Unlikeable

Night buzz

    The vibrating hum of Grayson's car was soothing. As was Ethan's hand on his shoulder from the back seat. Dark-grey streets contrasted vivid palm trees, overcast weather and light hip-hop music in the background like white noise.

The twins usually had busy schedules, booked to the minute, yet today had been cleared for them. It was the anniversary of their father's death: a day that needed to be spent in solitude. Watching out for one another.

    They had FaceTimed their mother and sister earlier that morning. It was heartfelt as their moods were light and nostalgic recounting fun memories. The twins decided to spend the rest of the day driving, maybe find a spot in the hills to light a bud in the evening.

    In all honesty, the twins had never batted an eye when it came to drugs. Despite their online disapproval of drugs and alcohol—due to their young audience— they simply never found interest in those substances. Grayson, however, grew a desire for the effects of marijuana and psychedelics. He found ways to explore his newfound interest.

    Ethan joined Gray for his own first time as had not yet been introduced to this new world yet. Because of this, Grayson made sure to make it a good experience for him.

    After lounging at a sushi place for dinner, the twins found their spot. The car was parked on the side of the road as they hiked a short distance. "How high do you wanna go up?" Asked Ethan. "Til we can see down on the city better." Was his curt answer.

    Semi-secluded in the hills a few miles from their house, the twins sat. They were situated in a cove of intertwining green that blanketed golden flowers. Since they were high in the hills, their view overlooked the road and down into the valley where lights decorated urbane houses and buildings. Driveways, palm trees, and modern, shuttered ceilings.

"Pretty view, Gray." Ethan found a spot to sit where there wasn't too much dirt. He didn't want to break eye contact from the sight.

    "Dude, where's the bong?" Grayson asked, pulling the plastic bag of bud from his pocket. The question made Ethan pause for a second. "I thought you had it...?"

   "ETHAN!" "You never told me to grab it, Gray!" "Yes, I DID! I was responsible for bringing the weed. The least you could've done was grab the bong like I told you." "Jeez. Nothing I can do about it now."

    Grayson dug his head into his palm. "Whatever. It's fine. I have edibles on me. Maybe it would be better for you, anyway. Less of a chance to fuck up." The younger twin seemed annoyed, still. He retrieved an orange gummy from another plastic wrap.

    "5mg should be a good amount. It's a hybrid so you'll feel a mind and body high; you'll see things and forget, but your body will also feel tired and make you act different." He murmured, handing the gummy to his older brother. "It might taste kinda nasty but it'll wash down with water."

    Ethan nodded. He popped the small edible in his mouth, making a face as the taste hit moments later. "Eghg," he stuck a tongue out with a disgusted face before chugging from his water bottle, water dribbling down his cheeks.

    "Drama queen." Grayson rolled his eyes.

~

    Give or take 20 minutes and Grayson was already regretting his decision to bring Ethan along.

    The darker-haired boy would throw his head back and laugh at the tiniest, random comments such as Grayson's, "haha look at the way that dude picked up his dog " or "ouch, why'd I grab it like that." He couldn't stop. Consequently, Grayson had to tell him to slow down and breathe on multiple occasions.

Ethan tried to control himself, looking into Gray's hazel eyes. The warm hand rested on his jaw grounded him through his hysteria.

    "I'm sorry, I don't even know why I'm laughing so much. If it's because I'm high, I don't even feel like it. It might not be working." He was confused why he felt normal. "You're only going through the first effects, I'm sure you're good for now." "For now?" Ethan worried.

    Grayson rested a palm on his shoulder. "Chill, E."

Ethan leaned back and rested his hands on his bent knees.

    "Who'd you smoke with for the first time?" Ethan asked. "Was it a new friend I don't know about or what? I can't imagine like Juanpa or Romeo letting you do it."

    "Why would you think that? They all think I'm the mature one." He replied, matter-of-factory. "Yeah? Why'd mom tell me the other day that you need me more than you think. I'm the neater one so that's why I don't have to clean as much as you do. And I do get things done when I need to. "

    "That's the dumbest thing you've ever said, Ethan." Grayson scoffed. That comment received a giggle from Ethan. The younger twin's classic squint tilted up towards the fading sun. The sky was tinged with deep orange and seemed dark and golden against his skin. "It'll be night soon."

Ethan fluttered his eyes. "There better not be any coyotes around here. Or mountain lions."

"Of course not, E." Grayson checked the time on his phone. The plan was to stay a couple hours after dark but it was getting cold. Luckily they had brought their windbreaker and jacket in case the hills got too chilly. Even though, cold seeped into their bones and gave them goosebumps.

    Living room lights flipped on in the homes, street lights hummed. Seconds faded into minutes as they sat, breathing in the crispy night air.

    "God, it's so quiet."

    Ethan didn't really hear Grayson's words. Waves washed over his head. It made his head heavy, eyes fluttering in slow-motion.

    It felt like his vision was barely moving left to right, involuntarily taking in how the hills and city seemed so distant yet close to him. Extra details began to fill in. The lights, distant hills that came in closing yet still. So complex, distorted, and weirdly pretty.

    Grayson looked over and saw his face. "Yeah, it's beautiful. Music makes it better."

   Ethan was zoning in and out. He was just amazed how he felt and how he'd never seen it before. He felt like time was rewinding back into his childhood, as if what he was seeing was familiar, more meaningful to him than it really was.

    He had the urge to put his head in his hands. The exhaustion hit him. "And that's the indica." Grayson smiled down at his brother.

    Grayson played a song on his phone after forever. To Ethan, the song made the effects stronger. The colors created abstract feelings in his wandering mind. It was a bit unnerving, how his own movements felt foreign. Almost awkward in how he was moving, uncontrolled. 

    Ethan blinked. A new thought formed. "I wish I could see this with dad." He said, distractedly and absentmindedly. He was acutely aware of the fact that their father was gone. But the heavy loss wasn't there like usual.

    He looked over to a sober Grayson after what felt like minutes. The younger twin was already looking at him. "Same here."

~

the picture above isn't my edit

🖤