Saint Death by Devan Sagliani

held up the empty glass. The girls all cheered in unison. Zack watched as Yesenia passed Dave a small brown bottle filled with white powder. Dave leaned down towards the table and put the bottle to his right nostril, taking a big hit of whatever was in it. A sick feeling shot through Zack. Dave seemed to sense it as he sat up, rubbing his nose and slyly passing the bottle back to Yesenia, who poured a little hit onto her long, bright red pinky nail and quickly sniffed it up.
    She held the bottle out towards Zack and Jamie. “ Quieres? ”
    Zack waved his hand, nervously looking around to make sure they weren't being watched. Jamie just laughed and reached for the bottle again. “I've got a nice buzz going,” she said with a wink, pouring herself yet another shot. “I think I'll stick to the booze.”
    Jamie slammed back the third shot and sucked on a lime. Yesenia openly stared at her with a look of disdain but Jamie either didn't notice or simply didn't care. She climbed into Zack's lap and began making out with him in front of everyone. Zack couldn't believe his luck as the hot blonde sorority girl lost all inhibition and began to grope his chest and run her fingers through his hair. She tasted like citrus and alcohol but underneath that was a sweetness that reminded him of the first girl he'd ever kissed, Jackie Green, way back in junior high school. He could feel himself stiffening uncomfortably in his jeans. He gently pushed her back off him. Jamie resisted a little at first in her drunken state, but his embarrassment at pitching a tent in public eventually won out and she sat back staring dreamily at him for a while.
    Rosa leaned over and whispered something fast in Spanish to Yesenia, who quickly turned and began scanning the crowd for faces.
    “What's wrong?” Zack nervously asked.
    Yesenia quickly turned back and slunk down in the booth.
    “ Policia ,” Yesenia said, pointing behind them.
    They looked out across the club to see the weed dealing snitch they'd encountered earlier at dinner talking to the bartender. He had a photo in his hands. He was looking for someone.
    “Hey,” Dave said, perking up. “I recognize that guy. He tried to sell us weed.”
    “He was working for the cops,” Zack said. “He set up a surfer kid who gave him some change.”
    “He's a bad man,” Yesenia said at last. “ Peligroso . Dangerous.”
    Rosa looked frantic. She ducked down and spoke rapidly again in a blur of fiercely whispered Spanish.
    “What is she saying?” Jamie slurred.
    “We're not safe,” Yesenia said. “We need to go. Follow me.”
    “Follow you where?” Dave asked.
    “There is a house nearby we can party at,” Yesenia said. “My friend owns it.”
    “I don't know about that baby,” Dave said, shaking his head violently back and forth. “It's never a smart idea to wander off the reservation with two ladies you just met.”
    Yesenia took him by the face and turned him towards her.
    “I've got more blow at the house,” she purred. “Besides, don't you want to go somewhere that we can be all alone?” Before he could answer she stood up and put her breasts in his face. Zack didn't have to wait to see the expression on his friends face to know he was a lost cause. Dave sprang up from the booth, grabbing Yesenia by the hand.
    “All right then you've made a believer out of me,” Dave said eagerly. “Let's go!”
    Yesenia turned back to Zack. “You can bring your little friend with you if you want,” she said, a malicious glint in her eyes.
    “Good,” Jamie said, taking one last shot and polishing off the bottle. “Because I wasn't planning on letting this one out of my sight any time soon.” She kissed Zack once more with tongue before climbing back to her feet.
    Yesenia lead them through the crowded club and into the off limits empty kitchen area. Rosa was waiting by a side door smoking a cigarette. She ushered them out and into the dark, hot night. They stumbled along for a while,