Vicious Circles - By Leann Andrews

Copyright © by Leanna Andrews

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner, whatsoever, without the expressed written permission of the publisher, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

Cover Art:

Copyright © 2013 by Kristin Downer

All rights reserved

This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real locales are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to the actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

This book is dedicated to my children, who have taught me that we should never really grow up completely.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:

A huge thanks to:

Everyone who believed in me along the way

To the people who never let me stop writing

Kristin, who is the reason this book exists

And last but not least, to you, the reader who deserves nothing but gratitude.

Chapter 1

LA. The city of dreams and concrete. Everyday people moved in just to replace the ones that moved out, failures in their own minds. I refused to think of myself as a failure and I absolutely refused to leave. Then again, I had nowhere else to go or anyone to go to. All my friends, if you can call them that, live in LA.

I want to tell my story, my life story, just in case this is my last chance. Shitty things always found me no matter how hard I tried to keep my nose clean. This time is no exception. I never wanted to be famous, well known or know anybody of that status. Not once did I want to be an actress myself. Funny how things happen in the exact opposite that you mean them to. It was a rise and fall. The rise and fall of Fallyn Michaels. No one ever thinks they’ll end up a junkie. I have to admit, I thought I was above it.

May 2009

“I can’t go across the United States alone. Come on. What the hell do you have holding you here, Fallyn? It’s not like you have a job to go to or a goldfish to feed.”

“Don’t be a smart ass,” I scolded Jill, my one and only best friend. “You always peer pressure me into this shit and I end up entertaining your leftovers or keeping the wingman busy while you suck dick. I don’t even care for the band.” I crossed my arms, trying to stand my ground.

Jill all but growled at me. “That is not true! You’ve gone to every show in Cali and enjoyed it.”

“Yeah, because it’s nothing to catch a ride from someone. You’re planning a trip across country on a damn Greyhound. Give me one good reason why I should go.” Jill didn’t have many morals, but she helped my sorry ass out so many times. Deep down I knew I would go along, if only to make sure she didn’t end up face down in an alley somewhere.

“Listen to me Fallyn. We’re nomads, drifters. Let’s drift to Philly and have some fun.” She stared me down with wide blue eyes. “Besides, you know how I feel about Mason.”

What a sore subject for me. “Yeah, I know how you feel about using the guy like he’s some piece of meat. Just because you let him stick it in you doesn’t mean you’ll end up with an acting job. It’s sick.”

Jill stomped her foot but continued throwing things into her bag. “You always over-analyze everything. He’s just a guy who’s probably using me just like I’m using him. Now pack your shit, we’re going to the east coast.”

“Would you mind telling me how you got the money for all of this? Where are we supposed to stay in Philly?” A place to stay was really the last thing on my mind. I’d been homeless for two years or more, usually moving from house to street every couple of weeks.

Jill zipped her duffel bag before turning and grabbing me by the shoulders. “I love you but you worry too damn much. I have two tickets. We’ll figure out housing when we get there.”

I knew better than to leave with her. My inner voice, which never hesitated to put two cents in, didn’t like Jill. My inner voice didn’t agree with anything she did or persuaded me to do. It screamed when she locked herself in public restrooms with God knows what. It wanted me to tell poor Mason just what he was dealing with,