that damned cigarette ↪ m.c

2.2 - what have you taken?

this is a one-off chapter because I was shamelessly going to promote my friend's story but it's not happening so oh well, keep the update c: . back to the new schedule after this c:

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The next week or so, I spent every day with River. We had gone bowling, to the beach, a movie night in his apartment. I was obsessed with the calm he brought over me and I missed it when I didn’t have it.

I had even tried a little of River’s joint. It wasn’t as great as everyone said it would be. My mind was a little fuzzy plus I was constantly hungry that night. He laughed and kept saying my case of the munchies was one of the funniest he’s ever seen. Apparently, Griff was his dealer.

Right now, we were sitting in his car outside my apartment. I had to go in but I didn’t want to leave him.

“I have something to say before you go, Princess.” I happily relaxed back into my seat now I had a reason to stay with him longer. “I know it hasn’t been too long but I really like you. You make me happy and you’re accepting and beautiful and I don’t want to stop spending time with you.”

The smile on my face couldn’t be bigger as I looked at River. “I really like you, too.” And I really did. I loved being with him. He leant over to me and kissed me, properly this time. It was slow and lazy but filled me with a lethal feeling I didn’t understand. His lips tasted of his joint and I smiled into the kiss.

-&-

I drove to Michael’s apartment in a daze. I knew the girls were there, they had been most of the week whilst I was with River and I wanted to tell them the news. Luke was the one that let me up and I told him to tell the others I had an announcement.

They were all sitting around me and I was finding it hard to stop my lips from tugging up into a smile. “I think me and River are together.”

They all stared at me in utter silence. I didn’t notice the looks they passed one another – I was staring over Ashton’s head remembering the kiss I had recently shared with River.

“Are you okay?” Rosie’s face showed concern but her voice sounded sarcastic. As if what I was doing was wrong. Is it wrong to really like being with someone?

“Why wouldn’t I be?” I snapped at her and I watched her face fall.

“Natalie, what have you taken?” Michael was standing right beside me, his hand reaching out for my arm.

“No. Don’t touch me.” I snarled at him. They were all staring at me. Anxiety built from the bottom of my stomach and spread throughout my body. Every single one of them had their eyes on me. The room was spinning now and I could feel something on my arm.

“Stop!” I ran. I ran until I was out of the doors and in the street. I could breathe again.

16:24 Natalie: I’m coming to yours.

I needed to go to his. He would make me feel calm again.

The drive to his apartment took longer than I wanted. Although neither me nor the boys had a lot of money, we still had decent apartments. River’s however, was in the poorer side of town and the traffic was hell. I tapped my fingers on the steering wheel the whole way there, unable to sit still.

I knocked on the door multiple times, agitated by the wait. I knew where his spare key was – he had to use it last time we were here – but it was rude to just barge in. I stood back from his door and called him. I could hear his phone ringing from inside but still no answer.