A Kiss for a Blunt

"Avery Johnson"

My mom called me out even if we were in the same room.

"I don't see why we have to go?" I jump on the couch. She says as she moves from the kitchen to the sitting room back to the kitchen.

"Because it is a party that the community host every month" Every month, the town gets together to host a community party, saying it is all about bonding. I take the remote control from the table and turn it on. She comes back to the sitting room.

"Avery__ turn that TV on and get dressed."

"off, mom," I say, looking at how beautiful she looks in her black dress.

She takes a deep breath.

"I don't care__ wear your pretty dress and let go. Also, tell your dad not to wear his red pattern tie."

I rolled my eyes before getting off the couch. I pass my parents' room before coming back to see my dad tie the red tie.

"mom said you should not wear the red tie," he protested.

"what does she want me to wear?"

"wear the black one or the jade one," I said before going to wear my gown.

I played with my short hair that was just above my shoulders. I stand here being one of the only few teenagers in the room. I wished Liam and Cleo were around. Sadly Cleo got the flu, and Liam chooses to say with her.

I look at myself, pleased with the off-shoulder short blue gown I wore. I mingle with other people trying not to be antisocial. I pick one strawberry from the cake frosting, hoping no one will notice. I spotted Axel when he just entered. He had an air to him that took up the whole room. I watch him politely greeting the older people while bonding with the younger ones. His graze caught me staring, and he smirked. I pulled away from his graze and moved to talk to Cece, who was Mayor's daughter, she was a grade lower than me, but we occasionally talked.

"Fuck, that boy keeps getting hotter by the day" I take the juice from the table. And drink it all at once before retaking it again.

"no, just his ego."

She looks back at me for a sec before staring her eyes at the priced treasure.

"I mean, being close friends with his sister should give you a clear shot of this specimen."

"best friend__ and no" since Axel came to town. I think Cleo has prevented me from seeing him as she no longer invites me back home.

I look again, but this time I catch him staring at me.

The Mayor comes out with a bell ringing. We all sat down close to each other, and our family faced him.

We all waited for the Mayor to say the graces before eating.

"I must say, Kate, you look lovely today," Cleo's father, Bradley complimented my mom.

"oh, thank you" there was silence for a while.

"Oh, Kate," my mom dropped her cutlery to listen to him.

"I don't think I have met quite a woman like you who works hard, doing overtime to make for her deadbeat husband."

I choke on my food. My mom rubs my chest, and Axel offers me water from across, yet my dad stays mute, eating his food like Cleo's father did not just insult him. I watch Bradley taking in more wine.

"you need to stop" Vanessa politely places her hand on her husband's hands to stop him from drinking.

"don't tell me what to do," he grumbled, pushing her hands away.

"why can't you be more like Kate" he stands up, saying it louder. The people who had not been listening before their attention was now pulled.

"she is meek, beautiful. Does not insult me or underrate me like you do" I watched as Vanessa fumed.

"you are pathetic" he stares her in the eyes. These people were filled with love once upon a time, but now it just seems like all they harbor for one another is pure hate. The fight seems to get intense.

"now__ let everyone calm down," My mother intervened.

"This is a lovely dinner which our dear Mayor organized for us" Everyone clapped.

"Please, Bradley can you stop drinking for a while for our children" he remained quiet. I pull my chair away.

"thank you for dinner," my mother looked at me as I got up

"I just want to get some fresh air," I whispered. I walked around the only event center in which this town had. In front of it was a park. I sit down, sighing.

Not up to a few minutes after I had gone, Axel was sitting next to me.

"go away" I was not in the mood for anybody. This was the part Cleo never saw, where her dad is not flirting with my mom or her mother,

clearly embarrassed by the situation of things.

"no"

I observed him before staring back at the sky, wondering why there were no stars today, the night was cold, and Axel was a perfect gentleman pulling his suit to warm me up. I wanted to refuse, but the dress had no form of heater.

"I am sorry for what my dad did?" I pulled his suit closer to me, and he smelt lovely too. He always did.

"it ok"

I waited before staring at him. His eyes were glued to the sky.

"do you have a blunt?" he looked at me, surprised.

"no"

"Liar," I scoffed. He removed his eyes away from me again.

"I have no reason to lie to you__ I stopped a year ago."

"Oh," I dig a small hole in the ground with my shoe, defeated about him not having a smoke.

"you should stop" I was curious

"why"

" too much of it is not good for your health."

I chuckled.

"Nothing is ever good for our health__ it helps me relax and block out all the noise from my life away," I say honestly at the last part.

He looks at me, and I stare back at him.

"I don't have it right now__ but I can get"

I beamed.

"one condition," he continued. The air got intense

"what" I slugged

"a kiss for a blunt?" I know how it is with Axel Logan. It never ends there.

I stand up, giving him his suit back. I instantly feel the cold chill down my spine.

"when you have the blunt, maybe I will think of your offer," I say before going back to the hall.