The Fire Between High & Lo (Elements #2)(52)

Juggling the two sets in my arms, I staggered to the front of the shop, setting the boxes down in front of the cashier. Erika and I remained quiet until the cashier told us the final pricing of the plates.

“One hundred and eight dollars, and twenty-three cents.”

“You have got to be shitting me,” I choked out. “You’re going to pay over one hundred bucks for plates?”

“That’s none of your business what I do with my money.”

“Yeah, but come on, Erika. You could easily buy some cheap plates from a dollar store or something, seeing how you’ll probably break them tomorrow anyway.”

“I don’t question what Kellan spends his money on, or should I say who he spends it on. So I’d rather you not question my spending choices.”

“You knew Kellan was giving me money?”

“Of course I knew, Logan. If there’s one thing Kellan is, it’s a bad liar. I don’t care that he’s giving you the money, but,” she sighed, and her eyes softened as she turned my way. For the first time since I returned, she looked defeated. “Don’t let him down, Logan. He’s tired. He won’t act like he is, but he is. He’s exhausted. You being back here makes him happy. You’re good for him right now. Just stay good, okay? Please don’t let him down.”

“I swear I’m not using, Erika. That’s not just some bullshit that I’ve been saying. I really am clean.” We each grabbed a box and walked to her car, putting them in the trunk before we hopped into the car and she started driving to Ma’s apartment.

She nodded. “I believe you. But, we are about to go see your mom, and I know how much a trigger she was for you.”

“I’m not the same kid I was.”

“Yeah. I hear you. But trust me. Your mom is the same person she was back then. Sometimes I think people don’t really change.”

“They do,” I said. “If they’re given a chance, people can change.”

She swallowed hard. “I hope you’re right.”

The moment we made it to Ma’s, I asked Erika if she was coming up, and she declined, looking around. “I’ll stay here.”

“It’s safer inside.”

“No. It’s fine. I don’t do too good seeing…that kind of lifestyle.”

I didn’t blame her. “I’ll be down in a few.” My eyes darted around the darkened streets, and I saw a few people hanging out on the street corners, just like when I was a kid. Maybe Erika was somewhat right. Maybe some people, things, and places never changed.

But I had to hope that some did.

Otherwise, what exactly was I doing with myself?

“Just don’t take forever, okay? Kellan’s show is starting in forty-five minutes.” Erika said.

“I guess we shouldn’t have spent like two hours standing in front of plates, huh?”

She flipped me off. A term of endearment, I bet. “I’ll be out fast. Are you okay out here?”

“I’m fine. Just hurry.”

“Hey, Erika?” I said, climbing out of the car.

“Yeah?” My eyes once again glanced to the people on the corners, looking our way.

“Lock your doors.”

***

I didn’t know what I was walking into. I knew it would be bad, but I guess I didn’t know how bad off Ma was. Kellan always kept those conversations short, telling me that I had to worry about making myself better instead of me worrying about making sure Ma was good.

Now it was his turn to take his own advice.

But that meant that someone had to step up and check in on her, and it had to be me. And I couldn’t let Kellan down when he needed me the most.

The front door was unlocked, which worried me enough to make my gut tighten. The apartment was completely trashed with beer cans, vodka bottles, empty pill bottles, and dirty clothes all over the place.

“Jesus, Ma…” I murmured to myself, somewhat shocked.

The same broken-down couch set in front of the same disgusting coffee table. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t spot the baggie of coke on the table.

I snapped my bracelet.

Just breathe.

“Get off!” I heard screamed from the kitchen, Ma’s voice loud and fearful. My heart dropped to my stomach and I was back in hell. I hurried into the room, ready to tear my father away from her, knowing that whenever she screamed, his fists were finding their way to her soul.

But when I stepped into the room, she was alone, having a panic attack. She aggressively scratched at her skin causing it to turn red. “Get off of me! Get off of me!” She hollered louder and louder.

I held my hands up and walked in her direction. “Ma. What are you doing?”

“They’re all over me!” she screamed.

“What’s all over you?”

“The roaches! They are everywhere! The roaches are all over me. Help me Kellan! Get this shit off of me!”

“It’s me, Ma. Logan.”

Her dull eyes looked up in my direction and for a split second, she reminded me of Sober Ma.

Then she began to scratch again.

“All right, all right. Come on. Let’s get you a shower. Okay?”

After a little work, I got her to sit inside of the bathtub as the shower rained over her. She kept scrubbing her skin as I sat on top of the closed toilet lid.