Not an Addiction

[Andrew Corbin]

The smoke calmed him. The breathing pattern relaxing. Inhale and exhale. He could stop whenever he wanted. It wasn't the statement a junky promised. Full of lies to get another hit. Smoke another back. It was fact. He could stop. Sometimes he did. He'd go a whole month. Then smoke one just because he could. Because he could control it. Decide when he wanted to or not. It wasn't an addiction. only a habit he'd picked up. Likely from his father. The only remnant of the man he had left. Sometimes that made him want to quit altogether.

Yet here he sat up on the rooftop, staring up towards the clouds. Adding his own puffs of white wispy smoke up towards the sky. It was quiet. It was peaceful. it was exactly why he came up there. To get away from class. To get away from the noise. To take a moment to relax his normally overactive senses. It was a nice reprieve. Something Andrew genuinely enjoyed. Which was rare for him indeed.

[Callie Montgomery]

Callie had discovered the entrance to the roof not too long ago, but with everything going on she had never really had an opportunity to explore it and enjoy it. Until now. She took her time heading up to the roof, feeling a bit uncomfortable in her new boots. They were nothing like her cowboy boots. Maybe this would be the last time she’d wear these.

When she reached the top she was relieved. She desperately needed to figure herself out, but for right now, a distraction was in order. She pulled out her tiny pocket camcorder and began filming the area. It was nothing special, it looked like any typical school roof would, but seeing as it was her first time, she needed to record everything. She stopped when she noticed a guy smoking. She furrowed her brows, trying to decide whether or not he was a teacher. Not that it would matter. She wasn’t doing anything wrong up here.

Callie stood in place for a moment, focusing her camera on the man. Just a few moments more. She felt a gust of air dance around her as she lost focus for a moment and closed her eyes enjoying the breeze. The blonde fixed her messy side braid and started walking towards the man. “Nice day ain’t it?” She asked, her southern drawl evident as always.

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Tag: Andrew Corbin

[Andrew Corbin]

There was a voice. An accent. A question. Andrew turned his head. A girl. His age? She looked about it. She seemed like one many would call pretty. From her question, she sounded friendly. A nice day. Andrew turned his eyes back to the sky. The sun was shining. The breeze was blowing. He couldn't help but agree. "That it is." He replied.

She approached him. Andrew was surprised. Most left him alone. He was too intimidating. Too withdrawn. Too cold. Yet here was this girl. Walking towards him without a care. It was intriguing. Enough to draw some of Andrew's attention. He took another drag and blew the smoke into the sky. "Looking for some peace up here?" Why else would she be there? It was why Andrew came. A need to be alone. Yet he didn't mind her presence. Not yet.

[Callie Montgomery]

Callie scanned the tall man in front of her. Taking him in, as she did with most people she meets. Wherever her eyes went her camera followed. He seemed distant, aloof even. Callie didn’t mind. She never did, she enjoyed people and all they had to offer, good and bad. His reply seemed uninspired. Either that, or he was really interested in the sky, and she knew better to think that was the case.

Her mouth twisted as her camera stayed on him. Then she pointed it to the sky, then back at him. Her nose twitched as she caught the faint scent of his cigarette. She wasn’t much of a fan herself, but who was she to judge?

A soft giggle escaped her lips, “I was. But then I found you instead. Ain’t a bad thing. Guessin’ you up here for the same reason then?” She asked as she titled her head slight to the side. The blonde turned off her camcorder for now, placing it in her back pocket. She was studying him, wondering as she always did. Everyone had a story.

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Tag: Andrew Corbin

[Andrew Corbin]

She had a camera. it was interesting enough to draw Andrew's attention for a moment. The way she was looking over everything with it intrigued him. What was she doing? Was she in photography? Something similar? Or maybe it was a hobby. Nonetheless, Andrew's attention soon returned to the sky. Another drag. Another exhale. More smoke to the sky.

She giggled. That surprised him. Andrew didn't think he was particularly funny. Intimidating was what he normally heard. Yet here was a girl. Giggling. Actually still talking to him. Strange. She said she came up for peace. She didn't mind him. She assumed he came up for that same reason. Andrew glanced at her. Studied her like she was studying him. "I did." he answered. "It's nice getting away from the noise downstairs." He could deal with crowds. Yet he'd avoid them if he could.

[Callie Montgomery]

The guy didn’t say much. He just kept puffing away. Callie kept her blue eyes focus on him, as he focused on the sky. She examined him, his face, his contours, his movements, and mannerisms, taking them in. She bobbled her head side to side as she normally did out of habit. She wondered how many other students new about this place. Probably most of them, although, if that were the case she assumed there would be a lot more people up here than just the two of them.

