She Coyote

*32. The mind is a scary place

JUDE
I kept my eyes locked on Coyote as she trudged through her bedroom's exit. She rubbed her eye with a sleepy movement of her hand and stretched her arms above her head. I had my elbows resting on the counter, my fingers rolling up a joint. She spotted me, a slight blush gathering in her cheeks.

"Nice nap?" I asked, bringing my eyes back to my hands.

She exhaled loudly, gathering her hair up on top of her head and fastening it into a loose ponytail with a hair tie. "I thought you'd be gone by now." She murmured, padding over towards the refrigerator.

"Why would I leave?" I questioned, slightly annoyed.

She opened the fridge door carelessly, yawning. She lowered herself down to peer into the contents inside it, back completely turned to me. "I thought you were angry at me or something." She said.

"Angry? I'm not angry." I settled the joint into place and flicked the lighter, igniting the end. Smoke slid into my lungs and puffed out through the crack between my lips.

"Well, you didn't have to come get me, I was fine."

"Bobcat called and told me to." I explained quietly, feeling the familiar rush as the cannabis seeped it's way through my being.

She sighed, defeated. She stood up straighter, spinning on her heels and shutting the fridge door with her back. Her eyes met mine, smoke dancing between us. She looked sad. She parted her lips, but no sound came out. I could easily detect she wanted to express her thoughts, but something was holding her back. I shook my head, stepping closer.

"You don't have to try and explain your reasons for why you did what you did, it's not that important. I've been shooting up for years, I have no room to judge you. Even if I did, I wouldn't." I ran a hand through my hair, swallowing down saliva. I continued, "I just want you to know that when I saw you I was terrified."

"Terrified?" Her head peeked up.

"Yes. You looked...dead. It was freaky." I scratched the back of my neck.

"Well what do you expect, I was doped up." She seemed annoyed as she pushed past me, rolling her eyes. She was probably embarrassed and this was the only way she knew how to deal with that. I reached out for her wrist, grabbing hold of her.

"Hey, Victoria."

"What?" She grumbled.

"I'm sorry for lying to you."

She gazed at me quizzically, her eyebrow arched. "What do you mean?" She questioned, rotating back to face me completely.

My hand still held onto her tiny wrist. I inhaled a quick hit of the joint and tried looking at her, but I couldn't, so I kept staring at the ceiling. "I lied to you...before. I said I didn't like you or whatever, but I do, and it's just confusing and—"

"You don't have to do this." She whispered, her head shaking back and forth slowly.

"What?"

"I know you feel bad for me or whatever, but I don't need you to do whatever it is you're doing right now, okay? I just need to clear my head." She stated before pulling away from me.

"Coyote—"

"Please," she breathed, her eyes lowered. I sighed, looking down at my feet. She turned away and sauntered back into her room, shutting the door. I wanted to throw something or kick something or hit someone.