"What would you spend your money on?" Ingrid asked Marya.
"Oh the usual," Marya answered. "The boring things like rent, that godforsaken window, though I'm open to you paying entirely for that."
"I will not."
'Worth a try. Anway fabric, parties, pay off Kafi for drugs…"
"Marya," Ingrid started to reproach at the mention of Marya's drug habit but she cut her off.
"You cope how you want to with this thing called life, and I'll do the same. Besides," she said flipping her hair. "You know it helps with my creativity."
Marya always claimed that, but all Ingrid knew was that the drugs made the girl skinny and sick. There were permanent shadows under her eyes that she always coated with kohl.
There was also the fact that she sometimes brought strangers into their apartment when she was high.
But whenever Ingrid brought up the drug habit, they would get into a fight, and sometimes Marya would not come home for days. Ingrid knew that meant she was spending her nights with some unsavory sorts, people in Kafi and Zephyr's deep crowd.
She realized then that the best thing she could do was allow Marya to feel safe in their apartment so she would keep out of worse trouble.
"You know," she said changing the subject, "part of me feels like I can't really think of my future until when Zephyr is dead."
Marya laughed and then tension dissolved between them.
As if on cue, there was a quick rap on their door then, and Zephyr stepped in.
"Speak of the devil," Ingrid muttered.
"Knocking? Somebody is being a gentleman tonight," Marya said to him.
Zephyr crossed the room holding a bottle of beer. He dropped the bottle by Ingrid's feet then tossed her uniform on her bed and dragged her chair over.
"If I say I'm going to be there at a certain time, then you should be expecting me. I shouldn't have to knock."
"Right. Because our entire lives revolve around you, of course," Ingrid said, rolling her eyes.
"It does. Listen, I'll be quick. I don't have much time." he pulled out two bundles of notes from his pocket and dropped them on their laps.
Marya left off Ingrid's hair and licked her fingers, immediately counting her gain. But Ingrid waved her money in Zephyr's face. "There's no way this is even close to seventeen percent, Zephyr."
He passed his hand through his curls. "Obviously not. But there were some…things that needed attending to. There were some investments I made."
"You're fucking kidding me," Ingrid got to her feet.
"Trust me, Ingrid, " He held up his hand. "I had to. But it will benefit us in the future."
"Would you just fucking stop with the 'us'. It's never us, it's always just you."
"Marya, talk some sense into your friend."
Marya looked up from the money notes she was counting. "I don't think I want to be part of this."
Ingrid threw the money back at Zephyr. "You need to get out. In the meantime, I'll be waiting for my full cut." She crossed the room to her bed.
Zephyr looked at Marya.
"Obviously leave the money. She'll come around. She's just pissed."
Marya took the cash from him then frowned. "Why's hers thicker than mine?"
"Obviously I kept half of your money because you're a druggie. You'll get the other half when I'm guaranteed you have more needs than just drugs."
Marya sucked her teeth.
Zephyr smirked and got up.
"I guess I'll see you around."
He looked toward Ingrid like he was going to say more. She folded her arms and glared at him.
He pulled on his collar and nodded then left.
"What an asshole," said Marya when the door banged shut.