the Devil and the Sea

33| Friends don't kiss

After making sure that Vincent is looking at me, I slowly step into the kitchen. As I do so, I slowly pull the top over me.

I glance at Vincent and pretend to be frightened.

"I thought no one was here." I pretend to be embarrassed.

Vincent, after blinking a few times, looks sharply at my face and playfully replies:

"A very beautiful bust."

Vincent does not hide a vulgar smile and takes a step forward.

"You didn't see anything." I raise my eyebrow teasingly and give him a meaningful look as I pass by.

I turn on the coffee maker and try not to turn around until the coffee is done. Then the three of us sit down at a table on the terrace and drink coffee. Vincent talks about the films he has watched. He sits against the wall of the house, and Ricky and I sit on the other side of the table. Vincent briefly talks about a film, in which the characters gathered around the table, drinking coffee, smoking cigarettes and talking.

"Coffee and cigarettes," he remembered. "That's what the movie is called." He says, and his eyes sparkle. "I would like that too." Vincent takes a sip from his mug. "I like to experience new sensations," he glances at me.

"Smoke it," I offer him a cigarette with a wave of my hand.

Vincent grabs the last cigarette in my pack, the one I had already started smoking. Consciously or not, Vincent reaches out with his hand, and his fingers touch the place on the filter that my fingers were pinching a moment ago. His full lips wrap around the end of the cigarette and his chest heaves slowly. Vincent doesn't take his eyes off me as he removes the cigarette from his lips and hands it back to me. I can only think that my lips will touch the place that Vincent touched with his lips a moment ago. Such little things. Such mind-boggling little things.

I'm a fucking idiot.

"Take my cigarettes," Ricky says condescendingly.

To my surprise, Vincent takes out a cigarette from Ricky's pack. I give Vincent the lighter and watch every movement: he clicks the wheel and, bringing the fire to the cigarette between his teeth, lights it, inhales and exhales the smoke hastily. I stare at Vincent, trying to ignore how Ricky's green eyes are burning with jealousy.

Vincent clears his throat.

"What, your first cigarette?" I ask sarcastically, although I remember that Vincent mentioned that he had already tried.

"No, I started a long time ago but quitted almost immediately." Vincent repeats and twists the cigarette with his fingers, examines it.

I nod in understanding. Ricky smokes too.

"Breathe into the lungs, do not hold it inside your mouth." I'm talking.

Vincent gives me an incredulous look. How fun this guy is. It's good to have him in our city.

"Wow!" exclaims Vincent, taking a puff, "I begin to shake pleasantly."

He smiles like a lunatic and exhales a big puff of smoke. I look at him and at Ricky and burst out laughing.

"It was cool, it even covered me." Vincent puts his cigarette butt in the ashtray then leans back against the wall of the house and reverently closes his eyes.

Ricky and I look at each other, I catch a chuckle in green eyes, and I myself can hardly restrain myself from laughing.

"Dude, it's like you lost your virginity." Ricky grimaces and now we both laugh, and Vincent just smiles contentedly with his eyes closed.