Tina pushed the buttons on the PS2 controller as fast as she could. It was the tenth round and she was about to knock Vinny out for good and his power was drained to next to nothing. Vincent entered a secret code into his controller and administered a series of relentless punches knocking Tina out of the ring and winning the game.
"You cheated!" She declared throwing down the PS2 controller. They were both sitting on the living room floor in front of Vinny's 27" television playing Playstation 2. It was getting too hot for them in the barn and Vincent opted to relocate to the trailer which had air conditioning.
Vincent's dog Sparky came over and rested his head in Tina's lap and licked her fingers. The rottweiler seemed to be infatuated with Tina for some reason. Vinny looked away from the television and squinted his jealous eye on Sparky. He plotted what he might do to him if he didn't stop giving so much attention to Tina. Yes indeed. He'd have a little surprise for Sparky.
Vinny was starting to feel a little groggy. He hadn't slept since he kidnapped Tina and he didn't plan to sleep until after the job was finished. He pulled a bag of crystal meth out of his pocket and dumped some on the coffee table. Tina looked over and saw him cutting out three lines neatly on the coffee table. Oh no! Not this again! She thought to herself. She felt her heart pound against her sternum and found herself biting her lower lip. The last time Vincent did this nasty drug he chopped up his friend to smithereens with a chain saw. Before she could object Vinny rolled up a dollar bill and snorted a line. When he turned around there was snot running down his nose and a big grin on his face. He held the rolled up dollar bill in front of her face and smiled once more showing his shark teeth.
"Do you want to try some?" He asked. All the drug lectures she had at school flashed through her mind all at once. She shook her head no but Vinny persisted on like a car salesman." Aw come on! You'll like it. I promise." He said wistfully. Tina remembered the time her and Steve went to the movies to watch Star Wars. Her boyfriend tried to explain to her how the movie would've been so much cooler if Luke Skywalker would've joined the " Darkside"." If you can't beat em, join em." He used to tell her. Tina knew there was no way she could beat Vinny. He was too powerful and too smart. After a moments notice of hesitation Tina finally grabbed the rolled up dollar bill out of Vinny's hand. Vincent clapped his hands together.
"Alright, that's my girl!" He said straightening out a line for her with a credit card. Tina ruefully bent her head over the coffee table, let out a deep breath, crammed the dollar bill up her nose, and sucked in air up her nose with all her might. As the white powder ascended up her nose she felt a temporary burning sensation. But all in an instant it felt like Tinker Bell from Peter Pan had flown up her nose sprinkling fairy dust and taking her to a heavenly place.
Tina tilted her head back and closed her eyes like she had just placed a piece of soothing chocolate into her mouth. She hadn't felt euphoria like this since she first kissed a guy at 16. She suddenly remembered her friend Jackie and what she had to say about drugs. "Don't knock it until you've tried it." Her friend used to say. Vincent went to grab the rolled up dollar bill from her to take his turn but she pushed him away and snorted another line.
"Whoa that's my girl!" He said excitedly massaging her shoulders. When she looked at him a second time he no longer looked like a monster. In fact, the more she stared at him the more he looked like prince charming. Without notice Tina wrapped both her hands behind Vinny's long hair and kissed him on the lips. While they were kissing, Sparky jumped in and began licking both of their faces.
It started to get hot and heavy when the phone rang. The ringing phone startled them both and Vinny dug through a pile of dirty laundry on the sofa looking for the cordless phone." Hello?" He said breathing heavy into the phone.
"Vinny it's your mother. You sound out of breath. Are you alright?"
"Yeah, I just came in from jogging. What's up?" He asked.
"Well, I just pulled a homemade apple pie out of the oven. I know it's your day off and everything, but we haven't seen you in two months."
"Well, I've been kind of busy and working over time." He lied.
"Okay, the reason I called is your father and I want to come see you today and I just baked this apple pie. We'll be over in an hour."
"But....." Pleaded Vinny.
"Oh, I don't care if the place is a sty. Your father and I really want to see you. We'll be there soon hunny. Buh-bye."
Before Vincent could object, Theresa hung up the phone.