Her eyes stayed fixed on the poster.
‘Good Deeds Make Good Days,’ it read, with a little cartoon cat smiling below. What a load of crap. As if fixing some asshole’s problems would suddenly solve her own, and not the other way around. Just like the military recruitment flier, and the other about a Bible study group, and the one with some soup kitchen opening up, they liked to leave that kind of bullshit around the cell doors to “reform” the people stuck inside while they waited for arraignment.
No surprise, really. Might as well try to fill their heads with lies before they got reamed by the full weight of the law. Maybe even scare them straight so they’d stop causing problems.
Yeah, that’s what this was all about. They wanted to make her be a good little piggy who’d just sit there and take it, and become what they wanted her to be. They wanted her to become a woman without a voice of her own.
Fuck that.
“Shannon,” the cop announced from outside her cell. “Shannon Taylor?”
Shannon brushed the hair from her eyes and waddled up front, her fingers gripping the bars of the cell. “What now?”
He unlocked the door. “You’re free to go.”
“That time already, huh?” She threw her leather jacket over her shoulder and walked through the opening. Before she left the cell for good, she gave the cop one final wink. “How’s the smell?”
The cop grit his teeth.
Shannon went through the rest of the police station with a yawn. This wasn’t her first rodeo. She’d already dealt with getting the court date, agreeing to drug tests, meeting up with her parole officer, and of course, lying through her teeth so they’d leave her alone. All she had left was to get the fuck out.
Leah was waiting when Shannon reached the lobby. Gone were the good ‘ole days with her. Her red, curled hair might’ve been the same, but her piercings had all been removed, and her clothes were lame as shit, no more than a blue button-down over a pair of chinos. She even had this long burgundy scarf hanging from her neck like some high-paid lawyer.
And Shannon was her opposite. Her straight, black hair flowed over an eye to match the dark lipstick below. Her tank had the logo of some death metal band she’d forgotten about, and her fishnet leggings were more ripped than the jean shorts above. All she needed at this point was a tat of a pentagram to really sell the look.
Leah crossed her arms. “There you are.”
Here it comes. Shannon pulled a pair of sunglasses from her jacket and kept walking. If she was about to get bitched out, it might as well be after they got outside.
The heat hit like a sack of bricks as they passed through the door. God, how Reno sucked. Always so fucking hot. And dry. Shannon’s tongue tasted like rubber, reminding her how long of a night it’d been, and how bad this hangover was getting.
Leah played ball, at least. The two made it all the way into her car before she said another word.
“I can’t believe you,” she muttered, both hands locked on the wheel.
“Good to see you too, bestie,” Shannon said.
“Nine months, Shannon,” she grumbled. “You haven’t said a word to me in nine months. I thought you were dead.”
“Still here.”
“And by ‘here,’ you mean in jail?”
“Not anymore.” She grimaced. “Thanks, by the way.”
“What the hell were you thinking!?” Leah snapped. “Shoplifting, seriously? You’re still on parole.”
“Please. You know how much it costs to get the new iPhone these days? They’re the ones stealing. I just wanted to make a fucking call. I didn’t even leave the store.” She sighed. “Attempted grand larceny. That’s what they’re trying to spin this as. Over that. Can you believe those assholes?”
Leah blinked. “You took a shit in a cop’s car.”
Shannon chuckled. “Told them I had to go. They should’ve listened.”
“If you needed help, you could’ve just gone to me.”
This conversation was a real drag. Shannon lifted the glove compartment and started digging through. With any luck, the goods she’d stashed would still be where she’d left them. There you are. Shannon pulled out the dime she’d hidden in Leah’s car, ripped a chunk off her court appearance paper, and started to roll a joint.
Leah’s face turned as dark as her scarf. “Are you shitting me?”
“Got a light?” Shannon asked before helping herself out to one that’d caught her eye.
“We’re still in the middle of the lot,” she squeaked.
“Then drive out of it.”
Leah practically floored it down the street as Shannon lit her joint.
“Ugh!” Shannon coughed. Bad weed. That was bad weed. Figured. Lord only knew how long it’d been sitting in there.
“I can’t keep doing this,” Leah said. “I can’t keep cleaning up after you, Shannon. I mean it. Me and Greg just put down on our house. We’re planning on having a kid soon. You think I can keep being there for you?” She groaned. “Are you listening to a word I’m saying?”
Shannon said nothing. This wasn’t the first time she’d gotten “the talk” from Leah. Who cared? It wasn’t like she’d put a gun to her head and made her post bail. All Shannon did was give her a call when shit went south. If Leah hadn’t wanted to throw her a bone, she could’ve just stayed with her perfect little boyfriend like she clearly wanted. Shannon would figure something out, just like she always had.
