Breaking Old Habits

Untitled Part 1

It was Saturday night, and Brian sat in his parent's living room against the florescent glow of his flat screen. On another typical weekend he would be out to dinner with his dorm roommates or studying, but summer had rolled around and his parents had taken off to an overnight date, leaving him only with some cash for a pizza and no car. But, he had the idea just a few hours before to call some old friends of his for a night to themselves.

In the kitchen window, he could spot Victor's Honda pulling slowly into the driveway from the corner of his eye. At the slam of the driver door Bernard, Brian's French Bulldog, began barking and jumped from his perch on the couch. Brian stood and walked to the front door.

Outside, just beyond a strip of Colorado suburbs, was the last orange strip of summer sunset that tore its way across the sky. The trees had turned to silhouettes, the street seemed quiet and vacant, and there was a refreshing coolness to the air. Coming up the walkway, Brian saw the figures of Luis and Victor, long time high school friends who he hadn't talked too since graduation. It brought him great comfort to reunite, as college hadn't been going the way he always imagined it would, and seeing their faces for the first time in years drowned all the hysteria out, even if it were only for a second.

"Hey man," Brian said as they came up the front porch steps. He had always thought that college changed people, but from what he saw in front of him, they looked like the same best friends he shared his high school days with. Victor, without saying anything, went straight in for a hug while Luis stood behind and slicked back is auburn hair.

"You're looking good. Did you ever think there would be a summer when we saw each other again? Cause I didn't. I always expected to be way too busy. And my mom wants all the time she can get with me when I'm home. Like, cute, but kinda embarrassing." Said Luis as they proceeded back into Brian's childhood home. Bernard ran up to the two strangers to greet them. Victor kneeled to rub his stomach.

"I'm happy that I was at least in town. My internship lets me off early on Saturday's so you were just in luck. I freaked when I saw your number on my phone." Victor stood up from the dog. I didn't believe it for a second." A comfortable silence fell between them. Out of the hundreds of things to catch up on, it seemed that none of them could choose one to discuss.

"So, Victor," Luis finally cut in as he shimmied out of his bomber jacket and threw it over the couch, "Did you bring it? I really hope you did."

"I wouldn't forget." Victor took the black backpack from his shoulder and dug through it before producing a little bag filled with greenery.

"Oh. Okay." Brian recognized the contents of the bag as nothing other than weed.

"Sorry. Forgot to mention it to ya Brian." Luis looked at Brian with pity, then turned to Victor. "Did you get the good stuff? I really hope you did. Cause in high school you got ripped off so many times." he whined.

"No need to remind me. And this is trustworthy." Victor replied matter-of-factly.

Brian knew that weed wouldn't make his classes any easier or rebuild his ruined relationships, but he at least knew that he was responsible when he did use it. He had never driven after smoking and never pressured his friends into trying it; for that matter he didn't distribute it either. It was something purely for him to have in moderation. That was one of the things he loved about Colorado. It was a mostly quiet state, for four years it stayed out of the direct path of Donald J. Trump's various suspicious activities, and no one particularly cared if you bought a little weed. It was 2020, and Brian didn't have to sneak it around like he did before it was legal.