Four letter word

24. Overwhelmed (part 2)

Riley and AJ managed to sneak in and out of the dorm without Lindsey noticing. Fortunately, the blonde girl had gone into the shower after a long while of practice on the field.

They made it to Riley's car and got in. AJ felt incredibly awkward in the passenger seat. She hadn't yet said anything and neither had Riley. Though the other girl was busy looking for something in her bag.

"You don't mind if I smoke, right?" She asked as she pulled out a pack of cigarettes from her bag.

"No, no..." AJ replied. She really didn't care. Everyone in her family smoked so it wasn't a big deal.

"Damn it, where's that damned lighter? I always lose it" Riley cursed, but stopped once she found the lighter. She started the car and they drove away from the academy.

"Can you pull out a cigarette and light it for me?" She asked, and AJ who was startled, grabbed the pack and did as she was told. She put the cigarette between Riley's lips and lit it. The whole thing seemed kind of intimate, but Riley didn't seem to notice or care.

"Thanks" she said, then rolled down the window and let the smoke out, "you want one?"

Now, AJ wasn't a smoker, but she did have some unhealthy ways of dealing with her anxiety. Usually it was alcohol as you had witnessed after the movie night with Lindsey, but she wasn't a day drinker and she believed that drinking was worse than smoking, so...

"Does it... like make you calm down?" She asked. Riley raised an eyebrow and looked at her with confusion.

"You nervous?" She smiled.

"Not because... I just-... I'm usually really anx-.... Never mind" she sighed and looked out the window. Riley chuckled.

"I didn't mean like that, don't worry. I remember you telling me about your anxiety. I wouldn't recommend smoking as a coping habit, but you can have one if you want. It has more of an effect on first timers" she said.

AJ looked back at her, then down at the open pack and pulled one out. She lit it and inhaled. A terrible cuff came through and Riley laughed.

"Don't tell Lindsey I let you smoke, okay? She's trying to quit herself and would kill me if I turned you into a smoker as well"

Oh, great. Another secret they had to keep from Lindsey.

She didn't cough after a few tries thought the effect was... something. It was like alcohol, but quicker. She felt dizzy and kind of like she was gonna throw up.

"You get used to the feeling after a while and it stops effecting you" Riley explained. AJ nodded.

"So, are we only shopping for booze?" AJ asked once they got out of the car. They were standing in front of a big supermarket. The same one where AJ had met Lindsey during Christmas holidays. Damn, she felt nostalgic now. She remembered the blonde dressed in a funny elf costume. Seemed forever ago now even if it was only a few months ago.

"That's the plan. I'll have to come back for food and snacks later, maybe tomorrow" Riley explained and they walked towards the entrance. They weren't met with any elves since the Christmas decorations had been taken down a while ago. Instead they went to the liquor isle and Riley picked out some of the more expensive drinks. AJ hoped Riley wasn't expecting her to pay as well. She definitely didn't have that much money.

It all went well though, Riley payed and they took everything back to the car and got in. Now it was time to go print out the flyers. AJ gave Riley the location and they drove away.

"Where do you plan on hiding all of these bottles?" AJ asked about the booze.

"At Dana's place" she shrugged, "and the food too, once I buy it. Do you think we need decorations as well? I mean I have the lights that I'll hang up in the dorm and speakers for music, but like... anything else? I've never organised a birthday party"