New York and England

1

Mia's/Rai's POV

The rain splattered against the windshield, blurring the city lights. I loved nights like this. I'd adored rain since I was a child. The car came to a halt, a long line of traffic preventing us from getting home.

"God damn NYC." Jaspar mumbled.
He took his hands off the steering wheel, running them through his short black hair.

"Can you pass me the lighter?" He asked.

I nodded, fishing in my pocket and pulling out the black lighter.

"Here." I handed it over.

"Thanks."

He reached into his own pocket, taking out a box of cigarettes.

Jaspar had been smoking since he was 23. It was at that time when Jaspar announced to their parents they were getting married. Their fiance was named Jackie, short red hair, a darker red than mine, though it was hard to compare since mine was neon. Jackie was a sweet girl, compassionate, a love for darkness, the inability to hurt a soul. Practically Jaspar in a different skin, though Jackie was cis, meaning they were born the gender that their body parts specified. Jaspar, on the other hand, transsexual. He was a boy, just in a different body.

Jaspar's parents had disapproved of marriage since 23 too was young to them. I remember Jaspar coming home that day, a horrible crying mess. Jackie had left. Too scared of Jaspar's parents to deal with the situation. That's how I knew Jackie was not like Jaspar, in fact. Jaspar would've stood his ground, defending his love with all the power he could muster. Jackie just picked up, and left.

But me and my friends helped. We sat in a circle, passing around a bottle of apple cider, talking about anything, and everything. We laughed, we cried, we listened to songs from when we were teenagers. They always made everything better. Yet this time was different, Jaspar had been so distraught, that he'd start crying again after a few minutes. As soon as we'd gone to bed for the night, the house was filled with screams. Cries, and yells, to the point where you'd think that was the only sound left in the world. That's when Jaspar picked up his dirty habit.

"Can I have one?" I asked.

Jaspar glared at me, the cigarette now lit and between his teeth.

"Sure." He passed me one, and gave the lighter back.

I lit it, hesitating before putting it in my mouth. Jaspar raised his eyebrows, putting the seat back, and his feet on the wheel. We'd probably be in traffic for a while. The second I inhaled, I felt like something had killed my lungs. My stomach turned, causing me to gag, and drop the cigarette.

"Careful, don't set the car on fire." Jaspar laughed.

He picked it up off the car floor, and opened the window, throwing it out.

"No more for you." He said.

"Yeah, no thanks. That's way more intense than second hand smoke."

"Well of course, you're forcing poison into your clean lungs. Having a bit second hand is different than a massive puff of it." Jaspar turned to look out the window, and I did the same.

"So, did you get her number?" I broke the silence we were both lost in.

"Hm?" Jaspar focused on me again.

"That girl at the club, did you get her number?"

"Oh... uh no."

We went out every so often. Usually everyone else would come too, but they were all busy. Kage was filming a video for the YouTube channel we shared. Ruby was going over lines for an audition. Bronwyn was practicing different makeup techniques on her already beautiful face. Halle was working on the novel she was writing. Alice was practicing violin. Meanwhile, Lina, Tess, Jaspar, and I had gone out. The two girls were sleeping in the back seat, but me and Jaspar could talk as loud as we wanted since the girls were out cold.