Magnolia (p.t.v)

Chapter 4.

       Vic waved the blunt in my face. I snapped out of my thoughts, and took it in between my fingers, inhaling a great amount of smoke and exhaled. I passed it back to Vic, who joyfully sighed, "I've missed these." I sat quietly, and he peered at me, blowing a cloud of smoke and chuckled.

"You said we didn't know each other, so let's do that," he crossed his legs. "You wanna play 20 questions?"

"What are we, 6th graders?" I laughed.

"Do you want to know me or not? I want to know you."

I scoffed, as if. Why would he want to know me, anyways? I shrugged, whatever.

"Alright," I sighed, giving in.

"Okay so, I'll take a smoke, ask a question, then pass it on," He told me. I nodded.

He inhaled, sucking in as much as he could, exhaled and then asked.

"Birthday?"

"January 9th," I answered and he passed the weed-filled cigarette. I repeated his question.

"February 10th," He replied, and I passed it back.

"What's your favorite color?"

"Wow we're definitely going middle school in this," I remarked. He rolled his eyes, but smirked.

"Maybe white," I responded, and Vic scoffed.

"Typical."

"Typical?"

"Obviously, Magnolia. Magnolias are white," He spoke.

I rolled my eyes, "Wow, what a coincidence!"

"What's the craziest drug you've ever done?" I smirked.

"Ooh, going intense now, I see," He smiled, winking.

"I've done cocaine before, but heroin may be the craziest I ever took, oh man, what a story."

"Tell me about it," I hugged my knees against my chest.

"Well, oh god, it was sophomore year and I - ," Vic began but was soon interrupted by the calling of his name.

"Vic!" Someone yelled below. "Vic!"

I glanced at Vic as he crawled to the opening, and looked down. He groaned, "Yeah?"

"What are you doing up there?"

I crept besides Vic and peered down, feeling my heart race. Curtis Peoples stood down.

"...And why is Magnolia with you?"

          Vic began to climb down, and jumped halfway, landing near Curtis, who grabbed him and hugged him. I slowly followed down, standing behind Vic, the joint still in between my fingers. As Curtis hugged him, Vic's arms still stood to his sides, and he didn't hug back. "Why didn't you tell me you were back?"

Vic squirmed out of the hug and shrugged, "Why'd you call me?"

A whole load of screaming was heard in the distance, and I turned back.

"Right, your brother is fighting with Craig and shit is happening."

        Fuck, I thought, starting to run back towards the house automatically. Mike and Craig have been rivals since the 9th grade where they both "loved" the same girl, Lacey Sturm, who was two years older than Mike and a year older than Craig. Somehow, Mike was the one to get a date with her, and not Craig. Craig Owens, Curtis' best friend, always fought with Mike. Vic followed behind me, knowing how aggressive and violent Mike gets sober, it's probably a thousand times worse intoxicated. Running through the backdoor and into the living room, Mike was holding Craig by his collar. Craig's nose, bleeding and Mike's lower lip was busted. His face was red with rage.