She Needed Him

A New Beginning

"It's about time he left."

My childhood friend, Austin, chuckles, "Yeah, you're telling me about it! He was my brother, I was stuck with him. You could come and go as you pleased."

Placing down the only large cardboard box holding everything I owned on the carpeted floor of Austin's old childhood bedroom, I took a glance around, "If you say so.."

Austin's goofy smile fell a bit, "do you not like the room? Does it still smell like him or something?"

"No," I sigh, "just weird to be back. I never thought I would get away from my dad but here I am."

I glanced into his soft chocolate eyes. They looked hurt. Like he was replaying the past 20 years of trauma the both of us had endured.

"I am glad you're here. It's where you belong."

I smiled, "I am too, Austin. Thank you..."

A couple of minutes of silence passed while we both got to work helping put away the small amount of belongings that I had. After I had my various articles of clothing put up and stuffed animals organized, we both stood there just intaking the situation we were now in.

Austin scoffed, "Enough of this sad shit, I'm going outside to smoke a cigarette. You coming with me?"

"Yeah, whatever," I gagged, following Austin out of the room, around the corner, and out the back door of the small home to where he had his smoking area set up on the back patio.

We both sat down on a chair in front of his empty firepit. Austin popped a lighter out of his pocket, catching the cigarette aflame, and hitting a drag.

We both come from questionable pasts and questionable neighborhoods. I don't smoke myself but have gotten so used to the smell that I don't mind it. It reminds me of my parents.

"We need to have a bonfire out here this summer," I said, dragging my shoe across the dirt.

Austin laughed, "We would need to have friends for that first, goofy."

I shot him a glare, "What about Kyle? Didn't you say he got a boyfriend recently?"

I saw Austin tense up. He briefly paused and puffed on his cigarette once more, "Yes, which I do not exactly agree with, but whatever makes the guy happy."

I rolled my eyes, "I don't care what anyone does as long as it isn't hurting anyone else. As long as Kyle is happy, that is all that matters. Open your mind, Austin."

"No- I will let him live his life but I don't condone that. You know how we were raised."

"We were also raised to steal, fight, and lie," I scoffed, "Do you blindly listen to that as well?"

"Sometimes."

"Whatever, Austin. This weekend, let's do a bonfire to celebrate my first week of moving in and the first week of summer. Invite Kyle and his new boyfriend, or at least shut your trap while he is here with him."

Austin smirks, "I know a girl that could co-"

"No."

"....You are no fun."