ASHLEY

26

    Decided to bless you guys with a second update today since I haven't been updating like I'm suppose to. As I've stayed before I've been sick. Not that any of you cared. Lol. Anyway enjoy you guys and I'm also taking any suggestions of you have any!

   Somt forget to press that little start at the end of this chapter. Yes I'm talking to you. Don't give me that look! Oh you're not. Good, just checking.

   I'm going to stop now so you can read this chapter.
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Blaze the sign above the glass door reads in big white letters. Underneath that it says hookah lounge.

   My eyebrows knit together in confusion. If this is what Kianna meant instead of drinking she could have just said that. I hate when people lie and trick me into going places. Do people really think I'm boring and would turn down every single offer to go out? I'm not. I just know when I need to lay off and exclude myself from certain situations.

   I place a hand on my hip, cocking it out dramatically when I place all my weight on one side, "this is your idea of a bar?" I ask sarcastically.

   Kianna only shrugs in response. Clearly she's been here before.

   "Loosen up girl. You think too much. That's your problem," Kenneth cuts in. My big brown eyes narrow into tiny slits. If looks could kill he would be dead right now.

   "Besides, they have drinks here too," Kianna adds smugly.

   "Don't tell me what my problem is. If this is where you wanted to come you should have just said that. Now since we're already here let's just go inside already. Jeez." I grab Isaiah's hand and together we storm past the two and make our way to the door. The age limit here starts from seventeen so we're all in the clear. I don't need my fake I.D. this time. I already made up in my mind that I'm not smoking until I'm so high I forget my name. Maybe I'll just hit a couple times. A couple meaning two.

   Unlike Kenneth and Kianna the rest of us have responsibilities. Besides, someone has to stay sober to get home tonight. A D.U.I. is not something I would like to end up on my record. Which, by the way, happens to be squeaky clean.

   We check in at the front desk and head to the back. We immediately jump into smoking. As Isaiah takes his first hit we are all quiet as we watch. He put his lips around the top and pulls away. "Why is everyone looking at me. Y'all waiting for me to start chocking or something?"

   "Yeah," I joke.

   He sucks his teeth and turns his attention back to the pipe in his hand. I watch closely as he takes his first hit. His face comforts into that of displeasure as he attempts to hold in his cough.

   "Just cough Isaiah. You're gonna kill yourself boy."

   He clears his throat. "I'm good." I can't help but laugh at his lame attempt. He clearly needs to cough and get it out of his system. Its no big deal. No I take that back. It kind of is since he had so much to say before.

   "Alright pass the pipe. I guess you actually can hang. Just a lil' but though. Nun major," Kenneth admits. Isaiah pass him the pipe. Kenneth hits it with ease then pass it to Kianna. I'm the last to try it. I've done this once before so I know what I'm doing. A smile forms on my lips when the berry flavor hits my mouth. That was nice.

   Isaiah manages to get the pipe back and take a couple more puffs. He slowly starts to improve.

   Halfway through the night Kenneth somehow manage to slither over to me on the couch when Isaiah and Kianna leave to talk to some other teens that called them over to the table. I'm not nearly high enough to march over there but if that's what they want to do then I guess that's fine too. "So how have you been?"

   I shrug. "I've been great. What about you?"

   He shrugs. "I wish there wasn't so much bad blood between us. You were my best friend Bria."

   "Come on Kenneth-"

   "I'm serious. I need a friend in my life that understands me without having to explain anything to them," even though he looks me straight in the eyes when he says this, I can tell his mind is somewhere else.

   It makes me wonder what type of stuff he's been going through. I never stopped to ask myself that question before and maybe it's the shisha that was in that pipe that has me thinking about this now. "What's going on?"

   "Nothing."

   "You can tell me."

   "No I can't. We're not even friends. What do I look like putting myself out there like that? No. Just...no." The hardness in his voice tells me the conversation is over and if he doesn't want to talk about something he's not going to. No amount of asking or trying to convince him otherwise is going to get him to change his mind. I wish he knew he could talk to me though. Even though we're not friends or doesn't mean I won't be here for him. "Bria can we just call a truce? I just don't want us to be so bitter against each other. I wish I could tell you why I left but I can't. There are things I got going on that I font want to drag you in. You have your life all planned out. Right?"

   "I don't know. Maybe. I don't know if I want to go to school for a cosmetology license or what. But about that truce, I'm sure we can work something out."

   "'ight."

   "To be honest I miss us. I miss you bring my friend. But at the same time I don't want to hurt Kayla or Angela. You know how they are."

   "We'll cross that bridge when we get to it. Hey I'm having a small gathering at my house next Friday if you want to come." His voice sounds hopeful.

   "I'll think about it."

   "That's all I'm asking."

   "Bria!" Isaiah yells from across the room, earning a couple of stares. Okay it's time to get that boy out of here. I'm going to have to take him back to my place to let him sleep off that shisha. There's no way I'm letting him go back to his mom like that. She doesn't need any reason to hate me. I get up from my spot at the table to go to Isaiah's aid. He is extremely happy to see me. Long arms are thrown around me and pink lips are pressed against mine. I run my hand along his light brown skin.

   He starts giggling. "That feels good."

   "I bet it does. Come on guys we're heading out. Its getting late."

   The pair groan in protest but follow me over to our table to collect our belongings anyway. Kenneth and I help guide the two giggling teens to the cars. Isaiah complains about being hungry so I promise to stop by some place to grab some food. A burger and fries sound good right about now.

   "So I'll see you later?" Kenneth ask just as I'm opening the driver's door.

   "Yeah. Goodnight."

   "Goodnight."

   I get in the car and drive to Burger King them back to my place. Isaiah makes some comment about being inside my house for the first time. I ignore it since he's high. I'm going to annoy everything he says or does tonight since he's high. A seunk man may tell no lies but a high one will say things they don't mean.