A Simple Kind of Life

Boys [Britney Spears]

Sometimes Mia didn't understand Anastasia.

Beautiful and rich with the world at her fingertips—she could have everything she wanted. And she did. Even though she wasn't motivated, spent most of her days doing nothing, if she wanted something, she would get it.

And she wanted Jason. He became infatuated with her. He loved her. Then she ruined everything.

When Mia opened the door, it felt like she was looking into a mirror. Both of them so pathetic and equally dumb. They could have been happy, but it was easier to be miserable.

Anastasia appeared like a very pitiful version of herself. She looked like Mia.

They could have passed for sisters the way she dressed, with a puffy, unzipped coat revealing an oversized tee shirt and sweat pants. Her shoes weren't even tied. Long raven hair knotted in tangles as dark circles stained beneath her eyes.

"You're a fucking idiot," Mia said to her, without anger or aggravation. At this point, she just expected it. Anastasia held a flat container when she walked into the condo, shoving it into Mia's chest before removing her coat.

"My drug test came back clean. Let's get high."

When Mia opened the container, the aroma of pot and brownies fanned her nose, and her nostrils blazed from the intense smell. And she just stood there as Anastasia walked past her—slipping off her shoes and getting comfortable on the couch.

"I should probably stop you—" Mia's mouth squirmed as she curled her toes into the carpet. Everyone was gone, and she was feeling pretty fucking crappy herself. Her shoulders rolled as she tilted her head. "Fuck it. Let's do it."

They huddled together on the couch, their hair blending as they leaned forward. And they each ate a brownie. It tasted fucking horrible, and Mia hoped Anastasia didn't make them herself. The taste still lingered on her tongue moments after she swallowed, and she grabbed her water bottle from the coffee table, drinking swiftly in hopes it would alleviate the aftertaste. Anastasia seemed unfazed.

"When does this stuff kick in?" Mia asked her, still feeling like herself—eternally tragic.

As she sucked in her cheeks, Anastasia lounged on the armrest, stretching her legs on Mia's lap. "Like an hour."

And so, they sat together with the TV droning in the background, like two sad little whores cuddling each other. The sun peeked through the blinds, casting a golden light into the already bright room. And even though Anastasia said it would take an hour to feel the effects of the pot, Mia was fucked up after twenty minutes.

A cloudiness filled her mind and it was disastrously wonderful. Instead of everything being hopeless and dismal, it was funny instead. Every sad thought replaced with a giggle or snort, her vision hazy as the light streamed into the room that Mia had to squint her eyes because it was almost blinding.

"Stacey," she spoke, kneading her cheek into her breast. "You're so dumb."

A beat passed. "Are you high already?"

"Fuck you. I'm not a pro like you."

Anastasia wrapped an arm around her, and her warmth felt like a blanket. "I think I'll be joining you in a second."

Mia started playing with her hair, scraping her fingers through a very stubborn black tangle, and Anastasia barely reacted to it, allowing her to mess with her hair. "I'm mad at you, you know."

"Yea. Whatever."

"You were supposed to marry Jason."

Mia felt the breath of Anastasia's sigh hit her face. "No, I wasn't."