The Space Between

by Victoria H. Smith

  “So how is it that you were at a country club if you don’t work there?”

  “My parents are members there.”

  “Which makes you a member there,” she said stiffly.

  “Yes.”

  “And you live there in the North Shore, because you belong to a country club in the North Shore.”

  “Yes.”

  It was at that point that she left me and went to the brick overlook. I walked over to her side. Leaning against the brick, I studied her expression. Her eyebrows were knitted tight as she studied the traffic below.

  “I don’t understand why me being from the North Shore is an issue with you,” I said. And I really didn’t. There were definitely worse places to be from than one of the richest areas in the state. Did she have an aversion to the area or something? I’d yet to hear anything bad about the place.

  She didn’t say anything for a few moments before she spoke. “It’s not that you’re from the North Shore that bothers me. It’s what you’re doing here.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  She turned, crossing her arms. “Being from that area, I’m assuming you have everything you want in life, yet you ended up at a poker game with a guy who’s the definition of bad news. I’m sure you knew that while playing with him. He doesn’t hide it.”

  I opened my mouth, but she didn’t let me speak.

  “So the way I see it, the only reason you put yourself in a sketchy situation where you have no monetary gain was because you were looking for something other than money; a thrill. A chance to hang out with the thugs and pretend to be one of them.”

  “Whoa.” I held up my hand to halt further attacks. “You’re dangerously close to stepping over the line here. You don’t know a thing about me, so don’t pretend like you do.”

  She stepped closer to me, not looking a bit intimidated and ready to speak her mind again. I wasn’t used to people talking to me whatever way they saw fit, and I didn’t like it. “I don’t need to pretend. I see right through you. Poor privileged guy who walks all over what his parents provided for him. Who’d put himself in danger because he could care less about a life that most people would kill to have; do kill to have by hustling for it every day.”

  “That’s enough.”

  “No, I don’t think it is. I suggest you take a step back and take a long, hard look at your life. Because if you think this grass is greener,” she said, gesturing to the street, “and worth risking everything your parents have worked hard for you to have, then there’s something deep going on inside you that you better fix before you mess up your life so badly that you’ll be begging for what you had before.”

  I only blinked, and she left my side. Before she went out the door she turned around. “Go home, and don’t you dare buy any drugs.”

  The door slammed behind her when she left.

  Chapter Six

  Lacey

  “God, Lacey, what did you do?”

  Gazing up at Margot as she stood by her bedroom door, I stopped stuffing my stage bag. I was packing up so I could leave the party. I just didn’t feel like being there anymore after what happened on the roof. “What are you talking about?”

  “The guy. He wants to buy like serious quantities of my stuff.”

  I groaned in frustration. “I told him not to buy anything.” I fell back on Margot’s bed, laying my arm over my eyes. Maybe I came down on him too hard. Now, he was deliberately buying just to spite me. God, men were so exhausting. Why couldn’t they just follow simple directions? He didn’t belong here, and he needed to go home before he got himself into trouble.

  “Wow.” She came over and sat beside me. “You told him not to buy anything. Can you tell my other customers not to buy, so I can get me a new ride?”

  I dropped my arm from my face. “This isn’t funny, Margot.”

  Her smile left her. “Sorry. So I’m guessing you tried to convince him not to buy since you knew if he was interested I’d sell to him.”

  “Yeah, and all it did was make him more determined.”

  “Look. I’d love to take one for the team and not sell to him, but I’m not going to deny a grown man from buying. If he says no that’s one thing, but if he’s willing, he’s going to get what he paid for.”

  I pushed myself up on my elbows. “Is he still here?”

  “Yeah. We’re about to close the deal now. Why?”

  Shimmying to the edge of the bed, I fished my phone out of my stage bag.

  “What’s up?”

  “I’ve got a plan,” I said, dialing the non-emergency number.

  “Okay.”

  “It’s very desperate, and he’ll hate me even more than he does now, but he’s given me no choice.”

  Her brows perked up. “What are you going to do?”

  I put the receiver to my ear, listening to the options. “There’s going to be a lot happening in the next few minutes, but I need you to trust me. You won’t be caught up in it, I promise.”

  Margot touched my arm. “Lacey girl, you’re scaring me. This guy is not your responsibility. Don’t do something you’ll regret.”

  That was the thing, I felt like he was my responsibility. Mostly because I cared about him, which was crazy because I didn’t even know his name. And after tonight, I knew I never would. It was a sacrifice I was willing to make, though. He didn’t belong here, and after tonight, he’d know it.

  I pressed the button and the automated voice directed me to the cops. Listening to the ring, I looked over at Margot. “Tell him that I’ve reconsidered and that I’m sorry for what I said. Then tell him to meet me out front in five minutes.”

  Chapter Seven

  Drake

  “Man, that is one seriously large bag of weed.” Derrick stared in wonder as I shoved the stash into my dress pants.

  “We party hard where I come from,” I said, standing up to adjust the hefty bulge of green in the tight pocket.

  Derrick stood as well. “Well, I guess so. Never would have thought that about you Richie Riches up there.”

