The Corruptor, Part 5

The Corruptor
Part 5 of 10
karriejj@hotmail.com

Karrie woke slighly agitated. Her body was craving nicotine and she had
deprived it for over 17 hours. She had stayed up till midnight on the phone
with Ashley. She felt their grade school friendship was returning. Their talk
ranged from school, to boys, to 'stuck up bitches' , and to smoking. Karrie
had enjoyed their conversation immensely, but craved a cigarette the entire
time. Ashley teased Karrie each time she lit up, saying "Oh, I just lit
another one, here have a drag" and audibly exhaled into the reciever. They
giggled at this. Ashley explained her parents were out for the night, so she
felt free to smoke openly in the house.

"Mom, Im going to the mall this morning." Karrie stated as she entered the
kitchen.

"Who with?" her mother said, looking up from the paper.

"Do you remember Ashley Cates? I used to be friends with her in grade
school." Karrie said, pouring a cup of coffee.

"Yeah, I think so, you two played soccer together?" Joyce asked.

Karrie nodded as she grabbed the front page, and sipped.

"What are you going to do?" Joyce asked, returning her attention to the Metro
section.

"She going to come pick me up at about 11:30. Her older sister works the
cosmetic counter at Dillards, so I'm going to spend a bit of my baby sitting
money and get some make up."

Joyce sat the paper down and smiled. She herself was fairly plain but still
wore the bare minimum makeup. Lipstick, some rouge', and mascara when the
mood hit her just right. She often worried that her daughter would be a wall
flower forever. She had never known how to approach the subject with her,
afraid that if she said "Honey, you could use some makeup" that it would be
taken wrong. "That sounds like fun, honey."

Joyce reached across the table and held hands with her daughter. "Thanks Mom,
Im excited about it. Gotta shower!" Karrie got up and exited the room.

Joyce sat and watched her daughter ascend the stairs. She was happy, but felt
a bit left out, wishing she was the one who was going to the mall with her
daughter. She wasn't the best mother, but she knew her daughter would break
free sooner or later. It was happening today and tears formed in her eyes.
Fighting them back, she returned her attention to the paper and read without
reading.


"Bye Mom! Ashely's here. I'll be home for dinner." Karrie shouted as she
slammed the door behind her.

"Have fun!" Joyce said. Her statement fell flat as no one else heard it. She
went to the closet and took out the vacuum cleaner and began her chores.

Karrie jumped into the front seat of Ashleys Kia Sephia. Ashley had the radio
turned up load. Lifehouse's "Hanging by a Moment" was playing, and the two
girls rocked as the car backed out of the driveway. A block down the road,
Ashley cracked her window and pushed in the lighter.

"You smoke in your car?" Karrie asked excitedly.

"Hell yeah, one of my only 'off limits' areas from the parents. They never
ride in here because its too small." Ashley replied. "Feel free to light up,
sister!"

Karrie cracked her window also and extracted her cigarettes from her
backpack. Ashley was touching the tip of the car lighter to her Salem Light
100. She puffed a few times and then drew deeply when she was satisfied the
tip had caught. Karrie lit hers with her own lighter, drawing deeply. The
nicotine rush was wonderful, and she back deeper into the car seat, relaxed.

Ashley spoke through an exhale. "You ready for this? I'm really excited.
Alicia said she'll give us a good discount."

Karrie nodded as she exhaled towards the window. "I cant wait, I hardly slept
last night."

They both let out a half hearted scream as the latest N'Sync song came on.


Karrie sat in the tall stool as Alicia expertly applied a dark brown
highlight to Karries lips with a brush. It accented the cinnamon color she
had applied earlier. "Ok, I think your ready." Alicia said, spinning the
stool towards the mirror. Alicia glanced at Ashley, and the two ladies shared
a look. Ashley raised her eyebrows a few times and gave a thumbs up signal,
making her sister smile.

Karrie leaned towards the mirror, unable to speak. Alicia had transformed
her. Her eyes were traced with black eye liner and lashes thick with mascara.
Three shades of a dark eye powder highlighted her dark brown eyes. A similar
blusher highlighted her prominent cheek bones. A smile spread on Karries face
and she lept from the chair, hugging first Ashley, and then Alicia.

"Oh my GAWD!" she said. The three shared a laugh, and Karrie turned quickly
back to the mirror, unable to hide her excitement. Two boys they recognized
from school passed by and nearly ran into a display rack. They giggled again
as Alicia gathered up the makeup.

Alicia rang up the makeup as the two girls gathered their things. "Ok,
$21.50." Alicia said.

"Huh?" Karrie asked. "There must be $100 worth of stuff here, Alicia"

"It was so much fun Karrie, so I'll give you the 'girlfriend' discount." she
winked.

"Dont argue with her, dummy!" Ashley exclaimed. "Now, lets go make a hair
appointment and  grab a quick cigarette!" Ashley said devilishly.

The two girls waved to Alicia as they carried their bags out of the store.
Alicia waved back and smiled.


