fem.

Not the type

I feel like I'm in a panic! at the disco music video as I storm into the headshop near my apartment. I've only ever been in here once, only because Avery thought it was ridiculous I had never seen a bong before.

I'm a loser, I know, but right now I just need something, anything, to get out of my own head. Plus, I've never tried it before, and I have a thing where I insist on trying everything once.

I still have no idea what I'm doing, nor what terms I'm supposed to use, so I just walk around aimlessly, hoping someone will notice my confusion.

"Do you need any help, miss?"

My face lights up as I turn around to see a young man.... go to help another woman.

Ugh.

I begrudgingly end up walking up to a lady at the desk and asking her if she could pick one out for me. She scans my face, making an obvious facial expressing conveying the message "you don't look like you should be here", but she still helps me find a simple, glass bong, and checks me out.

"So— uh — where can I get the stuff?" I ask her after I pay.

"What stuff?"

"The... um... you know. The stuff you put in the thing."

"The stuff... you put... oh, are you seriously just asking where to get weed? The dispensary, three blocks north from here."

"Got it. Thanks."

"No problem. Maybe bring a friend with you next time, so I don't have to hold your hand through it."

I roll my eyes and walk out the door. I don't want anyone holding my hand. In fact, I don't want anyone coming close to me. Or talking to me. Or even looking—

My phone rings. It's a number I don't recognize.

"H-Hey? Who's this?" I ask, guessing it's Brett or something, trying to tell me that I'm a prick.

"Andie? It's Aspen. You all good?"

I exhale. I feel a physical weight lift off my chest.

"Oh— hey. I'm doing fine. You?"

"I'm off of work today and I figured— if you're not to busy hooking up with Xavier— we could hang out later?"

"I'm not busy," I strain, "Not busy at all. I can hang out."

"Cool. My place or yours?"

"Mine. Do you know how to smoke weed?"

She laughs... and I laugh too, but I'm not sure why.

"Um... yeah. I know the basics. Why?"

"I'm getting some and I don't know how to use it."

"Why are you...? Okay, yeah, sure, I can teach you. I'll be over there in 30 minutes."

"Sounds great. Bye Aspen."

"Bye, stoner."

I hang up with a huge grin on my face.