  The fact of the matter was if I brought this into the country club I could imagine there would be a free for all. Stuff like this and of this magnitude was hard to come by when under mommy and daddy’s watchful eye; exactly why I planned to dump it after I dropped Derrick off tonight. Those kids didn’t need it anymore than I did. I never intended to smoke what I actually bought. I was no more a pothead than a guy who lived in the West Side. I only bought it to piss Lacey off since I knew word would eventually get back to her that I bought it. She had some nerve telling me what to do like she had some say in my life. I got enough of that from my parents and didn’t need it from her. The way the situation panned out was a damn shame, too. We probably could have had a really good time together. As I stopped adjusting my pants in thought, I knew we would have. That spark we had on the roof was amazing. The girl intrigued the hell out of me, and I wanted to explore that. My expression went tight. Too bad she had to be crazy.

  My thoughts regained focus as Margot came into the room. Dipping into my other pocket, I took out my wallet.

  She watched as I put a few of my last remaining hundreds into her palm, and as she counted the money she had a weird look on her face. I expected to see some type of ecstasy or elation reading across her features. I doubted it was everyday she got a huge buy like this. But the expression she had was tense, uneasy even.

  After pocketing the money, she held out her hand to me. “Pleasure doing business with you. And you have my number if you’d like to do business again.”

  I nodded then turned to Derrick. “Hey, are you coming with me? I can drop you off at home.”

  Derrick made to get up, but Margot crossed in front of him. “He’s going to stay. Got to talk to him about an order Ty just texted in.”

  Derrick’s eyebrows narrowed, then he reached into his pocket. “He didn’t mention anything to me.” He thumbed through his phone.

  Margot’s expression went tight. �
�That’s because he just phoned it in.”

  I raised my eyebrow. “Okay, well I guess I’ll see you around then, Derrick.” I waved him off.

  I left the room and headed into the party. Before I could make it very far, Margot stopped me.

  “Hey, Lacey wants to see you.”

  Both eyebrows went up now. “I highly doubt that after what happened between us upstairs. Anyway, I could care less about seeing her.”

  Clearly lies, but I didn’t know what game the drug lady was trying to pull. I stepped off before I could question the validity of her statement.

  Cutting me off, she stood in front of me. “No, I’m serious. She feels terrible about what happened. She’s a complete mess and wanted me to tell you that she’s reconsidered. She wants to meet you outside in five minutes. That was over five minutes ago, so I’m guessing she means now.”

  Now, this got my attention. Lacey felt miserable? I knew we had something strong going on between us upstairs. Obviously, her reservations weren’t enough to keep her away; it made me feel like kind of a badass since she clearly couldn’t resist me.

  Margot smiled, crossing her arms. “I take it that look means you’re going then?”

  Chapter Eight

  Lacey

  Rubbing my arms, I watched each side of the street from both angles. Thankfully, the street was cleared. I didn’t want to get anyone else caught up in this. My phone beeped, and I took it out of my bag.

  Your guy’s on his way out. Look out for him, Margot’s text said.

  I quickly sent her a response. Did he still buy even though you told him I reconsidered?

  Gripping the phone, I anxiously awaited her reply. I hoped he didn’t. Nothing would have to happen tonight if the purchase didn’t go through. I could cancel the call I made and maybe the two of us could work things out. When my phone flashed, I knew my thoughts were wishful thinking.

  He did, but if it means anything I told him after I sold it to him.

  Of course she did. I couldn’t be mad at her, though. She had to look out for number one and none of this situation was her fault. It was he who came here from his high life to buy in the first place, and in the end, he bought just to get under my skin. He was petty and immature, two things that could get you killed around here. He needed this lesson, and I was about to give it to him.

  The touch on my arm surprised me, and before I could stop myself, I leaned back into him. He really was right on his way like Margot said.

  “Margot told me you’ve reconsidered. I’m glad.” He ran his finger down my forearm.

  I let him continue touching me because I was weak, because I was selfish and needed that touch. I needed for just one moment to forget what was about to happen, and how after it did, I’d never see him again.

  Gathering my strength, I grabbed his hand as I turned around. Lacing my fingers through his, I studied them. His fingers were so much longer than mine, and I envisioned what those fingers could do. And how long they would take to do it before they sent me over the edge.

  “Actually, I haven’t,” I said, dropping his hand.

  He squinted at me in confusion. “What do you mean? I thought you wanted to meet me out here. Margot told me you did.”

  “I did. I do. I mean, I just had her say that so I could get you out here.”

  “You did? Why?”

  I let out a breath. “I just wanted to tell you goodbye, and that I’m sorry for how things turned out. I didn’t want it to be that way.”

  “I don’t understand the reason for the goodbye. You don’t have to leave. We can work out whatever issues you still have.”

  The fact that he thought I was the one who had the issues was the problem. Looking away, I shook my head.

  He titled my chin. “We can work this out, Lacey. Really none of this has to be a big deal.”

  I blinked.

  He laughed gently. “Yeah, I know your name. I found out at the theater when Derrick took me to meet Margot.”

  When he said his words, I was reminded of the reason why he met Margot. I stepped away until his hand left my chin.

