SOPHMORE YEAR

CHAPTER NINE

I slapped the cigarette out of John's hand.

"What the fuck are you doing, Drey?" he exclaimed.

I stared at him blankly with disgusted eyes. He turned his back and lit another cigarette.

"What the fuck are you doing?" I screamed, causing the other guys to leave.

"I'm smoking, duh?" he replied, smoke coming out of his mouth as he said it.

I turned his back and threw the cigarette on the floor. I was crying now.

He was sad and angry, looking at me with rage. "How long have you been doing this?" I asked, finally able to breathe.

"A year now," he replied, laughing.

I sobbed loudly, unable to control myself. We both cried for what felt like an hour, so I wasn't embarrassed.

"Why?" I shouted, tears falling from my eyes and my hands shaking.

"Just get out of here, Drey," he said, turning his back and leaning on the rails.

"Tell me," I screamed, turning him to face me and holding his shoulders.

I could see sadness in his eyes. He hated seeing me cry but didn't always know what to say.

"Why didn't you tell me? We've been best friends for two shitty years!"

"Because I'm tired, Drey. Do you know what it feels like to be alone, no siblings, no one to be around you, and then have some drunk father treating you like shit every day?" he screamed back.

"You're not alone, John," I said, trying to comfort him, but he just laughed.

"My mom's dead, Drey! And you didn't even know or ask me about it because you've been too busy with your books," he looked at me disgustedly.

"You could've told me," I whispered.

"That isn't what I'm talking about, Drey. You have siblings, a working dad, a mom, and you don't even value them, unlike me. I'd do whatever it takes to see my mom again," he said, his voice filled with pain.

We were silent, staring at each other.

"Value?" I asked breathless, staring through his soul.

"You know what, fuck this," I stormed off.

Tears filled my eyes as I walked away. We fought over one stinking cigarette.