In a Strange Place

I lie in bed starring at the roof. I had nothing to do, but think. Often I thought about making

everything right. Maybe go back to college, take my medication, mend things with my mom,

stay away from drugs. I chuckled to myself. Yeah right. I sat up. Thinking of drugs made me

think of Edessa. She is our neighbor and ultimate druggie. Whatever you want, she’s has.

Sorta. I grabbed my sweater and opened my window. I knew I couldn’t go out the front door

without being interrogated by Sam. Good thing I was on the first floor. I opened the window

and hoped out into the dark world.

When I made it to Edessa’s house I went around back and let myself in, as usual. She

was standing over her kitchen counter fixing orange juice. She had a cigarette in her hand.

Her hair was a mess and her eyes were bloodshot. I leaned against the door frame. “Do you

ever take a break from breathing in smoke?’ I asked. She jumped, spilling orange juice

everywhere. “Shit Adam! Don’t scare me like that!” She yelled picking up her glass and

taking a sip. Leaving the spilled orange juice on the counter, she walked over to the couch

and flopped down. “So do you? I asked. I walked over and took her cigarette. Taking a long

drag, I closed my eyes, then blew out. I heard her chuckle. “Yeah…to snort stuff.” I looked at

her secretly disgusted. Sure, I did some marijuana ,smoked some cigarettes, took sleeping

pills, but never would I snort. Never. “ So Adam…I heard you got harassed by some black

chick today.” I smirked just thinking about Skye. “Yep.” I mumbled putting the cigarette back

in my mouth. “Why?” She asked. “'Why' what?” I put the cigarette down and picked up a lit

joint. “Why did she push you?”
"Because she thought I was a creeper.” I said laughing.

“Stupid bitch.” She mumbled. “And black at that.” I stared at her. “What does her color have to

do with anything?” I asked crossing my arms. “Well, for fact black people are the most

ignorant bastards in the world.” I bit the inside of my jaw to keep from saying something

stupid, because I needed the weed right now. “You know, I had a black friend once. What a

fucking moron she was.” Edessa chuckled. I rolled my eyes. “Just because a person of a certain skin color is a dumb- ass,

doesn’t mean everyone of that same color is. For example: There’s this white chick who

graduated from college with a major in business…but all she does is sit around and smoke

shit all day; therefore she’s a dumb ass for not doing anything with her life…even though

she has the opportunity to because nothing is getting her way but her!” I was angry now. It

wasn't fair. Edessa could make something of herself. She had all the right tools to do that,

unlike me who had nothing. I was living off of my best friend because depression got in the

way of my schooling. I feel like I sat through four years of hell, titled: high school, for nothing.

Edessa laughed. “Whatever. All I’m saying is…screw black people.” I breathed in slowly to

calm myself down. I wasn’t even brown, but it made me frustrated to hear such stupidity.

“Wow, Edessa.” I heard Natalie say. She walked in from the back door with her hand on her

hip. Natalie was a friend from high school. She never liked Edessa. I can kinda see why

now. “How’d you find me?” I asked before her and ,a very high, Edessa could get into it.

“Sam told me you were here.” Sam? God, that spy! “Come on Adam, let’s get the hell outta

here.” She grabbed my arm and dragged me out. We walked silently to her car. “I can’t stand

her!” She yelled. I chuckled. It was kinda funny to see Natalie angry. She was normally the

really mellow one. Let’s go get some beer. I hesitated for a second. I wasn’t supposed to.

"Oh come on, Adam! Don’t go all shit on me now.” I brushed away the feeling of uncertainty and

got in the car.

When we got to Teddy’s bar I quickly sat down. Just one beer. I repeated. Just one beer.

“Hey, Rodney!” Natalie said smiling. She was very well known here. Like a local, I guess.

“You wanna get me and my friend some shots?”

“No problem.” he said. Sooner than later he pushed two small shot glasses filled to the rim at

us. “On the house.” he said winking at Natalie. I rolled my eyes. “Seriously Natalie.” I asked.

“What? It’s just a shot.”

“I can’t…I promised Sam.”

“What, is he your boyfriend? It’s just one shot.” She said pushing my arms. I looked at the tiny

little glass. The TINY glass. Such a tiny glass could cause really BIG problems. Was it worth

it? Was it worth breaking a promise? I looked over at Natalie who was grinning. “1...2...3...” I

counted then threw back the strong whiskey. It burnt like hell. “ Woo!” Natalie yelled with her

hands in the air, exposing her stomach a little. I put my head back and closed my eyes. What

did I just do? When I opened my eyes again, I saw Skye. What was she doing in here?