Orphic

Spring Four - Cassius

I was finally having another smoke break. It felt like it had been days even though I'd finished a pack a few hours ago. My mom called from the airport to let me know she was finally boarding and forced me to take a break from chopping down trees.

Despite the fact that I'd been here a few days, I had a feeling that it was going to take much longer to clean up the farm than the month my mother had promised. I was tired. My whole body ached and I really hated waking up early.

I gave myself two more tattoos simply because I was itching to draw something. I might have been better off investing in a paper and pen, but I knew it wouldn't be the same. Tattooing was more difficult in a way that I enjoyed.

I also desperately missed my bed. It seemed that the only good thing about living out here was that nobody could tell me where and when I could or couldn't smoke.

"That'll kill you." I glanced up to see Abigail who had started making it a point to visit me every morning since I'd arrived. "Thanks, Tips." I replied, handing her the rest of my cigarette.

She sat down next to and puffed it quietly while glancing around the farm. "Looks better than it did yesterday."

She said that every day.

I guess, out of everyone I met, Abigail annoyed me the least. She was quiet. She reminded me of Bella and that was enough to calm my mind down, even if it only lasted for the ten minutes she stopped by every morning.

Everyone was nice, sure. But they were all boring. Except maybe Elliot. That man, I didn't know what was with him but he got flustered far too easily. He's the type of guy I'd like to destroy.

"I went on a date last night with my gay best friend." Abigail sighed finally, holding her hand out for another smoke.

I grabbed one for each of us and lit them before replying, "How did that go?"

She shrugged. "I dunno, fine. We're friends so it wasn't horrid."

I remembered Elliot's not-girlfriend asking about a double date before insulting him and his career so I could only assume the fear on his face was because she was the only one who didn't know of their other friend's sexuality.

"Hmm."

Knowing that there were gay men in this town probably should've interested me, but it didn't. I didn't even plan on being here long enough for people to learn that I was gay.

This was why I liked Abigail, neither of us pried, we didn't take anymore information than what was given to us.

I finished my smoke and turned towards the purple haired girl. She looked more tired today than she had the last few days but there was something I recognized in her eyes. Things were probably rough at home, coming here was an excuse to get out of breakfast with her parents.

A good person would let her stay, unfortunately I didn't have that kind of sympathy. "See you."

I got back to work before she could say anything else.

~

"Coffee please Gus." I sighed, dropping into the nearest chair at the bar. It was nearly 9 pm, and I'd finally given up for the day.

"Eaten anything yet kiddo?" He asked, placing my coffee in front of me. For whatever reason, maybe it's because my brain is so used to having Bella ask, I replied with, "Just tobacco, you?"

He smiled and rolled his eyes before turning back to whatever it was he had been doing before I arrived.

I pulled my phone out and scrolled through some old tattoo designs I'd been wanting to try out, I'd already decided where each would go, I just wasn't sure when I'd do it.