We shopped for about an hour before actually leaving the mall. I loved to shop with Landon. He was pretty patient, except when it came to jewelry, and was willing to buy anything. Waling through the automatic double doors, we passed a group of teens smoking outside of the mall. There were 2 boys and a girl, who wore a black beanie. Her hair was a pastel purple. It was so pretty, that I wished I had it.
“Cooper, Ethan! So good to see you guys!” Landon said enthusiastically, moving towards them. He bro hugged them both.
“Landon! My man!” said the one with short, brown spiked hair that was covered by and orange snapback. The cigarette was held between his index and middle finger as he blew out smoke in the opposite direction of us.
“Coop, I didn’t know you hung here,” Landon said to him, indicating that the more toned male with blonde highlights in his longer spiked up hair was Ethan.
“Well I didn’t know you did either,” Cooper said gesturing to the bags I held. And me.
“Gotta keep my girl happy.”
“Know what will make her real happy,” Ethan spoke for the first time. I grew only slightly concerned, but not enough as I should have because the purple haired girl remained calm, smoking away.
“You got some more?” Landon said, his tone serious but in a playful way that only he could do.
“Hell yeah,” Cooper said. “I know a guy who has a garden. Want to come over, right now? I’m even offering the lady a joint,” he winked at me. I suddenly realized they were talking about weed. My heart pounded. Illegal. Illegal. Illegal. Were the words running through my mind.
“You cool with it?” Landon turned to me to ask. His eyes were pleading. I knew he smoked drugs, but never had I done it with him. The purple haired girl raised her eyebrows. A challenge.
“Of course,” I said.
“Alright!” Cooper said. “Let’s go have some fun.”
“I’ll take my car to you guys’ house. Don’t be messing with me now,” Landon smiled.
“Never would bro,” Cooper said, cocking a side smile.
We walked over to my car, which was still in the front of the lot, while the other 3 walked right to a Jeep in the farther corner.
“How do you know them?” I asked Landon as we got in. This time he was behind the wheel. I tossed him my keys and he started the car.
“Cooper Lambardi and Ethan Daniels are seniors. As for the purple haired girl, I think her name is Kasey.” We were driving out of the lot, following the black Jeep on to Main Street as I thought. Was this a mistake?
“Oh.”
A pause.
“You’re cool with it right?” He didn’t even take his eyes off the road, paying me no mind really.
“You know I’m chill with that. Hell, we’ve all done it.”
Well… kinda. When I was at a party I once got so wasted that I did marijuana. And other time I was at a party and did ecstasy. But only because others were and it made them have a good time.
I just than realized, that our youth is the time we can screw up. We can make mistakes. We can do stupid things. We can mess up everything. But we get a second chance. Adults don’t. As teens we are going to do crazy things. But, I figured, do them now. Have a blast. Go crazy. Smoke and drink. Because this is are chance to do shit. To have fun.
“That’s why I love you,” he said leaning over and kissing my cheek. We turned on an off road. Elm, I think. Than another before reaching a one story, brick house. The grass was in need of a cut, even though it only grew in patches. The metal steps leading up to the building were rusty. And the singles needed replacement.
“Welcome to our home!” Cooper shouted, smiling.
“Our?” I asked.
“Well, me Ethan, and Kasey.”
“Oh,” I said. “Cool.” WE all walked up the steps to the door, Ethan opening it. The inside was much better than the outside. The floors were hardwood and the walls were painted a peach with white trim. The leather couch sat in front of a 52” flat screen that was mounted to the wall.
“Oh shit, didn’t expect that,” I said.
Kasey laughed. “I’m a loan officer.” My mouth must have dropped a foot, because she continued. “I graduated last year and my father owns a loan company and so he gave me a job. You know, give loans, get people’s money. Pays $62,000 a year so I’m happy.”
“Hell yeah! And we are too!” Cooper busted out. I saw he had a brown paper bag in his right hand. We all sat down at the couch as Cooper put the sack on the coffee table. He dumped the contents of the bag on the table.
“Pre-rolled, bitches,” Ethan said swollen with pride. I assumed he was the one who had taken the time to roll the joints. There sat 9 joints. The white paper surrounded the greenish brown weed that poked out through he top. Landon was the first to get one. Than Cooper snatched one up, followed by Kasey than Ethan. I was the last and slowly got mine. The Bic lighter was passed around the room and everybody, including me, lit up.
Deep breath. And out. The room gradually filled with grey smoke. I felt it kicking in as I puffed more smoke.
“Is this great or what,” Landon smiled.
All could do was smile and nod. I didn’t want to talk, only to be in my thought. This was different from any other drug I’d ever done. Stronger. Better. I found myself focusing on feeling every experience & putting significant thought into each detailed thing, feeling the love & beauty in everything. I didn’t want to do anything, to put it all aside.
“You know what,” Ethan said to Kasey.
“ What?” she drew the blunt, blowing smoke.
“I love you,” he smiled.
“I know,” she said.
“So you’re boyfriend and girlfriend?” I asked. I heard my voice and it sounded cool. Better.
“Yeahhh,” Ethan said. His voice sounded cool. Like it was in a dream.
“I love you,” I leaned against Landon. His arms were hard. So I poked them. “Tough.”
“I love you too.” He finished and put out his joint in the ashtray. I followed in suit. Landon was really cute. My mind was so happy and free. Like a bird. I like birds.
“You are such a good boyfriend,” I said, kissing his lips. He kissed back. It didn’t take long for it to turn heated, my hands running through his hair, his tangled in mine. Our tongues intertwined. Before I knew it, Kasey and Ethan were making out, leaving Cooper alone. Landon and I looked at him for a second, and he shot us the bird. I giggle. I felt to happy and free to care, returning to Landon.
“I hate you all,” he said, grabbing another joint.
