Chapter 23

The last time I saw Christopher Norway, he had me up against the wall, a pocket knife to my throat. He was high, his pupils looked, and sweat dripped down his face. His words slurred as he demanded cash.

Cash that I didn't have.

"I'll pay you back, Aubrey. I swear," he'd bit out, half pleading. He looked frightened that Zack would find us. We were in the kitchen and so he kept looking around to check if he was coming and listening for the sound of footsteps. But I was scared to bits because I knew that Zack wasn't around. He'd come over to help with my homework but stepped out not long before Chris came knocking.

I was fifteen. My parents had just gotten a divorce and my mother was barely around due to work. I was alone.

Chris was an addict. And Zack had always made sure he stayed away from me because crack made Chris a psychotic asshole. His parents had cut him off because he'd refused rehab.