Page 96 of Scrimmage

“You think I can’t understand an art thing?”

I pull out a blunt and light it. “That piece. It’s not just some bullshit sketch that’s an exposé on society and how it tears women apart. I mean, it is and it isn’t.”

“Then why’d you do it?”

“Prince liked it. Said it made a statement on society and how it tears women apart,” I laugh.

“What was it actually saying?”

“You’re walking into boyfriend territory, Ko. Make a U-Turn.”

He takes the bottle, drinking some more before wiping his mouth on the back of his hand. I blow the smoke in his face, and he rolls his eyes.

“So why did you come to find me sulking on my porch in the middle of the night?”

“I actually wasn’t sure if you would be here.”

“Celebrating with Penny is a lot more fun than a party.”

He glances back at the house. “Right. Where is she?”

“Asleep.”

“Why aren’t you?”

“Not my thing.” I ash the blunt. “What about you?”

“Just got home an hour ago. Takes a while for me to calm down after all of the socializing.”

“So you came here to socialize?” I laugh.

He leans back on his forearms. “Not exactly."

“Oh, right,” I snicker. I put the blunt in my mouth and start to take off my shorts.

“What are you fucking doing?” He looks at me wildly.

“Uh, sex. Duh.”

“Out here?”

“Why not? Scared?”

He sticks his tongue in his cheek. “Not scared. I just didn’t come here for that. There was a party and I didn’t want to go, but I didn’t want to stay home.”

“So you came to drink on my front porch instead?”

“To be fair, I didn’t know you were getting twisted out here alone.”

“Sometimes life is twisted.” I shrug.

It’s nice outside. Autumn is starting to set in and the sky is clear. I’ve never had a favorite time of the year; I just hate winter. Something nice always happens before something terrible. I try to count the stars, but I can only ever get to nineteen before the darkness creeps in.

“I never saw you being a star gazer,” Koda comments.

“I’m not. There’s no point in wishing on a rock.” I take another inhale and hold it.

“Hm?”

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