But she couldn’t say any of that out loud without pissing Leah off, and losing touch with her only real friend was a bridge that Shannon really, really didn’t want to burn.
“Still with Greg, huh?” was all that came out instead.
She sighed. “The wedding’s in three months. You don’t have to bring a present or do anything, but you’d better be there.”
Maybe. I don’t know. “Sure. Yeah.”
“I’m serious. I can’t do this without you there…”
The moment dragged out in uncomfortable silence. Shannon flipped on the radio. She didn’t want to think about that anymore.
The news blared. “…Still no word from officials after the city of Manchester was placed on lockdown following a chemical leak from Aeon Dy–”
“Hey!” Leah snapped as Shannon changed from her preset.
“Come on,” she yawned. “Don’t be so boring.” She switched to some rock and glanced over. “Speaking of, what’s with that scarf?”
“Mom sent it as an engagement gift. It’s a hundred-percent silk.” Leah gave it a stroke and grinned. “Don’t lie. You know it looks good on me.”
“You wear it well,” Shannon admitted, though she kept the other half unsaid. Only way you’d ever see me wearing that is over my dead body.
* * *
“I told you to stop giving her money!” Greg shouted. “Is that really so hard?”
Leah scoffed. “What was I supposed to do? Just leave Shannon stuck in jail!?”
“Yes. That’s what jail is there for. People like her.”
“Do you know how many times she helped me? I owe her!”
“No, you owed her. But you’ve paid any debt she’s given you ten times over. Why? Because you grew up, and she didn’t.”
Leah couldn’t believe this. “I don’t abandon the people I care about just because they fucked up. You should know that.”
He frowned. “Jesus Christ, Leah. Listen to yourself. Yeah, I lost us some money, but I’ve learned from my mistakes. We all do. But when’s the last time Shannon’s ever done anything for you? When’s the last time she’s done anything for anyone?”
Leah averted her gaze. Seeing Greg like this didn’t hurt half as much as the truth he spoke. They’d had their problems, just like every other couple. But where their relationship had only grown stronger with time, Shannon had been falling further away. Leah didn’t know how to reach her best friend anymore, or if she was still in there at all. It was as if ever since Leah sobered up, Shannon had been doubling down on everything that’d gone wrong in their lives. How much longer until she’d disappear for good? How much longer until Leah lost the only other person who’d ever given her meaning?
Greg grabbed her by the cheeks. “All I’m asking is that you take a step back. We’re starting our new life together soon. You don’t deserve to have any baggage holding you back.” His eyes teared. “And I love you. Okay?”
That look was too much. Leah shied away. “You’re right, Greg. I know you’re right. She’s just… She’s not like everyone thinks. But you’re right. I won’t pay for her lawyer or make sure she goes to court or do any of that. Shannon will do what Shannon does, and that’s that.”
“Thank you. That’s all I ask.”
Crickets chirped outside, and the stillness could’ve been cut with a knife.
“Have you heard back from Ricardo yet?” Leah asked, desperate for the topic to change.
Greg wiped the tears from his eyes. “Yeah. Turns out all flights into Boston have been canceled until further notice.”
“I can’t believe what’s happening out there.”
“It’s insane, I know. Right when he was about to start that job too. Now him and Lucy are living out of a hotel until this mess gets cleaned up.”
“Let’s host them. You know. Throw a nice party?”
He nodded after a second of thought. “That’s not a bad idea. I’m sure they’d love the distraction.”
They’re not the only ones. “I’ll run to the store tomorrow and pick up some things.”
“I’ll get my phone and shoot him a text. See how they’re feeling.” He moved to leave.
“Wait, Greg.” Leah turned back. “I love you too.”
He smiled. “We’ll get through this.”
“Yeah, we will.”
Leah stared out the window when he left, into the night. She’d finally made it. She had the guy. Had the home. Had the job. After those long nights back when she’d been using and thought it’d be impossible, she’d finally gotten it all together. Now here she was, out in the suburbs with a safe life, just like she’d always wanted. There was nothing from her old self that she needed to regret.
Except Shannon.
They’d been through it all together. Through the thick and the thin and the shit that collected in between. Shannon had been as much a part of getting Leah here as she’d been herself. When Leah had hit rock bottom, no one else had been waiting but her. Could she really just kick Shannon to the curb?
