Chapter 13

**Matthew's POV**

"You haven't been by to pick up any of the new stuff from last week what happened to you? We even got call from persons who didn't get their regular drop off. What's up with that?" Jared asked me.

Jared was like the leader of the crew that I often did the drugs droppings and delivery for. I haven't been here in two weeks now and I came here today to inform him why.

"That stuff is no good man." I replied.

"What do you mean it’s no good? I tried some myself and it was pretty damn good." Jared laughed. "Your taste must've got messed up bro. Because you’re tripping, my stuffs the best."

"Yeah bro, it's the same. Good as usual." Archie his lap dog nodded.

"I don't mean like that. It is good to try but I meant it’s no good health wise." I said to them.

"What?" Jared asked in surprised before he burst into laughter. "Are you for real now?"

"Dude, you joking right?" Archie laughed as well.

"Matt bro, stop playing." Jared laughed.

"It's not a joke. I'm serious." I replied seriously. "I don't want to do this anymore. As a matter of fact, I'm done with drugs."

"Jared, I think he's serious bro." Archie said nudging him.

"I see." Jared nodded letting out a laugh. "Mattie, Mattie. What's gotten into you? You can't be serious right?"

"I'm dead serious Jared. I mean it, I'm not doing this anymore. I'm done. So you can find another dude to take my place because I'm done handling drugs." I said to them.

"Matthew, you have any idea how much money you're going to be losing out on?" Jared asked.

"I know, it doesn't matter. I'll find another way." I replied.

"No you don't know." Jared said seriously. "Do you have any idea how much money I'm going to lose if you back out now?"

"You can always find another person to take my place. I can personally introduce you to someone new." I told him.

"Oh Matthew you have no idea." Jared said shaking his head and letting out a humorless laugh. "I always knew women can make men do crazy things and make crazy decisions so it must be one. It’s that girl isn't it?"

"What?" I asked in surprise. "What are you talking about?"

"Your little bartender girlfriend? The one with that cute ass and pretty blue eyes." Jared laughed. "Yeah, we know about her. She's the one who have you wanting to give up your life?"

"Don't talk about her like that." I defended. "And I'm not giving up my life because dealing isn't my life."

"But it is," Jared replied. "And you can't just walk away from it like this because of some girl."

"No? Well watch me. Find someone else to do your droppings Jared because I'm done." I replied before turning and walking right out.

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**Amy's POV**

"He is such a perv! And I've had enough of him so I dumped the tray on his head." Nora fumed. "That old bastard."

"Omg Nora, you didn't." I said in disbelief.

"I so did. It wasn’t the first time that he has been there and tried groping me like that. Well this morning I've had enough of him" she continued. " I mean not because I had worked at a strip club before meant that I'm going to deal well with old coots grabbing me inappropriately."

"Nora, did you at least explain to your boss what happened why you did what you did?" I asked her.

"Well I tried but Mrs. Seyfried was so upset by my actions that she didn't even allow me to talk and explain my part. It was like that old bastard's money had her not caring one bit for her staff." Nora frowned. "Well I don't really care, you know what screw her. I'll find another job."

"It’s really unfair though. In this society if you don't have money, your rights or opinion matters not." I sighed shaking my head.

I was home when Nora called asking if Katie and I were home. Well I told her that I was home but Katie had gone out today with this new guy that asked her out. So Nora had come over and started telling me about how shitty her day had been-she had gotten fired. Some old pervert had decided to try groping her. She had lost it and threw the tray she was carrying with the food in his face. And as usual, justice never prevails with us 'lower class' citizens. It was like just because we may not have enough money or we were working some form of job that society labelled as 'low class’ we can never get right or fair treatment yet. I just hope that Nora would be able to find another job soon.

"Life just sucks at times." Nora mumbled as she took the last drink from her juice.

"Tell me about it." I sighed agreeing with her.

At times I'd wish things were better off for me. Like maybe if mom hadn't fell ill and could continue working and if she had never met my stepfather, things probably could've been a whole lot different and better for us.

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"What do you want to do tonight? Since it is our night off?" Katie asked between a mouthful of chips as she lounged on the couch beside me.

"I don't know. I'm quite alright right here like this." I replied as I stuffed my face with chips as well.

"What? No Amy. It is our night off; don't tell me you want to just lounge about at home?" Katie asked in disbelief.

"Yeah, I do. I mean, isn't the whole point of a night off to relax and lounge around at home. Maybe watch a movie or two?" I asked her. "After working all week, I think that time off means that we get to stay home and relax. Not enter back into the same bar or club scene."

"But who said we'd have to enter back into the club or bar scene?" Katie asked.

"Well what else would you have in mind then huh? Knowing you it would probably be something along those line." I told her daring her to try convince me otherwise.

"You're probably right now but doesn't mean all nights off should be spent boring at home. We should live a little." Katie replied.

"Yeah, well when I start making banks then I'll be able to live more than a little. I'll be living it..." I started saying but was cut off by my phone ringing.

Looking at the Caller's ID I froze not knowing what to do.

"Aren't you going to answer it?" Katie asked looking at the phone then me.

"Uh...no. I can't." I said shaking my head.

"Is it Matt?" Katie asked knowingly.

"Yeah," I nodded as the phone stopped. "I can't talk to him. I just wish he'd get the message."

"He's worried about you. Maybe he just wants to say hi or hear your voice or something." Katie replied.

"I already told him that we can't date anymore." I replied.

