What Happens On The Balcony

2 - too early

2 days later | 6:15 a.m.

i loved sunday mornings.

every sunday i came out on the balcony with my coffee to watch the sunrise, a tradition i adopted from my father. i remember the first time he whispered me out of bed, i was 6, so naturally i groaned and whined the whole car ride out to the coast, confused as to why my father picked me to torture and not any of my siblings. but when we got to the beach and i saw the sky awake with beautiful colors of orange and gold i was instantly in love. there was something magical about this moment: the morning chill of the beach, the cold sand between my toes and my dad by my side. i wanted to drive out to the coast and watch the sunrise everyday, but my dad just laughed and kissed my forehead, telling me that we would do it at least once a week.

unfortunately from my balcony i couldn't see the sunrise very well, or at all to be fair, as the skyscrapers really lived up to their name, but i still found myself out here every sunday morning. even though the city was no beach and my dad and i hadn't watched the sunrise together in over 10 years, i still found magic in the serenity and cool air.

without warning, the creek of the window next door interrupted my quiet thoughts and i groaned. not this morning.

i turned my head just in time to watch the same boy from two nights before step through the window.

he noticed me immediately this time, only nodding his head once in my direction though before resting his elbows on the thin ledge and pretending I was no longer there. 

i continued watching him. he closed his eyes for a moment as he inhaled deeply, drinking in the morning air. when his eyes opened he wasted no time in partaking in his familiar habit.

i watched him silently all the way until the cigarette was lit and resting on his bottom lip.

"really? at 6 in the morning?" i confronted him.

he shrugged, inhaling the toxins again. "if you had the night i had you'd understand." he turned his head to look at me and smile smugly, almost like he was still drunk.

i rolled my eyes and took another sip of my coffee, moving my gaze back to the city. i truly could not see anything genuine in this guy.

he chuckled at my reaction. "bother you?"

"yeah it does actually." i brooded, turning my whole body to face him.

he rolled his eyes. "don't be so cranky sweetheart."

i laughed. "god please don't call me that."

"then what do i call you?"

i paused for a moment as i tried to figure out if i should actually tell him my name or if he was just looking for another foul pet name. his eyebrows raised expectantly, waiting for me to speak.

"aimee." i said slowly.

he nodded as he took a drag of his cigarette.

"jace." he said as he exhaled.

we both drew silent, enjoying the morning peace as i tried to ignore the fact that he was still infecting my tranquility with his cigarette. after a minute though, a trail of his heinous smoke grazed past my nose.

"you know those things will kill you." i spoke up first, disdain on my tongue.

he laughed and shook his head, "not fast enough."

"they say on average smokers die 13 to 14 years earlier than nonsmokers."

"i'll mark my calendar." he tried to fake a smile, but I could see his annoyance growing.

"you know cigarettes contain 7,000 chemicals and 69 are known to cause cancer."

"69 huh?" he smirked.

ignoring him i continued. "they say-"

"good god." he groaned. "fine! you win!" he rolled his eyes, plucking the cigarette from his lips and dropping it over the balcony to the street. his fingers raked through the thick mop of curls dangling over his forehead. "it's too early for your shit. i'm going back inside."

i smiled at my small victory as he maneuvered his way back through the tiny window. sure i knew he wasn't anywhere near quitting or annoying me on the balcony, but at least i had annoyed him just enough to leave me to enjoy the morning in peace. i wasn't going to let him ruin my sundays. he seemed like the kind of guy to ruin things.