Stan's P.O.V.
"Hey, kid, you know the usual, you got the money?" I heard coming from a deep alleyway. I turned and saw Rick. A guy who I always bought drugs from. I did way too much last night, nearly all night, but I couldn't turn him down.
"Yeah," I said, withdrawing the $10 from my pocket as he gave me the ziplock mini-bag filled with pre-crushed pills. I decided to start up a brief conversation with him.
"So, Rick, how's life?" I asked, sliding down against the brick wall, beside him. Rick was around 37, and had a home, but his wife was abusive, so he spent his free time here, selling drugs for a living as a full time job.
"Eh, y'know, Angel being a bitch. I haven't been home in a week now. I'm surprised you couldn't tell. I haven't taken a shower since.. last time I was home. And you see that dumpster over there?" He asked, pointing to the filled dumpster with pizza boxes and assorted trash.
I nodded in agreement for him to continue. "It's been my bed AND meal ticket." He said in a sorrowful response.
I took out my pocket knife that had a little old blood from my cut wrists and handed it to him. No worries, it was closed.
"Go home and stab that bitch if she yells at you and hop in the shower." I encouraged him, nudging his elbow. He sighed and looked down at the knife.
He suddenly flicked it open to see if it was a fake knife, but was surprised when he saw dried blood on it. "Kid," He started. I knew what he was gonna say, but I played clueless. "Hmm?" I replied.
"What did I tell you about cutting?" "That's mouse blood." I joked. Rick gave me a dead serious look. "I'm serious, Kid.. I know you better than that" He sighed.
"Fine. I was just thinking about things, and that happened." I sheepishly explained, pulling up my left sleeve and looking away as he glanced.
"Goddamn, Kid. You're getting deeper everytime." Rick said in disappointment. "Heh, that's what she said" I joked again, recieving a 'for real?..' look at my mature joke.
"Ya need to stop cutting, Kid." Rick pleaded. I began to pull down my sleeve."But it helps m-" I started but was soon interupted by Rick. "I don't give a damn if it helps you cope, Kid, I don't want you cutting." Rick explained.
"Wow, you really do care-" I said in awe. "You're like my friend, Kid. Not quite my friend, but you're like a friend to me." Rick coarsed. That was one of the nicest things that he's said to me. I smiled in return to his words, not taking in any offense.
"Fine, but if I slip up, you can't blame me." I said, holding out my hand to agree on the deal. "Kid, I don't shake hands. That's gay as fuck-" Rick laughed. "What if I'm gay?" I asked slyly. "Then I support you." He simply said.
"A'ight." I accepted. "So, how's school going?" He brought up a conversation starter. "Easy as fuck, Ricky." I spoke sarcastically. "In all seriousness, I surprisingly showed up today." I mumbled. "How's that Kyle and.. uhh Kelly? That you used to talk about?" He said incorrectly.
"It's Kenny. And eh. We haven't talked in seems like forever. We completely pushed fatass out of our group cause he wouldn't leave Kyle alone." I lectured.
"Kyle.. Kyle.. Isn't that the red haired jew?" Rick asked, unaware. "Yeah. My super best friend. We haven't talked besides through text in.. months." I frowned. "Well why don't you two talk soon?" Rick advised.
I could talk to Kyle but I just don't want to bother him.
"He know 'bout that?" Rick asked, pointing to the ziplock he gave me earlier. I nodded in disagreement. I haven't bothered to tell Kyle that I've commited to a lifestyle of drugs and suicidal outlets.
"No," I replied. "I'm scared he'll judge me and not be friends with me anymore," I explained dully. "Y'never know, Kiddo." Rick stated.
"Anyways, here," I handed him a snickers bar I had in my overshirt pocket. "What's this for?" Rick asked, not in a rude manner or anything. "Stop eating out of dumpsters, ya cheap bum. I just gave ya $10." I explained, placing the candy bar in his hand.
He smiled down at the candy bar and then up at me. I took another $10 out of my pocket and placed it on his leg. "$20's enough to pay for a hotel right? Go get some rest." I said, carelessly thinking about what I just said.
"You're somethin' else kid. 'Ya steal this from your mom?" He asked, with southern slang dangling from his voice. "How else did I buy this?" I questioned, dangling the ziplock bag.
Rick chuckled at my humour. "Well, thanks, Kid. Ya know how to make an old man happy." He confidently said. "Yeah, well, I hate to ruin your fun, but I gotta get going." I said standing up, catching my balance and equilibrium.
"Eh, yeah. Ya better get going kid. Don't wanna be late for nothin'." He said with a sadness to his tone. "C'mon, I'll be back Wednesday." I attempted to lighten the mood.
It was Monday, and a hard day of school, that I actually attended. So, I was tired and wanted to get high and sleep.
And that's what I did.
...Partially
I finally arrived home, with mom being gone, like always, and plopped down on the couch.
After a relaxing 30 minutes, I sat up and took the last of the weed I had out of my pocket and began to roll it up into a joint and used my lighter to light it up and smoke my problems away.
I began to think about what Rick said earlier. Maybe I should talk to Kyle about my.. "Issues". I cringed at that word when people described my problems.
I don't have "issues" I just have a heavier way to cope. I was different than everyone else, and I accepted that.
I glanced at my phone setting on the table as I took another hit off of the blunt I was currently smoking. I picked up the phone and speak of the devil
-1 new message-
🗿SuperBestFriend🗿
Kyle
"Hi"
4:05 P.M.
"Hey, What's up?"
4:05 P.M.
Kyle
"Nothing really. I just finished studying. The norms."
4:06 P.M.
"Ah.. Okay, so uhh. I've been meaning to talk to you."
4:07 P.M.
Kyle
"Ooh, What's this about?"
4:07 P.M.
"Oh, hush with the 'Ooh''s"
4:08 P.M.
Kyle
"'Kay, man, just explain, I'm anxious to know what's up."
4:10 P.M.
"It's actually something we need to talk about in person-"
4:11 P.M.
Kyle
"Ohh..Kay? Uh, we haven't talked in person in forever, but alright, dude."
4:11 P.M.
seen
4:30 P.M.
"Aight, so I'll be here, or do you wanna meet up somewhere? (which I RATHER not do-)
4:30 P.M.
Kyle
"Alright, dude, I'll be there in five."
4:32 P.M.
seen
I stood up and went to the bathroom mirror and checked myself out to see if I was presentable, and of course, I was not.
My hair was a mess, my eyes were bloodshot from the smoking I just did, my clothes had stains. I was a mess.
I headed to my bedroom and changed into a nice pair of clothes and headed back to the bathroom to tame my hair.
I splashed my eyes with water to hopefully lose the bloodshot effect. It didn't work out perfectly, but it lost an ounce of redness.
I went back into the living room and took the can of linen and sprayed the room to cover the smoke smell
Minutes passed and I heard knocks placed on the door.
I knew this was going to end badly, but I opened the door anyways.