Page 20 of A Sinner's Saint

I slept without getting off my face last night. It might have only been a few hours, but it was a great fucking few hours. And I haven’t needed to smoke as much. Because when I’m with Cammi, all the noise stops.

I swipe the blunt out of Dash’s hand. “Get in the car,” I tell him before walking back around to the driver’s seat. I shut myself inside the car and dig into my pocket for a light. I close my eyes and inhale, enjoying the way the smoke fills my lungs. “What is it?”

“Like I said, it’s some new strand. They call it Flight 57.” Dash takes the joint from me and sucks it between his lips.

“That’s a stupid fucking name,” I tell him before snatching it back.

By the time we’re finished, the car is filled with smoke, and my body feels fucking light. My head is spinning, though. Whatever this shit is, it’s fucking good.

“Let’s get in before we’re late,” I grunt in Dash’s direction.

When we walk into school, my mind is set on finding Cammi. I don’t know why she doesn’t want people to see us together. I should respect it, though, right? Or at least find out if it’s something I did.

She doesn’t know. She can’t know how fucked up I am. I’d get it if she knew. Because what kind of person would want to be with me if they knew? Which is also why she can never know. It’s bad enough that Gabe knows, and I have no doubt that Marcel knows too. They went to that house together. I am thankful only one of them brought it up to me. I’ve seen the looks he gives me, though. I’m not blind.

I never want to see that same pity in Cammi’s eyes. The disgust. Hatred. I couldn’t bear to see that from her. I just have to do better at trying to act normal. Trying to be like any other teenage guy without a care in the world.

I find Cammi at her friend Elena’s locker. Our eyes connect and she smiles briefly before it drops into a frown. She walks over and stops right in front of me. Staring at my eyes before glaring at Dash. “What did you give him?”

“Nothing,” he says.

“Bullshit,” Cammi fires back at him. “Vin?”

“Yeah, babe?”

“I want to skip class. Take me to the park,” she says.

“You can’t skip class again, Cammi. You’re the good one here, remember?”

“I’m going to the park. You can either come or stay,” she says, spinning around to look at her friend. “I’ll call you later.”

“Wait… Are you sure you’re going to be okay?” Elena replies.

“Positive,” Cammi says and starts walking towards the entrance of the building without bothering to look back.

“Guess I’m going to the park. Cover for me,” I tell Dash, knowing full well the teachers won’t give a shit if I’m here or not.

I follow two steps behind her the whole way until she stops under the same tree from that first day I spoke to her. Then Cammi spins around and looks right at me. “Why?”

“Why what?”

“Why would you get so wasted you can barely keep your head straight, right before school?”

“I’m not wasted,” I lie. Truth is, right now, I’m seeing two of her. And, honestly, I’m not fucking complaining. Because there is no such thing as too much Cammi.

“You are. You can’t go to class like this. Your eyes are bloodshot, Vin.” Cammi drops onto the grass and opens her bag. Pulling out a bottle of water before handing it to me. “Drink this.”

I smile. “You’re really bossy, you know.” I laugh, sitting across from her as I take the bottle.

“Why do you do it? Get so high?” she asks me.

“Because I need it,” I tell her. “It makes them quiet.”

“Makes who quiet?”

“The nightmares, the memories,” I say.

“Vin?” She looks at me as she leans forward on her knees.

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