cigarettes [Leighton Murray]

burritos

"bela?" rue called out when she reached their dorm, the door was left open for when rue arrived. bela took the bag from rue 

"bela why is she giving you a bunch of male thongs?" leighton asked coming out of her room. 

"because, i am jazzing up some booty shorts for the theta boys to dance in" she took out one thong "they're sexy and biodegradable" she showed them 

"only if someone asks, they're not actually biodegradable" rue interjected "and don't ask me how i got them" she had to travel a lot to find the thongs that matched bela's requirement list.

 leighton fought back a smile, yes it was smart and she appreciated how rue was helping her roommates, but she wasn't gonna tell her that.  

"well, i am gonna head out. just hit me up if you like need anything" she made the mistake of glancing back up at leighton's eyes which made her mind blank 

rue was sitting in her room, alone as always. working on a game that she was gonna make. 

"rue, come with me" bela bursted in the room 

"how did you even get in?" rue asked taking her earbuds off, bela dragged the girl out with her arm

"the door was open" bela started running making rue follow suite as she explained the situation and how rue could help at this moment 

"and that is why i think fighting is so important, kids like us, we usually couldn't care less., but these kids, they're taking the initiative. you should be proud of them" rue convinced the dean. 

no doubt she was one of the best students and who better to butter up the dean than a favourite student. 

"also, we've raised 11000 dollars tonight" leighton added 

"okay" the dean said "you can do your show but no full nudity and lights out by midnight" she instructed and left

"holy shit, rue was all that true?" bela asked referring to rue's tragic story 

"no, i just picked it up from a song i wrote" she replied 

"yeah well, who's surprised that it's a lie" leighton snickered 

"yeah i could work that" rue replied pointing at the accidental rhyme leighton made 

the next few days for rue were spent working on her homework practicing with the band, she hated to admit but she might genuinely start liking her bandmates, she was there only for the perks of being there at first but now, she liked going at 'the extacy' even when she doesn't has to.  

she did not like her classes one bit, except computer applications. she found herself interested in the subject. 

as for her and leighton, every time she would try and talk, the blonde had her eyes already stuck on someone. rue knew leighton was now out and she was happy for the girl. but not the way she was hooking up with almost everyone on campus, not only was she getting hurt but it was dangerous for leighton as well. 

rue was at the bathroom washing her hand when she heard a voice in one of the stalls, something like mini screams. she decided to check up on whoever was in ther. rue knocked on the door 

"are you okay in there?" she asked 

"yeah, i don't need your help" it was leighton 

"it did sound like something you could use help in" rue heard the flush. 

"whatever it is you're tryna do, it's not gonna work" 

"well, right now, i am just tryna help a fellow woman"  the door suddenly opened revealing the blonde "hey" rue said as leighton walked over and washed her hands 

"you have a car?" she turned around to look at rue 

the two travelled in an awkward silence, rue occasionally drumming the steering wheel when the radio played a song that she liked. she accompanied leighton to the hospital room and stayed outside while they ran some tests. she sat beside leighton when it was done.

"so" rue started "the weather's nice" she tried maaking small talk 

"you suck at small talk, you should know that" leighton pointed out, clearly stressed when the doctor walked in 

"okay, leighton" she looked at thee blonde as rue got up from her seat to show respect "you've tested positive for chlamydia"

"what? no, i've only been with women recently so that's actually impossible" leighton pointed out, rue shook her head making lighton look at her 

"it's actually very possible" the doctor replied "and something you should contact all your recent partners about" she glanced at rue "you should-" 

"oh no we're not-" rue shook her head 

driving back was double the awkward than coming here, thanks to the new found information, and it being evening, there was unbelievable traffic. the two sat in silence, the windows rolled up, surrounded by multiple cars. leighton scrolled on her phone, for obvious reasons.

"great now my phone's dead" leighton sighed. 

rue, without a word, reached over and opened the drawer in front of leighton's seat and gave her the phone charger that was sitting there. 

while rue did that, leighton noticed something else in the drawer, tickets. concert tickets. she saw the date and instantly knew. taking out the tickets she examined them. rue noticed, but decided staying silent was her best bet. 

"found 'em, huh?" rue finally decided to break the silence 

"ghost town?" she flipped the ticktets, studying them "why?" 

"because they are amazing" rue shrugged

"no, why?" leighton asked again, rue got the idea. she took a deep breath 

"i don't know" lies 

"lies" caught me

"caught me" rue opened her mouth to say something but decided against it debating with herself

the traffic suddenly opened up making her hit the accelator as she sped away, now focused on the road. 

she was so close this time.