Callie watched him as he looked at her. He was studying her as she had done to him. She didn’t mind, although she was curious if was because she had done it first to him. Most people didn’t like her filming them, or watching them the way she did. She never really minded how people felt about it, unless they told her to stop. Then she would at least respect that.

“Ya it can be much sometimes down there in the chaos.” She said smiling. “Well, now ya got me up here buggin’ ya.” She let out another giggle. She looked out at the sky as he had been doing. “Name’s Callie by the way.” Her eyes closed gently as she took in a deep breath of the fresh air as the wind danced around her again. “How long you been a smoker for?” She asked, gesturing to his cigarette.

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Tag: Andrew Corbin

[Andrew Corbin]

She didn't mind his gaze. That was surprising. Some called it intimidating. They'd squirm. Yet she didn't. Odd. She also was still staying on the roof with him. Doubly odd. Yet he wasn't about to tell her off. To leave. It wasn't his space. And she hadn't done anything wrong. Yet. So he sat.

Yet she spoke again. There was a smile too. Even a giggle. Andrew regarded her curiously. Those weren't reactions he typically got. He wasn't sure what to make of them. "You aren't bugging me." Surprisingly, it was the truth. She wasn't. Not now at least. Then came her name. Callie. It seemed fitting. "Andrew." He replied. He took another drag. Then watched her enjoy the wind. She asked a question. How long has he smoked for? It was a strange question. He had to think. "Few years now. Four or five." He observed her. "It bothering you?"

[Callie Montgomery]

Callie started to spin around, moving about with the wind, she was thoroughly enjoying the day. It was refreshing, which was exactly what she had needed and wanted. The boy didn’t bother her much, she looked at him as she looked at most, as any other person. It was hard for her to find anyone intimidating really, it was just her perspective on the matter. Most people that she knew to be deemed intimidating by others she just found to be the people hiding the most.

When he assured her she wasn’t bothering him she giggled, “Good.” Another breeze, more spinning. When he said his name she stopped. Andrew. “Nice ta meet ya.” She said with a large grin. She blink a few times as her spinning head caught up with her. No more spinning.

The blonde hoped up on the ledge of the roof and sat down, letting her legs dangle off the side. She pondered his answer for a moment before answering. “I ain’t bothering me no. What about it you enjoy?” She asked, purely out of innocent curiosity.

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Tag: Andrew Corbin

[Andrew Corbin]

She started spinning. Andrew had to stare. She seemed carefree. Like the very wind she was clearly enjoying. It was odd, yet entertaining. He'd never met someone like this. Although he didn't make much effort to meet anyone. People were allies, or obstacles. That was all he saw now. She seemed like his opposite. She giggled. She grinned. She was glad to meet him. Now that was a first.

She stopped spinning. Instead she sat by the edge. He watched her a little warily. A fall would be fatal. There would be a lot of questions. Not exactly what he wanted to deal with. She answered. It wasn't bothering her. Yet she posed another question. It seemed innocent. Or at least innocent enough. What did he enjoy about smoking? Again, he had to think. He shrugged. "The feeling. The motion."

[Callie Montgomery]

Callie felt the boy’s eyes on her as she spun. It didn’t bother her at all. She never thought much about how other people viewed her, and for that she was grateful. It could be devastating if she took everything to heart or over thought most things. The only thing that did bother her was the after effects of spinning too much.

The blonde swung her legs around freely. It was a lovely feeling. Everything about this day was lovely, and for that she was also grateful. It took a lot for her to get back in that mindset, but she somehow managed even after recent events. She listened as Andrew answered her question. She started to play with the tips of her messy side braid. “That’s interestin’” She felt herself tempted to hit him with her usual train of personal questions that tended to overwhelm most people, but she stopped herself.

Instead, another question popped into her head. “Whatcha think the point of all this is?” She asked as she gestured to the entire sky. “Does anythin’ we do even matter?”

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Tag: Andrew Corbin

[Andrew Corbin]

She seemed very light. Airy. Air-headed? Who knew. Whatever the case she was still there. That was curious enough. He took another drag. Listened to her answer. She was playing with her braid. She also seemed to have something on her mind. Like a question gone unasked. But then she did ask a question. A deep one he hadn't expected. What was the point of everything? She gestured to the sky, and Andrew followed with his gaze.

It wasn't a question anyone had ever asked him. Nor was it one he thought he'd ever have to answer. Andrew had to think. Contemplate. Stare at the sky for a few long moments. How could he answer that question? He didn't want to think too hard on it. "I guess it must." He finally said with a shrug. "Otherwise why would we be here?" They had to have some purpose. It made sense to him. He glanced over at her. Curious now. "What do you think?"