Leah pulled out her phone. Greg would hate this. They’d get into another shouting match the second he heard. But Leah wasn’t planning on breaking their agreement. No money. No handouts. Just some good company. If Shannon was back in town, she no doubt could use some. Hell, Leah needed this too. She needed to have her presence around again. Just for a bit.
Leah took a deep breath and sent a text of her own.
* * *
This had to be the one.
Shannon glanced up and down the street and remembered the pics she’d seen on Insta. Leah’s new home was everything she’d said it would be. The grass was freshly mowed. The hedges were trimmed tight and hugged the fence. The walls were painted beige without the slightest bit of peeling. There was a garage built for two, a patio with those fancy rich-people pillars, and three stories of crystal-clear windows. She’d heard that they also had a pool in the back to top it all off.
Shannon hated it.
She yawned and walked to the door, her backpack of goodies resting lazily over one shoulder. God, this sucked. When was the last time she’d woken up before noon?
Even the doorbell was swanky as shit. They’d gotten one of those smart doors with the camera and all those buttons. Shannon would’ve just walked through, but the fuckers must’ve kept it locked, so she started knocking instead. She wasn’t about to figure out a million buttons.
The door opened a crack, and Greg appeared. Still with that chiseled jawline, and still with the perpetual stubble. He even had that goofy grin of his, though that went away the moment the two made eye contact.
“Shannon? What are you doing here?”
“I was invited, dipshit.” She shifted from one leg to another. “You gonna let me in?”
Greg stood wordless for a moment, and Shannon had the feeling that they were about to have it out, but then Leah shoved her way between the two.
She grinned wide. “Shannon! I’m so glad you came.”
Greg leaned into her. “I thought we talked about this,” he whispered, just loud enough for Shannon to hear.
Leah’s smile buckled an inch. “Come in, come in. We’re about to serve brunch!” She waved her through.
This is gonna be a long day, Shannon realized. Leave it to Leah to drag her out to where she wasn’t wanted, and of course Greg would be an ass about it. She should’ve lit one up before heading over.
The inside of their place was even worse. The floors were wood and looked wet, even though they weren’t. The walls were bright white, and seemed to glow from all the natural light. Expensive-looking furniture laid everywhere, and was arranged oh-so-perfectly to complement each other. So fucking normal. Not a single poster of a band. No art drawn on the walls. Nothing left broken or cracked or the slightest bit dusty because who even gives a shit about a bunch of stupid shit? Leah had really sold her soul to The Man for this one.
Then they reached the living room, where Shannon met their other company. The guy had a backwards baseball cap and polo, and the girl wore this dress designed with nothing but bright flowers.
“This is Ricardo, and this is Lucy,” Leah said, pointing to each. “Looks like we’re all here!”
“Thought this was a party,” Shannon said.
“It is,” Leah winked.
Since when is five people a party? When Shannon had been told that a couple of Greg’s college friends would be visiting, she’d thought it’d be more than an actual couple.
Leah suddenly paled. “Crap! I forgot to check the timer.” She ran off to the kitchen.
“You must be Leah’s childhood friend, Shannon,” Lucy said, shaking her hand.
Ricardo laughed. “Heard you two really let loose back in the day.”
“Give her a break, honey. She just got here.”
He feigned surprise. “What? I just want to hear about Leah’s wild side.”
She rolled her eyes. “Oh, stop.”
Oh, kill me. This luncheon was quickly becoming Shannon’s literal worst nightmare.
“It’s time!” Leah announced from the other room. “We’ve got hors d’oeuvres!”
The group went to the dining room, and the conversation rolled. Apparently, Ricardo was in a frat with Greg, and Lucy lived in the same dorm their freshman year. They’d been the bestest of friends ever since.
Shannon did what she could to keep the topic off her. She used the usual deflections: about how she was “between jobs,” or that she was “figuring things out,” and all the other bullshit. But every so often, she fucked up and mentioned that rehab was a waste of time, or that her parole officer was an asshole, and then there was that fucking pause where everyone else went quiet before moving on.
At least the food was good. Leah had made those little hotdogs, along with this pastry thing that had cheese and vegetables in it, and crackers with this cream and salmon on top. Steaks came after, with mashed potatoes and squash on the side. Leah kept explaining where she’d picked up all the recipes, but Shannon could barely keep up. All she knew was that this beat a Big Mac.
They went through their meal, and then everyone shifted back to the living room to watch “the game”. Shannon was starting to think she’d made it through the hump, especially since the conversation kept inevitably going back to that shit that was happening out East, but then she went to take a piss, and nearly slammed into Greg the moment she left the bathroom.
“I told you not to come back here,” he said, his voice low.
“And I told you I was invited,” Shannon said.
