That morning of classes crawled by, I’d been given a lecture for coming to class so late from my History teacher; I didn’t even pay attention to anything he said though, my mind kept replaying the moment when Frank leaned in and whispered ‘Bad-Ass’ in my ear.

Kyle instantly noticed that I was stoned - but then again when wasn’t I? – And pestered me the remainder of the class. We didn’t get to talk much during class though, and by the distant vibe I’d been giving off he knew something was up; he grabbed the chance to ask me about it as we were walking to our Art class.

“So other than getting totally cooked this morning, why were you so late Nic?”

He asked in a louder than necessary voice; I blushed a little, smiling slightly, and looked down at my shoes.

“I was helping a new student.”

I said, looking over at my best friend. His expression was priceless.

“Excuse me? You! Helped someone?”

I nodded, as Kyle continued his bewildered rant.

“Nicole actually went out of her way to help a fellow human being? What the hell were you smoking this morning?”

I laughed and shoved him playfully.

“Nothing out of the ordinary.”

I said as we rounded a corner, that’s when I saw Frank. He was standing by some lockers talking to a guy I didn’t recognize; he looked lost. Kyle grabbed my arm and pulled me into the Art room before I had a chance to go and say hi.

“Okay Nicole, what gives? You’re being so secretive.”

I sighed walking up to the stairs to the seniors’ loft of the art room.

“Okay fine, you caught me.”

I put my bag down on a table and slid myself into a chair. Sensing he was going to get a good story out of me, Kyle sat in the chair next to me. I told him everything that had happened, from smoking a joint in my room to sitting in the hall, a silly smile on my face the whole time.

“So you met someone, that’s so great.”

I smiled over at Kyle.

“Yeah I guess so; I mean he’s just a cool guy, nothing else.”

Kyle saw right through the façade I was so desperately trying to pull off.

“Yeah sure, whatever you say Nic.”

“I’m serious! I have too much shit going on to get involved with someone, and I just met him
this morning. Nothing’s going to come of it, I promise.”

Kyle shook his head at me.

“Nicole don’t go promising things you don’t know the outcome of.”

I huffed and turned my attention to the blank canvas in front of me, mulling over what Kyle had said.

---

The bell for lunch rang as I grabbed my books and swung my bag over my shoulder; I walked out of the classroom and headed towards the outside doors. I pushed the metal door open and stepped out into the bright light, blinking a few times before pulling my sunglasses from my bag and placing them on my face. I lit a smoke and walked to my car, flicking the ashes to the snow covered ground as I walked through the parking lot.

As I approached my car I saw someone leaning up against the back of a truck smoking a cigarette.

It was Frank and when he saw me he raised his hand and waved. I waved back and slightly
picked up my pace, wanting to be sitting in the driver’s seat with the heat on.

“Hey Bad-Ass.”

I smiled and came to stand beside Frank.

“Hey, how were morning classes?”

I asked, digging for my car keys.

“Not too bad for the most part, boring mostly.”

I nodded understanding.

“Well I should go. I have a few things to do over lunch.”

I said softly turning and walking to the driver’s side door.

“Nicole, what class do you have after lunch?”

“Oh I don’t have one, I have a free period and then I have English after.”

I’d thrown my bag into the passenger seat, and was looking over the car at Frank.

“Really? Me too.”

He said, a smile breaking out over his face, his lip ring shining in the sun light.

“No way! Well did you want to grab a coffee or something?”

As soon as the words left my lips, I started to regret them; he probably had better things to do anyways.

“Actually that sounds great. Do you want me to follow you or?”

My heart did a little jump.

“We could just take my car if you want. I don’t mind.”

“Alright sounds good, let me just lock my truck.”

I nodded and go into my car, starting it and turning the heat on full blast. I moved my purse to the back seat, grabbing my smokes and lighter first and putting them in the console between the seats. Frank opened the door and got in, putting his seat belt on and looking over at me.

“So where to Bad-Ass?”

The obvious nickname he’d given me made the corners of my lips stretch into a grin, as I pulled out of the parking spot.

“I work at this coffee shop down town and I need to check my schedule anyways, sound good?”

