"Okay, well like a lot of you know, my name is Ray and I’m here..." The individual stood in front of her chair gave a little shrug of her shoulders and kicked the toe of her heavy black boots into floor of the community centre once or twice. "Because I have to be, it’s part of my probation." She stood a little straighter for a moment and tugged the bottom of her black and white flame top almost as if under the gaze of the seven other people in the group she wished it didn’t expose her belly. "And that’s about all there is to it." She added shrugging again before burying her hands into the pockets of the black and white plaid pants she wore.

"Hi Ray." The group chorused on autopilot.

"Yeah." Ray sat down again and turned to look at the next ‘candidate’ to have to suffer the private yet public humiliation of naming themselves and their shame.

It never failed to surprise Ray that she was one of the youngest in the group. At the beginning she had expected it to be heavily populated with teenagers or at least people younger than her, with tails of crack habits that weren’t their fault, or heroin addictions that just ‘happened’ but she was, by her own estimation, one of the youngest. Except of course for Lois who as a third time round meth user could have been aged anywhere from 19 - 90, and still looked the way she did.

"Hi... my name is Gary."  A middle aged man in a pristine suit stood up, wringing out his hands.  "I’m here because my job stressing me out and when I get too stressed I drink... and sometimes do Coke and then I usually end up blacking out... and if I don’t come here and straighten out my wife is going to leave me and take my kids."

"Hi Gary." The group greeted, Ray mouthed the greeting having no intention of actual putting the effort of her vocal cords behind the gesture.

As the group greeted Gary... rather loudly and without discretion a young woman a lot closer to Ray’s age than anyone else there came in, just ending a call on her cell phone and looking flustered in her designer outfit and supermodel hair.

"Hi everybody I’m Victoria... sorry about the lateness... I’m here because my fucking daddy is the Governor and I blew up his golf cart at the club." She looked around before smiling at Ray and then moving a chair noisily over to sit next to her. Reluctantly but politely Ray shifted a little to the side to make room as he continued. "Oh and lit fire to the seventeenth green... though that wasn’t because I was high, that was because I was clumsy."

"Just like me, I robbed a pharmacy and ended up here, not ‘cause I use drugs but because I’m clumsy, and the cops caught me." Ray whispered to her with a wink.

"Wow... hardcore." Victoria instead of saying that with contempt or fear seemed impressed.  "I accidentally hit the fuel tank when I shot the golf cart, it blew up and poof there went $10,000 worth of Kentucky blue grass."

"Ladies, we’re not engaging in private discussion right now, were welcoming and sharing." The ‘oh so cardboard’ man who ‘led’ the session politely interrupted.

"Sorry." Victoria gave him a sweet look.

"Hi... I’m Clark..." The list around the room went on.

*****

"This is so bullshit." Victoria was glad when there cardboard group leader called the session for an end and handed them all their ‘proof I went to the whole thing’ letter for their probation officers. "You want to go get a beer?"

"Wait till they get to the flash card session." Ray warned with a knowing nod. "Who do you want to be when you’re forty... smiling momma with fat belly with tiny kiddies - corpse in a box." She shrugged, "Its all fun." She waved her hand nonchalantly.

"Fuck that... I’d rather die in a horrible scandal with so much in my system they can’t tell what did it." Victoria laughed.  "I’m so going to grate here... I can’t believe I have to come."

"Hey you’re allowed a beer; I have pee tests to pass." Ray laughed more.

"How long?" Victoria gave her a sympathetic look.  "So coffee then? How many times do I have to invite." She winked at her moving to the door.

"We stealing it or buying it - I never bring cash to these session, cant trust the neighbours." Ray laughed.

"Don’t worry... coffee’s on Daddy, he’s still bribing me about the actual reason on top of being drunk and high that I blew up his golf cart..." She led Ray out to the parking lot.  "He was fucking Mrs. Henderson on the pool table in the basement of the club, and I walked in on them looking for a place to chill out."

"Shit happens." Ray nodded and moved off towards the door.

"Shit would be fine... Mrs. Henderson is a flat faced botox rejected blonde bimbo who can’t actually blink anymore I think.... he’s way better than her." Victoria laughed releasing the alarm on her tiny sports car.  "You want to drive?"

"My boss was an overweight pharmacist with halitosis and a small dick." Ray shook her head to the offer. "People fall into three categories as far as I’m concerned, drugged, dead or should be dead." She approached the car. "I’m being blamed because some times the lines get blurred."

"I like you, you’re funny." Victoria smiled at her and got in.

"I’m actually a pessimistic realist with narcissistic tendencies, but funny is good enough for me."

"And I’m a self centred rich debutant princess who neither cares for the little people nor can stand the fakeness of so called affluent society." Victoria summed up.  "But you can say I have a nice ass, that’s enough for me."

"Hadn’t noticed." Ray was honest but there was something about her smile.

"Really?.... disappointing." Victoria squealed the fast car out of the parking lot.  "So what about Gary... he’s so still on the coke, don’t you think?"

"To be honest he’s probably shifted to crack by now. Its Lois I don’t get, I mean why even be here, she’s in category two already as far as I can tell."

"Fear... she hasn’t embraced that it’s going to kill her." Victoria shrugged taking out a cigarette and a stop light, she offered the pack to Ray.

"Ironically, I quit." The brunette laughed.

"Damn... you’re so Dali lama." Victoria smiled at her but lit hers before speeding off again. 

"The Dali lama was addicted to heroin and done for arson? Wow." Ray made a soft snort of surprise.

"How long ago you quit?" Victoria gave her a sideways glance.

"Heroin, committing arson or smoking?" Ray wanted the field narrowing.

