Ecstasy

Chapter 7

- Third person • Alyssa focus -

It was late—about 2am—her and Grey sat side by side against the wall on her bed. The room was dimly lit, illuminated by a string of fairy lights and a candle. The room smelled like cinnamon toast crunch. The pair didn't speak much, and Minnie ended up crashing on the living room couch earlier in the night. She had school in the morning. Alyssa looked at Grey, who seemed to be reading something on his phone. This man is always fucking reading, jesus christ.

"Wanna roll up?" She questioned, her tone lined with exhaustion. Her voice was raspy, but she smiled when Grey looked at her and raised a brow, taking a few moments to take in the question, before responding.

"Why not." He shrugged.

She grinned, immediately getting up and fishing the things she needed from her drawer. She rolled a joint in the silence, the only sound accompanying her occasional crinkle or sigh. Alyssa rolled the tip of the joint in between her fingers. Grey watched. She leant over to grab her lighter off of the nightstand, and lit it, holding the flame over the tip and taking a hit. The smell of weed was pungent. It overtook her cereal based candle. She exhaled, before looking at Grey again.

"You remember how to hit?" She mumbled, pulling her legs to her chest and resting her head atop her knees.

"Duh." Grey rolled his eyes, taking the joint from her as she offered and taking a hit.

"Just checking, dude. Making sure your pumpkin spice core life hasn't taken over your brain." Alyssa snickered.

He exhaled. "Shut up, 'lyssa." He muttered, his tone playful.

They quickly finished the joint, occasional playful banter shared between the two as the hour passed by, letting the high settle in.

"Grey, do you think cosmic brownies are like- mind controlling me by the government." Alyssa mumbled, her head falling onto his shoulder. They were sat closer, knees bumping as she put the roach out in her ashtray, laying it there.

"Dude, what?" Grey furrowed his brows, chuckling.

"You know, like when uh- they put all those chemicals inside." She hummed, closing her eyes. "I'm asking you 'cause you're smart."

"You're smart too, 'lyss." He muttered, reaching to wrap his arm around her shoulders, scratching her head.

"You're well read though, fuckin' nerd." She snickered, before sighing out and opening her eyes. She stared at the wall in front of them, looking at the pictures littered all over it with blurry vision. "D'you think Eva like- hates me, 'cause I ghosted her?"

Grey glanced at her, training his focus on the blank monitor. "How could anyone hate you?" He hummed, taking a moment before continuing. "You're like,, an angel reincarnated. Sweetest girl alive. I doubt she does, but even if that is a possibility, she.. sucks." He nodded, pushing his glasses up when they threatened to fall off of his nose bridge.

Alyssa sighed, nodding. "I guess, it's just.. weird. I haven't liked someone so much since like,, high school. Isn't that weird? I'm scared some girl across the country hates me because I have mental illness."

"No, not really." Grey said, his voice raspy. He cleared his throat.

Alyssa paid no mind, before shrugging. "I really like her, man. I don't want to mess this up again." She muttered.

"I know, lyssie." He muttered, pulling away for a moment and reaching for his water bottle on the nightstand, taking a long sip and settling back into his spot. Silence fell over them for a few minutes, Alyssa breaking it once again.

"What if I flew her out?"