The smoke danced around in the poorly lit room and traveled outside onto the balcony where Kai stood. Taking another sharp inhale, he held it for a few seconds longer than usual before letting out the swirling clouds into the bright summer sky.
The air was extremely humid. Times like these made Kai miss the frigid cold winter. Although, any season it was he would complain. Winter wasn't pretty enough, fall wasn't warm enough, spring was a little too windy for his liking, and summer was just too hot. Sometimes, Kai would wonder what the weather would be like on the West coast. Was it warm in the right months? Was the temperature constantly changing like in New York?
Vince stood beside him, leaning over the railing. He looked down at the busy street below him. Kai couldn't help but stare at the pure contentment on his face. Despite the wholesome happy facade Vince has going on, he often worried just like the rest of them. Kai worries about Vince a lot, too.
What about the street is making him this happy?
It quickly hit Kai that it wasn't anything on the street making him happy. He watched as Vince reached over and took the glass bowl out of his hands. As Vince put it up to his lips he looked at Kai through hooded eyes. A droopy smile played at his lips.
Oh.
"Light me?"
It took Kai a second to process that Vince was speaking to him. He reached around to his back pocket and took out his one and only white lighter. Across it were tiny words engraved in it. Vince had gotten it for him on his 18th birthday.
As he held one hand up to cup the flame, he lit the lighter and held it up to the glass. Vince took a slow but deep inhale of the smoke and as soon as he exhaled, another goofy smiled stretched across his lips.
A stream of giggles arose from the tall boy and Kai raised his eyebrow in question. In front of him he held out his hands and was examining them with extreme concentration on his face.
"Vince."
He quickly turned his attention away from his hands and onto Kai.
"Yeah?"
"If you're gonna smoke with me, you need to learn how to act - not like that."
His smile dropped as he looked into Kai's eyes. I thought I was acting fine? he thought to himself.
Kai frowned to himself.
I didn't mean it like that.
"I'm just fucking with you, man. You're just acting kinda weird." He let out a small chuckle.
In return, Vince laughed back. A hearty laugh. One that made Kai's heart skip a beat. Or maybe two.
I want to hear you laugh like that more often.
"Maybe I should get you high more often. You're kind of cute when you're like this."
Correction, you're always cute.
"That's kind of gay, man. I'll take it though."
"Good. That's the only compliment you're getting tonight." Kai scoffs.
"Plus, I only said it to make you feel better."
That's a lie.
"Yeah." Vince starts. "Totally."
-
As soon as Tripp and Amelia show up, they all head into the living room. Kai likes it like this. Of course he'll never admit it, but, he enjoys when all four of them are together outside of runs. No matter what anyone's doing, as long as they're all in one place Kai feels a little better.
As he leans against the kitchen island, he examines his three friends.
Vince is laying across the couch, his long legs stretched out. A small smile tugs at the corner of his lips. His eyes are closed. I wonder what he's thinking about. Amelia and Tripp sit on the floor in front of the couch. Tripp is focused intently on the TV in front of him. Some old show from the early 2000's is playing. How ancient. Amelia is playing with Tripp's hair. It's cute how she's warmed up to him..
A soft knock is heard from the other side of the door. Kai looks over and starts to walk towards the sound but Amelia gets up first.
"It's my friends. I told them to come over so they could meet you. No offense Kai, but you rarely get out of the house. It'll be good to meet new people."
Well fuck you too, Amelia.
"I do get out of the house. May I remind you of all the days I go on runs. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday- "
"Shut up."
"Amelia don't answer the door. Nobody but you knows these people."
"Vince knows Devon and he's heard of Topher before. Tripp knows both of them. Kai, sometimes instead of being such a -"
Another knock interrupts Amelia in the middle of her sentence.
"Just answer the door already." Vince groans out.
Kai merely rolls his eyes and heads over to the couch. As Amelia opens the door he plops down on the couch next to Vince.
The two walk in. The first one Kai sees is a girl. That must be Topher.
Her dark hair is pulled back into a high ponytail and as she walks it swings behind her. She has on an old looking band t-shirt; The Neighborhood. Ripped jeans and ratty looking combat boots. Cute. Her eyes are sharp and, pretty fucking pretty..
Maybe new friends won't be so bad after all.
Right behind her walks in the guy who must be Devon. He's sporting a dark green hoodie and a vintage looking jacket over it. His long-ish blonde hair is messy and tousled. Kind of like a messy bed head look!
"So you already know Vince and Tripp, but this is Kai."
Amelia points to him, as if it wasn't already obvious. A slight warmth crawls up the back of Kai's neck.
As Amelia nears the couch, Devon and Topher follow in suit. She plops down onto the chair next to the couch.
"Can I sit here?"
Kai looks up at the blonde man. His dark green eyes stare right back.
He mumbles a small "Yeah." The stranger sits down right next to him and right after so does the girl.
Amelia gestures to the two sitting next to him. "This is Devon," the girl waves at Kai when Amelia says this. Kai lets out a small chuckle at this. "Isn't she the cutest?" Amelia adds.
"Amelia!" She laughs and glares down at her.
"Sorry," Amelia laughs again and looks up at the blonde. "Kai, meet Topher. Topher, meet Kai."
Topher's eyes meet Kai's. He holds back a smile when Topher waves. Even cuter.
Vince quickly interrupts the introductions.
"So you guys are new Crows, right? Why'd you guys move here from Jersey?"
As Devon explains the whole situation, Kai realizes a couple things. 1) This girl talks way too much. 2) If he leaned a little closer, he could probably count the freckles that are scattered across Topher's nose and cheeks.
3) He could really go for another joint right now.
"Would it be rude to get up in the middle of her story?" Kai leans over to Vince and whispers.
"Uh, of course?"
"Ight."
Kai sits up quickly and walks over to his bedroom. He could feel Vince's eyes following him.
Once he entered into his room, he goes over to his bed side table and grabs one of his pre-rolled joints. He heads out to the balcony without anyone turning around and seeing him.
As soon as he lights up and inhales, he's greeted by another presence. Topher.
