BLACK ROSE

The fucked-up boi....

Alex. 

"Why did you do it?"

My mum looks at me like I've just committed a serious crime.

"I felt like I needed a change."

She doesn't say anything, she just stares at the grey wall. Nothing else in my room has changed, I've kept the same photos up, my guitars are hanging at the exact same spot. Yet she's staring at it as if everything has changed.

"Why grey?"

I have no answer to that. "Nothing else seemed right."

Ace leans against the door, breaking the silence. "You really painted it all by yourself?"

"Yes, Ace I did paint it myself." I hand him the glass of water. He looks at it as if he wished it was something else. "Why grey?"

He walks over to the bed and sits down. I've moved the bed under the window, so it's pressed up against the wall. Other than that, and a very necessary afternoon spent decluttering my belongings, my room really hasn't changed. I've kept it as minimalistic as it was before.

"I didn't think you'd mind," I say. Mum leaves the room, slightly shaking her head. Ace looks at me as if he knows my deepest desires and thoughts, but he does not say anything.

"So, you're going to the party next week, aren't you?"

I flash my famous smile at him. "Oh, you know what a party animal I am."

He raises his eyebrows, not believing my words. "You couldn't have said that with a more monotonous voice." Yeah, I know.

"I suppose there's no way of saying no, is there?" I want to add 'but I don't want to', but he interrupts me.

"Are you kidding me, Alex?! She will turn seventeen in a week."

"I want to go, I'm going. I'm not missing this, don't worry." I try to calm him down. "But it's not like much changes." He raises his eyebrow. "She isn't allowed to drink legally for the next four years, but has been allowed to drive for one year. Whoa, let's celebrate breaking the rules that we have been breaking for years. She still has one year to walk hand in hand with mommy and daddy, then it's over. And that is the time I am waiting for, we all are. Nothing changes so far."

He bursts out laughing. "How the hell can you make such a negative sentence so funny?"

I personally don't think it was funny in any way, more like full sarcastic, but if I made him laugh I can be satisfied.

"Talent, Ace, talent." I smirk.

********

Alex, I need your help.

I stare at the screen, trying to come up with some scenario that won't end tragically in the end. The message sends goosebumps down my spine.

With what? Is everything okay, buddy?

It takes him a while to respond, but when he finally does, I want to do nothing but teleport myself to where he is and kick his little ass.

Yeah, I was just wondering if you could sell me...... you know.

What the hell, Theo?!

I really need it. Alex, please.

Are you insane?!

Alex, please!

I hypnotise my screen, trying to understand why he'd want drugs. His message worries me, yet pisses me off at the same time. I can't seem to comprehend what has suddenly flipped upside down in this life. I need to know, and before I realise it, I find myself typing the deadly message.