The soonest appointment Karrie could get for a hair cut was at 2:00 pm. The
two girls decided it would give them time to grab a leisurely lunch after a
cigarette. The two girls sat on the bench outside the mall entrance and lit
up. The lipstick coated Karries cigarette and she liked this look.
Immediately her thoughts turned to the night at the Kelly's when she had
first smoked after applying Crimson to her lips. She became moist immediately
and had to shift to snap back into reality. 

Karrie and Ashley's conversation was suprisingly interrupted. "Karrie? Oh my
god, you look wonderful,  you look so different!"

Suprised, Karrie quickly tossed her cigarette aside, not knowing who it was.
She was relieved to see Bonnie walking towards them, her arms widespread.
Karrie stood and received the hug that was coming towards her. Ashley sat
watching this, and then crushed out her cigarette and stood to greet the
stranger.

"Bonnie!" Karrie shrieked "What are you doing here?"

Bonnie stepped away, taking in Karries new beauty. "Well look at you, quite a
transformation!"

"Thanks. Bonnie this is my friend Ashley, she and her sister helped me out
with this today. Ashley, I sit for the Kellys."

The two ladies shook hands and exchanged 'hello's' and ' nice to meet you
too's'. 

Bonnie looked around and saw John pushing Madilyn in the stroller towards
them. Her eyes lit up. "Karrie, this is John, my husband. John, Karrie Jens."

"My, my" John said. "Bonnie wasn't lying when she said you were a knock out.
Nice to finally meet you, Karrie." Bonnie elbowed John playfully in the
stomach and they all laughed. 

"Likewise John, I've really enjoyed my time with Madilyn and Bonnie." Karrie
said. She and Bonnie exchanged a quick 'look' and she continued. "Your house
is beautiful too." she added.

Ashley, feeling a bit awkward, cleared her throat. "Well, hey, nice to meet
you all. Karrie and I were just going to go to Bennigans and grab some lunch
and ..."

Bonnie interjected "Sounds wonderful. John, why dont you take Madilyn in and
get a table for the four of us." She turned to the girls and said. "Our
treat." Karrie and Ashley exchanged smiles. "Im gonna grab a quick cigarette
with the girls first."

John smiled knowingly, and headed inside the mall, pushing a sleeping
Madilyn.

The three resumed their positions on the bench and lit up. "So, Karrie, when
did you decide to smoke in public?" Bonnie asked, playfully nudging her leg.

Karrie inhaled and then spoke while tapping her ash. "I guess I just like it
enough to not care what other people think at this point." she said. "But, I
haven't told my mom, Im not sure Im that committed to it yet."

Ashley and Bonnie laughed at this. Ashley mocked Karrie "'She says while she
sucks on her 4th cigarette of the day!"  The three laughed and finished their
cigarettes, looking forward to the meal with John and Madilyn.


During lunch, Bonnie learned of the girls plans to get Karrie a new hair cut.
She asked John if he minded if she stayed with the girls for the remainder of
the afternoon. Ashley offered to give her a ride home. John agreed happily,
looking forward to spending some alone time with Madily.

As they parted ways, John handed Bonnie $200 cash and whispered something in
her ear. Bonnie pocketed the money and nodded back, and then kissed him on
the cheek. The ladies walked towards the salon drawing the attention of every
hot blooded young male in the mall.

Bonnie had gone on a private shopping spree and returned, sitting just
outside the studio carrying two bags from Victorias secret. Ashley stood
talking with Karrie. The stylist worked her magic on Karries dirty dishwater
hair. She had applied highlights after re-washing her hair and they were
waiting the 20 minutes for the color to take hold. Bonnie sat and waved at
the girls through the window. They waved back and returned to their
conversation.

A few minutes passed and a man approached Bonnie. She mouthed an soundless
"Hi" and the man sat next to her. Bonnie then picked up her purse and
extracted the $200, and lay her purse, open between the two of them. Through
the passing crowds, the girls watched as Bonnie handed the cash to the man
and he reached into a coat pocket and quickly placed something into her
purse. They shook hands and as quickly as he had arrived, he was gone. Bonnie
quickly surveyed her purse and closed it shut. She then returned her gaze
towards the two girls. They both stared, not sure what they had both
witnessed. Bonnie winked and stood and headed towards the direction of the
public restrooms.

Ashley spoke first. "Holy Shit, I think she just bought drugs!"  she said
quietly, almost whispering.

"No way, I mean, come on.." Karrie replied. She was afraid her friend was
correct, but didn't want to believe it.

"Im gonna follow her," Ashley said, heading for the entrance. "Maybe she'll
be willing to share!"

"Ashley!" Karrie shouted back, but she was already gone. Karrie sat in the
chair looking like an alien, her hair wrapped in tin foil pieces.

"OK girlie," the stylist said as she spun Karrie back towards the wall of
mirrors. "Lets see what kind of damage I've inflicted here." Karries
attention was brought back quickly as the stylist began cutting away layers
of hair, completing the transformation.

