Andre DaSilva and Ernesto Cruz have been best friends for the longest time, and even though life pulled them in completely different directions, they've always looked out for each other and have always had each others backs. 

 

Andre has always been a bit of sheltered geek. Doesn't go out much, enjoys keeping to himself, and spends a lot of time in front of a computer, both for fun and work. Well... he used to spend a lot of time in front a computer for work before his company laid him off. Andre was a graphic designer for a small company that specialized in making commercials for really dumb products. His video-editing skills were impressive, but it didn't change the fact that the products he had to make ads for were just bad ideas. Although not his fault, when his company went under, he was one of the first to go. The job search hasn't been going so great either...

 

                     

 

Ernesto, on the other hand, is a piece of work. He's a bit of a con man with enough charm to get anyone to do anything. He's a huge clubber who knows his way around a good drink and some good drugs, and never wants the good times to end. Not to mention, with his energy and bravado, Ernesto was always a big hit with the ladies...

 

                      

 

Ern's always been super outgoing and hot-headed, but his adventurous and carefree attitude would end up being his downfall. Sometime around high school, he started hanging out with the wrong crowd. He spent all of his time in high school partying, and skipping class to go smoke with some of the local bums in town. Inevitably, Ernesto ended up dropping out of school altogether and joining up with one of the local gangs in Willow Creek. After about a year of drug dealing and gangbanging, Ernesto got caught up in a major drug bust. The whole gang went down, and he ended up doing two years for drug trafficking. 

 

At this point, Ernesto has been out for about 3 months, and has been trying (not that hard) to get back on his feet. Back during his days in the gang, he always kept Andre hooked up. Good weed, protection in the more dangerous parts of town, and on the rarest of occasions, Ern would even drag Andre out of the house to parties to put him around some new people and women. Andre remembered this fondly, and had no problem putting Ernesto up at the spare room in his place while he figured it all out. And this brings us to the fateful day that would change everything for them, forever...

 

It was a normal day at the house. Andre was on the internet looking for a new job, while Ernesto was in the kitchen trying to make lunch. Ern wasn't really good at household shit like cooking and cleaning, but at least he was a good enough roommate to try every now and then. 

 

                       

 

Walking into the dining room, Dre couldn't help but laugh. "So I guess your 'fresh out of prison' gig isn't going to be in the culinary world, is it?" he cackled.

 

                       

 

"Look dawg, I don't want to talk about it. You said make lunch, so I made lunch. Fight me." Ern replied, catching the sarcasm but still feeling a little singed. "Haha come on E, we both know you were never the cooking type." Andre cackled, "you used to have random girls come by the trap and bring you food. If I was that slick, I wouldn't even have a stove." 

 

Ernesto laughs and looks up from his burnt sandwich. " I mean, you ain't wrong bro. Prison food tasted better than this shit. I really need to find a way to make some bread. I don't know how long I can keep crashing here and letting you shit on my cooking." 

 

"Speaking of which, how is the job search going? You have any ideas of what you're going to do now that you're trying to go 'clean'?" Andre asked. 

 

"I got nothing right now, nobody wants to hire an ex-con. Especially when everyone in Willow Creek knows I used to trap. I gotta come up with something different. How about you, Mr. 'I went to college'? any leads on a new video editing gig?" Ern joked. 

 

 

                       

 

Andre slumped back into his seat. " I got nothing. Nobody needs a video editor in this town, so my skills are pretty useless." 

 

"Relaaax fam. You're a genius with no strikes or reputation out here. I'm sure you'll come up with a bright idea sooner or later." Ern laughed back. 

 

"How are you always so positive?" Andre asked, defeated. 

 

"Maaaaan, I spent two years in a cell with nothing. No friends, no bitches, no drugs, just my thoughts. The stove setting me on fire today is a W at this point. As long as I'm out of that place, we're up. Don't be so hard on yourself." Ern laughed. "I feel like if you got more hoes, you'd be stressing less." He chuckled. 

 

"Literally broke and busted with no job and all you can think about is women. Clean it up, fam." Andre responded, trying not to laugh. "Literally nothing has changed."

 

                      

 

Later that night...

 

"E, what're you doing out here? It's like 1 in the morning and cold as fuck." Andre said as he stomped onto the porch.  

 

"Thinking.." Ernesto replied. 

 

                     

 

"Bro, thinking? Really? Where's the weed at? You must be high." Dre joked. 

 

"Well shit, I guess I'm busted." Ern responds, while pulling out a joint. 

 

                     

 

"Bro aren't you on probation? Where did you even get that?" Dre asked, confused and concerned. 

 

"Haha what're you going to do? Call my parole officer?" E responded, offering Dre the joint. 

 

"Hahaha, fuck no." Andre responded. 

 

                      

 

"So, I actually have been thinking about our predicament." Ernesto began, "You're a top-shelf video editor who can't find a good job, and I'm un-hirable, but have a really good set of skills and connections from my time in the gang. I can basically talk my way into and out of anything. What if we combined our skills and tried something out?" 

 

"I'm listening..." Dre responded. "I feel like this is about to be some dumb shit."

 

"Alright, Dre, just hear me out. What if we stared our own porn studio? The game has changed since I got locked up, and now everyone is making money off of selling their own videos. Just think about it, I use my charm and skills to find us some actresses, we film some scenes, then you use that movie magic of yours to turn them into blockbusters. Easy money, AAANND it comes with pussy. It's virtually a win-win." E explained, smiling like he just ended world hunger. 

 

                       

 

"E. I think you need to lay off the weed. This is by far one of the stupidest ideas you've had in a long time." Dre laughed. "What makes you think it would be so easy?" 

 

"Come on Dre, don't act like it would be so hard. With your brains and my skills, we could be MILLIONAIRES. You know how many horny fucks there are in this area? It's crazy what people are willing to pay for some easy-to-produce smut. We'd have more bread rolling in than a homeless shelter. Just trust me on this!" Ernesto pled. "Last time I checked, we need to pay rent soon, and it doesn't look like you have any bright ideas, Mr. College." 

 

                    

 

Andre sighs, "This is your bright idea? Get rich quick off of some porn? How are you so sure that this could even pay rent?" 

 

"How are you so sure it can't? I'll cut you a deal; if I could set up and film one scene that you edit for me, I bet I can prove you wrong. If you end up being right, I'll cut and get a part time job flipping burgers somewhere." Ernesto Bargained. 

 

"If I'm right, you're flipping burgers AND paying next month's rent yourself." Andre replied. 

 

"All I heard was 'I'm giving this a shot, don't fuck it up.' You're on, homie. We both know I can't flip a burger for shit anyways." Ern accepted.

 

                     

 

"This idea is so stupid. Where do you even plan on finding someone willing to shoot a porno? You make it sound like hoes are falling from the sky." Dre laughed.

 

"Don't worry about that, just get your editing skills up and get ready to admit that I was right. I'll take care of the rest." Ernesto replied, confidently. 

 

TO BE CONTINUED...