Non-Farscape - Sinking Into Temptation

I am ashamed to admit that this is a true story. Only the names have been changed to protect the not-so-innocent.

Sinking Into Temptation

Annabeth sat engulfed in a massive bean bag situated in the dead center of her bare, ground floor apartment, staring out the open door at the kid across the street. He was a sly one, that little punk, standing there in front of the Post Office, selling his merchandise to anyone who could pay. No one would stop him or chase him away; it was that kind of neighborhood.

Annabeth new what kind of racket the boy was in, she'd been a dealer as well only a short time ago. She was supposed to be beyond this now. But as customer after customer approached the boy, she found herself dreaming… wishing… wanting. She had to have some.

"Whatchya lookin' at?" her roommate Selby asked, coming out of the bedroom they shared and noticing her fixed stare.

Annabeth only motioned her chin out the door… to the kid and his bike. She heard her roommate's gasp of realization, and saw from the corner of her eye as the young woman sunk into another bean bag. Both were transfixed… both knowing they shouldn't, but inwardly rationalizing.

"How much you got?" Selby asked. "We could split."

Annabeth reached into her pocket and pulled out her money. "Forty two," she counted, keeping one eye on her money and one eye on the boy outside, ensuring he was still there. "How about you?"

"Fifty three," Selby answered, her money clutched tightly in her fist.

Their hearts sank… it wasn't enough, and there was no way the boy would negotiate down.

"That's ninety five. We're still short fifty-five," Annabeth glumly calculated.

The two young women looked at each other silently, and then both went into action. Selby darted out the door, scanning the gravel parking lot for money that might have dropped and been forgotten, while Annabeth scoured the apartment. There was no furniture to rifle through, and she found herself moving plastic crates used as shelving, piles of unfolded clothing and the boom-box. At one particularly low moment, she even shuffled her scriptures aside, and checked the monogrammed, leather carrier for forgotten money.

She would feel bad later. Right now, she was consumed.

At last, the two young women converged, counting their finds. One fifty four! They were victorious!

Annabeth grabbed the money and darted out her apartment without bothering to put on her shoes. Selby waited anxiously, watching as she sprinted across the street and approached the young man. He stood there in his jeans and t-shirt, his shiny bike leaning against the old building, eyeing her.

Silently, Annabeth held out the money, angry at herself for her weakness but anticipating what she was getting. It had been so long. It was only going to be a little bit. This one time wasn't going to hurt anything.

He took the money and handed over the white and silver package.

The transaction complete, Annabeth ran back to safety of her apartment, and to Selby, who was jumping from foot to foot with impatience. Slamming the door behind them, they both sunk into the bean bags and tore into the package, dividing the plunder equally between them.

And then, pure bliss. Her teeth sunk into the dark brown mass, capturing the smallest of nibbles. Flavor exploded over her tongue, filling her with absolute delight. Her eyes closed as she savored the moment, letting the goodness melt and coat every surface of her mouth.
Erased from her mind was her Algebra homework. Gone was the pressure of her history mid-term. For the moment, she was lost. And for that brief moment, there was never a truer statement- for this surely was the World's Finest Chocolate.