Faint Memories

Chapter 26: Barely any stars

"Could you open the window?" Teyla called to the front of the car where Ashton and I sat. Ashton was the only one sober so he was obviously driving.

Obediently I rolled down my window and looked back at Teyla in the rear view mirror for approval but she averted her eyes to her phone when I caught her eye.

Sigh.

We made it back to the motel in a strained silence and everyone headed to their rooms wanting to catch some Z's but I stayed outside. I knew I reeked so staying outside till most of the smell wore off was my best option at this point. I walked over to the chair by the ice machine in the indent of the outer building and plopped down putting my face between my hands.

Man I'm stupid.

I let out a long sigh before reaching into my pocket to fish out my phone but instead found a little bag with more of the weed and paper that got me in this place in the first place. Must've forgotten that I put it in my pocket or something. My fingers fumbled with the bag. I stared at it long and hard thinking back to Teyla.

"You idiot." I muttered to myself.

"Didn't know that being high would mean you'd talk to yourself."

When I turned my head it was the one and only Ashton looking down at me with his hands on his waist. I waved him off but he only came closer and snatched the bag from me.

"Hey!" He held the bag over my head, teasing me at the fact that I'm way shorter than him.

"Don't think you'll be needing this anymore." His voice had some kind of authority yet was playful. He stuffed the bag into his pocket and looked me up and down.

"Did you really want it that bad?" He asked. Now that I think about it, I kind of wanted it. Not in the way that I liked it even though it was soothing, I wanted to know that I was in control of myself and wasn't going to smoke it. Rather not have Teyla hate me her whole life.

Instead of voicing my thoughts, I simply shrugged. He sighed and ran a hand through his hair, messing it up more than that girl had. The thought sent my body into cringe mode, which was probably why my face twisted and had Ashton giving me a look.

Why was he even out here?

He stuffed his hands into his pockets and kicked at a pebble near his foot. He didn't even look up at me.

Whatever.

I decided to move the chair I was sitting in towards the ice machine to hop on and get on top of the machine. My thoughts then trailed into having the idea of just going straight to the roof, so I hopped onto the vending machine next to it and then stretched till I was able to step onto the roof.

"Need some company?" I heard Ashton yell up. I waved him off and watched my steps on the shingles.

The low hum was back, fainter but it was back and it fogged my thoughts. My feet carried me around without a sense of direction till I found myself laying on the roof with my phone up to my ear calling my dad, I completely forgot to call him before going out.

It was a long conversation about staying out late and needing to take responsibility. Sorry dad, but I just went out to New York with a crazy group of friends who are drunk or high after watching a fight. Responsibility is out of the equation right now. I didn't tell him that though, instead I just listened.

He finally stopped reprimanding me and we said our goodbyes but I decided to ring up someone else.

"Hello?" A groggy, deep voice answered.