Smoke Me.

Chapter 13: Sleep

"You spent the entire night at the party that V dragged you to? And you lost your phone as well?"

"Yeah."

"And you met, what're their names again?"

"Jonathan, Strike, Michael, Andrew, and Mole."

"I think I've met Mole before. Or maybe I just heard his name...describe him again."

Fred was washing the dishes, wearing an apron that I'd never seen before.

"He has short black hair, way shorter than me, he's definitely older than me and he has that face that just tells you he's somewhat intelligent."

"Hmm..."

"Sorry, but why are you wearing an apron?"

"Mona."

"Oh."

And then he turned around covered in the glory of colorful autumn leaves and strawberries which had me uncontrollably chuckling.

"Kid. Did they give you anything that you'd...die to try again?"

"What do you mean, mommy?"

He tore the apron off him in a swift movement with a sigh.

"I mean drugs, kid. Did they get you hooked on anything?"

"No. I actually had a terrible trip..."

"On what?"

"I'm not sure. I didn't ask. I was just happy when it was over."

He sat down before me. Looking quite apprehensive.

"Did it not occur to you that you should ask?"

"Don't worry, you will be the first one to know if I have certain...urges. It's just that I wanted some relief from..."

"From what?"

He handed me a cup of water and then started massaging my shoulders.

"Don't make me talk about him again..."

"I didn't. You reached that subject on your own."

I stopped his hands and just held them with my head hung down.

"I need to make him forgive me. I just don't know how..."

"Anything is better..."

"Than nothing. I know, I know..."

He patted my shoulder and then sat back down.

"What's the plan?"

"Wait in front of his house with a bucket of green?" I smiled a sad smile.

"That would've been a good idea if you hadn't accused him of being an addict leech."

"...yeah..."

"And what if he sees you but he won't talk to you?"

"I will haunt him until he listens."

"To what? What other apologies have you written in your petty little notes?"

"Don't call them petty." I hid my face in my hands, realizing how exhausted I was.

Ah right, I haven't slept for a second.

"When a man apologizes, he has to do it in the person's face!"

"I tried! He ran away from me."

"Apologize sincerely, and then let it go. The rest is up to him."

Mona walked out of what I assumed was her room in one of her luxurious pajamas, spotting me through half-opened, half-awake eyes.

"You're here again? Do you know what time it is? It's..." She looked down at her phone, "Almost eight AM? Where do your parents think you are?"