Lethal Friends

The Deal

Logan

What had I been thinking? Giving something like that over to a girl who was still new in my life. I was an i***t. A f*cking i***t.

I was glad I had stopped myself when I had. Otherwise I would've told her too much, and she probably would've hated me. Adrian and Ryker they hadn't when they found out, but they were my closest friends- people who had known me for a long time. London was different.

Why do you even care what she'll think of you if you tell her? Why even tell her? She's not important to you. I heard myself think and little too loudly.

I paced back and forth in my plain room hands fisted in my hair. I didn't want to think about Elliott anymore. The tattoo was meant to be the end of the whole thing- a commemoration to his memory, a sorry, and a love you, but above all else an end. An end of the eternal hell I put myself through for what happened.

"Oh eff this. Eff this all," I had to get out of here before I punched a hole in my own bedroom wall. I had to let out these emotions somehow. Emotions just got in the way, they were the killer of us all, so I aimed to kill my own.

I raced downstairs gagging at the lavender kitchen my mom insisted on, and grabbing my motorcycle keys prepared to get away from here.

Ding, ding! My phone went off.

'Still want to meet?' Ryker had texted. I smirked.

'Definitely,' I replied, and hopped on to my own loving death trap of a machine. The engine purred beneath me like a lovely animal waiting to be released. I'll un-cage you, don't you worry.

I glanced back once at the window that faced mine, the place that held so many things; things I didn't even know what they were. Then I decided that was it. For the rest of the evening I would forget about this. It was stupid.

I whipped down the roads of the sunshine state passing every other red light and flipping off the drivers who honked at me. Hell, like I cared right now.

When I finally got to Ryker's place, which was on the opposite side of town, I could feel the beat of music through the wheels of my bike as I parked.

Geez man its only Wednesday night, I sighed mentally. At least I could tell this wasn't a party only something like a hang out bumped up a few notches. That was good it would only be my friends then and a few others- I didn't need or want anything more.

I pushed my way past the small gathering of people in the entrance hall and headed to our regular spot- the basement. Down the stairs I entered a cloud a smoke. I coughed once waving my hand through the thick grey haze trying to see before I took one of the lethal sticks myself. I relaxed into the sweet sensation that raced through my body. Man I hadn't felt that for a while, and boy did it feel good, pumping through my veins.

Adrian sat across from where I headed to sit, a game of poker in full swing. He smirked, an act him and I had in common.

Is that what I look like to London? I shook my head angrily at the thought. To hell with her opinion of me. As soon as she knew the whole story she would be gone in an instance, refusing to talk to me, I was sure of it.

"Wanna be dealt a hand?" Ryker, since he was the dealer, asked with a stack of cards ready in his fingers and a cigarette hanging from his lips. I nodded brooding.

Ryker was kind and I got a good hand, well enough that I didn't have to pay attention which was nice but annoying. I didn't want my thoughts to stray towards her, I wanted to get my mind off of her.

"Full house boys," A jock called out.

We all groaned. He had won all of our chips the little devil. I threw my cards down. I had nothing, and I didn't feel like playing another round.

"I'm out," I said and got weird looks from Adrian and Ryker. I tried to give them my best 'What? Just back off' looks.

I stood up scrapping the chair back and stalked off, now in an even more sour mood.

What I needed was a nice pretty blonde girl, I'm sure there was one of those around here, and a hookup would get my mind off of everything.

Ah there was one, but a brunette with dark eyes coming for me. Her small slinky sparkly dress hiked up her legs with every move she made and I couldn't help but stare. Those were some damn fine long legs. She shone in the weird low lights and seemed to taunt me from across to room. Who was she? There were only a few people here and only a few

I didn't know. She must be one of those hot but unnoticed types at school otherwise I definitely would've been with her already.

I finally relented and headed towards her moving in time with the music and her as soon as our bodies met. Yet somehow I knew right away something was off about this, and everything- everything was so wrong.

I pulled away from the girl and she gave me a scowl. I sighed placing my hands back on her waist to please her. What was my problem? I had this beautiful girl standing right in front of me clearly interested and I couldn't put any effort into this at all? There was a high chance I could get lucky with her, yet it almost felt like I didn't want to. But that was ridiculous, I almost always wanted a fling for the night.

Someone grabbed my bicep and dragged me out of the room, the girl making whimpering noises behind me. I turned around to find Adrian.

"What are you doing? Can't you tell I'm having a good time? You're ruining my fun," I said angrily.

"Dude, whatever you're doing that isn't fun or a good time. It's all over your face, you're completely somewhere else and it's not in this room or with that random hookup waiting to happen. But nevermind that you always have problems. I came to ask you if you forgot about it."

The nerve of my own best friend.

"No I haven't forgotten about it," I growled back.

"Good because we had a deal and I want to make sure I get back the money I bet on you," Adrian pushed.

"Okay, alright now go away then, if that's all you care about. Your money," I could feel my mouth twisting at the words that passed my lips disgusted by the very things themselves.

"Calm down for a sec, why don't you man? I also was going to ask if you wanted a smoke. And another round of poker in the basement too, you can still grab your spot back,"

"Nah, that's how I got myself in that huge mess last year. No need to repeat that again," I answered thinking back to that eventful night one year ago.

