amsterdam ( central cee )

16

I punch the buttons of the Switch, desperately trying to save my character on the screen. It dies, falling down something that looks like a drain. I grit my teeth and almost fling the Switch across the hotel lobby and Kiara laughs at me.

"You really suck at this, Hanne." Kiara says.

I pout and roll my eyes with a drawn-out sigh.

"I know it's embarrassing." I restart my level for the third time, concentrating on all the parts I'd missed during my previous attempt. "I will and shall win this fuckin' level, Kiara. I ain't taking this L."

Lilbro laughs beside me, shaking his head while curling his arms over Kiara.

"Accept it, Hanne. Take the L and gimme my shit back."

Focus forces my tongue out of my mouth, somehow making me concentrate better. I know I must look so stupid but who cares. I'm winning this goddamn level.

A hand drops onto my shoulder, squeezing the joint. "Hanne," Oakley's voice beams behind me. My body reacts to that, which is hard for me to put into words. "We needa leave, the car's waiting."

"Tell the car to gimme a minute," I say. The answering masculine chuckles caused my skin to prickle with irritation. "Just a min—..."

"Let's go!" he squeezed my shoulder. "You're the one who wanted to take the train."

I sigh and roll my eyes pausing the game and shoving it toward Kiara.

I look up, my eyes meeting Cench's beady ones. He squeezes my shoulder again and I sigh. "Alright alright," I crawl onto my feet and grab my purse from the couch.

"Wait, you're leaving already?" Lilbro asks. I nod while taking cigarettes out of my purse, I feel their eyes burning me as I clamp one between my lips.

"You're not coming with us?" Kiara joins.

"Guys, we needa leave."  Cench interrups.

Kiara stands up and hols her arms open for a hug, I quickly smile and take her into my arms, enjoying the coconut scent of her hair. When I pull away I look at Lilbro, who's avoiding my glance.

"See you later," he grumbles.

"You too." I smile and gift him a playful wink. Oakley walks out of the lobby and I follow him.

The walk to the car was near to silent. I smoke my cigarette and he walks ahead, leading the way.

"When 're ya stopping that?" Oakley looked up at me, the twist of his lips softening.

"I am stopping!"

He raises his brows. "Doesn't look like stopping to me."

"No one stops immediately, Cench." I feel his eyes burn on my movements when I take the next drag. "You have to gradually build it down, you know?"

"That just sounds like an excuse."

I try to glare at him but a smile breaks on my face. "Not g'nna lie it kinda is."

When we reach the car I flick the bud away and it makes a short journey down the road, while the tip burns out. He opens the door and I crawl in while he follows.

He tells the driver where to drop me off and the engine roars.

"I don't get why you can't just stay with me." He mumbled like a disappointed child.

"Can't leave Mo hanging for another day. Plus, I needa go look for a appartement."

He sighed and swings an arm over my shoulder. His fingers slid beneath my hair, tracing the tiniest curls at the bottom of it.