You Can't Hurt Me

A gamble lost

Race snubbed the bright red cigarette onto the shiny hot metal, today was one of the hottest days Race has had the complete displeasure of being outside in, he could feel his feet sweet, and yet all he did was fill his lungs with also hot smoke.

Albert as usual was right next to him, though Albert didn't really approve of Race's habits. It wasn't his damn business in the end so Race just did whatever he wanted.

He could see his friend wrinkle his freckled nose, which he was sure was purposeful. Even though it wasn't his business, he made a pretty good point of pretending it was.

"Why does it seem like every time we go outside you somehow smoke a cigarette," Albert complained, wafting the smoke away.

"Maybe it's because every time we go outside I already waited hours to smoke one?" Race punched his arm.

"Whatever, you getting on the bus or not?"

"We've got five minutes before it even gets on the property, cool your pants."

"Who even says that," Albert laughed.

"I say that!"

"Okay Riff," Albert said walking away.

"Riff ? who's Riff ...wait from West Side Story! Albert come back here!" He jogged up to meet him, but a very shocked voice interrupted his jog.

"Are you smoking?" Race scoffed, and turned around.

"No I'm chewing on a roll of pap..." his voice trailed off and the cig fell out of his mouth, where he covered it with his shoe.

He was staring at the disappointed and shocked face of Jack Kelly, his technically legal guardian.

Albert awkwardly took a few steps backward, "I'll just... uh... get on my bus."

"Get in the car," Jack grabbed his arm and pulled him to the parking lot.

"Jack, stop, first of all owe." Jack loosened his grip, "second, it's not what it looks like!"

"You weren't smoking?"

"Okay... well... no... I was smoking." The grip tightened again, "but barely!"

"Barely, barely the boy says," he looked up, "the world is testing my patience!"

"Jack! It's not fair!" Race whined, getting into the car.

"It's not fair, 'oh Jack! Why won't you let me smoke illegally and ruin my lungs at 16, you're so mean!'" Jack whined, turning his voice at least two octaves higher.

"I don't sound like that!"

"It doesn't matter what you sound like! I cannot believe you went and got cigarettes anyway. I put my trust in you and you completely destroyed it. I'm beyond disappointed, I'm beyond mad, and you're grounded which means you can't hang out with your friends tomorrow." Jack started driving.

"What! That's not fair! Ive been planning it for two weeks!" Race brought his knees up to his chin. "You're not my dad, you can't ground me."

"This 'you're not my dad' argument is getting kind of immature don't you think?" Jack snapped, turning right a bit too hard.

"It's not fair! You waltzed into my life and now I can't gamble, smoke, or drink! I now have to go to school in person! You've ruined my life!" Race yelled at him, and really they must've been causing quite a scene. If he turned his head he could see the people in the car over roll up their windows and shoot them weird looks.

"Those are all things for your own good!"

"Wouldn't I know my own 'good'," Race crossed his arms.

"You'd think," Jack agreed.