Hey everyone, So I finished chapter two of my book. I added chapter one before it so that you can read that before chapter two if you would like to refresh your memory.
Chapter One:
Welcome to my perfect life. I couldn’t have it any better. First of all, she was safe, and, I was safe! And second of all, we were nowhere near where they were, and surely, they wouldn’t come looking for me. This life, to us, was paradise. Let me show you why! The house was Victorian era, gorgeous, with two maple trees in the front yard, which made the loop of the driveway. They had asked if we wanted the drive paved, since the dirt road had been eroding over time, but I steadily declined. The dirt road gave it an authentic look. The back yard though, was in mint condition and the view was spectacular, especially in the early evening. The shade of the mountain and lack of civilization made the stars visible even while the sun was still up. This particular day was different, to some it might have been called a muggy day, but the mist being broken over the face of Cliffwall Mountain was indescribable. We had decided that photography on a misty day like this could be profitable, so we were on our way to find a good place near the base of the mountain to capture the scene. She was in the passenger seat. I really liked this girl, and the weird thing is, she really liked me too. Her greenish hazel eyes was what had caught my attention the first time I saw her. Right out of the crowd. But she must have noticed me that first time too; I’m sure she did. But she had never given me the reward of knowing it. Well that was then, now she was mine. My best friend and the sexiest woman in the world, especially in her hiking boots. Her fingers weaved their way through my light brown hair, while I kept my focus on the road. When I was younger, I was a blond, but now it was much darker. It was at least a few shades darker than her dirty blond hair, which she held as one of her favorite features. And I promise, her hair wouldn’t disappoint even the most skeptical critics, as it sparkled in the sun. That is, when there was sun. But even without the sun, everyday with her was a sunny one.
Pause. I must have been dreaming. What is this empty bare mattress? Oh yea. It’s mine. My forehead is sweating, and I wish I could have continued in that beautiful dream, but unfortunately, I was back. I closed my eyes for just another glimpse. Just another glimpse at perfection. So now what? I guess I should tell you the real story. What really happened to me. It’s a long story. But then again, I’m sure you have time.
It all started when I was fourteen years old. Old Man Jones down the street had made a deal with me. If I brought him a percentage of my revenue, he would give me all the cigarettes I needed to sell to my school buddies. Of course he knew I smoked most of the product to myself; he was still making money. His deal with me was that I would sell the cheapest cigarettes he had in stock for top dollar. And even though they were very expensive, all my friends would buy them from me because they were fourteen, and where else would a fourteen year old get tobacco.
Chapter Two:
Let’s move forward a few years. To the summer after I had graduated high school. I was living in Dallas at the time, and just like every city in the United States, you could get in with the right crowd, or get mixed up with the wrong crowd. Unfortunately for me, I had gotten in with the wrong people. I had told myself early on, that I would never get into a gang, and thankfully for me, I hadn’t. But drug dealers, that was a different story.
“Hey man, what you doin’ here? You lost?”
I turned my head from my Ipod to where the voice was coming from. The guy looked rather intimidating, and his under-shirt revealed a tattoo sleeve on his right arm. I rolled the driver window down a little further so I’d be able to explain myself better.
“Nah, I’m waiting for a friend. He told me to meet him here.” I answered.
“Who you waiting for white boy?”
“Josh.” I said, right as the guy made it up to my window. “Joshua Everton.”
That answer must have sufficed, because he seemed to lighten up after I gave him Josh’s full name.
“Oh, you roll with Josh. Well if you friends with Josh, you friends with me too. I’m Dwayne. I had to ask you what you were doin’ here, we don’t see many white guys around everyday.” He explained.
“It’s cool, I’m Eric.” I replied.
Eric. That’s my name. Eric Landon Hartman.
I saw Josh exit the building through the door directly in front of my car. “Hey Dwayne, you messin’ with my boy?” Josh said as he walked toward the car.
“No, I just didn’t know who he was. Just being careful bro.” Dwayne answered.
Dwayne walked back toward the building. Josh walked around the front of the car and got in the passenger side. He lit a cigarette and rolled down the window.
“Where we headed?” I asked as I turned out of the apartment parking lot.
“We gotta stop by Adrian’s, he’s got some stuff for us.” Josh said through the smoke coming out his mouth.
“Alright, and what’s this stuff he’s got for us?”
I knew exactly what he was talking about, but what I was referring to, was the quality?
“He said this was some new stuff. Some good. Said it had orange hairs all over it.” He answered.
“Good. We might make something off this, instead of barely breaking even.” I rejoiced.
This news got my blood pumping. In the last few weeks, everything that had come our way was of the lowest quality, and low quality meant low prices, which meant no profit. Josh and I both were in need of the money; him probably more than me, since I still lived with my parents. But Josh had finished high school two years before me, and he was on his own. He and I had known each other since my freshman year of high school. But we were never good friends until about a year ago. Josh was a pretty big guy. And when I say big, I don’t mean fat. In high school, he played football, and even now, he did his best to keep up the muscle. Josh pulled out two cigarettes, he handed one to me, and lit his. I lit mine while I kept my eyes on the car in front of me. My left hand reached over to the door and I rolled the window down slightly to allow the smoke to escape. Right about then, Adrian’s house came into view. The house was pretty nice. Red bricks made up the exterior, and the grass and plants around it were kept up. Though it was nice, it was also small. Adrian lived by himself, and thus, didn’t need much space. I pulled into the driveway, and cut the engine off.
“You got that envelope?” Josh asked as we made our way around the side. Adrian didn’t like us using the front door, so we would just walk around back.
“Yea for sure!” I answered. “Everything’s in there.”
“Good.”
Josh opened the wooden door, and it creaked ever so slightly.
“Hey Adrian, it’s Josh!” He yelled out.
Adrian had always told us to just come on in, but he also told us to yell out so we wouldn’t startle him.
“I’m in the living room,” was Adrian’s reply.
We made our way into the living room. Josh shook Adrian’s hand and I followed to do the same.
“What have you been up to?” I asked him as I sat down on the couch across from him.
“Not too much, I was at the bar last night, just woke up two hours ago.”
Adrian did look like he had just woken up. He wore sweatpants, and a loose white t-shirt. He stood about 5 foot 9 inches. He had light brown skin and dark hair, cut short. I didn’t know how old he was, but if I had to guess, I would have said he was in his late twenties.
“What was going on there?” Josh inquired.
“To be honest, not much at all. But my boy was DJ so I told him I’d come out. Not too many people showed up though.” He replied. “But anyways, I got some new stuff for you.”
He got up from the couch and headed into the next room.
“Oh.” He said as he turned back towards us, “we gotta finish business from last week while y’all are here.”
“Yea man, Eric’s got it all ready for you.” Josh announced.
“Perfect, I’ll get the book.” He said as he left the room.
The Cross-Between 