He nodded his head, reaching forward and turning up the stereo, The Misfits ‘Astro Zombies’ playing over the speakers.

“Well so far you’ve got a good taste in music.”

He said over the music.

“I’ve got a CD binder on the back seat; feel free to take a look.”

Frank reached back and grabbed it, brushing his arm against mine in the process, making me feel self-conscious. He flipped through the binder, nodding his head and commenting on several of the discs.

I pulled into the small parking lot around the corner of the coffee shop, both of us getting out of the car and walking the short distance to the warmth of the shop. Stepping in and welcoming the smell of fresh brewed coffee, we walked up to the counter. Rosie, the manager and my boss was finishing up with a customer and waved to us as we waited.

“This is where you work?”

Frank asked as he examined the menu.

“Yeah, it’s a pretty good job. I like it anyways.”

“That’s all that matters, man I guess I should start to look for a job.”

I glanced over at him, saying nothing. He must have felt my eyes on him, for he turned to me
giving me a lop-sided grin. Rosie walked over, interrupting our moment.

“Nicole! Here for your coffee?”

I’d always liked Rosie, she was a good boss as well as a friend, she was like a mom to me at times, giving me advice and trying her best to steer me in the right direction.

“You know it, can I have my usual?”

I asked leaning on the counter as Rosie nodded at me. I turned to Frank and waited for him
to order.

“Frank?”

“Oh I’ll get mine, don’t worry about it.”

I went to protest, but Rosie cut me off.

“Nonsense it’s on the house.”

She said, leaning forward a bit and adding.

“I’ll just take it off of her pay.”

I shoved her playfully as we all laughed a little.

“Alright, alright!”

Frank said raising his hands in the air.

“I’ll just get a coffee with two sugars please.”

Rosie grabbed two cardboard cups and went off to make our beverages, as I stood and turned to Frank.

“I need to go check my schedule, I’ll be right back.”

“Alright, I’ll be here.”

Frank said sticking his hands in his pockets.

I walked to the back of the shop and glanced over my schedule, I worked a couple of days after school and on Sunday, but my Friday and Saturday were free, I smiled silently thanking Rosie.

Frank and I chatted with Rosie for a few minutes before we took our coffees back to my car.

We still had an hour and a half before we had to be back at the school, and I was aimlessly driving around Belleville.

“So what next?”

I asked, tapping my fingers on the steering wheel along to The Bouncing Souls.

“No idea.”

Frank said shaking his head. I took a left and drove a few blocks, turning up into a driveway and turning the car off.

“You coming?”

I said to Frank, who was still seat belted in the car. He looked at me quizzically.

“Where are we?”

“My place, my parents are at work.”

He didn’t even hesitate as he got out of the car and followed me onto the porch. I unlocked the door and stepped in, taking my shoes and coat off waiting for Frank to do the same. We walked up the stairs and made our way to my room. I swung the door open and sat down on my bed, Frank following close behind me.

He took in the posters and artwork on my walls. The closet door was slightly ajar, and the room gave off the skunky smell of pot still, not knowing how Frank felt about it I got up to crack the window.

“What are you doing? It’s freezing out there.”

I turned to him.

“You can’t smell that?”

I asked.

“What the obvious smell of pot?”

I nodded my head slowly and waited for him to either freak out and leave or ask me to spark one up.

“Got any to share?”

He said softly. I smiled at him and went to grab my ‘Pot Box’. I pulled it out from one of my dresser drawers and placed it on the bed. Grabbing the bag and a rolling paper, I quickly got to work rolling a joint. When I finished I held it up for Frank to inspect.

“Nice fucking job Bad-Ass.”

He said clearly impressed.

“Thanks, an ex-boyfriend of mine taught me.”

I got up and cracked the window and lit an incense stick, taking the joint back from Frank and sparking it up, letting the room fill with cold air and pot smoke as Frank and I sat on my bed getting high.

Notes

Here's Chapter Three.
Hope you all enjoyed it, as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Just as a future warning: This story is going to contain quite a bit of drug use.

With that being said, rate, review and/or subscribe.

Helena.