Song: Broken- Noelle Johnson

The nightlife of New Orleans consumes me. All the noise swarms around me. People drinking and cheering in the streets, jazz music echoing down the long alleyways bouncing off the buildings and not to mention all the lights that light up the streets and it only intensifies with the drugs running through my system. I thought it would be weaning off by now but it's not, so I'm not really sure what it was laced with. I walk the streets, trying to keep my balance. I so don't need to be bumping into people or making my ankle any worse, however the streets are so crowded with people and everything is so blurry.

My phone buzzes several times and by the time I pull it out of my back pocket it stops. Eli has already called several more times along with text and I have not answered once. It's not that I was ignoring it; I honestly just didn't feel it vibrating. I send out a quick text.

Violet: I'm on way if you are wondering I'm on Bourbon St.

Immediately he replies back.

Eli: Stay there. I'm on my way.

I let out a very long exaggerated sigh. I don't bother texting him back because I know he will find me regardless. A guy walks by and hand tosses a strand of green and purple beads around my neck. I don't have time to thank him as he walks off placing more beads on other women. I lean up against one of the street poles for a little sturdiness as I admire the beads. Within a few more seconds others come by handing me beads. Some took the privilege of just placing them around my neck.

I pull out my phone to look at the time. I could easily make it back to the hotel room before he finds me. I want to stay on this street only because he said that he was on the way and if I start walking we might miss each other. I am about to place my phone back in my pocket when I am shoved into the street and arms come around me. I'm thinking finally Eli to the rescue because let's face it that's Eli but when I look up it's another guy with a baseball hat.

"Shit...I'm sorry I didn't mean to hit you. God are you alright?" His hands are still holding on to me tightly.

I glance down at his hands. "I'm fine. You can let go of me now." Like hello dude before you leave a bruise on me and that for sure will not go over well.

He lets go of me and in a rushed voice he attempts to apologize yet again in his very southern drawl, "Shit...my friends and are just over doing it, too much to drink you know. How about you let me buy you a drink?" I can tell he has had plenty to drink with the reek smell of beer on his breath.

"I'm fine but thank you."

"Oh come on now what will it hurt. Besides I feel bad for bumping into you. Please let me make it up to you." His hand comes up around my arm to pull me along as if I said it was fine for him to do so.

"I'm actually waiting on someone, really I can't go."

He gives me this funny look as if I am probably just lying to him so I don't have to get a drink with them. "Come on...just one drink. The bar is just right over there." He points back at the bar where they probably just came from.

"Really I can't. Thanks for the offer though." I try pulling away and he is not having it. I don't feel like I should be in any type of danger. He doesn't look like that kind of guy, it's just the liquor is over ruling his judgment at the moment. Besides if I wanted to take him out, I could.

From behind us I feel my other arm being tugged away and then Eli is standing between me and the guy. He bucks up to him, expanding his broad shoulders as if he is ready to pounce on his ass. I can't help but notice his fist forming and each time he squeezes them tightly his veins in his arms protrude outwardly. I almost didn't hear his fair warning to the guy. "I think you and your friends should take off before something bad happens."

Of course the guy has had one too many and slurring over his words. He pats Eli on the chest and smiles back at him. "Hey buddy...we were just on our way to get a drink, that's it."

"Well she doesn't need a drink." He lifts up his shirt just enough for the guy to see his concealed weapon tucked in his jeans.

He quickly holds up his hands. "Yeah...sorry man. We didn't mean anything by it." He stops to look back at me. "You have a good night ma'am...sorry I bumped into you there."

"It's fine."

He doesn't say another word as he tips the tip of his hat and turns around to walk off with his friends. Eli on the other hand was not happy at all as he grabs my upper arm and pulls me along down the street. We pass other's walking the streets and I see their eyes looking at us. I know they must be thinking that this guy must have some issues.

Half way down the street, I finally yell at him. "Will you fucking stop...you are hurting me." I attempt to tug my arm out of his hold but he refuses to let go.

He turns and hisses at me. "You are acting like a fucking child, therefore I am treating you like one. What the fuck are you doing out here?"

I stop walking along with him and it feels like he nearly yanks my arm out of socket. He stops to turn back to look at me. I watch as he bites his tongue, as if trying to choose his words wisely so I don't flip out on him in front of the crowded street. "I get that you are upset alright. I get that...but this...this has got to fucking stop."

"You don't get it Eli...all these years I feel like I have been deprived of my life. She knew about them and not once said a word to me."

"I'm sure she has a good reason. Maybe you should go home and just ask her."

"Like she would even tell me."

"You know what she might not...but you acting this way...I'm done Vi. I love you but you finding your next fix over me pisses me off."

"I just got a drink, that's it. I needed something to calm my nerves," I yell back at him.

His hand cups my jaw as he leans into me and glares into my eyes. He starts to shake his head and he knows just by looking at me that I am high. "Just a drink...I don't think so." He releases me and just stands there in front of me. I look away from him because I so hate lying to him. I watch as he looks at other people passing by us and when it seems like it is just us he hisses under his breath, "You need to decide on what you want Vi. I'm not doing this shit anymore."

"Are you leaving me?" I reach over and shove him hard. "Eli...I can't lose you too. You are the only one thing I actually care about. The only thing that...that just might be real. "

"Well you fucking don't show it. I love you Vi...I will follow you anywhere even to hell and back. But watching you killing yourself slowly...I can't do it."

"Then marry me...right now...marry me." I yell at the top of my lungs. People passing by stop and stare, I guess to see if he will say yes or no. I don't even know what I am even saying but surely he will just sweep me up and take me away from all of this.

I thought he would smile or at least show some excitement in his eyes but I was wrong. I thought that was want he wanted but him grinding his teeth and grunting under his breath told me otherwise. "You are fucking wasted. Let's go." He reaches over and pulls on my hand.

I stand firmly in one spot. He wants to see me act like a child, fine I will. "I'm not going anywhere. I will stand right here in this spot all night if I have to. I'm not leaving until you agree to marry me." And I don't know why I keep asking him to marry me, it is as if Madam Zaydaya had said something that I just couldn't let go of...my soul mate.

His hands grab at his head, pulling his hair between his fingers. He looks like he is about to snap. I thought he would for sure agree to marry me in that moment but I was dead wrong. He glares back at me. "We are going back to the hotel. You can either walk or I will fucking carry you. Either way we are going back to the hotel."

I throw my hands on my hips and stomp my foot like a spoiled little brat. "You wouldn't fucking dare pick me up."

Within seconds he bends down and grabs me right below the waistline and tosses me over his shoulder. I let out a squeal as I take my hands and hit him several times against his back side but he didn't give a shit as he walked on down the street. Once at the hotel he continued to carry me all the way in and even in the elevator up to his room.

"Are you going to put me down now?" I yell at him.

He walks through the suite towards the bedroom and once next to the bed he drops me. He pulls off my shoes and tosses them on the floor. Then he leans in and starts taking off all the beaded necklaces. He was about to take my shirt off when I push his hands away from me. "I can do it myself thank you." If he thinks he is getting anything from me he is dead wrong.

He holds up both his hands in surrender. "Fine...just get some rest we will talk in the morning."

I sit up straight and glare back at him. "I want to talk now."

"Yeah well you are fucking high on something and we need to talk like adults with clear minds. See you in the morning." I thought he was about to kiss me but he doesn't, instead he turns around and leaves me there alone.