"Amy, just because you aren't dating someone doesn’t mean you can't even be friends with them." Katie said to me as my phone started ringing once again. "You should answer it. Just give him a chance to say what he wants to say. You should hear him out."

"Katie, I'm really not sure about this." I let out a nervous breath as I took the phone in hand.

"Just hear him out Ames." Katie nodded towards the phone.

"Okay." I sighed nodding nervously before answering. "H-Hello?"

"Amy? Oh, I'm so glad that you answered." Matthew replied sounding both surprise yet relief. "Hey, how are you?"

"Hi, Matthew. I'm okay, how about you?" I replied.

"I'm so much better now that I hear your voice." Matthew responded.

"Matt..." I started but he cut me off.

"Amy, please just hear me out okay?" Matthew said nervously. "I thought hard about what you said and I want you to know that I'm out. I'm done."

"W-what?" I asked confused.

"I'm out of the delivery game. I'm done dropping off or dealing drugs." Matthew responded.

"What!? A-are you serious?" I asked in shock.

"Yes, Amy. I'm done with it. I thought about what you said and you're totally right. I'm so sorry I tried to get you involved with that stuff. I just... I really like you Amy. And I want us to try to work out. I want another chance please. That's why I decided to walk away from that life. For you, for us." Matthew said to me.

I honestly didn't know how I felt at the moment. I was in shock, disbelief, I was surprised, confused but also excited, relief, flattered. I couldn't explain how I was feeling towards his news right now.

"Matthew are you at your apartment now?" I asked him.

"Yeah, I am home. Why? I'll be..." Matthew started to say but I hung up on him before he could say anything else.

"What’s wrong?" Katie asked concerned seeing the expression on my face.

"It’s...it’s just that I'm speechless." I said to her before a smile started forming on my face. " Matthew said he's out. He's done dealing. He isn't going to be doing anymore droppings as he wants us to work out."

"Oh, Amy that's great. I'm so happy for you." Katie smiled before frowning slightly. "But that means, if Matt isn't delivering anymore, I'm going to have to find a new dealer."

"Sorry Katie. But you'll get through, I'm sure they're other guys who do drops like Matthew." I said to her.

"Yeah, but he was just the nicest one." Katie pouted.

"I guess I could ask him whose taking over for him. I'm just so happy right now. I’ve got to go see him." I squealed getting up from the couch. "I've got to go get ready."

With that, I squealed again before running to my room to get ready to go see Matthew. I wanted to look really nice for when I see him again so I decided on a gray silk spaghetti strap blouse and a white skinny jeans paired with black heels. I quickly took a shower, fixed my hair and got dressed.

"I'll see you later or tomorrow okay?" I told Katie as I was ready to leave.

"Have fun sweetie." Katie smiled. "Oh and tell Matt I said hey."

"I will. See you.” I smiled at her before leaving.

I waved down a taxi and told the driver to drop me off at Matthew's address. I wasted no time in paying the driver and making my way up to Matthew's apartment once we had arrived. I quickly run a hand to tame my hair and straighten my top before knocking on the door. After a couple of knocks, Matthew opened the door looking quite surprised to see me.

"Amy? What are you doing...?" He began but I cut him off by throwing myself into his arms and shutting him up with a kiss.

After I was satisfied that my kiss had told him everything I needed to say to him right now, I pulled back with a huge smile on my face.

"Hi,"

"Wow, this is one of the best surprises I've ever gotten." Matthew chuckled with his arms still locked around my waist.

"I figured it would be." I smiled. "I didn't tell you I was coming over because I wanted to surprise you."

"You’ve succeeded." Matthew smiled. "You made my night Amy. You have no idea how ecstatic I am to see you here right now."

"Before I forget, Katie said to tell you hi." I told him.

"Oh, she's probably going to hate me now that I won't be delivering to her anymore." Matthew chuckled.

"Yeah, maybe but it doesn't matter because I like you. So she can get over it." I replied placing my lips back to his.

A loud knocking on his door was what forced us to pull apart.

"Who the hell could that be now?" Matthew muttered.

"Did you expect more company?" I asked as he let me go.

"No." Matthew said as he walked towards the door. "Just a second, I'll get rid of whoever it is"

"Okay." I nodded at him.

Before opening the door Matthew looked through the small peep hole on the door and I heard him cursed under his breath before coming back over to me with a worried expression.

"What's wrong?" I whispered to him.

"Amy, listen to me. Go to my room and don't come out until I come back okay?" Matthew said pushing me in the direction of his room.

"Why? What's going on? Who is that?" I asked concerned.

"I'll explain later okay. Right now just go okay?" Matthew said pecking me on the lips before pushing me off to his room.

"Okay." I replied before deciding to do as he said and hurried to his room.

I turned back the door slightly so I could hear what was happening outside. I could hear an angry pounding on the door once again. I soon heard Matthew and what sounded like another guy arguing. Curiously, I silently opened the door wider and tiptoed out to hear what they were arguing about without being seen. Shortly after I heard sounds of struggle before couple gunshots rang out. With that, I could no longer hold back my curiosity anymore and stepped out to see what the hell was happening.

The sight before caused my stomach to drop and shock and fear to run through my veins as I gasped loudly. There fallen to the floor and covered in blood, was Matthew with what appeared to be a bullet in his forehead and blood splattered on his shirt. I couldn't stop the bloodcurdling scream that escaped me as I saw that sight and the two men standing there. I was numb and in shock—rooted in place and most likely on the verge of passing out. Then I heard one spoke threateningly with a voice which brought me pure horror.

"Shit! His girl was here. Get the girl!"