sister," Ringo demanded. "Sunny Kim. Today was the last day he'll ever break breath to her."

"Sunny Kim?" Violet crossed her arms, a spark of recognition in her eye. "I'm glad you've come to me, Miss Wheeler is it? I've been meaning to track your family down and demand the very same thing. After all, it wasn't my son that got suspended today after getting violent with your sister was it?"

"If he's going to sexually assault my sister she's going to physically assault him," Ringo shrugged defiantly. "Unless you're unaware of the fact he tried to grab upskirt photos of her today? A criminal offence might I add, as she is a minor."

"This story again," Violet began, running her tongue over her front teeth as she confidently stepped foot over the threshold of her door to meet Ringo's eyes head on. "Aren't you growing tired of this excuse, Miss Wheeler? You broke my son's nose for simply knowing you took pictures of yourself in a... compromising manner. Now you want to degrade my other son's reputation by trying to lie and say he is taking photos like these? Have you truly no shame?"

"I think it is you who should be ashamed to have raised such assholes for sons."

"I will not let you ruin my son's reputation, Ringo Wheeler," Violet threatened, her voice dropping deadly cold. "You will get off my property this instant and I will be in touch with the school that you have paid an unsolicited visit to my house on the same day your sister assaulted my son already. Or shall I call the police instead? Because I do not give you permission to be on my property."

Before Ringo could say anything in return, the door was slammed in her face. For a second, all she could do was stand and take a deep breath. Her anger was now white hot and seething, sending her pulse racing and nostrils flaring.

"Ringo Wheeler? As I live and breathe!" A voice sounded from across the street, Ringo barely spared the man a glance to know by his shaggy haircut and raspy voice that it could only have been Eddie Munson.

She hadn't seen Eddie since her senior year, which was also supposed to be his senior year (after a failed attempt the year before). Generally the two stayed clear of one another, save for one incident in the cafeteria during one of his public 'outbursts' where he singled her out in his speech. At the time, he had somewhat praised the blonde for being a 'back-talking, trailer park Queen' but then continued to say she had ruined her reputation in his eyes by dating Steve Harrington.

"What are you doing out in the fancy neighbourhood? Ah, how could I even ask?" He sarcastically questioned, smacking himself on the forehead afterward. "All your friends are rich assholes, you're probably always here! Me, myself, I'm out making a deal. These jocks don't want to associate with a lowlife like myself at school but they're still begging me for some of the green stuff on the weekends. Pathetic, right?"