Dustin started listening to the next recording after settling in at the dinner table. He had just had a shower, so his hair was wet, and his fingers were pruned. He had created a delicious dish of custard using his grandmother's recipe, and it was sitting in front of him with steam rising from the bowl.

    He was fortunate to receive her recipe book from her before she passed away because he adored her recipes and always wanted to get his hands on it. It was like a priceless object that he knew belonged in his family for countless centuries and he was going to make sure his kids passed it on. IF he ever has kids. Taking care of his little sister has left a bad taste in his mouth but who knows, with age he might change his mind.

Cole had a one-time delivery gig for DeeJay. He stated that if DeeJay did this, he would give him free weed for a month. DeeJay accepted the offer and waited outside Cole's house while he went inside to fetch the package. And DeeJay was unprepared to learn who was going to pick it up.

Carson met up with DeeJay underneath the school auditorium building where old tunnels lay. They were dusty, dark, infected with critters, filled with old furniture and trash and had a weird smell of rust and bleach. But what was scarier than the insects was the face of Carson.

    He wore a hungry expression. He needed the narcotics to continue or he would feel like nothing. DeeJay saw this face and knew he had to step in and do something.

"Carson, are you okay?"

"Duh!" he said sarcastically.

"You sure... because-"

"Listen, just gimme the stuff" Carson said reaching for the bag in DeeJay's palm. But DeeJay snatched it away.

"No Carson, I'm trying to help you! I think you need serious help, like... actually"

"You think I need help?!" Carson snarked and snorted "Motherfucker I have the best grades in school, my parents have enough money to send me to college TWICE and even if I fail in life my mother and father has a fund set up for me. Worry about yourself! You stink of weed and loneliness! Give me my stuff and leave me alone!" He said before snatching the bag from DeeJay and walking away.

   DeeJay persisted, though. He grabbed Carson's shoulder as he approached and forced him to turn around. Carson became angry as a result. He flung Deejay to the ground and then lifted a metal rod that was lying on the dirt floor toward Deejay. But then, though, he halted. He failed to do it. He couldn't even imagine hurting someone. He threw it to the ground, grabbed his bag, and sent a menacing glance DeeJay's way to keep up his "tough" persona.

"Stay out of my fucking business or I'll kill you!" He shouted before running off and disappearing into the lunch crowd.

    This incident is why DeeJay said what he said about Carson. He just wanted to help and this is how he was treated. He always knew Carson didn't really like him anyways evidenced by him mostly talking to the rest of us and not him. But he always wanted him as a friend. But that dream was gone out the window forever now.

    What Dustin had just heard shocked him. He quickly removed his headset from his ears and set
it down. He was rendered speechless, anxious, and aware that he needed to take action. He put on a shirt and informed his mother that he was going to pick up something his father had sent. After giving him permission to depart and expressing her hope that it was money that he sent, Dustin left the house on a mission.

    He took two busses to Carson's house and let himself in once Carson opened the door. Carson was confused and asked him what he was doing here. But Dustin ignored him and spanned his eyes around the house.

"What are you looking for?" Carson asked.

"Are your parents here?"

"No. Why?"

   Dustin took the cassette from his pocket, plopped
Carson down on the couch, and forced him to listen to it. Carson had tears streaming down his cheeks and his entire body was shaking after the tape was over. He didn't even remember this, and he knew he didn't recall because he was high at the time. Dustin standing three feet in front of him with his arms crossed and a serious expression on his face, did little to alleviate his anxiety and how much he resented himself at the moment.

"Be honest Carson... did you do it?"

"NO! I would never!" Carson said defending himself and beginning to tear up even more. He could usually talk himself out of certain situations but Dustin always felt like a safe haven for him but he was too scared to reach out. He just needed to show vulnerability which he hadn't done until now.

"I know you didn't" Dustin sarcastically muttered. "You don't have that in you, literally no one is afraid or even intimidated by you at school except for when it's time for exams" the two giggled a bit.

"But where were you that night? I just wanna make sure everything matches up"

    Carson looked up at him with his big beady eyes then took a deep breath.

"That summer... I went away to rehabilitation. That night of the storm my parents picked me up and drove me home. On the way home we heard a bullet, I don't know if it was THE bullet but we decided to keep quiet because we didn't want to bring attention to ourselves"

   He turned to face Dustin again and noticed that his serious expression had softened. After a brief period of awkwardness due to the tension in the room, Dustin made the decision to release it.

"Are you on anything at the moment?" He stated while giving Carson an aggressive look.

"N-no"

"You're lying"

    Dustin quickly began walking throughout his residence, trailed by a concerned Carson. Carson tried to stop him, but Dustin marched through the house with a large garbage bag, collecting all of the booze Carson had stashed. He did a thorough search through everything including his underwear drawer. Dustin obviously had more strength than him, so he had an easy time keeping him at bay. Carson was then forced to sit at the table and watch television while Dustin prepared him a hot supper. It took nearly two hours to cook, and while Carson was eating it, Dustin got out some paper and made a schedule. The timetable was a chart that instructed Carson to gradually reduce his alcohol consumption each week until he had stopped and to replace it with drinks such as dairy products. He didn't know if it would be successful but he might as well make Carson try.

Carson felt babied and cared for. Something he hadn't felt for a long time. His mind felt clearer and he appreciated that Dustin can go from this jokester personality to a kind hearted friend. He wanted him to show it more but he knew it would only show up at precise times.

Dustin cleaned up the kitchen then reminded Carson about the timetable once more. As Carson helped him out the door they shared a short humorous conversation. As Carson was about to close the door Dustin stopped it with his leg. He pulled the tape out from his pocket and dropped it on the floor.

"I believe you and know you. I doubt anyone else would with this kind of evidence. So keep this a secret"

"Keep wha-"

Dustin stepped on the tape with a tremendous kick before he could finish speaking, and its parts scattered everywhere. Carson was taken aback as he looked at the fragmented pieces jump into the air and skip across the floor. The pieces were decorated with snowflakes and appeared to be falling all around their feet like it was winter. Before departing, Dustin used his feet to fling the parts off the balcony and into the below shrubbery.

And as Carson watched him walk away he realized that his stomach had butterflies.