Adjustment

Chapter 1: Burning

Nala's POV

Isn't it neat the way things burn? For example, the way the paper of a cigarette slowly disappears, turns to ash, and floats away in the crisp air. That's how life feels, like I'm slowly burning and the more I grow the more I began to disappear. I take a hit from my cigarette and watch the paper turn to ash. I'm pulled out of my thoughts by my phone ringing. "Hey Louis, is everything okay?" I practically pant from running to the living room. I maybe what most people call healthy sized, but I couldn't jog to the fridge and back to the porch without having to stop for a breath. "Hello Love, everything is fine. I was hoping you were awake. Are you okay? You sound a bit winded." I take my seat back on the front porch and pinch my deadly cancer stick between my lips, I pause inhaling the tobacco. "Nala?" Louis' voice is so sweet. "Sorry, I was just smoking when you called. Why did you call again? I mean it's..." I pause checking my phone for the time. "It's 2:56 in the morning hun." Louis beats me to it. "It's saturday night you should be having a good time tonight." He chirps through the line, he must have been drinking. Can't believe it took me this long to figure out. "Lou. It's morning. I should be sleeping." I fake yawn. "But darling you're already awake..." he pauses "Sorry, the drinks are amazing tonight. Get your ass out here or I'm bringing the party to you." He blurts at me and then the line goes dead.

When I pull up to Louis' house, that he oh so kindly sent me the adress to after he hung up on me, I sit in my car for a a few seconds and light and cigarette before I step out. I leave all my belongings in the car besides my keys, and cigarettes. I slowly make my way to the front door and as I lift my hand to knock the door jolts open and a guy with short blonde hair runs out and starts throwing up on the grass. Gross. I began to walk in the door and see Louis shotgunning a can of beer. "Hey Nala!" Beer spills down the front of Lou's black v-neck. The wet shirt clings to his abs and his drunken smile is just to cute and goofy for anyone to hate. He begins to run in for a hug but I stop him. "Lets go get a dry shirt on and then I'll think about giving you a hug." Louis pushes his bottom lip outward and begins to pout. "Help me to my room then?" He pulls my arm and I follow him up the stairs. "Stupid Bitch!" I began to yell when some drunk whore spills her red mixed drink all over my white crop top. "Love, you can wear something of mine, okay?" Louis pulls me down the hallway and the girls apologises fade as the door to Louis bedroom closes. "You seem so angry tonight." Louis' words clash together. I take my half gone cigarette that's now stained and ruined and throw it in the beer can next to the nightstand. "Just a little." I try to joke but it comes out monotone. "Here, calm your nerve a little." Louis pulls a joint from the top drawer of his night stand and lights it. "For you my dear." I take it and look at it. I watch the way it burns as I take a few hits. I began to cough and I smile like an idiot. Louis sits on the bed and pulls me next to him. As I sit, I slowly began to fade in and out of reality. Smiling as the next ten minutes or so are spent watching Louis attempt to do smoke tricks, and then flipping out when he finally got one ring out. He almost shit himself when I pulled my tricks on him last time. I steady myself and stand up gesturing to the now pink stain on my shirt. "Oh yes I almost forgot!" Lou stands to his feet, almost falling to the side, and walks to the closet. He throws me one of his black t-shirts and i began to giggle. "Whats wrong with you darling?" he voice is lagging and i smile even bigger "I don't know you just act funny when you're drunk." I smile and pull off my flannel followed by my badly stained shirt, then slip on the over sized shirt. Louis smiles his goofy smile and changes his shirt. "Oh yeah? Well I like it when you're drunk with me..." He pauses and walks over to me looking down and begins to whisper "So let me, let you get fucked up tonight." the smell of alcohol and smoke fills my nose. "Lead the way prince charming." I smile and begin to follow him downstairs into the party.