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The Smell Of A Liar____________________________

"How real are we?"

Tammy's emerald eyes narrow as she takes a step back, brow raised. "Are you high?"

I blink, disoriented. Tammy looks different—taller, maybe? Or am I shrinking? Where the hell am I again? Outside the Sunshine Apartment... but where's Sohee? What time is it?

The fog in my brain thickens, but one word manages to escape. "What the hell...?"

Tammy scratches at her brown hair, looking at me like I'm some kind of alien. "No, what the hell are you doing? I knew you were weird when I first met you, but seriously, you're creeping me out right now."

I don't blame her. A second ago, I was talking to Sohee, and now it's Tammy standing in front of me. If anyone's creeping me out, it's her.

She must see the confusion in my face because she jabs a thumb back toward the apartment. "If you haven't noticed, Sohee went back inside to deal with Mei. Are you high?" She asks again, like she's expecting me to suddenly admit I'm on something.

"I don't think so. I'm feeling more down than high."

She cocks her head, studying me for a moment. Then, before I can react, she leans in and sniffs me.

"You don't smell like drugs," she says matter-of-factly. "At least, no obvious smell. Guess that just makes you crazy."

"Drugs have a smell?" I ask, trying to ignore how close she was just now.

She shrugs. "Some do. Some smell sweet, others like... a hospital, I guess."

Before I can question why we're suddenly talking about drugs, I shake my head, trying to clear the haze. "I feel weird after being sniffed. But, weird in a good way...", kinda like when a girl unbuttons your shirt with her teeth or something like that.

Tammy flushes, visibly irritated. "It's just a habit. But seriously, if you were high, I'd drag you to the nearest police station."

Lucky for me, drugs haven't been my downfall yet. Well, except for maybe the Death Pill, but that's a whole different story.

She rubs her reddening nose. I can't resist. "Can you... do that again?"

She grits her teeth, clearly fighting the urge to punch me in the face. "You're lucky Sohee asked me to keep an eye on you."

"Yeah, and you're doing a great job by slapping me."

"No regrets," she says, crossing her arms. "You creeped me out. It was self-defense."

Was I attacking you?

"Still rude," I mutter, rubbing my still-stinging cheek.

She rolls her eyes and gestures as if to say, Who cares? "We're basically the same age anyway."

"So that gives you a pass to slap people?"

She groans, rubbing the back of her neck. "Forget it. Want a cigarette? I'll give you one. Just one."

What a deal. A slap in exchange for a cigarette. "No thanks," I say, raising my hand.

"No need to be humble."

"I don't smoke."

She scowls, pulling out a cigarette anyway. "Your loss. Don't expect a blowjob from me, either."

Ah, great. Now I've missed out on both nicotine and... whatever else she thinks she's offering. My cheek throbs, making me wonder why the hell I'm still sitting here.

"You're the one who ignored me," Tammy continues, sitting down next to me on the bench, though she keeps a suspicious distance. "A woman expects at least some attention."

"A woman?" I tilt my head, feigning innocence. "But you look more like a tom—"

Whoosh!

I duck just in time as her hand swings over my head. Fast reflexes, when it comes to avoiding pain. Tammy laughs, though there's an edge to it.

"Ha! You're lucky you didn't finish that sentence. The last guy who did ended up in the hospital."

She glares at me, cracking her knuckles like she's ready for round two. I've definitely crossed a line in her mind, but whatever. In my mind, I already got the last laugh. Tomboy, I think smugly. God, I'm too clever for my own good sometimes.

Tammy narrows her eyes. "Did you just mock me in your head?"

"No," I say, lying effortlessly.

"Asshole," she mutters, rolling her eyes.

The sky's darkening, clouds heavy with rain. Normal people would be heading inside right now. Yet here we are, sitting on a bench like idiots, waiting for the inevitable downpour.

And, to my surprise, Tammy doesn't leave. She sits beside me, arms sprawled out on the bench like she owns the place. She pulls out a grey cigarette box, the smell of tobacco wafting through the air. She notices me eyeing the box and holds it under my chin, expectantly.

"Thought so."

"Thought so what?"

"Are you gonna take it or not?" She snaps.

I don't move. "Is that why you're holding it so close to my face? For me to pull one out?"

"That's the whole point. Are you an idiot?"

If I am, I won't end up as a tutor to these girls? I gently push the box away. "I told you, I don't smoke."

"Ha!" She scoffs, pulling the box back. "Don't bullshit me. I know your type. Solemn eyes like that? Drugs should be your best friend."

She lights up, smoke curling between us. "Liar."

I watch her for a moment, the cigarette dangling between her fingers, the embers burning slowly. Despite everything, I can't help but wonder what the hell I'm doing here, sitting next to Tammy in the rain, as if the world outside this bench doesn't exist.