The Ironwood Rave: Lost and Found

Vas glared behind his sunglasses watching Mal retreat, relaxing a bit when he was out of sight. He let out a huff and shook his head looking at the shoe and ambled to the gate where Serena had slipped through. “Olly olly oxen free.” Vas called loudly leaning against the gate.

“Is he gone?” A disembodied voice called back. “Both of ‘em?”

“There were actually three of ‘em.” Vas said.

Serena poked her head from under the dumpster, where she’d wedged herself, thankful for once that she didn’t have curves like Cyd. “I didn’t see the third,” she admitted, scooting backwards out from her hiding place. “I didn’t see you either.”

“Neither did they.” Vas said with a smirk holding out her shoe for her to take. “Got your shoe back.”

“I didn’t throw it this time,” she giggled, taking it from him and holding it up.

“Dunno might have spooked them getting a shoe to the face.” He chuckled crossing his arms. “So why’d they chase ya?” He asked with a lazy tilt to the head.

“I dunno,” she said with an animated shrug, avoiding his eyes. “Why do boys do anything? Boys are weird.”

Vas took his glasses off. “You know I’m not guna get mad and yell at you right? You can talk to me. Really.”

“And you won’t tell Mathias, or Cyd? Honest and swear, pinkie promise?” She asked, holding up her littlest finger.

“It’ll stay between you and me.” Vas said hooking his little finger with hers.

“They wanted to buy Carbon Copy, this… super expensive drug, Mathias doesn’t even deal it on account of its one - hot as the sun, an’ two - supposed to do bad things,” she confessed. “Like… give you Jennie powers. And… I have one.”

Vas made a motion for her to hand it over.

Serena gave him puppy eyes. “I can’t. It’s worth a lot an’ I got a couple super important things I need,” she whined.

Vas was unmoved and motioned again for her to hand it over.

“C’mon! Please?” She tried, putting her hand over her waistband. “I want to get Mathias a couch, or a bed, a real bed to sleep on. Something new. He never had new.”

“Don’t make ask a third time.” Vas warned.

“I knew I shouldn’ta told,” She said, giving an exasperated roll of her eyes. Her hand went to her pocket, but there was nothing there. She checked her waistband, her other pockets, and nothing.

“Quit fooling around,” he scolded. “This is what you want to get pinched for? Really? How did you even get you hands on it.”

“On account of I got better at pickin’ pockets.” She said in an indignant tone, still slightly put out. “I boosted it at the rave, but it’s gone!” She said, her voice in a panic. She went to scurry back under the dumpster to check, but Vas held her back.

Vas ticked his head towards the sewer drain. “If it’s gone, it’s gone.”

“What?” She exclaimed. “Are you crazy? I just told you how much it was worth, how much people are willing to pay for it, I gotta find it!”

“Because it ain’t worth jack if you get pinched. If Mathias ain’t dealing it neither should you, hell you just got a first hand view on why he probably isn’t passing around the stuff. Even if you sold it. How are you going to explain where you got the creds? The lecture you would get … would be epic. So epic you would have wished you got pinched.” Vas pointed out. “Leave it. It’s more trouble then it’s worth and there are less dangerous way to make a cred.” He motioned to a storm drain.

Serena looked at the dumpster and balked, faking one last ditch attempt. “What if a rat eats it and goes AC-17. I should take it home and flush it for safety sake. An’ I had a plan. I … was gonna say you got the couch for him.”

“Lucky Rat. It all goes to the same place and the longer you hold ono to it the more trouble it’ll bring. Mathias already got jumped you wana have a go next? I know my memory is fucked but I know enough if you where alone you would be in a world of shit. Leave it now and we never speak of this again. Ever.” Vas demanded.

Serena narrowed her eyes. “Fine. Next time I lie to you,” she told him, trying to memorize the alley the dumpster was in.

“You say you will but you won’t.” Vas chuckled.

Serena gave him a glare that was innate to every teenager.

“You’re just mad cuz you know I’m right.” Vas teased poking Serena. “Lets get ice cream!” He grinned.

“Get it yourself,” she pouted, moving away from his touch, then reconsidered. “Ice cream from where?”