the strangers series. (mgk ; machine gun kelly)

3 • 𝖒𝖆𝖌𝖓𝖔𝖑𝖎𝖆

Fast forward three hours and you'd find me close to the point where the amount of alcohol I consumed could be considered harmful to me. I didn't really feel drunk, in fact, I felt great.
The only thing that made me wary about how much I drank was the fact that I couldn't stand upright by myself for a long amount of time.
But I didn't care, I was too damn busy having the time of my life. I felt a smile stretch across my lips as I glanced over at Kells in the drivers' seat next to me, whooping as he raised his long, tattooed arms out through the sunroof of his jeep before they returned back down to the wheel.
He mindlessly handed me the joint that was just between his lips, exhaling smoke as he doubled over with laughter from Slim's, Rook's, and Lola's contagious giggles behind us.
That didn't stop him from speeding over the windy road we were on, his headlights the only thing giving us enough light to see. I knew I should be scared, seeming that my life was in the hands of a tipsy, high drug dealer with an agenda I didn't know about but I oddly felt calm and....
Happy.
The speed we were going at didn't faze me like it would've if my mind wasn't doped up and fucked with, barely crossing my mind.
If this was what i've been missing out on my whole life, this sense of intoxicating freedom and fun, I was glad I was getting a taste of it now.
I took a hit from the J as I listened to the rest of them in the back rapping, no- screaming, along to Playboi Carti's Magnolia over the stereo,
"In New York I Milly Rock, hide it in my sock- Running from an opp, then I shoot at opp- And I'm on the block, and I'm on the block- In New York I Milly Rock, hide it in my sock- Hide in my sock, selling that rerock!"
The laugh that escaped my mouth was barely audible over the loud music but Kells glanced over, my eyes catching the glint in his as his smile grew wider.
I felt myself melt as I continued to stare at his side profile, the way the moonlight fell on his sunken cheekbones and slim nose making him look more intriguing than ever.
I don't think you need anymore weed.
I ignored my own advice, continuing to nurse the joint as I felt the car slow down. I heard Lola sigh, amazement in her voice as she stared out the windshield,
"Damn."
I tore my gaze from Kells as I looked out at the view, feeling as amazed as Lola did. Before us was an overhanging cliff with the view of what seemed to be the whole fucking state of Ohio.
I heard Slim's familiar scoff as Kells chuckled once he saw our gaping mouths, opening his door as he jumped out,
"You've never been up here before? Thought you've lived here your whole life."
I didn't respond, letting Lola do it for us as I got out of the jeep, feeling drawn to the city lights below us,
"Yeah, we have, but we never knew this place fucking existed."
The sound of the crunching of my boots on the gravel underneath my feet caught Kells' attention as I walked up behind him. He glanced back as he sat on top of the park bench that was conveniently placed by the edge, his smile lessening to a softer smirk as I sat on the seat.
The chuckles and chatter from the three behind us faded as I focused on the lights swimming together below me. I giggled a little, trying my hardest not to rub my eyes in fear of messing up my makeup,
"Are we even in fucking Ohio anymore?"
His familiar chuckle reached my ears as he spoke up from behind me,
"Yeah, just not in Cleveland."
That caught my full attention, the previous feeling of calmness draining out of my body. I turned my body around, facing his as he leaned his elbows forward to rest on his thighs. I looked up at him, his dark eyes already trained on me through his floppy hair,
"We're not in Cleveland? Where are we?"
I laughed as I said the last part, starting to feel a little hysterical for some reason. Kells chuckled along with me, shaking his head a little as he snatched the joint out of my fingers, the rings on his fingers glinting in the moonlight,
"Sandusky."
I had enough sense left in me to realize that we weren't that far from home- just an hour-or-so drive away. I relaxed a little bit after hearing that, realizing there was nothing to worry about at the moment.
I don't know, I wanted to believe that he just wanted to be friends but I couldn't help but feel a little cautious about him. I mean, it's him, we're talking about- the guy I used to see around town and wanna stay away from.
Lola's words from last night popped into my head, making my heart sink a little- her words about how there was something off about him. It was nothing I didn't already know but maybe he's different once you get to know him. I knew I was making excuses but I just had a knack for wanting to believe the best in people.
My first mistake.
Despite all the thoughts raging in my muddled head, I nodded anyway, glancing back out at the view as Lola, Rook, and Slim made their way over. The sound of someone slamming themselves down on the bench made me jump a little but I didn't turn back, just kept my droopy eyes on the city before me.
I was almost able to drown out their chuckles and chatter till I felt the bench dip next to me. I glanced over, my hazy eyes settling on Kells staring out at the view, as well. The smile that was previously on his face had now diminished, leaving a blank expression.
