Better Than Dreams

Smoke

Timothy

We were sitting on the cold pine-wood bench at the edge of the pond. Sebastian looked freezing. I would've given him coat if I had one, but I hadn't even thought to bring one. I didn't get cold easily.

"That duck is eyeing me weirdly." Sebastian stated plainly.

I laughed.

The duck was indeed, glaring at us. It's beady black eyes bore into us like the eyes of Satan watching from hell. Calculating and evil.

"Well, what do you want me to do about it?" I asked, and Seb cracked a smile.

"I always keep a jack-knife in my pocket..." Seb trailed off, grinning.

"Yeah, that may be a hard one to get yourself out of. Oh, sir! I'm so so sorry for killing the duck! I couldn't help it! It was giving me the stink eye." I said, mocking Seb in a high-pitched voice.

"Oh, shut up." Seb muttered, though, he was smiling.

We sat in silence for a moment. Me, with my eyes closed, breathing in the clean air. Him, freezing. I could literally hear his teeth chattering.

"Are you okay?" I asked slowly.

"Mhm." he mumbled, shrugging his coat closer to his body. He was wearing only a dark blue bomber jacket and black jeans. Severely under-dressed.

I took a second to admire the jacket. 

The navy colour had begun to fade over the years. He'd obviously had it since at least eighth grade. It barely fit him. 

I could tell he only kept it for sentimental purposes. The whole backside of the fabric was covered in overlapping patches, all from different countries or airports. I wondered if they were souvenirs from past trips. If so, he must've liked Cairo. There were several patches showcasing sights in Cairo, Egypt. That didn't strike me as very Sebastian-type place, but each to their own, I suppose.

There was one patch I was especially curious about. Not from a place, or a brand. I had no idea where he could've gotten it. A broken mirror. One large crack straight through the middle, and many other smaller cracks extending from one side out. Interesting.

"Where'd you get the patches?" I asked.

"Places." He said. 

I waited for him to elaborate, but he stayed quiet. he then reached into his pocket and pulled out a small cardboard box and a lighter.

"What the heck! You can't just- Are you smoking!?" I cried. Honestly, I shouldn't have been surprised. 

"Well, I have to light it first, but, yeah." Sebastian said, creating a spark at the tip of the lighter.

"You can't do that!"

"Why the fuck not?" Sebastian asked, glaring at me.

"It's against the rules!" 

"That's nice." He answered, bringing the cigarette to his lips, and biting it, letting it hand from his teeth.

I began to cough, trying to cover my mouth. Sebastian stopped, blew the smoke to the side and looked at me quizzically.

"Have you never even breathed in smoke?" He asked.

"No!"

"You should. Helps with stuff." Sebastian said quietly.

I wasn't sure what 'stuff' he was referring to, but I was too shocked to speculate.

"Here." Sebastian said, handing me a smoke.