"All of them." Victoria laughed again.

"Smoking, when I was inside, too expensive." Ray shrugged, "Committing arson, never done it, kinda wish I had now though." She admitted. "And heroin, I don’t actually think I said I had quit that." She gave a soft grin.

"How you get that passed your pee test?" Victoria questioned turning into a Starbucks.

"I said I’ve not quit, I’m just on hiatus." Ray gave a wider grin.

"I’ve never done heroin... everything else though, minus crack and meth." She pointed out.

"They’re poor people drugs princess." Ray pointed out.

"Have you ever had E? I love E." Victoria admitted.  "And ludes, nothing like those and a pool to chill by."

"I’m one of the poor people." Ray pointed out.

"Funny, you don’t seem it." Victoria gave her one of her stunning smiles.  "Poor aren’t funny, you’re funny... you’re just having a cash flow problem."

"That’s because most people who are poor are also in category 2 already, just their bodies refuse to stop breathing." Ray gave her, her honest opinion.

"Most people who are rich are in category 2, but they’re too important at work to care... as long as they make the deal." Victoria agreed.

"Ahhh see in my experience most rich people are category 3’ers. Present company accepted - until I have had time to make a reasoned appraisal." Ray returned the assessment. "I find it amazing that I’m 24 and I’ve been in all 3 categories already, I’m happiest in category one, but the rest of the world doesn’t seem to agree." She chuckled moving to pull open the coffee shop door.

"Wouldn’t it be easier if we were all properly medicated?" Victoria said seriously.

"Probably - or all happy, happiness is a good drug, its just its harder to get hold of than good hash."

"Every time I call my dealer for it she’s suddenly out of town." Victoria moved up to the counter.  "What can I get you?"

Ray looked up and let her eyes scan over the offerings.

"That white chocolate thing." She waved at the specials board.

"Two of that white chocolate thing... four chocolate chip cookies... and a grand frap with vanilla and soy." Victoria listed off and then paid for it, letting Ray get the tray to carry over for them. 

They took a seat by the window.

"So how long do you have left on probation?" Victoria questioned.

"Three months." Ray sniffed at a drink. "You?"

"I have to not cause major shit from now until after the election in Oct." Victoria rolled her eyes. "Like anyone gives a fuck if his delinquent daughter fucks up again."

"Oh if you were that delinquent they would care, you’d be zipped off to some nice little rehab centre, that resembles a rehab centre as much as I resemble Ghandi." Ray covered. "You’re just ‘showing out.’ ruffling feathers because you can." She shrugged. "Not that I blame you, but you know in your place I’d probably have been banned from the top ten rehabs by now." She grinned. "Not knocking your golf cart explosion."

"It’s okay, you’re only saying what’s true..." Victoria said thoughtfully for a moment looking out to the busy street beyond the window.  "Funny thing... you’re the first person to notice." She looked back at Ray with a soft smile.

"So come on be honest, why do it?" Ray leaned back in her chair looking at Victoria. "Why not just be a good girl and take all that two faced daddy and ice cube mommy have?"

"Because if I do that, I’m just like them.... and I hate them." Victoria admitted her petty reason.

"No you don’t." Ray shook her head with a grin, "If you did you wouldn’t have blown up a golf cart."

"I know I know... I’m a faker... fuck... I can’t even be a badass right." She sighed. "I blew it up because I figured no one would notice, I’m fucking invisible most of the time... they throw money at me and tell me to be a good girl."

"Next time put a hole in his rubber, in ten months time he’ll have to take notice." She winked. "Though that does create a sibling to share the family jewels with, but it’d be a great statement. If of course he doesn’t come down with VD a lot earlier than 10 months." She gave the added incentive.

"See it must be fate... you’re the mastermind and I’m the method." Victoria grinned.

"Replacing his favourite lubricant with haemorrhoid gel is another great one." Ray smiled at the compliment and relaxed into enjoying the creamy drink.

*****

"So come on tell, how was it mixing with those little dirty druggies?" Nudging closer to Victoria on her sun char beside the enormous pool in her parents back garden her ‘best friend’ Claudette urged for ‘gory details’ as she sipped a glass of vodka.

"It’s disgusting... one woman Lois... you know that picture of the meth girl on Hwy 22... Near the dairy queen... she looks like our homecoming queen compared to Lois." Victoria made her ‘Ewww’ face behind her big trendy sunglasses.

"There’s someone uglier than methed up Mary?" Claudette seemed enamoured.

"Uglier!" Victoria nodded taking a sip of her long island iced tea. "And there is this married guy Gary... he’s got two tiny kids and he’s gone from being a coke head to a crack head... I swear last meeting he hadn’t showered in 2 weeks... he was in the same suit."

"EW!! It’s just horrible they make you go, you could like catch diseases or something." Her friend scrunched up her ‘perfect’ nose.

"I made Daddy buy me a going to group wardrobe, so I can have it all double dry cleaned."  Victoria assured her.  "Though there is one woman... her name is Ray... she’s cool... not like the rest of them... she knows drugs are a good thing to enjoy but not to excess."

"Ooh what’s Ray short for? What did she do that pissed her parental off."

"Oh she’s emancipated." Victoria shook her head.  "And she was robbing a pharmacy and then there was this big fuck up and it burnt down... like me and the golf cart... not her fault, just bad timing."

"Wait…" Claudette backed up a little. "Ray’s a real criminal." Her eyes went wide behind her CK shades.

"She spent 6 months in jail awaiting trial." Victoria lowered her shades and winked.

"Shut up!" Claudette patted her arm lightly.

"True." Victoria nodded.

