Flames

fourteen

It's quite hard to achieve being completely alone when you attend a school with two thousand other students and we're all forced to stay in that school for seven hours a day. Even when you think you know the most secluded places, there's always someone else that probably knows about it too - as seen when I ran to the isolated bathroom and was quickly found by an unwanted visitor. 

So, when I said I wanted to be alone, I ended up just sitting by the edge of the sidewalk that overlooked the empty -apart from the obvious cars- parking lot. 

There was barely enough shade to cover my entire body but I settled, not wanting to move anywhere due to lack of motivation.

And just like I figured would happen, I was once again ripped from my few moments alone - as a figure appeared from behind the corner - and I sighed, letting the intruder take a seat next to me.

"You're quite good at avoiding people, you know?" Zayn said, his eyes overlooking the lot. 

"Not good enough, apparently," I replied, giving Zayn a quick glance. Just a while ago he seemed like he didn't want much to do with me, but suddenly had a change of heart?

"Well after what just happened, I knew I had to find you, so."

"Either way it's none of your business, Zayn."

"I don't care if it's my business or not, I walked in on you two fighting, and he was hurting you! Then, when I try and defend you, you suddenly change your mind and decide to be on his side? What the hell is that even about?" He commented with a grimace. 

I wrinkled my nose and stared at the closest vehicle to us. It was an older, red Camry with very tinted windows and a Dallas Cowboys sticker on the back. "Doesn't change the fact that it's none of your business, plus, I never defended him, I just wanted you both to leave me alone," I replied, not giving him any praise for interrupting us. 

"He was being a dick!" Zayn exclaimed. 

"No he wasn't! And what does it matter to you anyway? You chose to ignore me this morning, and trust me I took the hint very clearly," I retorted. 

Zayn said nothing, but rather heavily sighed whilst he reached for his pocket, took out a cigarette and a lighter, then lit it up. But before he could actually put it in his mouth, I snatched it from his hand and placed it between my lips, taking a long drag. 

Bad mistake. 

The unfamiliar smoke filled my lungs rapidly; causing my esophagus to freak out, and very loud coughs escape from my mouth. Not to mention, the taste was absolutely terrible - I swear I could taste the three minutes of my life being slowly taken away. Okay, maybe that was an exaggeration, but it was still as bad as I thought it’d be. 

I gave it back to Zayn who was staring at me with a bewildered look – eyebrows furrowed. Without saying anything, he took the cigarette and took a drag himself, but due to his familiarity with it, it came out smooth and much more cooler than I. 

Once he was done with it, I reached to grab it again, but failed to retreat is as Zayn quickly moved it away from my hands.

“I think you’ve had enough,” he said. 

I wiggled my nose and turned to look at him again, “I think I know when I’ve had enough don’t you think?”

“It’s a bad habit Sam, trust me.”

“I never said I was going to start smoking, I just want another puff, that’s all.”

“You clearly did not like the first, so there’s no need for a second,” he pestered.