The Millionth Mile

Chapter Four | Atlantic City, NJ

Chapter Four | Atlantic City, NJ

. . . . .

Atlantic City, New Jersey. Home to a variety of casinos, endless shopping, and by-the-beach nightlife.

It's basically a mini Las Vegas on the Atlantic coast.

That's what Jackson said, at least. I, personally, had not been to Vegas for many years so I really didn't  have much knowledge for comparison.

"How old are you again, Reese?" Joey inquired as we set our stuff down in the cramped motel room we were forced to reside in for the night. It wasn't exactly five stars but, hey, it had a pretty bad ass location right next to the beach.

There were two queen beds, a dresser with a box T.V. on top, a small round table and chair placed next to the window, and a huge mirror behind the dresser. The linens all looked clean, but were a little outdated--it had a design that looked pretty similar to something my mom would've like in the 80's. The room, however, smelled like poorly aired out smoke. Of course, considering that they decided on getting a smoking room, I should've expected that particular fragrance.

Kellan shut the door behind him as he carried his duffel bag in and in an attempt to answer for me said, "Four Eyes over here is only 18."

"18 and a half." I added defensively.

"Same difference." He replied, rolling his eyes and shrugging his shoulders.

"Damn. What the hell are you gonna do when we go out later tonight then?" Joey brought up a good point. I mean, the three of them are over the age of 21, meaning that they'd have access to places I wouldn't be able to go to. It'd suck a lot if they couldn't go bar-hopping or whatever it is 22 year olds do because of my underaged ass.

"I can stay here. It's no problem at all." I say, nonchalantly shrugging my shoulders and taking a seat on the queen bed closest to the window.

"That's pretty boring though, don't you think?" Jackson piped up.

"No. It's cool. I can sleep." I reassured him, confirming it with a smile.

"Yeah, the princess over here is gonna need her beauty sleep anyways," Kellan annoyingly added, who was leaning against the dresser and lighting a cigarette up, "And I'm not in the mood to babysit tonight."

I felt my eye twitch in response and resisted the urge to slap the cigarette out of his hand, in an effort that would make the entire motel burn down with Kellan in it.

Jackson and Joey remained silent, obviously trying their best to not have any one-sided opinions on this predicament.

"Hey, Kel, let me take a hit." Jackson broke the silence and plucked the cigarette from between Kellan's fingers after Kellan took one more drag, blowing the smoke away from Jackson.

"You want your own stoge?" Kellan asked Jackson, grasping for the cigarette pack in his left pocket.

Jackson, in return, took a drag and blew out the smoke before answering, "Nah, I'm alright. I got my own pack, just didn't need my own just yet."

He motioned to Joey with the cigarette, asking if he wanted a hit. Joey replied with a shake of his head, "No I'm good. I still got some on me for later."

Jackson then turned to me and I politely shook my head and smiled, "No thanks. I don't smoke."

I find smoking gross. I mean, no offense to anybody that does smoke, but it's just ew. All the tobacco, and lung cancer, and emphysema all mixed together from years of chronically smoking is just tragic. I don't know about most people, but I'd prefer it if my lungs were pink and my airways open.