Cocaine Hearts

Chapter 13

If I were to be completely honest with myself, a small part of me secretly wished that my father wouldn't be caught right away. This desire stemmed from the fact that I wanted to prolong my stay here with Brandon. Our small campsite had gradually transformed into a comforting haven, and the only individuals aware of our whereabouts were Zeke, who would regularly bring us supplies and provisions, including food and alcohol.

Regrettably, Ashley couldn't join Zeke during these visits. The risk of her being followed by Shane was too great, and I found myself desperately missing my best friend. Thankfully, Brandon managed to keep me entertained in her absence. We engaged in playful sword fights using large sticks, pretended to be mermaids in the water, and constructed magnificent sand castles along the shore. He had an uncanny ability to make me laugh and temporarily forget about the chaos and danger lurking in the shadows around us.

One evening, after a swim and a few lines of cocaine, we found ourselves lying together on the sandy beach, clad only in our underwear. "I love you," Brandon whispered, enveloping me in his arms. However, I hesitated and pulled away, gazing up at him. In his typical playful brown eyes, I detected a rare seriousness.

"I love you too," I replied, planting a slow, tender kiss on his lips as he drew me closer. The remains of the substance still coursed fresh through our bodies, heightening our sensitivity to every touch. Each caress sent electric tingles surging through me, eliciting moans of pleasure from Brandon. With a gentle touch, he unhooked my damp bra, allowing it to fall onto the sand beside us. We wasted no time in discarding our bottoms, indulging in the intoxicating passion that consumed us.

The sensation of his body pressed against mine was indescribable, and once we had finished, we lay there in each other's arms, breathless and content. Eventually, I rose from the sandy ground and wrapped myself in a sheet, grabbing my makeup mirror and carefully lining up a few more lines of cocaine.

We took turns passing the mirror back and forth, relishing in the euphoria it brought. As we indulged, he turned to me with a question. "So, any plans for after high school?" he inquired, handing me the mirror.

"Honestly, I have no f*****g clue," I confessed, bringing the rolled-up dollar bill to my nose. The familiar sting of the cocaine traveled down the back of my throat, sending a rush of pleasure through me. "And what about you? I'm sure you've got a hundred colleges lined up already," I added, playfully teasing him.

"I want to go to Stanford to become a doctor," he replied. "It's a great school, and I'd still be able to be close to my friends and family. My older brother, his wife, and their kids live just down the street from us. Plus, I have a four-year-old sister who would murder me if I even considered going far away."

I nodded, slowly exhaling a cloud of smoke from the cigarette I had lit. "I wish I had siblings or a normal life, but instead, my mom had to marry a goddamn serial killer," I lamented, finishing off the last line of cocaine.

"It's going to be alright, babe," he reassured me, wrapping his arms around me protectively. "Your father will be back in jail soon, and everything will go back to normal."

"I hope so," I sighed, flicking ashes from my cigarette. "I just wish that one day, I could have my life figured out like you do. I can't even think of a single thing I want to do after high school."

"But there's so much out there, so many possibilities," he insisted, his eyes shining with hope. "You can explore the world, pursue any career you desire, and be whoever you want to be." He gazed at me earnestly. "And I hope I'm a part of that future."

"I hope you are too," I replied sincerely, snuggling closer to his body. Together, we lay there, gazing up at the stars, appreciating the beauty that the night sky offered.

At that moment, as we lay there under the night sky, a sense of calm washed over me. The chaos of our lives seemed distant, replaced by the tranquility of the present. The stars twinkled above us, a reminder that there was so much more to life than the struggles we faced.

"I want to see the world," I whispered, breaking the silence. "I want to travel, experience different cultures, and make memories that will last a lifetime. I want to do all of it with you."

His fingers gently traced circles on my arm, his touch comforting. "Then let's do it," he said, determination in his voice. "Let's create a future where we can explore the unknown together. I love you and want to see where this goes."

A surge of excitement coursed through me as I imagined the possibilities. The future no longer seemed daunting, but instead, filled with endless opportunities. We could carve our path, leaving behind the darkness that had haunted us for far too long. As long as we were together, we could do it.

As the night grew deeper, our conversation turned to lighter topics. We spoke of our favorite books, movies, and the dreams we had as children. Laughter filled the air, mingling with the soft breeze that rustled the leaves nearby. At that moment, it felt as if the weight of the world had been lifted off our shoulders.

Eventually, exhaustion began to tug at our senses. We reluctantly stood up, brushed off the sand from our clothes, and headed back into our tent to find comfort sleeping in each other's arms.