1974 || 5SOS

Chapter 2

Scarlett

The air was electric, saturated with laughter, the thumping bass of music, and a kaleidoscope of colors from swirling lights that seemed to dance with us. The mirage of scents wrapped around me like a thick blanket, heavy with the mingling of incense, sweat, and the faintest hint of something earthy. Luke twirled me around the dimly lit room, laughter bubbling up from deep inside, my cheeks warming with a giddy flush. Through the dim lights it revealed a patchwork of posters plastered on the walls, each one a testament to the counterculture that thrived within this house. The pulsating rhythm of the music vibrated through my body, and for a moment, everything felt perfectly right.

As I swayed to the music, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was shedding layers of my old self, leaving behind the careful girl my mother raised.

"Are you having fun?" Luke shouted, his voice barely cutting through the music. I nodded, although my head felt light, teetering on the edge of a joyous daze. My hair fell into my face, and he laughed, tucking it behind my ear with a gentleness that sent shivers down my spine.

But before I could savor the moment, a familiar voice cut through the noise and a hand brushed against my lower back. Kitty bounced on her toes, her curls bobbing as she exclaimed, 'Excuse me, Luke, but I need to steal your dance partner!'"

Luke shrugged, not bothered in the least, and before I knew it, Kitty had whisked me away from the crowded living room, her presence an intoxicating mix of floral perfume and the unmistakable scent of smoke clinging to her clothes.

As we entered her room, I was greeted by a haze of swirling smoke, curling around like a warm embrace. Calum lounged on the bed with another guy, his golden curls catching the dim light. He wore a loose-fitting Grateful Dead shirt, the fabric stretched across his muscular arms, and he looked up at us with bloodshot eyes that seemed to sparkle with a secret I wasn't yet in on.

"Hand me that, please Ashton," Kitty said, snatching a rolled cigarette from him. She took a deep drag, exhaling a slow plume of smoke, her laughter bubbling up with each breath. "Have you ever smoked Mary Jane, and would you like to?" she asked, a playful challenge in her gaze.

I hesitated, the rolled paper feeling foreign in my hand. "I've never tried it before. What's it like?" I asked, watching the glowing end as smoke coiled around me.

The curly-haired guy named Ashton leaned forward, his voice smooth and inviting. "It's like floating in a bubble, man. Everything is totally groovier when you're high."

"Sounds nice," I said, pulling the end to my lips. I inhaled and let the smoke fill my mouth, the taste foreign yet strangely alluring. The inhale felt like a step away from my mother's watchful eyes, a small act of defiance that filled me with both fear and exhilaration. As I blew it back out, it felt like I blew a piece of my inhibitions into the air.

"Here, let me help you out," he said, his hand warm and calloused against mine as he took the joint from me. "You've got to breathe all the way in so the smoke reaches your lungs. We'll shotgun it to make it easier for your first time." He guided my chin, our lips brushing together as he blew the smoke into my mouth, sending a thrill through me that sparked both excitement and embarrassment. My heart raced as the smoke curled around me, the warmth spreading through my limbs, each breath feeling like a rebellious secret.

I leaned back, wide-eyed as a cough erupted from my throat, tears springing to my eyes. Kitty's hand patted my back, soothing me with her soft laughter. "The first hit always hurts, but you'll get used to it," she said, her tone light.

Finally catching my breath, I sat up, the world feeling different—hazy, warm, and full of possibilities. I looked up at Ashton, a wide smile spreading across my face. "How do you feel?" he asked, his gaze steady and curious.