Cigarette Smoke // FILLIE

Miserable

m i l l i e

      "Anyway, it doesn't matter whatever that was- I've got a proposition for tonight. Wyatt Oleff is throwing a party tonight, I vote we go." Ayla announces as I take the free stool beside Finn, sipping on my coffee as she speaks.

"I don't know, Ayla, it's already been 12 hours with you- can I handle any more?" The curly haired boy teases lazily from beside me, only annoying Ayla further.

"Oh please, you love me. Besides, you act like since you got cancer you're no longer a dumb teen. Be a dumb teen, Finn, don't let cancer take that away from you." She urges, leaning forward on the island with her eyes locked on his to show she means it.

He averts his eyes, though, instead focusing on the view through a nearby window of Ayla's backyard.

"Why would I want to spend what time I have left being a drunk mess?" He questions in defense, his words hurting all of us hard with the certainty in his voice.

"Would you rather spend it feeling sorry for yourself in treatment?" She responds lowly, drawing his eyes back to hers.

"Who said I feel sorry for myself?" He retorts lazily, getting a relentless sigh in return from Ayla.

"Just this one party, then you won't have to do anything else I want to for the rest of your life." She offers desperately as Finn rolls his eyes.

"What I have left of my life." He quietly corrects, taking a long drink from his cup before finally agreeing.

"Good, it's at 10 tonight. So, y'know, be ready by then. My parents will be landing in like thirty minutes, so you guys gotta be gone before they get here." The blue-eyed girl explains, throwing away her empty coffee cup before heading upstairs to where I assume is her room.

"I'll be downstairs, I gotta grab my stuff. Mills, you wanna leave soon?" Maddie asks while making her way to the basement door.

I nod, "Sure, I got some stuff I gotta grab too so I'll be a minute."

She nods before heading downstairs, shutting the door behind her as she goes.

"You don't actually believe you're going to die, right?" I ask, turning back to Finn as he stares down at his cup lazily.

"Would I be any different than the day we got these coffees?" He questions, tracing his thumb up and down the cup as he holds it mindlessly.

I furrow my brows, "What do you mean?"

"Nevermind, Brit. Suppose I thought you remembered that day better than you do. Disappointing for both of us, isn't it?" He admits through a low scoff, finishing his coffee with one fellow swoop to his lips before standing from the island and throwing his cup away while on his way towards the front door.

"Finn, wait, just tell me- you can't expect me to remember every single thing about that day." I protest, leaving my coffee on the counter as I follow him to the door.

"Then how come I do?" He snaps calmly while pulling on his brown, stylish boots over his sock-covered feet.

I stamper over my own thoughts, his abrupt leaving causing my mind to race dramatically.

"It's not how I think, Finn! You can't blame me for something I can't control, it's completely unfair." I reason while throwing my hands up, frustrated with his vagueness and stubborn personality.

He snickers while pulling his second shoe on before standing up straight.

"Tell me about it- it's my own life story, Brit. Life is unfair. How is it my fault that I'm still alive? How's that for unfair?" Finn remarks through a scoff, turning to the door right after as he swiftly leaves the warmth of the Tesler-Mabe residence and enters the frigid winds this day beholds.