He glanced over for a few seconds before digging a lighter out of his jeans' pocket, relighting the J as he spoke up,
"So, you really never been here before? Almost every Clevelander has been here- at least once."
I shook my head against the breeze, tearing my eyes was from his as I responded,
"No, I haven't. I've never really been outside of Cleveland, really. Always been stuck there."
I didn't have to look to know there was an incredulous look on his face, my suspicions being confirmed from the wary tone in his low voice,
"This your first time out of Cleveland?"
I shrugged, starting to feel a little judged. Not everyone had cars and any opportunity to drive away for as long as they wanted,
"I don't know. Not that I remember- I only ever go places with Nick and the rest of them and i'm usually high off my ass. I don't pay attention,"
The chuckle that came out of my mouth eased me out of my growing awkwardness. I had hoped it'd help me loosen up a bit, despite the weed and booze in my system.
He "ooh"-ed under his breath, taking a drag from the joint still in his grasp. The sound of the j's end burning sent shivers throughout my body, for some godforsaken reason- it reminded me of warmth, something that I could use right about now.
I glanced over just as Kells sat up a little straighter, bumping his knee into mine in a gesture to catch my attention again,
"Hey, speakin' of Nick,"
He handed the joint over, waiting for me to take it as his demeanor changed into something more serious,
"Has he said anythin' 'bout... maybe having to drop somethin' off for someone? Or just has he spoken about a job he had?"
He must've thought I was too high to take his words into consideration, but I went along with it despite every part of me yearning to snap. Maybe I could get something out of this.
I gladly took the roll out of his fingers, inhaling before answering him,
"Why you asking?"
I wish I hadn't glanced back at him, the disappointed look on his face making my heart drop. He had hoped for a different answer and he didn't get it.
I raised an eyebrow, sitting up straighter against the table until I felt the wood digging into my back,
"Why?"
Kells shook his head, looking anywhere but at me,
"Nothin'."
In that moment, I knew I was right to believe there was a reason behind his kindness, his fake, half-assed hospitality. I scoffed, flicking the joint onto the table,
"I can't believe this, I can't believe you,"
I immediately felt the alcohol take control of me, blocking out every rational thought running through my mind. I knew I was gonna make a mess out of all this, an unnecessary mess, but my emotions were on a roller coaster I couldn't get them off of.
Kells stared back at me, shock and something else registering in his blue eyes.
Maybe guilt.
He gaped up at me as I stood up abruptly, catching him, and everyone else, off-guard,
"What the fuck are you talkin' about?"
I sneered at him, as I tried my hardest to keep my balance, my angry eyes staring down at his confused ones,
"You made up a little fucking plan to get some shit out of me so you gave me your alcohol and your weed, hoping oh-so-dearly that you could get it out."
The dizziness that overcame my vision took me by surprise as I tried catching my breath and keeping my balance, at the same time as confronting Kells without making a fool out of myself.
Well, kinda too late for that.
I saw Slim stand up from his perch from the other side of the bench, making his way slowly towards me,
"Yo, Lilly, c'mon-"
Lilly?
Only my friends called me that- not drug dealers I barely fucking knew. I turned my attention from a wide-eyed Kells to Slim, swinging my arm in his direction in hopes of swatting his outstretched arm away from me,
"Don't fucking call me that, you're not my friend- I don't know you, I don't know any of you so just fucking take me home."
I directed the last part at Kells, who was now standing and holding an arm out to me. I ignored the gesture, just stared dead in his eyes as he contemplated what to do next.
I blinked the sudden wave of tears away, feeling stupid enough to trust these men, men I barely knew, with my life. The worst part was that I knew this was a possibility, that he wanted something out of me, but I let myself fall for the trap, anyways.
You thought he'd ever wanna know you? You're nothing but a nuisance.
I saw his adam's apple bob a little as Kells gulped, his eyes flickering over to Slim, who was now standing behind me. He cleared his throat, flashing a small smile in hopes of defusing my anger,
"Listen, you're bein' paranoid. I was just askin' a question, alright? Can you just get away from the edge and sit down- you're not thinkin' straight."
I glanced back, seeing, in fact, that I was too close to the edge for comfort. Besides the fact that I could easily fall over from my dizziness and straight over the edge, I shook my head, crossing my arms as I stared him down,
"No, don't do that shit- don't make me think i'm being paranoid, okay? Just take me the fuck home."
Lola suddenly scoffed, sitting back down on the bench as she rolled her eyes at me,
"Oh, please, you'd rather be with your abusive ass drunk of a father than here with these hot ass men?"
I mentally cringed, thinking of ways to kill her without getting charged for murder- she basically told these strangers how pathetic my life back home really was and called them hot, on top of all that. She had no filter once she had a few drinks and it made me wanna strangle her.