Ashley slowly opened the bathroom doors and surveyed the bathroom. Except for
one stall, the bathroom was empty. She approached the vanity and turned on
the water. She washed her hands while watching the mirror in the reflection.
The two Victorias Secret bags lay next to the purse on the floor. The hands
in the stall then reached down and picked up the purse. Ashley listended
intently as a very obvious 'sniffing' sound was followed by three more.

Ashley thought to herself excitedly, "She's doing fuckin Coke!" 

A minute passed and the swung open. Bonnie carried her bags to the vanity and
placed them on the counter. Very casually she said "Hi Ashley, your hands
should be plenty clean by now."

Stammering, Ashley turned off the water and reached for a paper towel. "Uh,
yeah. Hey, Karries almost done, we should get back." was all she could
muster.

Bonnie wiped at her nostrils with a Kleenex. Her eyes now looking a little
bit bloodshot and glassy. She wasn't hiding anything she didn't want Ashley
to see, and the words she spoke rang true also. "Karrie looks fuckin hot,
doesn't she Ashley?" Bonnie said applying a fresh coat of lipstick. "You and
your sister did a wonderful job. Lets just hope the stylist doesn't fuck up
all of our hard work."

Ashley just stood watching. Bonnies charm had indeed infected Ashley too.
Bonnie picked up her bags and said "Lets go see our sexy little friend shall
we?" Ashley followed Bonnie, feeling elevated ten feet. 

Karries new look was sexy indeed. The stylist had cut off about 4 inches, and
had thinned it considerably. The tips curled around and towards the front and
the highlights were perfect. Karrie was glowing. Both Bonnie and Ashley
rushed to hug her. She was radiant.

"Im dying for a smoke!" she said to her two friends. They laughed and headed
towards the parking lot. 

After lighting up and heading towards the car, Ashley pulled on Karries arm,
making her slow down. She quickly recounted the 'bathroom' story to Karrie.
Karries eyes widened in amazement as Ashley told what Bonnie had done and
said. "Maybe she just has a cold." Karrie said "Look, we'll talk more about
it after we drop her off."


Bonnie turned and asked "Which ones your Ashley? I have to run by an ATM on
the way home to, do you mind?"

Ashley pointed towards the Kia and exhaled. "Not a problem, Bonnie."

On the way to the bank, they talked non stop about Karries 'new look' and
Karrie basked in the spotlight. She was glowing from head to toe. As they
pulled up to the ATM, Bonnie pulled her Card from her purse and exited. As
Bonnie pushed the buttons on the ATM, Ashley reached to the backseat and
grabbed Bonnies purse.

"Ashley, are you fuckin crazy?? She's right there!" Karrie shouted as softly
as she could.

Ashley held up a hand and proceeded to open the purse. Both girls stared in
wide eyed amazement. There was a large baggie of marijuana buds. They seemed
to glisten in the light. Bonnie dug a little deeper and found what would
confirm her suspicions. A small baggie of white powder lay innocently under
the marijuana.

"Put it back Ashley, now!" Karrie demanded.

Ashley glanced towards the ATM and saw Bonnie finishing her transaction. She
quickly closed the purse and returned it to the backseat. As Bonnie opened
the door and got in, Ashley turned to Karrie and said "Told you so..."

Karrie was shook up a bit, and nervously lit another cigarette. Bonnie simply
sat in the backseat and sniffled a bit. The three were quiet for the
remainder of the car ride. When they arrived at the Kelly's home, Bonnie
hoped out and opened Karries door. Bonnie handed one of the Victoria's Secret
bag to her and leaned down and gave her a warm kiss on the cheek. 

"This is for you, congratulations on your 'Big Day', you look incredible, so
enjoy it." was all she said and closed the door. She waved once and entered
the house.

Karrie looked into the bag. A small box sat amongst some pink paper, stripped
in white.

As they backed out, Ashley said "Holy Shit, I think she's got it for you?
Your fucking georgeous - coked up - baby sitting lady has the hots for you!"
Ashley laughed as Karrie sat silently.

"Shut up Ashley and drive me home Ashley" she said.

Taken back, Ashley just drove while Karrie pondered the gift, the day, the
coke, the pot, the makeup, the haircut. Ashley spoke something about 'getting
some of that' but Karrie ignored it. She said thanks as she closed the door
and carried her packages to her house. Ashley waved goodbye as Karrie entered
her house. It was 5:15 pm.

Karrie laid her packages on the couch and read the note that sat on the
kitchen table.

Karrie, Went to dinner with Barbara and Linda from work.  Then going to late
movie. See you when I get home.  I hope you had fun, Love Mom.

Karrie carried her things to her room and sat on the edge of the bed. Her
mind reeled and she placed her head in her hands and rocked slowly back and
forth. She lay back and fell asleep, knowing answers could possibly come to
her in her dreams.

End part 5

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