"No way. Tori it’s not nice to lie to your bestest ever friend." The blonde tutted flicking her over styled hair.

"I’m not lying... she had a plea bargain so she had time served and a year of probation... she’s got 2 months left." Victoria pushed her shades up into her perfect hair. "She’s done all kinds of shit... she’s cool, maybe I’ll introduce you."

"Oh my God she’s a real drug addict and a real criminal who’s been in prison." Claudette looked even more excited and then leaned closer. "Do you think she... you know... when she was inside..."

"What Detta... fucked a girl? Totally... though I have no confirmation." Victoria laughed at her best friend.  "We’ve all done it Detta."

"Oh my God, don’t say it out loud." Claudette waved her hand. "We were just playing around."

"What do you think prison is? Big girls only sleepover with no boys to play with." Victoria shrugged.

"Well they can get dick can’t they, you know special visits." She looked worried momentarily for the female masses in prison.

"I don’t know if they do that at county, only state."  Victoria admitted. "Daddy had some big conference about it the other years with all the other prison reform stuff."

"Oh my god, poor Martha, and Paris." Claudette looked more horrified.

"Paris was only in for 23 days Detta... she didn’t even miss Baron’s yacht party." Victoria laughed.

"But Martha... oh my god, if she’s becoming a lesbian mother will have to redecorate."

"Your mother needs to redecorate anyway... I mean... white marble in the hall is so Beverly Hills 90210." Victoria admitted.  "And not in the good retro way."

"Oh they did this, your show host is just like you thing at the house yesterday, it took Mom nearly a week to try and make the front rooms of the house look ‘homely’ and ‘normal family’" Claudette giggled. "I had the sound guy in the Jacuzzi, such a honey."

"And you didn’t call? Beast." Victoria chastised her.

"I couldn’t, Mom banned all famous friends from the house, and brought in these people I didn’t even know from the street at the end of the drive." She looked mortified. "One even brought a dull dog with her that slavered all over the Persian."

"I hate middle class wannabees... that’s why Ray is cool, she’s poor, she knows it and she knows how fucked up the whole world is.  She’s not all whiny and looking for a handout, she’s cool, she’s real... you know like real, real." Victoria stressed.

"Poor? How poor? How much do her parents give her each month?" Claudette asked obviously trying to make it sound as least like she was 22 and still getting an ‘allowance’ as possible.

"Detta focus... you know you don’t do well with ludes and vodka.... she has no parents... and she’s poor, poor."  Victoria laughed lightly.

"Oh God, she’s an orphan? Are you going to adopt her?" She squeaked.

"She’s 24 you spaz." Victoria laughed more.  "Oh fuck, don’t look now but my mother is going to the pool house with dopey again."

"The hose must need playing with." Claudette giggled.

"Yeah and she has been needing her tubes cleaned out." Victoria giggled with her waving back to her mother who gave a courteous one when she saw her daughter and friend look over again.

"Tori, there is a call for you." There came the call from the house as Victoria’s older sister dropped a cordless on the back step.

"Thanks scanky." Victoria called back just as bitchy and moved to get it. "Haven’t been able to vomit up lunch yet fatty?"  She teased evilly as she put it to her ear.  "Hello Victoria speaking."

"V?" Rays unmistakable voice answered.

"Ray... I was just taking about you... what’s up?" Victoria grinned moving over to sit on the patio deck chair by the door. She knew Claudette wouldn’t miss her.

"Are you doing anything?" The other woman sounded a little out of breath and the sound of passing cars was unmistakable in the background.

"Detta and I are just chilling by the pool... are you working out? What the fuck are you doing?" Victoria put down her drink.

"DO you think you could meet me, in like ten at the back of Harvesters?"

"Shit what are you doing in the burbs?" Victoria laughed.  "Yeah I guess... you sound weird, should I come solo?"

"Don’t care, just don’t bring the sporty car. Bring the big one, the Lincoln, something that looks like it should be on the streets." Ray outlined.

"Okay... you’re being weird...." Victoria admitted.  "Detta I got to go run an errand... you chill okay?" She yelled to her friend.

"What? No wait..." Claudette was on her feet and running after her.

"Detta... you won’t want to come it’s boring... and I have to take the boat." Victoria moved to upstairs with the blonde still in tow, going to her room and throwing on a skirt and a tight strap top.  "Quick change... don’t worry... if anyone sees us they’ll know we’re doing ‘parental business’, so we don’t have to look yummy."

"Who was on the phone?" Detta hung in the doorway.

"It was Ray." Victoria said with a grin moving into her walk in close to get a different more summer short skirt and slipping on some nice sandals.

"Well that won’t be boring, I want to come." She objected.

"Then you have a minute to change... she’s in a rush or something so it’s urgent... like your mother has a show and she’s still looking drunk urgent." Victoria qualified.

"Oh right," Detta just took the clothes Victoria had discarded and left her bikini top on. "I’m ready." She grinned.

"You know you’re abs do look better after the acupuncture, I think I’ll get it done." Victoria complimented as she picked up a purse and moved downstairs.

"Insist on Stephan, I’ve not had a needle yet, but it’s such a good work out." Claudette winked.

"Keeping secrets... naughty girl." Victoria winked back.

****

Rather normally the long black Lincoln pulled into the alley behind the local patio bistro and into a small parking lot.  Victoria pushed up her sunglasses looking around for Ray. From the side of the building daftly hidden by the shadows Ray jogged out over to the dark haired woman.

"Hey V." She greeted. "V’s friend."

"Hi Ray Ray... this is Claudette." Victoria waved back.  "This is so CSI, can I buy a hit from you- you bad girl." She giggled.