**One year ago**

"Get the eff out of my way man," someone cried pushing me aside.

I clenched my fists and walked forward menanicingly ready to go to town on the asshole when I felt Adam's hand grab my forearm.

"Just leave it. It's not worth it. Besides there's some people downstairs that have some awesome stuff for us. Wouldn't want to miss out on that would we?" He wiggled his eyebrows at me trying to tempt me to walk away.

I caved, "Alright show the way Mr. Righteous."

He lead me to one of the most familiar places, Ryker's basement. I had grown up with the guys. It had always been me and Ryker then Adam and then Adrian. We had a lot of memories that had taken place in that basement. And this next hour was about to be added to the list.

Downstairs we found two hulky thug-looking guys. They weren't wearing sunglasses or suits or anything but they definitely reminded me of body guards. They sat on the left and right sides of the obvious man of the hour. Everyone was focused on the guy and he reveled in the attention, enjoying the spotlight.

"I'm telling you if you just hit them in exactly the right spot, BAM! you got their pressure point, they're down and you've won. Size doesn't matter then, you know what I'm saying?" He was gesturing to his own pressure points- at least the more commonly known ones.

I snorted at the guy with jet black hair and lip piercings. He gave off a dominance, I-have-to-be-in-control type of vibe and I wanted to turn around and head back upstairs. But I stuck around curious as to what he had to offer us.

"Ahh new friends. And you are?" He asked. It seemed almost sarcastic as if we weren't 'worthy'. Jerk.

"Adam, and he's Logan," my friend cut in for me before I could say something stupid.

"Devin, nice to meet you."

I crossed my arms and sat down across from Devin, leaning back in my chair challenging him.

He laughed at me under his breathe and carried on with his conversation ignoring me for about the next half an hour. But eventually the crowd of people thinned out around the new popular kid, Devin, and it was just me, Adam, him and his fake bodyguards.

The one of the left twitched as I moved in my chair about to try to get closer to Devin, and I swear I could hear the ground underneath being crushed by the rock of guy. I could easily picture his thick vice like arms curling around my neck and choking me, so I settled back, trying not to look as intimidated as I felt.

Adam was the first to break the momentary silence.

"I was told you had something to offer us?" He looked down.

" Oh ho ho, is that the only reason you two have stuck around all night? I knew it wasn't because you liked me. Mr. Moody over there should learn to lighten up. You're going to meet a lot of people in your life that you don't like, I may just be the first." He smiled, Smiled, and I could feel my gut twisting and my insides curdling with instant hate. I made my way to stand.

"Before you leave- your friend, Adam, is right I do have something to offer you. It's some good stuff, but you gotta promise me you guys can pay up. I don't like none of them lying type, who think they can trick me. They can't; they never can."

I sat back down, curious, and said so myself, "we can pay up, money isn't a problem, it depends what you got."

He pulled out a strange looking good joint, not a bag of powder as what I was expecting.

"Well you have to try it first don't you?" He said slyly. I nodded along with Adam and after lighting it we each took a drag.

It was good. It was the good stuff. I'd pay up. I pulled out my wallet from the inside of my jacket pocket and put down a crisp 20.

"Is that enough for 10 of these?" I asked.

Devin laughed. "This stuff is hard to get. 20 won't cut it."

"Fine,"I growled and slapped down another 20, at which Devin smiled and I had a small sinking feeling. What I didn't know is that that one deal, so innocent and a seemingly one time thing, would eventually make me drown. Not in drugs or money but in death.

*****

I shuddered at the memory and shook it off rolling my shoulders. No more. London had made me relive all of this and it sucked. This was her fault, her fault I had to take a trip down memory lane.

Ryker stood in front of me and getting my drift he finally walked away.

"Alright be that way. Be moody," he mumbled and I smiled grimly. If only.

I suddenly felt like I was suffocating and rushed outside for some air, pushing people out of the way as I went.

I was almost to the door when Autumn called out my name. She was standing near Adrian who had apparently finally surfaced from the basement, but she ditched him to come talk to me. I stopped for a moment knowing she might be able to calm me. Autumn was a good friend- she was reliable.

"You okay, Logan? You look... well for the first time in a long time you look concerned, worried, dare I even say apologetic?" She made a fake little gasp as a joke, but I barely had enough in me to fake a pathetic laugh in return. She easily saw through it.

"Oh my gosh, I'm sorry something's actually wrong isn't it? Is it something to do with London?"

I groaned rubbing my face with my hands wishing I could clear my conscious just as easily.

"No but you mentioned Elliott and now she won't stop asking questions. She brought everything back Autumn. I can't handle this. I can't!" I stormed away from her gaping mouth too annoyed with my emotions that were slipping through the cracks to realize the extent of her surprise.

Ignoring everyone else who called my name as I passed I made my way outside and on to my motorcycle. I stared at the keys in my hand only for a moment before I shook my head. I was being ridiculous. Letting people get close to you did that to you. I shoved the keys in the ignition satisfied at the rev from the engine in response and sped away. I squinted into the dark heading in the furthest direction away from home that I could find.

No more London. She only brought back my emotions, and my emotions made me weak. They brought me down. London was bringing me down.