Moonlight Drive [River Phoenix]

Chapter 9

"I'm sorry."

That's all I could think to say.

He wasn't faking it- he was wasted. Broken, emotionally beat up, I could clearly tell. He just sobbed into my shoulder for a good ten minutes before managing to pull away, hiding his face.

I just stared at him with sympathy, and he just stared at his shaking hands.

"Hana?" He asked suddenly.

"Yeah?" I responded softly.

"Next time you see me with a cigarette, please, smack it out of my hand."

I just quietly laughed at his comment, making him smile a little.

Then, he started coughing. It was terrible- he was bent over, holding his stomach and gasping for air. His face was red, and I panicked. I grabbed his arms and stood him up, quickly walking him over to a nearby water fountain.

He drank some water, still coughing slightly. "Right there," I started, "is one downside of smoking."

He just faintly smiled, and grabbed my arm. I looked at him and he cleared his throat. "I feel kinda dizzy from my coughing fit.." He sighed as he tugged at my arm slightly.

He sat down on the cold bench once again, still holding onto my arm.

He let go and stood up suddenly, causing me to do the same. "You want me to walk you home, or..?" I asked.

He nodded, heading in the direction of his house. I walked alongside him, looking over at him every once in a while.

He'd look at me, too, but we never met each other's glance.

As we neared his house, he sighed heavily. I looked over at him with a slightly confused expression.

"What's wrong?" I asked cautiously.

"My parents'll know I was smoking," he said glumly, staring at his feet.

I bit my lip as I thought about something. "You could come to my place, if you'd like," I offered, causing him to look at me.

"Really?" He asked, his eyes slowly lighting up.

"Yeah," I slightly beamed.

He smiled and we were off to my house, unaware of what was going on there.