"V, not the time." She urged opening the car door and urging Victoria out and over with her towards the building. Following a little like a sheep behind her Claudette moved along.

"What... this is weird, I’m at peek lude time and it smells back here." V whined.

"Geo...Geo.." Ray left the girls a little early and ran to the deeper shadows hunkering down near a garbage can. She reached out and lightly shook the arm of a figuring that was on the floor beside the cans.

"Sorry I have no clue." V mouthed to Detta with a shrug.  "She’s hot though eh?"

"Oh my God is that a body!" Claudette suddenly squealed and leapt back as if stung by a bee, her voice loudly echoing around the lot.

"Shut up you stupid bitch." Ray hissed at her.

"Ray... what is going on?" V said in a hushed voice stepping closer. She suddenly felt stone sober.

"I need you to get my friend to a hospital." Ray looked up at her from where she was crouched.

"Oh Fuck... oh Fuck Ray... what is wrong with him? What has he taken?" V’s voice was serious as she realized just what was going on.

"He’s been shot V."

"What?" V felt like she was going to faint. "Shot by who?"

"Oh God, Oh God." Claudette obviously over heard and began running towards the Lincoln.

"Detta get back in the fucking car and have a smoke." V instructed her in a firm hard tone.

"I’m getting the police." She screamed.

"It’s fine Claudette, get in the passenger seat and have a smoke" Victoria gave the instructions calmly almost as if she were talking to a child.

"Oh God..." Claudette kept whimpering as she did exactly what her friend instructed.

"Ray... did you bring him here from somewhere else or did he get shot here?" Her brain went into overdrive.

"Somewhere else." Ray quickly assured her.

"Okay... Detta and I came to Harvesters to get a salad... and I couldn’t find parking for my Dad’s big ass car... so I came back here... and we found him.. I’m going to call him ambulance as soon as you get the fuck out here because you have 2 months left on your probation." V said logically.

"Play it however you like V, just make sure he’s okay... I got shit to do." Ray pushed up and looked at her.

"Get a cab." Victoria pushed into her purse and shoved all the money she could find at Ray.  "Get away from here and change and... oh God you had so better call me later... but not on my house on my cell." She already had taken out her phone then and took some deep breaths.

"I got a bike V, I don’t want your money." Ray shook her head and flicked her jacket loose from where it had gotten tucked up in her jeans, revealing a quick flash of sliver and black.

"Fine... just... get out of here... I will deal with this... I’m the Governor’s fucking daughter; they’ll probably give me a commendation." She hissed and hit the numbers.  "Oh God... yes is this... I need an ambulance... oh my God I can’t believe this..." She squealed more dramatically.

Ray watched her briefly and then crouched down again.

"It’s okay Geo, this is my friend, like I told you, you’re gonna be okay." She assured him, before slipping the small calibre hand gun out of her waistband and quickly checking the chamber, "And I’ll get the money and make sure nothing happens to Jen." She kissed him quickly on the forehead. "I’m trusting you V." She whispered as she fixed eyes with the other girl for just a moment

By now Victoria had gotten out her squealing account of who she was, where she was and just how she had found this guy who was dying in front of her. She was doing such a good job it seemed they might cart her and Claudette off to the hospital.

"Rich people call it damage control, I can deal… but you owe me an explanation." She held the phone where she couldn’t be heard against her breast and then started fake hyperventilating to the 911 operator.

Ray pulled on a bike helmet and flipped up the visor, before climbing on the non-descript bike.

"He’s my brother V." She said just as she gunned the bike into life and took off.

"Oh fucking mother of God." V’s emotion for the first time on her recorded conversation was real.  "He’s going to die here... please get an ambulance... whoever he is, he doesn’t deserve to die... I’m the Governor’s daughter, can’t you get me an ambulance quicker... a cop who knows first aid... this man needs help..." She moved back over closer to the car.  "Oh God my friend... with me... I think she just passed out..." She made an excuse for dropping the phone and going back to Claudette.

Taking a deep breath Victoria straightened her top and then hunkered down beside the car door.

"Detta, listen to me... we are going to be heroes, we were at the pool getting a tan and we came to get salads before our yoga class... all plausible... I couldn’t park the Lincoln on the road so I went to park it here and then I saw him in the shadows... not knowing what the fuck was going on... but he needs an ambulance and you came back to the car because you can’t stand blood which is also true... and the only thing you don’t mention is that Ray called us and she was here at all... okay?"

"Where did she go?" Claudette did indeed look as pale and shaky as someone who had recently fainted.

"She wasn’t here." V said in a firm voice.  "Standard damage control here, no talk about it till everything in the media is fine... we found a man shot in the alley behind Harvesters..." She heard an ambulance in the background now joined by another. "I will tell you when you know you’re Mom is not going to kill you and my Dad me." She gave her more of the look knowing Claudette didn’t have the balls or the brains to say no. Thankfully it wasn’t her other best friend Eva, she would have already really fainted and blabbed it to everyone.

"I think I’m going to be sick." Claudette put her hand to her forehead.

"See just go with reality squared Claudette, just like when you’re Mom had the breast implants... it was all real, accept that she’d never do that." V began to fan her with her hand, but looking distraught and just as faint as three police cars and two ambulances pulled in. "HE’S OVER THERE!" V started screaming and waving.  "OH God help him."

****

"Obviously yes I am very proud of my daughter." Victoria’s father stood in front of the house gates with his arm proudly around his daughter faced with a small barrage of press people. "It’s nice to know that my own daughter values and appreciates the lives of all of the people in this wonderful city."

Victoria just stood there looking meek and every day her young 20 years with a pleasant humble smile.

