nine
We had made it to a large staircase at the back of the house leading up to a hallway on a level above ours. My feet gently tapped against each step as we walked. Once we reached the top, Ashton's eyes wandered the walls in an attempt to find the room I assumed he was looking for. He took my wrist and pulled me into a small, shabby room where I saw a man who appeared to be about 40, sitting on a large bed, girls were standing around him. There was a cigarette placed firmly between his lips. Suddenly a puff of smoke drifted out of his mouth before his booming voice stuck my ears.
"Ah, Irwin, do you have the stuff?" His voice was thick, he was definitely from Paris. I looked over to see Ashton nodding his head fearlessly.
"Yeah, how have you been?" Ashton asked loudly.
"Just fine Mate," the man chuckled under his breath.
"So why'd you bring the bitch along?" His voice rang in my ears. Ashton's muscular body tensed.
"She's uh just a friend," Ashton mumbled quickly.
"So you've got the coke? Right? Last time we had a few ... issues," The man spoke up. My eyes widened when I realized they were talking about drugs. Ashton slipped a small packet of white powder from a dingy pocket. "Who is this young lady exactly? Why is she really here?" His accent rang in my ears. He mumbled something in French to a girl next to him.
"Was that French?" Ashton mumbled into my hair. I nodded my head. "What did he say?"
"That I was very beautiful, and a few other things I'd rather not repeat," I said clearly. The man looked up.
"Ah, she speaks French!" he said happily. I nodded my head. "Where are you from?"
"Lorraine," I mumbled. Ashton seemed uncomfortable.
"It's a lovely region," the man spoke as he pulled out a large stack of cash. "You look familiar, what's you name?" I tensed up.
"Shannon Montgomery,"
"Are you Hannah and Paul Montgomery's daughter?" He coughed in disbelief.
"Yes," I scuffed.
"Your mother operated on me a few years back in New York, I may have overdosed," he joked. "I heard they moved into the area?" I nodded my head awkwardly. Ashton looked at me for a moment before attempting to change the subject.
"We should get going,"
The man stood up and handing the money to Ashton. "Take this to Arnold, he'll give you a few pills, take them to who he tells you," His English was terrible. I gulped at his words, Ashton took me on a drug run? I was beyond confused. The man slowly approached me. He grabbed my waist and pulled me closer to his cold body. I flinched as my eyes sprang up in fear. I gulped and looked at Ashton. "You should stick around," I heard his cold voice mumbled into my hair.
"Back off." Ashton snapped. The man sprang back at the sound of Ashton's voice. I quickly ran back to Ashton's side and clung to him as if I were a lost puppy. I was actually afraid.
Ashton took me by the wrist and began pulling me out of the room.
"Hope to see you soon sweetie!" the older man called after me. I felt so disgusted.
-
"Ashton, why am I with you?" I asked slowly, we had just left the party and we're headed off to God knows where.
"I needed you help," he said awkwardly.
"With what? A drug run?" I yelled.
"Look the guys I'm doing this run for are here from France for a week, some speak English, others don't," he awkwardly shifted in his seat as he spoke.
"So I'm here to translate?" I snapped.
"Technically yes, but these guys like it when girls come along!" He insisted.
"Yeah so that they can stare at me like perverts!" I yelled back. He let out a small chuckle.
"Can you blame them? You're pretty attractive Shan," he smirked. "I'm surprised Luke hasn't made a move on you yet," I slapped his arm. Ashton thought I was attractive, for some reason I was happy about this.
"Luke is like my brother, that would be disgusting Ash," I said with angered tone in my voice.
"Did you just call me Ash?"
"Oh, sorry-" he cut me off.
"I like it," his voice poured out like soft velvet. He curly hair had been let loose from it usual bandana. He slouched in his seat.
"I can't believe you brought me with you! Do you know how much trouble I could get into?" I worried.
"Calm down, your parents are never home!"
"So! This doesn't make it any better! I could be killed or something!" I whined. A smile appeared on his pink lips. My hands began to shake. I wasn't sure what I was more afraid of, Ashton or this whole drug run situation.
"Relax Shan, I'll protect you," he held out a hand in an attempt to calm me down. I nodded my head and grasped it lightly.
I felt myself calming down as I watched the cars fly by as Ashton drove quickly down the freeway.