Secrets Look Different in the Light

Chapter 39

Jackie's POV

You can hear the roar of the crowd from the parking lot. The concession lines snake past the sidewalk, and parents are fighting over parking like it's Black Friday. Dylan gives a lazy wave to some guys in a pickup, then grabs my hand and tugs me through the chaos. I recognize a couple of the guys as his friends, though I haven't seen him actually hangout with them in a while.

Haley and the rest of her group flag us down at the bottom of the bleachers.

"There y'all are! I was starting to think you got eaten alive out there." Haley laughs. Bryan throws an arm over both Dylan and me.

"You guys ready to get toasty?" he says, way too excited.

Dylan shoves him off with a smirk. Haley rolls her eyes and leads us to the hideout inside the old scoreboard. Once we've successfully crawled up, Andrew lights a joint and starts passing it around .I skip it. I haven't attempted weed again and I have no intention to today. Last time I smoked, I spiraled hard, and I'm not eager for a repeat performance. Even now, with things smoother between me and Dylan, it's not worth the gamble.

When Bryan tries to hand it to me, Dylan intercepts, taking a hit without missing a beat. This is the first time I've sat in smoke circle and I'm still waiting to see the appeal. No one is talking, mostly just staring off, or on their phones waiting for their turn. And as the joint gets smaller and smaller, its now turned into a game of "who's brave enough to still try and smoke from it?" 

The winner was Dylan.

I could see the ash burning his finger tips but he didn't seem to mind as he inhaled the last bit of smoke that joint had to offer.

"Okay, it is officially time to hit the concession stand." Andrew erupts, and is met with a joyous choir of yes's. 

Snacks is something I can participate in.

As we climb down the ladder, Dylan turns to Haley. "You got another one for later or was that it?"

I glance down at him, wondering why his thoughts are already on more weed while everyone else is focused on food. 

He must be building quite a tolerance to this stuff if he's already needing more.

She grins. "I'm out of joints, but I've got Sour Patch Kids with your name on 'em."

She digs in her bag and hands him the bag. I watch his hand reach out without hesitation.

"Do edibles feel any different than smoking?" I ask Hailey, curious. 

Dylan looks at me worried, but stays quiet.

"Depends on the person," Haley says. "Some people vibe with one better. You curious?"

She offers the bag. I stare for a beat, then shake my head. "Just wondering."

Theo's POV

Avery changed outfits ten times before we left. She seemed more nervous than I've ever seen her, but I couldn't understand why. I kept asking if she was okay, and she would ensure she's fine. It's clear she isn't though. Her leg has been bouncing 90 mph the entire car ride over here.

I place my hand gently on her knee to still it.

She flashes a quick smile. "Sorry, jitters." 

I loop around the parking lot a few times before reluctantly settling for the overflow field. As I kill the engine, Avery pulls out a leather flask and takes a swig, handing it to me without looking.

"Didn't know you brought alcohol," I say casually.

It's not that I care if she wants to drink tonight, half of the teenagers here are drunk right now. I just wanna know what's causing her so much anxiety that she can't leave the car with a shot.