"Governor, Governor!" Came multiple cries. He signalled one out to ask. "Do you know who the victim is?"

"At this time no, but that does not matter, my daughter did what any fair, God fearing citizen would do, she saw someone in need and she helped, I am so proud of everything she has done today. And this makes me even more determined than ever to get out their on the streets, to involve the young people in helping each other." He replied.

"Are you suggesting that this was a gang or drug related incident?" Another called out.

"Not at all, the police obviously are dealing with this and it is not my place to speculate the details, all I have to say is that my daughter today showed that she, like so many of us knows and understands what it is to be a community, a family." He gave her a one armed squeeze.

"Dad, I’m so tired, can we go in now." She leaned up whispering to him and then kissed his cheek.  "I’m just happy I could do what was right, and if I made my Dad proud too, I guess that’s a bonus." She gave the cheesy perfect quote to the press.

"Governor, Isn’t it true that recently your daughter was arrested and is having to under go counselling for addiction problems?" A reporter interrupted when he obviously thought he might loose the chance to get a snap shot or a quick quote in reaction from either the governor or Victoria.

"As is public record..." Victoria put a hand gently up to stop her father. She kept her voice serious but not disturbed or shocked by the question, as the lawyers had coached her.  "Yes I was arrested for causing a disturbance, yes at the time I had had something to drink, but I have taken responsibility for my actions and voluntarily entered a treatment program so that I can better understand myself, and how I can make sure that such an incident never ever occurs again.  As I said before, making my Dad proud today was something that means so much more to me now because I understand how deeply he loved me and how much I hurt him, maybe me being in the right place at the right time to help someone has made that disappointment a little more easy to forget."

Her father once more smiled broadly at her and kissed her forehead.

"Thank you all, now as you can imagine today has been a stressful day for my family, and we’d like to draw an end here. There’s meatloaf waiting for us and I can’t keep my wife waiting." He smiled and waved leading Victoria out with his hand lightly resting on her back.

As soon as the gate closed behind them and they were far enough up the drive she hissed at him.

"You so owe me, Mom is too drunk so you drag  me out there? So they can do that to me?" She growled.

"I didn’t make you blow up the golf cart young lady." He scowled.

"No the scarring mental images of you porking Mrs. Henderson did that, that had nothing to do with you." She countered.

"I’ve apologised for God sake Tori." He snarled. "And anyway this way you get to be the golden girl again."

"Ohh your right Daddy." Victoria sighed and gave him a soft smile.  "I’m sorry I’ve been Mom after Betty Ford. It’s just... you’re way too good looking for Mrs. Henderson, if you’re going to get caught porking someone make it a good looking young girl... you might survive politics, but ugly, no one votes for a man who can only get ugly women."

Victoria’s father smiled and hugged her kissing her head.

"You know princess, I’m doing so much of this for you, one day you could be me." He put one hand in his suit pocket.

"If you get Senate... one day I could be president." Victoria corrected with a wide perfect grin.

"That’s right my princess, that’s right." He chuckled.

*****

V sat on her veranda on a long comfortable recliner with her cell phone in front of her as she painted her toe nails. She had already chain smoked way too many cigarettes and still no ring a ring of the phone.

"Rae, your brother is in the best care in the city, I know the police are investigating but I can’t stop that... call me." She almost tried to command the phone. Oddly enough the phone remained silent, but from behind there was a soft hissed voice.

"Okay bitch, what’s really going on." It was Felicity, her sister.

"Felicity fuck off, it’s like I said." Victoria turned glaring at her.  "And get the fuck out of my room."

"Of course it is and you’re going to be a virgin on your wedding night." She rolled her eyes. "Did you run him over?"

"Okay Felicity sit down." Victoria pointed to the end of the lounge.

"Oh God you did!" She seemed delighted as she hurried and perched close.

"No... I really don’t know what the fuck happened to him.  Someone I know... drove him there... he’s her brother... she didn’t tell me just asked me to meet her... and there is shot guy, I didn’t run him over he was already like that when I arrived... but I guess where he was shot he would have died before an ambulance got there... she knew if she called me I could get him to a good hospital, not shit local ones." Victoria explained in a hushed voice. "This is top secret though okay, I mean like... that time I snuck vomit out of treatment for you."

"Holy shit Tori." Felicity looked almost impressed. "Are you screwing this guy?"

"No I don’t know the brother, just the girl... her name is Ray. She’s in my treatment group, you know the fucking community thing dad got me sighed up for in the plea bargain."

"So this Ray’s brother got shot and she asked you to help." Felicity made a silently ‘wow’. "Is he in a gang?"

"Flick I don’t now what the fuck is going on... for all I know at the moment he’s an international fucking terrorist... I am so freaked out.  I mean I had to cover it up, Dad would have died if I told the truth-truth." She looked at her sister genuinely lost and worried. 

"No Tori you absolutely did the right thing." Flick immediately assured her. "Even if this guy is like, Geoffrey Dharma, you’re still the good guy for helping." She underlined.

"That’s the only thing I could think of to damage control."  Tori breathed out.  "This is all so fucked up... Dad is fucking Mrs. Henderson... my ex con friend is bringing me her shot brother to clean up... I’m out of weed and I so need to chill but I can’t take anything heavy because I have to be at the station tomorrow with the lawyers for a formal statement." She lamented to her sister.

"Chill with some Vicodin." Felicity pulled a small pill case from her hipsters.

"Thanks Flick, I didn’t mean what I said about your ass earlier either... you just look so good in your Seven’s I was jealous." Victoria took two and swigged them back with her drink.