I rolled my eyes back, ignoring the sympathetic looks the men were giving me, just focusing on Kells stepping forward towards me,
"I will, okay? Just sit down for a sec."
I didn't have a choice but to sit back down, seeming he was the only way I was ever getting back home, safe and sound- or at least just soundly. I kept my arms crossed as I stumbled back to the bench, shoving his bicep with my shoulder as I passed him.
I meant it to be intimidating but I failed since our drastic height difference made it hard for me to get his shoulder- it just made me look like a little bitch.
I heard Slim exhale once I got away from the edge, walking back to his seat on the other side of the bench. The sound of Rook's, Lola's and Slim's chatter eased me a little, them being normal comforting me a bit.
God, drinking this much is driving you fucking crazy.
I refused to make eye contact with Kells as I noticed that he now stood in front of me, his eyes trained on me while mine were trained down on his combat boots.
My ears picked up the soft, but tired, sound of his sigh before he spoke,
"Is it really that hard for you to believe i'd wanna get to know you?"
I scoffed, feeling another hysteric laugh climbing up my throat. Oh, if only he knew what really went on in my head.
I turned around and plucked the joint off the table, placing it between my lips once again,
"Is it really that hard for you to believe that i'd understandably be wary 'bout you after you kinda threatened me not even two fucking days ago?"
He immediately chuckled, shuffling his boots out of my sight as he sat back down next to me,
"Oh, c'mon- I didn't fuckin' threaten you. If I recall, I think I called you pretty, though- that must count for somethin' right?"
My cheeks felt as if they had the sudden urge to blush but I refused it, letting my annoyance cloud my embarrassment. I didn't know anything anymore so I didn't bother answering- none of my thoughts were straight and I couldn't trust myself to handle this the right way.
I took another inhale from the joint before it burned out, leaving me to blow the excess smoke out from the last hit with a pout.
I heard shuffling next to me and then a spark, his tattooed wrist entering my vision with his hand gripping a sparked lighter. I stuck the end of the j into the flame, inhaling until it caught the flame.
I mumbled a quiet "thanks" as he nodded, leaning back against the bench. That left us with nothing to do but stare out at the view, our exchange of words leaving my high mind to slowly comprehend what the fuck just happened. I just lashed out at him and accused him of using me and he ended up calling me pretty- well, that's confusing.
Despite knowing that deep down, that he wanted something out of me, I allowed myself to just be happy for one second; this was what i've always wanted- to just live and I was ruining the night by being an emotional bitch.
I glanced over at him, the smoke exiting my mouth blurring the view of his upturned eyes and slight smirk. As the smoke vanished, I was left to stare at the side of his face as he studied the night sky. It was as if he was in another world- all by himself.
I envied the fact that he could escape into his own mind like that- that'd come in handy in my life. But I figured he zoned out so easily because he was high 24/7.
Lucky him.
I cleared my throat, taking one last hit from the almost-stinger between my fingers before handing the remainders back to him,
"To answer your question- I don't know if it does."
He snapped out of his daze, his eyes now meeting mine. I did a double-take for a sec, noticing how I could still see the blue pigment in his eyes despite the dim lighting- it was weird how intense his eyes were. His deep voice drew me out of my trance as he responded, his eyebrows raised,
"What does that mean?"
I sighed, running my fingers through my locks as I glanced away from his intimidating gaze,
"I don't even fucking know, okay? It's just that... I got so defensive because my whole teenage life, i've been told to watch out for you- to stay away. Like, whenever I saw you around town, i'd freeze up like a deer in headlights 'cause you were the man I was warned about for most of my life and now here I am, smoking a joint with you. You can't blame me for being defensive when you start asking questions about my best friend, alright? This is all just too much for my high ass to even think about right now. I'm tweaking the fuck out because of you and I don't even know why,"
I stopped my rant, glancing back to see the smirk stretching across his lips as I tried to catch my breath. The chuckle that escaped his mouth made me regret my words- made me wanna shove my words straight back down my throat.He leaned forward so that I felt his breath against my cheek, laughing as he talked,
"People are that fucking scared of me? You're that scared of me?"
Oh, as if he didn't fucking know. That lowkey irked me, the fact that he acted as if he didn't already know that some people shook in their shoes at the sight of him 'round town. I rolled my eyes, looking back out at the city lights below us,
"Shut the fuck up- you already knew that."
He chuckled a little with finality, resting his arm behind me on the table as he leaned back and looked out at the view, as well. I watched the smoke that escaped his lips fly across my vision along with the breeze- along with my doubts,
"Huh, I knew you seemed familiar. But that shit doesn't matter, aight? You don't have to be scared of me no more."