SOPHIA
AGE: 19
I lay awake in bed at around 11 at night, doing a whole lot of nothing just as my phone chimes. I grab the phone from the side table and look at the lit up screen.
It's a text message from Saad.
SAAD: HOME DELIVERY!
I chuckle and sprint across the room, down the stairs and out of the main door. Just as I'm about to open the gate, I see the silhouette of a man in the garden.
Cold fear grips me.
I stiffen as the figure moves closer but visibly relax when I see that it's Aahil.
"Where are you going?" His voice is thick with some kind of emotion.
I huff, "Out."
"Out with whom, damn it!?" He growls.
I flinch at the sudden outburst but I'm sure he doesn't notice that. Nobody ever does. "Saad."
I hear him shouting my name but ignoring him I walk outside and shut the door harshly.
I see Saad leaning against his BMW with his arms crossed across his chest. When he sees me, he waves.
I wave back.
"Your McDonald's awaits you." He teases and gestures to the car.
Following his way of sight, I walk around the car and once I reach to the right side of it, I yank the door open. Sitting on the passenger seat is my meal.
McCrispy. My mouth waters and grinning, I hold it in my hands and plop myself onto the passenger seat.
I dig into my food almost immediately and don't even notice when Saad sits down next to me.
He clears his throat. "Slow down. I'm not going to steal it."
I wave a hand in the air dismissively and speak with a mouthful. "Thank you for your services, delivery boy."
He chuckles. "Yes, Ma'am. You wanna go somewhere?"
I nod my head vigorously. "Let's go to Tobacco Masters. I want a few chewing gums."
He shakes his head in a mocking way. "Ahaan. Chewing gum. Suuure."
I glare from below my eyelashes and the words that come out of my mouth are harsher than intended. "Drive."
It's definitely a command.
—
I take a deep breath, as if preparing for a battle.
"Are you sure you want to try one?" Saad asks once again.
"Of course I do!" I roar.
Grabbing the cigarette from his hand I put it inside my mouth and take a puff. Nearly choking, I pull it out and cough the life out of myself.
Saad's hand tries to pat my back but I drag myself further West. His hand which was hanging in the air now rests on his side.
"What the hell was that!?" I shriek. "It was disgusting!"
He laughs, although it's tinged with hurt. "It gets better once you get used to it."
Blegh. I cannot ever get used to it.