"No, you’re right I put on .2 of a pound last month." She rolled her eyes. "But I’ve had a good cry, and booked a colonic, so I’m okay."

"No, you look fine... I think you could go up another pound even if you do it slow and tone... then Mom and Dad wouldn’t have to bitch at you at all about it and you could stop seeing that psycho Swedish guy." She said sympathetically.

"Yes, but I would be a flabby ugly spinster forever.: She shook her head. "Some of us V weren’t born with your perfect body."

"It’s not perfect... my feet are like ape feet I hate them." She scowled at her toes.  "Oh Detta has a new acupuncturist to try, you could tell them you were doing it to gain weight, apparently he’s European and knows how to really give head."

"Stephan Rodriguez? Darling that oaf has genital herpes." Felicity warned softly.

"God I have to 911 Detta then." She gave a shiver.  "Thank god I hadn’t booked."

"I’m thinking of a chin tuck, what do you think?" She pulled a ‘flap of skin somewhere on her jaw and hiked it up.

"Honestly Flick... you’re gorgeous and perfect just the way you are..." She leaned over and kissed her sister’s cheek.  "I’d trade your body for mine anytime."

"Then you are as crazy as your shot friend." Felicity laughed.

"Flick can I ask you something?" Tori continued really without an answer.  "Have you ever known poor people before? I mean less than middle class?"

"Poor people?" The older girl thought for a moment. "I gave some street people change."

"Right." Victoria laughed.  "I didn’t mean homeless Flick, I meant like... have to work long hours to have a shit apartment type of poor."

"Oh homed poor." Felicity rubbed her knee a little. "I think the boy who used to clean the pool, before the hose man, he was housed poor. I think his wife worked in a diner."

"Did you ever talk to him? Did he seem nice? Really refreshingly honest and not fake like everyone we know?" Tori checked.

"Oh he was nice." She nodded, "His son died remember, oh you probably don’t you were little, he left because his wife got sick."

"No I didn’t know that." Victoria frowned slightly.  "I hope all of this blows over, wait till you see the news, they asked me if I was an addict."

"Oh God really?" Flicks eyes flared wide again. "Did you remember the lawyers quote?"

"Yes, I even really hammered in a whole dad is proud of me now, I can only hope it makes up for the bullshit, bullshit, bullshit." Victoria rolled her eyes.  "Reports are such cows."

"They are. One called me skeletal." She frowned.

"I think Dad sued him." She assured her sister.  "He’ll regret it."

"Well I have to spilt sis." Felicity pushed up. "Remember if the vic’s aren’t cutting it I have a some speed and some nice downers."

"You’re the best." She blew her a kiss.

*****

Rather unexpectedly for Ray when she came to the next group meeting V was no where to be seen, she didn’t even arrive late as she usually did bitching about one thing or another that had slowed her down. The only thing there had been was a note for her, in a plain white envelope that the cardboard leader explained had been dropped off at the office sometime that morning to be given to her to give to Ray.

Of course the counsellor had no idea about Ray’s brother as she’d been very careful to not get on camera even when Jen was being brought to the hospital by police when they’d figured out who George was to notify her. All the other addicts... well they had better things to do then watch the news. Ray waited until she was far away from group to open the note, somehow knowing who the sender must be.

Dear RayRay,

I don’t know why I’m bothering since you didn’t even call me... but I did what I said I would... I got Daddy to agree to let me off the group thing so that there wouldn’t be any link to you and I knowing each other.  I know your brother isn’t co-operating with the police, so I’m guessing the less I know the better but... though I am so mad because you blindsided me... I miss you and I’m worried... just let me know you’re okay when you can please... V

Ray carefully folded the note back up and pulled out her cell phone. Breathing out she lit a cigarette before dialling Victoria’s number.

"Hello." Victoria said calmly, knowing who it was.

"I got your note. Group was kinda weird without you." Ray said equally calmly.

"I bet... thank God Daddy’s let me off the hook." V said.  "Are you okay?" She asked softer.

"Kinda" Ray replied. "Coke head and Meth girl announced they were dating tonight. He’s left his wife and says he and Lois are hoping for joint custody, when they’re all clean and everything. Cardboard Joe nearly had a stroke."

"I can’t imagine, I’m so jealous I was absent."  V said honestly.  "Dad’s debrief said your brother was going to be okay, that he was lucky."

"Yeah, he was." Ray said quieter. "Thanks, you handled that great, I knew you would."

"Yeah well... Ray... what the fuck?" She said with a slight edge.  "I mean you could have explained more."

"It’s the ugly side of drugs V, my brother deals, but he ‘lost’ the big guys money." Ray gave the quick run down. "Fact is his kid needed his appendix out and it was the only way they could afford the op, but drug guys don’t like it when they loose a K of coke and the money that should replace it."

"I don’t know what to say Ray... I mean I want to be mad but I know he was in trouble." Victoria leaned back in bed and let out another sigh.

"I got the guy his money." Ray assured her, "It’s all straightened out."

"Why didn’t you just ask me for money?"  Victoria questioned still trying to really digest all of this. 

"I couldn’t do that V, and I don’t miss my bike." Ray said softly. "This way Geo got the best, and I’m gonna pay you back too."

"Ray listen to yourself, you know how you tell me to be honest... well be honest, you could dump your shot dying brother in my car and expect me to get him good help instead of just asking me for what 3 or 4 g to pay off the dealer." V disagreed.

"Four grand wasn’t gonna get my brother fixed up." Ray argued. "And that was the important thing."

"Okay... I get that." V backed down.  "Are you okay though? Did they hurt you?"