  Sighing, he put his hands in his pockets. “Are you worried about what happened on the roof? I mean, because what you said was harsh, but I’m over it. I’d really like to explore this. I’m willing to get over what happened and start over if you are.”

  I wanted to consider his proposal so badly, but the fact of the matter was we couldn’t move past what was said. We couldn’t because he didn’t understand where I was coming from. To him, this world was a bit of fun, a place to get his weed and maybe some kicks by picking up a local chick. To me, this was life. This was my life and nothing to play around with. I wouldn’t let him play around with me. I wouldn’t be his source of fun, no matter what I felt upstairs.

  “You’re not saying anything.”

  I pushed a long current of air through my nose. “There’s nothing to be said.”

  “What I don’t get is, why? We clearly had a connection going on upstairs. Why can’t you get over the fact that I’m from the North Shore so we can see about it?”

  “I told you. It’s not the fact that you’re from the North Shore—”

  “It’s that you think you know me? That you know my reasons for being here on your side of town?”

  I stared at his mahogany eyes. “And I don’t?”

  With a tense jaw, he let out a breath. “No, you don’t.”

  I glanced away from him.

  “Look.” He stepped up to me and put his hands on my cheeks.

  I couldn’t pull away again. I wanted to, but I just couldn’t. I really was weak.

  “Sometimes things are more complicated than they seem. Sometimes what you see isn’t so black and white.”

  I frowned. What did he mean?

  “Sometimes,” he said, leaning in, “when you’re on the outside looking in things look different. Another person’s life can’t be so simply put when it’s not your own, Lacey.”

  I put my hands on his hips and when I did, I felt the large bag of weed in his pants pocket. Gazing over his shoulder, I saw the officer approach us.

  “And sometimes,” I said, cuffing his wrists until he pulled his hands away from my cheeks, “things are exactly how they look on the outside. Simple. Where people do things because they feel like it. There’s nothing complicated about it. They just do.”

  “Son? Can I speak to you for a moment?”

  Dropping his hands from mine, the guy’s attention went to the officer behind him. When he turned back around and looked at me, he didn’t say a word, nor did his expression reflect any hurt. I supposed he had no emotions for me, and at that point, I couldn’t allow myself to have anymore for him.

  “Please don’t hate me. I’m just trying to do the right thing.”

  And that was all I could say before turning around and leaving the officer to his duties. I headed home. There was nothing else for me to do here.

  Chapter Nine

  Drake

  Officer Evil Eye had been giving me the eye for the last hour. Lifting and dropping the obscenely large bag of weed on his desk, he sucked at his teeth. He was probably trying to get at the remnants of whatever cow he ate for dinner. By the look of his Big Boy frame, the man looked like he pretty much collected food.

  Bored of him, I scanned around the busy downtown precinct in my chair. Watching the men and women in blue was a worse sentence than actually being locked up. It was either watch them eat, or listen to them prattle on about policemen endeavors I could care less about.

  Fun.

  Despite the dull action of the room, I tried to focus on it. The activities kept my mind sporadically off Lacey, so I wasn’t thinking about her every second as I sat in my seat. The girl freaking played me, and I let her. I was so infatuated that I didn’t see the signs and let her sucker me. Well, good riddance to her. No girl was worth all this drama. No matter how amazing it felt to be around her, or the pure ecstasy I received just by hearing her voi
ce.

  “Most guys who get caught with this much in their possession we don’t even bother bringing here,” said Officer Evil Eye.

  With a sigh, I gave him my attention. “Oh, yeah?”

  “Yeah.” He picked up the bag and tossed it near me. “They go straight to the big house. Yet, you won’t even see a holding cell for this. Very lucky to have mommy and daddy on your side.”

  I smirked, then stared off. “Yeah. Lucky me.”

  “Son, you’re still talking to the law. Might want to be mindful of that.”

  My eyes flicked his way. “If the law can’t even put me in a holding cell for that.” I pointed to my stash. “I have no fear of the law.”

  He sucked on his teeth again. “You kids from the North Shore never learn.”

  No. I guess we never did.

  “Truman!”

  I groaned when I heard my mom’s high-pitched voice. It always went up a few octaves when she panicked.

  Her arms were around me, and I was pulled out of my chair before I could even see her face. All I saw was the brown, tightly secured bun she sported for the event tonight.

  “Oh, God, Truman.” She pulled away, her porcelain features in straight panic mode as she placed her hands on my cheeks. “How are you? How did they treat you?”

  She was worried about how they treated me. I fought myself from laughing. I was asked for my refreshment of choice the minute they discovered my last name. No choice too difficult to obtain. Meanwhile, the officers own options for beverages were that of black coffee and drinking fountain water. I was even offered the chief’s office if I wanted to catch any games on his tube. I passed, though. Didn’t feel up to it.

  “Madeline, the boy is fine. Compose yourself. We’re in public.” My father barked from around her.

  She let go of my cheeks as he passed in front of her and got to me. With salt and pepper hair, my father was twenty years my mom’s senior. She was his trophy wife.

  “Did you wreck the car while you were out messing around?” he asked, his trench coat folded over his arm.