Page 95 of Tumbling Hearts

They get in the cars, shutting the doors and thankfully no longer subject to the photographers’ shouting. Gene rides with Nicky and Ray in one taxi back to the studio while Dennis rides with Santiago in another, since they can’t all fit in one. They’re sitting in the backseat, Gene in the middle with Nicky to his right and Ray to his left, as the car rumbles to life and drives off.

“I’m glad we’re able to bring you back home,” Gene says. “Sorry, I didn’t even think of how the paparazzi would be around, though.”

“It’s fine,” Nicky replies. “I’m just glad it’s over, for the most part. You don’t know how scared I was, man.”

“Oh, I bet,” Gene chuckles.

“You have to take a mugshot?” Ray asks curiously.

“Yup, same with my fingerprints. Never had to do that before. But I hope that’ll be the last time. Like hell do I wanna go through the stress of this all again. I was worried I was just gonna stay there in custody forever.”

“Yeah.” Gene nods. “I can only imagine. But we’ve got your back.”

“Thanks, man.”

Once back at the studio, they meet up with Dennis and Santi. Those two head inside, Ray following them, but Gene decides to stay outside for a moment longer with Nicky.

“Just want a smoke,” Gene gives his reason.

“You know you guys can smoke indoors, too,” Ray says, holding the door to the studio open before he fully steps inside.

“Well, yeah. But I just wanna talk with him for a sec,” Gene says. “I won’t be long.”

Ray pouts, the expression so damn cute on his flushed face, and he shrugs. “Okay, fine. I’ll be waiting for you.”

“And I’ll be there for you.”

That gets Ray to smile. He walks inside, closing the door behind him.

Gene grabs his pack of cigarettes from his blazer’s pocket along with a lighter, taking two cigarettes out: one for him and one for Nicky. He lights them both with his lighter, sucking in a hit and releasing it in a puff of smoke. They lean against the wall, just the two of them, staring at the parking lot hosting their tour bus, palm trees casting shadows over it all.

“I still got the stuff you sold me,” Gene says. “But after this, I don’t know if you’d still want any.”

“Probably not for a while,” Nicky says, taking a drag of his cigarette. “Gotta stay away from that stuff if I want them to believe none of it was mine.”

“Oh, is that the story you’re gonna go for?”

“Yeah, that’s all I’ve got, really. I’ve been told tips: stay as silent as you can, plead ‘not guilty’, and if you absolutely need to provide an explanation, see if you can twist it so it’s like whatever that’s on your person doesn’t actually belong to you. Whenever I can talk to Dennis’s lawyer, that’s what I’m gonna tell him.”

“Alright. Well, what if the other guys do that to you? They’re trying to save their own skins, too, y’know. What if they try to pin the blame saying the weed belonged to you?”

“I’m gonna talk to the lawyer about that, too,” Nicky says. “I think I have a better case, since I don’t even live here in LA. It’s their house. I feel bad, I liked those guys. But I also don’t want to go to jail.”

Gene brings his cigarette to his lips again, taking in a drag. The sun is getting lower in the sky, nearly hidden behind the palm trees. “I get it. It’s all really shitty. No one wants to go to jail—hell, I don’t want any of my friends gone. Why’s this stuff gotta be illegal, anyway?”

“It can be dangerous,” Nicky warns. “But instead of teaching people to be smarter about it, they just ban it all. I think it’s stupid.”

“Yeah, same.”

“Thanks again. For… being here for me, Gene.”

“Of course. No problem, man.”

This whole situation gives Gene a lot to think about. If it could happen to Nicky, it could happen to Gene, too. Especially if he keeps smoking the stuff Nicky sold him. There is always the option of disposing of it. But honestly, Gene would hate to do that. He paid money for it, and, most importantly, he doesn’t want to simply stop. Smoking a joint keeps his mind steady when it runs too wild. It calms him when he stresses too much. Coke helps him feel energized before a show. And he looks forward to those moments where he can feel light as a feather doing smack.

With all the stress he’s feeling even thinking about all this, maybe he should at the very least have a hit of weed when he gets inside. But his cigarette will do for now, as he takes another drag.

Toshiko’s waiting inside the studio for him.