"They didn’t hurt me." Ray underlined. "I gave them some money, and we made a deal, it’s straightened out."

"Ray you tell me that deal right now." V insisted.

"Just a couple of odd jobs they need a girl for." Ray cast it aside.

"No, you can’t do odd jobs for a big drug dealer who shoots people.  He will fuck up your whole life and you’ll be back in jail again... for a long time." V shook her head.  "That is not damage control... how much more do you need?"

"No, we’re not talking like that." Ray shut it down. "I sold the bike, that and the last insurance deposit I got back from the apartment made it okay enough for the favours he wants to be small enough to handle."

"Ray, this is fucking so stupid... I can’t talk to you about this over the phone... where can I meet you?" V said instantly.

"You can’t meet me, you’re number one star girl." Ray disagreed.

"Yes I can.... do you know the power plant by the lake?"

"Dysons."

"Yes... you go there and wait at the old dock there, I’ll find you."  V said confidently. 

"Okay." Ray agreed meekly, almost as if for the first time since this particular craziness had started some one had actually told her what to do, and she was happy to just follow an instruction.

***

Ray was probably on her second cigarette considering bailing on the idea of meeting V, when a moderate sized boat glided up and pulled in neatly to the dock.

"Paparazzi can’t handle me." V said with a grin.  "Come aboard, its real private."

"Are you for real?" Ray arched her eyebrow.

"I’ve been sailing and boating since I was five okay, think of you and a bike, same for me." V moved over and offered her hand to help her step down. Ray rather unsteadily stepped aboard.

"Prefer the bike." She mumbled.

"You can take me for a ride when you get it back... and I promise I will be petrified when you take me for a ride. Just sit down, cold water in the cooler let me take her out to one of the clubs offshore buoys then we can talk." V moved back to the helm.

It wasn’t long before she had them a few miles from shore, tethered safely to a buoy, the forecast helping them by being clear and calm.

"How much money did your brother owe them?" V said instantly serious.

"No, before we start this." Ray shook her head and pushed her hand into her pocket. "I know it cost more than this, but with the rent I’m saving from sleeping on Jen’s couch, and some over time I’ve worked in, here’s seven hundred." She handed her a wad of notes. "And before you ask, this wasn’t part of the drug deal, this is all from after that." She pointed out. "You’ll just have to let me know the total."

"Total for what?" V looked at her completely confused.  "Ray... I don’t want your money, I don’t need your money.... in fact I want the opposite I want you to give this to the drug dealer and tell me how much more he will need for you to get out of being sent on crazy illegal jobs." V pushed it back her soft small hand around Ray’s wrist gently.

"For Geo’s treatment." Ray didn’t really move.

"Ray..." V gave her a soft smile.  "I don’t want your money... I’m not paying for it my Dad is after I made my rather deliberate and legally binding remark to the hospital staff that Dad would... anything to save him." She closed her other hand around Ray’s.  "How much do you still owe this guy?"

"Two g." Ray looked at Victoria’s hand for a moment.

"And how much to get your apartment back?" V said her voice softer.

"There is no getting it back, it’s already re-rent."

"Okay how much to get you a new one?" V gave an amused smirk.

"I’m okay on the couch, not got much stuff left anyway." She smirked back.

"You are horrible in a crisis." V laughed and shook her head.  "First we deal with your crazy business partner, and then we’ll sort you out." She would fully admit she wasn’t thinking, because if she’d been doing that she wouldn’t be doing most of anything she was doing right now. She would have just stopped going to meeting and let Ray and this whole thing fade away, but for some reason she couldn’t... and she would have to later admit to herself it was that reason that made her lean in and kiss Ray.

"Or you could just walk away." Ray kept herself very still as the other woman moved almost not reacting in anyway to the event.

"Look this is going to sound like rich princess girl stupidity, because I know now I know for really real that your life has been nothing like mine... but I know a crisis, when you break it down it’s the same thing to deal with as my mom passing out at the opening night of Phantom downtown because she was too tanked on painkillers.... you have to deal directly with the problem areas and think on your feet." Victoria moved and took a brown envelope out from under a seat cushion. "There is enough in here to pay off that guy, get a better apartment... and I don’t care if you ever repay me.  I just know you’re a good person Ray, underneath all the bullshit of this world, you’re the only real person I’ve ever met, you don’t blame and make excuses you’re honest... and funny." She said softer.  "Money makes things easier, and believe me I won’t miss it."

"I can’t take your money." Ray shook her head with a very gentle smile.

"Ray... take the goddamn money."  Victoria whispered back.  "If you don’t take it from me tonight, I’m going to give it to your brother’s wife directly."

"When you’re angry you flare your nostrils." Ray didn’t move to take anything.

"Your giving me wrinkles, please think of my skin." Victoria moved over and stuck the envelope down as best as she could into Ray’s pants pocket.

"Oh I have, believe me." Ray chuckled.

"Have you?" V stopped her hand still trying to stuff in the thick envelope.

"Prison didn’t turn this girl, I was already leader batter for the team." Ray chuckled more.

"I knew even with my princess rich girl lesbian experience that I pegged you when I came into group." V chuckled back. 

"I bet Detta rocks your world eh." Ray winked.

"Not really rocks so much as likes to suck when she’s high." V laughed more.  "But then again I come from the inbred society remember."

"True - though to be honest neither of you looks like your secretly packing androgynous sex organs, no extra y anywhere or anything." Ray teased.

"No, I’m pretty perfect as everyone likes to remind me when I fall short." V shifted her weight to one hip.

"Well I wouldn’t say that, your left breast is slightly smaller than your right, you have a tiny stigmatism in your left eye too, only tiny and mostly noticeable when you’re coming down from, I’m guessing vics or percs.’ Ray reasoned a little.