“You could’ve refused.”
She brushed the hair from her eyes. “Look, Leah would’ve kept asking questions if I didn’t at least come and say hi. You know how she gets when she thinks something’s up.”
“Well, nothing’s up.” He stared at her sideways. “Unless you said something.”
“Nope.”
“I mean it. Did you say anything?”
Piss off, jackass. She yawned. “I didn’t tell her that we fucked each other last I was here, if that’s what you’re asking.”
His eyes widened and he pulled her further down the hall. “One time,” Greg hissed through clenched teeth. “One fucking time.”
“Didn’t feel like you only came once to me.”
He dodged the bait. “If you’re just here to stir up some shit…”
“Relax. I’m only here for a bite to eat. I don’t give a shit about that.”
“I don’t believe you. Just tell me what you want.”
Shannon grit her teeth. There it was. The judgment. The bribe. Of course an asshole like Greg assumed that Shannon would only ever visit her best friend to extort her fiance. That’s all she was to guys like him. The fucking bitch in the room. It didn’t help that the last time she’d been here, that’s how it went down. All for a measly five grand that she blew a week later.
Well, if Greg was going to keep dishing it, then Shannon figured it was about time to see if he’d take it.
“Tell you what, Greggy. You got me. I actually did come here for a reason, and that’s to tell you a secret.” She leaned in. “You’re not the only one who’s hooked up with me.” She winked.
His face brightened. That one struck a nerve. No doubt Greg had always wondered. Just never had the proof. There was a reason why Leah would never, ever leave Shannon behind. Not after what the two had done together once after a night on speed. He’d probably never been able to please her half as well.
“You are nothing but toxic, Shannon,” Greg decided with a shake of his head.
“And you’re an asshole,” she countered.
“Please, just… Get out of our lives. I’m asking you. Begging, if that’s what it’ll take. Do this one good deed for Leah and let her go. She’s better off without you.”
Yeah, you all are, huh? That’s how it always was for Shannon. She was the fucking trainwreck who couldn’t get her shit together, so she might as well just fuck off. They could have their perfect shit, and she could go and jump off a bridge for all anyone cared. That was the “good deed” after all. Right?
Shannon sighed. “Fine. I’m out after this. You guys suck now anyway. Have fun with the fucking wedding, or whatever.” She strolled down the hall before he could get another word in.
…Only to see everyone else had gone quiet back in the living room. For a moment, she was sure that they’d all overheard, but then her eyes fell to the TV. The news was on instead of sports, and all their eyes were locked on the screen.
“What’s going on?” Shannon asked.
Ricardo hushed her. “The President’s about to come on, talking about Boston.”
“How many times can they possibly say the same thing? ‘Oh no! We fucked up and spilled some shit. Everyone just needs to chill until we get it all cleaned up!’ That about it?”
Leah frowned. “This is serious, Shannon. This stuff is in the water and makes people delusional.”
Just then, the President took to the podium. “My fellow Americans…” he began.
It went on from there. About this biochemical leak that was really dangerous, and how everyone in the area was being evacuated, and how the army was doing everything it could to prevent others from being exposed, but even swallowing small amounts of contaminated water could cause problems, so people had to be super duper careful and report anyone who looked sick. That was the big talking point. Report anyone who looked sick so the doctors could take care of them.
“Bet it’s really zombies,” Shannon decided, just to get a rise out of them. “Watch. He’s about to say that some of them are showing ‘signs of aggression,’ or something.”
“…Now to address the rumors that you have all no doubt heard,” the President continued. “I want to state that unfortunately, yes, in some cases, a small minority of those exposed have shown signs of aggression…”
Oh shit. Shannon hadn’t expected him to actually say that. She averted her gaze and blushed.
“…And so it is out of an abundance of caution, and because I hold the safety of the American people as my highest duty, that I have no choice but to institute a national stay-at-home order, to be enforced by military order, until this unique crisis can be resolved…”
The group paled. Shit just got cranked up to eleven.
“Christ,” Lucy said with a gasp. “Where do they expect us to go? The airports are still closed.”
“You can stay here,” Leah said. “As long as you need. Right, Greg?”
He nodded. “Yes, of course. We’ve got enough food in the pantry to feed an army.”
Then Leah turned to Shannon. “What about you? Where are you staying right now?”
“Been crashing with Diaz,” she blurted out before thinking it through.
Her eyes widened. “Your dealer? No. You can’t go back there.”
Shannon glanced to Greg, who looked back to her. The rest went unspoken. They both knew that neither was winning this one.
Shannon plopped onto the couch. “Guess I’m staying then.”
