Yeah I just suck at updating, but I don't feel like babbling. Review guys! It's making me sad to see people reading it but not reviewing, except you Demena – thanks! Anyway here ya go.

Rafe

I'm half asleep, sprawled out on the recliner when I hear the apartment door open. I decided not to join them going out to the bars. Honestly I was starting to get sick of them all. But I peek my eyes open when I notice CJ is stumbling with Blaire holding onto his arm for support. I don't see Sarah and Ryan and I glance at the clock to notice it's three a.m. I go to say something when Blaire starts yelling,

“I can't believe you lost the money. How fucking stupid are you, CJ? Rico is going to kill us.”

I sit up straight, as they flick a light on and notice me sitting there. I rub the sleep from my eyes and say,

“Who's Rico?”

CJ slides down onto the couch, Blaire following suit. “He's just this dude we sell to, a lot. Like pounds of the shit. And I kinda owe him a lot of money for supplies, it's a long story.” He seems burnt out, tired, and slurring his speech. Blaire huffs.

“This is insane, CJ! Rico isn't just some dude, he's a fucking gang member. Do you know what kind of shit they do to people when this happens?”

CJ rubs his head, frustrated. He stands, storming to the back and coming back out with a line that he blows up his nose faster than I've seen anyone. He waits a minute, wiping his dripping eyes and whips his head at Blaire.

“Do you ever just shut up, Blaire? I realize we have an issue but I'll fucking solve it. Just stop your bitching or I swear...” He trails off and Blaire stands, getting in his face.

“You swear what? You gonna hit me you stupid pussy?” She pushes him and I stand up, attempting to get in the middle before I feel Blaire's nails scrape against my face.

“Fuck!” I yell, backing off. CJ surveys the damage and sighs. “Look what ya did you stupid bitch. Beating up on Rafe just cause you're mad at me. Pop a Valium and go to bed.”

I can see her grinding her teeth, but instead of continuing the argument she turns to me, “I'm sorry about the scratch, I meant to hit dick head over there.”

I shrug. “It's fine. But where are Ryan and Sarah?”

Blaire smirks a bit. “Not sure, we kinda lost them at the club. Since we got into a fight and this money bullshit.”

I nod, and Blaire drifts off to the back of the apartment, I'm assuming to sleep. I expect CJ to follow but instead he brings out a six pack of cheap beer, tosses me a bottle and sits down across from me. “She's somethin' else, eh?”

I take a gulp of the beer and nod, laughing a bit. “Yeah Blaire... she's, well she's a pistol.” I rub the scratch on my face.

He laughs too and theres an almost comfortable silence for a minute. “I'm buzzing so hard, I can feel my heart jack hammering,' he pauses to take a sip of the beer, “so what are you gonna do about Sarah?”

I'm taken back by his question, mainly because I hadn't considered CJ and I even remotely friends. I shrug, attempting to swallow as much beer as I can. “I have no idea anymore. Part of me wants to go back to New York, I don't think I'm cut out for this lifestyle.”

CJ chuckles to himself. “Life in the fast lane man, some can't hack it. Your buddy Ryan seems to be enjoying it though.”

That makes me snap my head up. “What do you mean by that?”

He shakes his head, tossing his empty beer bottle into the trash and tossing me another. “The other night, he asked me if I would show him how to shoot up. He said snorting it burned his nose too bad.”

My eyebrows shoot up and I feel my pulse quicken and my heart sink. “What? And you let him?”

He shrugs. “I don't know the guy, dude. What was I supposed to do? Tell him not to as I shoot up in front of him? Come on Rafe, be realistic. If I didn't show him, he either woulda tried on his own or got someone else to show him. It was safer with me at least making sure he didn't overdose or something.”

I close my eyes, memories of Ryan and I as kids, innocent little kids riding our bikes to get hot dogs at Jay's hot dog stand, being so nervous to start high school, promising we'd never lose touch no matter what happened. And I lose it.

“Uh, we have a problem.” CJ says into his cell phone, hearing the loud club music in the back round, Sarah attempting to find a quieter place to talk.

“What are you talking about CJ?” She practically yells.

He sighs. “It's Rafe. I told him Ryan was shooting up and he took off. I have no idea where, all I know is he took about three grams of the shit and started walking. Three grams won't kill him, I'm just nervous about what the hell he's doing.”

“Wait, Ryan's shooting up? Why did no one tell me?”

Theres silence on the phone before Sarah becomes too frustrated and hangs up, quickly scanning her phone list for Rafe's number. She clicks her nails on the phone as it rings before she hears his voice.

“What do you want, Sarah?” I say, sitting at the bus stop.

“Where are you? CJ called me, he told me what happened. Just relax okay, tell me where you're at and I'll come.”

I snicker, “Wheres Ryan?”

I hear her sigh. “Right now, I couldn't care less about Ryan. I had no idea Rafe, I swear. I'm just as freaked as you are. I told him I was going to the bathroom. Just tell me where you're at.”

I consider my options, and eventually give in. “Eighth and Madison, the bus stop. I was gonna ride up to L.A. and stay in a hotel, get away from this bullshit.”

“Don't move, I'll be there in ten minutes.”

I hear the line die and I lay my head back against the bench. It's completely dead outside at four a.m. and I'm enjoying the silence. I finger the baggie in my pocket, considering just busting out a line right here but decide against it. My plan was to take it to the hotel. I must have spaced out because before I know it I see the SUV pulling up along side me. “Get in.” Sarah says, as she rolls down the window. I climb in the passenger seat and sigh, looking over at her.

“Rafe, you look so sad.”

I laugh, bitterness coming out. “I've lost my best friend. I would have lost him anyway because of you, but no, I've lost him because of drugs. What am I supposed to do? Leave him out here alone to be a junkie and die or go to prison? Or stay and watch it all fall apart?”

She drums her hands on the steering wheel, obviously nervous. “I wish I had an answer for you, but if it makes you feel any better I'm in the same situation. Look at Blaire, she's a mess.”

I roll my eyes. “Did you hear they owe money to some fuck named Rico who's apparently a gang member? I can't stay with you guys anymore, this is out of control.”

“You're kidding. This is great, son of a bitch. I've only met Rico once but he is one scary looking guy.”

I raise my eyebrows hoping she understands what I'm saying. “We have to just go Sarah. Lets leave, we'll go to Los Angeles, stay there for awhile and I'll get my dad to western union me the money to go back to New York.”

She doesn't say anything for awhile, but she touches my hand and starts the car back up, pulling away from the bus stop. “Buckle up, Los Angeles is a long drive.”

TBC...