WARNING - Mature Language

Liz made her way to the corner down the street from her house. She checked her time and had three minutes to spare. The night was cold with a clear sky. The glare of the city lights diming the natural sky light, showing only a fraction of the stars. It was around nine-thirty and many of the houses remained awake. Few people walked in the streets as kids went inside from playing. Through the windows Liz could see T.V.'s on as families watched them together. The light and glare made the homes look warm and safe. Outside, the cold, dark world made Liz feel exposed and vulnerable waiting for someone she did not know.

Liz started to wonder what she was doing and if she should go back on the whole thing. Dogs barked at her as she waited, seeking a secluded spot away from the street lights. She could not see any cars or anybody coming for her. Time passed and it was now forty-five minutes since she got the call. She had been waiting for fifteen minutes on the corner and she started to wonder if anybody was coming at all.

"Maybe they can't see me," she thought and left her secluded spot and walked to the bright lit corner. She stood there looking up and down the empty streets but no-one came.

Shed stood under the light visible to everyone for about five minutes before retreating back to the secluded spot. The dogs of the house started to bark once more and startled her.

"Stupid dogs. Shut up!" she said in another whisper. The dogs did not care of her desire to go unnoticed and continued to bark and growl, forcing her to seek solitude elsewhere. Liz decided to cross the street and find a new spot. It is surprisingly difficult to find a good inconspicuous corner to hide out in the street at night and Liz was finding this out the hard way.

Liz saw two people walk in her direction but it was clear these were not the people she was waiting for. It was an older couple who was out for night stroll. She awkwardly stood there as they slowly and painfully made their approach to her.

"Great. Who goes out for a walk at this hour?" she ironically thought.

Liz didn't want to call attention to herself but she also did not want to leave, should her contact arrive at that moment. So she stood there, a fifteen year old girl, standing around at ten at night by the side of a house in the dark. Nothing suspicious about it at all.

The couple finally walked by past her and stared at her uncomfortably.

"They probably think I'm a hoodlum or something," Liz thought as the couple passed by.

More time passed, Liz had now been waiting out on the corner for forty-five minutes and still no sign anyone. She was mad, cold, tired and now hungry of all things. The old couple had come and gone and she wanted to die of embarrassment. Her phone rang and she promptly picked up.

"Hello?" she asked as calmly as she could.

"You at the corner?" asked the person.

"Yes. I've been here for forty-five minutes!" she said not able to hide her snarky attitude.

"Don't be giving me no attitude. We doing you the favor remember?" said the girl's voice on the other end.

"Sorry. Didn't mean too," said Liz.

"Better be sorry. Anyway, we'll be there in ten minutes," said the girl and hung up.

"Great," said Liz agonizing at having to wait longer but also relieved that at least someone was on their way. She was not forgotten, or waiting in vain.

Seven minutes after the phone call, Liz saw the light of a car round the corner a few blocks from her. Her heart begun to race thinking this was her ride. Sure enough the LED lights of a BMW pulled up playing a high bass beat. It was a white, newer model. Nicer than most of the cars in the neighborhood. It was the nicest car Liz had ever stood this close too.

"You the little sister?" asked a man Liz did not recognize.

"I'm Liz," she said hoping to clear any questions.

"Yeah Liz. Ok get in," ordered the man who was not much older than her. He was probably eighteen or so. He looked like any other student in school. Liz got in the back seat where there was another man. This one slightly older but not more that nineteen and the driver was a girl. Probably the one who called Liz. She looked younger then the two men. Liz was surprised at the inside of the car. There were T.V.s on the headrest of the front seats and the inside was impeccable. It had a sweet scent and the front panel looked like a plane panel, full of lights and buttons. Unlike any car she had ever been in.

The luxury of the car and appearance of the people in it did not coincide to Liz at all. This level of luxury and expense could not possibly be available to people this young. How could they afford any of this? Was it their parents or older siblings? Liz could not figure how it could be available to anyone in that car without some authorities figure present.

"Hi," said Liz as she got into the car. She only recognized the driver as one of T.J.'s acquaintances, though not the nature of the relationship.

"Sup," said the guy in the back seat only slightly raising his head.

"Hi girl. Sorry were late. This idiot over here got us lost," said the girl referring to the passenger.

"Shit! It aint my fault. This girl lives deep in the hood. Aint you scared of getting mugged out here?" asked the man.

"It's alright," said Liz.

"You such a pussy. You lived in in the O.C. too long," said the girl to her navigator.

"I'm Lola, this is Dozer and back there is Kevin," said Lola introducing her companions.

"So you know what's going on tonight?" asked Lola of Liz.

"No," replied Liz.

"You gonna get initiated that's what's gonna happen," said Lola as she started to drive off.

The feelings of dread and excitement Liz felt getting into the car only intensified as Lola mentioned this. It was what Liz had been hoping for. This was going to be her chance to make a name for herself and show the rest of the crew that she was ready and that she was one of them.

