Smoke Me.

Chapter 2: Roller Coaster

I was aware of how little time I had left before the junkie would get impatient, so I got some clothes out quickly and carefully from our shared room. Relieved to hear my grandma snoring on my way out.

She was not a light sleeper, but it all depended on how close the sound was and not how loud it was. Right next to her bed? Wide awake and panicked. Smashed a plate in the other room? No reaction.

I wanted to keep our voices low, so she wouldn't hear what we were actually saying in case she did wake up early.

I changed my clothes and then got all the notebooks and books out of both backpacks.

By the time I laid all of them out on the wooden floors and texted the guy that I was supposed to meet in about an hour, Jungkook was already out of the bathroom. So, I was currently staring while he was assessing the state of his backpack dressed in a mere towel.

It was as though he thought of me as a selfish person since he immediately assumed I wouldn't care about his stuff.

I turned around to avoid looking at his half-naked body just so I wouldn't do or even imagine anything I could possibly regret.

"Thanks." He whispered and continued to dry his hair with a green towel.

"No problem." I kept my eyes fixed on the floor as I pointed to the clothes I left for him on the counter.

His tiny head seemed to be floating out of my clothes as every inch of his skin was covered with black material. I couldn't help but think that this view was worth catching a cold for.

I internally laughed as I offered him some water.

I have somewhere to go soon. was what I wanted to say, but instead, I kept quiet as he got on his knees and blew on the soaked pages.

"You never said you lived with your grandma."

"You never asked."

I shifted the blame on him without thinking.

"I mean, I never saw her pick you up or join any of the parents' meetings. I only know that since I had to be there to represent myself..."

"Well, that's because she is..."

Paralyzed.

"Sick. Very sick." I said, and he stopped turning the pages in a futile attempt to keep them from sticking to each other.

"I'm sorry."
"You sure do like apologizing a lot." I cleared my throat and continued, "She's old. It's normal."

"Mine's already...you know... by the way," he started softly, before suddenly standing and coming closer. And his whole face lightened up when he asked:: "Does she know what you...sell?"
"Why? You want to tell on me?" The thought made me grin, and yet he seemed to consider it.

"No. It's just...do you have a regular job? I mean a real, legal thing?"
"No. And keep your voice down." I was massaging my temples at this point.

Yes, of course, why would I mind talking about only the most uncomfortable subjects you can come up with?
"I need to go..." I mumbled under my breath.

"I thought about getting a job, but I don't know what I should do. I thought maybe you'd know someone who's hiring." He cut me off smiling.

I did not expect that.

So, I laughed while covering my mouth.

"I know I'm unqualified, but I'm young... so, I can learn."
"That's not the issue." I pointed to his eyes. "You should get some eye drops or something."