"Beast." Victoria chastised her.  "You should never point out a princess’ flaws."

"Why not, a princess is only different from a pauper because of the drugs she can afford." Ray laughed and shook her head. "Oh and in your case by being sexier with great curves."

"You sound like you are finally trying to flirt with me." Victoria said softly stepping closer again.  "Do you want to go down in the cabin? It’s not so windy, we’re safe tethered here."

"Wow you’re a speedy one." Ray laughed, but was quick to assure he she was joking. "I’m not flirting though, I’m just being me, well what me is when she’s with someone who makes her happy."

"I’m not speedy, I’m just not coy." Victoria laughed lightly.  "Though I’m only saying this because I don’t want... just promise me you won’t buy heroin with that... I mean here’s addict me passing judge but... that shit makes you do stupid things... and if I had to see all that for you to end up back in jail, I’m going to be pissed." She gave her a wide classic V smile.

"Seven months three weeks clean and counting thank you very much." Ray pointed out. "Now weed and ‘shrooms, don’t ask."

"I don’t expect a vow of sainthood... just... what did you tell me they were when we first met... poor addict’s drugs. Treat yourself better." She smiled again.

"I tried cooking up meth once." Ray shrugged. "But I kinda changed my mind when I got up the morning I was gonna do started it all and burned my toast, figured it was an omen." She breathed out a laugh. "That was by the way a joke." she pointed out.

"I know... even your not brain dead enough for meth." Victoria moved back to the large bed at the end of the boat.  "So how many girls have you slept with?"

"Lots, what’s your favourite position." Ray replied arching an eyebrow.

"Now who’s moving fast eh?" Victoria crawled up on the bed.

"Just trying to catch up with Speedo girl." Ray laughed "How many have you slept with?" she continued as she pulled off her tight navy t-shirt revealing a slim, toned body, with small pert breasts, which were completely on show.

"Played around with... less than a dozen." Victoria gave a wide appreciative smile. "And who says I’m being speedy... I had plans to fuck you after the first meeting but you were so nice and like a gentleman." She lay back on the bed like a supermodel.

Ray laughed even more and unfastened her dark jeans sliding them down, easing off her boots with her jeans leaving her in her black boy shorts and short dark socks.

"Okay well to be more specific, I’ve fucked mmmmmmm, at least twenty girls, made love to far fewer." She explained.

"I don’t think I’ve ever made love to anyone." V said honestly not even sure herself why her voice hitched a bit.

"You’re younger, four years younger than me, you’ve got time." Ray stepped her socks off as she moved over and knelt on the bed. running her hand through her slightly longer hair, obviously the lack of money had meant that she had been able to keep it as short and as trim as she liked her.

"Was it much different then just sex?" V asked watching her move closer.

"Yeah it hurts like hell when they break your heart and leave." Ray was honest. "At the very worst, bad sex only hurts for 10 hours or so, when making love goes wrong something inside never recovers."

"I guess that’s why rich people avoid it, they can’t buy it better." V said honestly.

"Probably, and why poor people do it too easily, ‘cause when it’s good, it makes everything better."

"I know money never goes away, it’s always so fucking important but... right now... whenever I’m with you, I don’t care how much money you have... I just like how I feel with you." V leaned closer to her resting her cheek against Ray’s stomach.

"Then that’s all that matters." Ray gave a soft shrug and dropped a light kiss on to the top of Victoria’s head. "V listen okay, to me, you’re V, I brought my brother to you because yeah sure I figured you had money and things would be okay that way, but mainly I did it because I like you, I trust you."

"I know why you did what you did Ray..." V pulled back a bit and looked up at her. "I could see that in the alley, if I hadn’t of believed you had the intentions you did I would have just done things the easy way, told the police exactly what was going on, exactly who I became involved, I know they would have believed me... but... I believed you, that was more important."

"Okay note to self don’t piss of the V she’ll rat you up." Ray nodded slowly.

"Not rat you up." V shook her head. "In my world it’s about calculated risks.... you are worth the risk."

"Well I dunno about that, math was always my bad subject." Ray shrugged. "I was always real good with biology though." she grinned.

"Really... you seem too busy talking...." V pulled back finding her playful side again the emotions a little too uncomfortable to continue to face head on. "Maybe you just like to lecture and can’t apply." She teased.

"I’m not the one fully clothed." Ray pointed out.

"A princess never undresses herself." V laid back, her shirt already cleverly unbuttoned so when she arched a little it fell off her body to reveal the lacy pink bra she was wearing.

"Does everyone treat you like a princess?" Ray asked leaning over to clearly the shirt completely off Victoria’s torso, but leaving it on her arms and back, just wanting a better view of the bra.

"Usually... well accept for you... you make me be honest." She said softly feeling her back arch up just a little more from the way Ray looked at her body.

"I can see why they would." Ray admitted moving her hands in a bold strong motion; she pushed Victoria’s skirt high up.

"I’d rather you treat me like V." She added her voice still soft and a little deeper from the spark of emotion the strong move had stirred within her, a deep ache of desire much unlike she’d known.

"Just what I intending on doing," Ray admitted as she leaned up over the dark haired woman, sliding one leg between Victoria’s, pressing it high up until it rested against the material between the other woman’s legs. "V." She breathed out, reaching around her back, pulling up from the mattress and drawing her close to her body, pressing her own naked breast to the pink lace as she firmly but gently gripped one arm completely around her back the other gathering long black locks and drawing them to one side to expose the tanned skin of Victoria’s neck, which she quickly covered with her lips.

The end for now….