Liz had so many questions but that was part of her old self. The part that people did not like. So she resisted the urge to ask anything.

"You excited? You real quiet back there," asked Lola.

"Yeah I'm excited," said Liz, her voice and demeanor suggesting otherwise.

"Someone seems to think you are ready. So you better not disappoint homegirl," said Lola speeding through the streets.

The smooth ride and the great suspension of the car a stark contrast to the jerky, bumpy, bus ride through the same streets Liz was used to. The streets looked different riding in the soft, white leather back seat. It did not seem as if it was the same world.

Her new friends clothing's were fly and dope. Brand new with bright colors and plenty of accessories. They all smelled wonderfully of different perfumes and colognes and the car itself smelled fresh and clean. It was shampooed and detailed with a light scent of coconut oil. The surface of the seats felt smoother and cleaner that Liz's own skin. The inside of the car felt big, much bigger that the car appeared from the outside. The seats were so comfortable Liz could not recall ever sitting on anything so soothing. Even her bed was not as soft.

Liz sat crowded to the door, almost cuddling it. She was afraid her unworthy clothes would stain the pristine seats or carpet. She also feared her bargain shampoo and day worn clothes would give off an offensive odor to disrupt the harmony of fragrances in her company. So she stared out the window at the dirty, cold, unkempt world outside that never liked her. Now she rode the broken, littered streets in a golden chariot to her destiny.

"So you know what you going to be doing?" asked Lola breaking Liz's thoughts.

"No," replied yet again Liz in short concise answers.

"Haha, girl is of few words," said Dozer.

"I like that. Too many girls be talking and talking and asking too many damn questions. Won't shut up," said Lola.

"You wanna know what you gonna be doing?" asked Lola.

From the tone and the warning Liz had gotten earlier about asking questions, Liz thought this was a test.

"Whatever," Liz replied unfazed, feeling she was wining the riders over.

All three erupted in amazement and joy.

"HAHAHA, yeah my girl! I like this chick. No bull shit!" said Lola in approval.

"Good, cuz you wasn't going to find out anyhow," said Lola.

"So you up for anything?" asked Dozer.

"It's why I'm here," said Liz again, feeling this new incarnation of hers could do no wrong.

"Good, good. We'll see," said Lola.

The music was blasting through the stereo and Lola kept changing lanes and cutting people off. As smooth as the ride was, the swerving and speeding of the car through the crowded streets were making Liz nervous.

"So Kevin, what do you think of the little sister? You think she'll do good?" asked Lola.

Kevin who had not said much through the ride looked Liz up and down as he leaned back on his seat.

"Yeah, I think she gon' do good," said Kevin in a low voice that made the hairs on the back of Liz's neck stand up.

She gave Kevin an evil eye and he just as slowly and unfazed turned his gaze back to the front. Liz noticed that Lola was now getting into the freeway. Her eye's widened as fear started to overcome the excitement since she did not know where she was headed with these complete strangers.

"Lo, you got a lighter?" asked Dozer taking a joint out to light up.

"Fool! You are not going to light up in my car and stink up my whole ride. You stupid?" said Lola.

"Psh. You no fun," said Dozer.

"Can I?" asked Dozer pulling out a flask and showing it to Lola.

"Don't spill it or it's your balls," threatened Lola.

"You can have those whenever you want baby," replied Dozer blowing a kiss.

Lola promptly took the flask away from Dozer.

"Hey!" protested Dozer.

"Driver gets first," said Lola taking a large chug. Liz grew more and more nervous as she feared for her safety and the safety of the rest of the occupants of the car.

Lola passed the flask over to Dozer who took a drink and then offered it to the back.

"I'll have some," said Kevin.

"You want a shot lil' sister?" offered Dozer to Liz.

"No thanks. I want to be ready," she excused herself having never drank before and not sure what she had gotten herself into. She did not want to do too many first at once.

"If I were you, I'd take it. You'll need it later," suggested Lola but still Liz declined.

"Suit yourself," said Lola as she took another shot.

"Easy girl! You still driving. You already drive crazy as fuck. I want to make it home alive," said Dozer voicing Liz's concerns.

"Quit being a pussy. I drive better that way," said Lola.

"Yeah well, whatever. Just don't kill my buzz," said Dozer as he leaned back.

They drove for half an hour. Liz was fascinated by the scenery. Even though they were still in the city, the change in the architecture and landscape was so much different from the streets of L.A. For Liz, it was an adventure. Just to be out on the road at that time of the night, headed to an unknown place, with no one knowing where she was.

Every new sight, every new sensation, whether it was fear, anxiety, or excitement were hers. Her decision, her adventure. She was not going to this new place with her family. Nobody had planned this for her and told her she had to do this. It was a secret she had made for herself and only she would let those she chose know about it.