❝𝐢 𝐰𝐚𝐬𝐧'𝐭 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝. ❞
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East Bridge High-a place of artificial, forlorn personalities that were adorned with the most expensive items in orde...
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THE NEXT few days of school were to be as expected—treacherous and boring. Everyday proceeded as usual, Cleo would attend her AP Psychology class basking in the information of why humans act the way they do. While Joshua decided to attend his English classes, stoned. His excuse being that he couldn't listen to Mrs. Addams voice if he was sober. Already falling back into his old habits, he was setting himself up for a path of disappointment and possible disownment from his father. Eric and Nathaniel spent half of their week cutting class, possibly to take a smoke from Nate's cigarettes he would graciously steal from his father while he was drunk off a bottle of bourbon. The two boys preferred to keep their rendezvous to themselves—not out of a spiteful manner to exclude any one of their friends though.
During the 2nd period after lunch, Eric and Nathaniel would meet up at a secluded spot in the hallway that was closest to the staircase that led to the roof of their school. This tradition of cutting shortly began after Joshua left for boarding school during sophomore year, his absence forced the two boys to become friends and it was a way they slowly bonded over time. Although their bonding moment resulted in a nicotine addiction and possible lung cancer in the future, it still gave them comfort in the fact that they had their spot, reserved for times when they needed a moment away from the prison they currently resided in.
Eric always made sure to bring cologne in order to mask the scent of the cigarettes, and Nathaniel always stole exactly two Marlboro cigarettes. There was an offer to one day bring cigars, but they didn't want to be too flashy.
Reaching the rooftop of the school, they had their designated seats atop of the AC unit. Since it was winter, they were met with the subtle winds that softly brushed them across the face. It was mildly refreshing and somewhat therapeutic as they were able to feel the repeated gushes and hear the humming of the AC underneath them. Nathaniel gently pulled the lighter out from the pockets of his khaki pants while Eric held the cigarette inside the brim of his mouth, letting it dangle loosely as the soft taste of tobacco grazed his tongue. After fiddling with the lighter, attempting to ignite the spark due to the sheer windiness, it finally lit aflame, a sudden warmness surrounding the area which Nate held the lighter near. After seeing the glowing end of the butt of the cigarette, Nate began to light his own.
The first hit quickly began to sting the insides of Eric's throat, he was not as accustomed to using them like Nathaniel, who inhaled with such ease. A short sense of euphoria for Nate, who was undeniably in love with the short head rush he was given. As he balanced the cigarette between his pointer and middle fingers, he admired the view of the dead trees, making mental notes of the few leaves that were still clung on. He began to gradually zone out before the sound of Eric's gravelly voice—due to the burning in his throat—broke him out of it.
"You know we should probably stop smoking these soon." Eric suggested as he took another puff, slowly letting the smoke roll out of his mouth.
