I cracked my eyes open and looked around Type’s bedroom. I had my arms around Nina and we were on an air mattress, Shane sleeping silently next to me. Type was asleep in his bed and Bruce was asleep in Type’s chair.

                I sat up slowly after releasing Nina and grabbed my cell phone. I checked the time and mentally sighed. Well, we had missed school. It was already one, and school got out at two. No point in going now.

                I thought back to last night and smiled to myself. It had been a damn good time. We had gotten high and watched a few movies, laughing like hyenas the whole time.

                Next to me, Shane whimpered softly and I turned to face him. He whimpered more and clutched at the pillow Type must have given him.

                I reached down and took his hand gently. “Sh, you’re okay Shane,” I whispered in his ear. He whimpered once more before falling silent. I kissed his forehead before lying back down and spooning Nina.

                Sometime later, I woke back up and looked around again. Shane was talking quietly with Bruce and Type. Nina smiled softly at me and kissed me.

                “Good morning,” she said. “Are you in a less pissy mood?”

                “I wasn’t pissy,” I argued and kissed her deeply.

                We sat up and I slung an arm around Shane. He gave me a weak smile. “H-Hi Shawn,” he said quietly.

                We all got up and stretched, cracking bones and groaning. “Type, can your mom or dad write me and Shane an excuse note so our parents don’t know we skipped?” I asked and Type nodded.

                Bruce, who had been kicked out of school as a senior, snorted. “Who needs school? It’s just boring,” he grumbled.

                I nodded in agreement and shrugged. “You know our dad. He’ll get real pissed if he finds out we skipped again,” I said with a sigh and Shane nodded.

                We went down to the kitchen and Type handed all of us poptarts for breakfast. His dad entered and he glanced at him.

                “Dad, can you write an excuse note for the twins? They don’t want their rents to know they skipped again,” he said as he took a bite of his poptart.

                Bert Saunders nodded at us. “Maybe next time you dumbasses will get high on a weekend then,” he said, rolling his eyes. I flipped him off and pouted. “Whatever,” I whined and bit into my poptart.

                We finished eating and went out on the Saunders’s back deck. Type pulled out a pack of cigarettes and handed one to each of us.

                “No thanks. I don’t smoke,” Nina said when Type went to hand it to her.

                I took one and lit it, breathing deeply and blowing out the smoke. Nina frowned at me but didn’t say anything. I wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her close to me.

                “Here Shane,” Type said, holding a cigarette out to him. Shane hesitated and shook his head at Type, shocking all of us.

                “N-No thanks Type. I’m q-q-quitting,” he said silently, his eyes on his shoes. He stuffed his hand in his pockets and nervously played with his lip ring.

                “Shane! Why?” I demanded angrily.

                “D-D-Dad doesn’t drink anym-more. He knows when w-w-we steal from him n-n-now. Luna doesn’t l-like me sm-sm-smoking. And I don’t want to end up with lung c-c-cancer,” he said, speaking slowly so he wouldn’t stutter too badly.

                I stared at my brother in shock and then narrowed my eyes at him. “Shane, don’t worry about dad. I’ve got that covered. Just smoke with us,” I said flatly.

                He shifted uncomfortably, not lifting his gaze, and shook his head. “I don’t w-w-want too,” he repeated.

                “Shawn, please just leave him alone. Don’t peer pressure him if he doesn’t want to,” Nina said gently.

                “Shut up bitch!” I snapped and shoved her away from me. Jesus fucking Christ, I hated it when people told me what to do!

                I went over to Shane and snatched a cigarette from Type, holding it out to Shane. “Take it and smoke it,” I growled. He opened his mouth to protest, but I cut him off. “For me, Shane.”

                He snapped his mouth shut and defeat entered his eyes as he took the cigarette and lit it, breathing out the smoke. I smiled at him and ruffled his hair. He swatted my hand away and fixed his hair as I went back over to Nina.

                She bit her lip as I wrapped both arms around her. I pulled the cigarette out of my mouth and kissed her gently. She pulled away and coughed a little, and I rolled my eyes at her.

                “Shawn, are you feeling okay?” she asked and I nodded.

                “Yea, I feel fine. Why?” I asked curiously, kissing her cheek.

                “You’re just…never mind,” she said, forcing a smile and resting her head on my chest. I took a drag on my cigarette before kissing her again.

                “Let’s have a sleep over tomorrow since it’s Friday. You, me, my brother, and his girlfriend,” I said in Nina’s ear. She nodded and kissed my cheek, wrapping her arms around me and placing her head on my shoulder comfortably. I smiled and held her to me. She smiled softly at me and I kissed her, loving to see her smile. I just, you know, needed to establish a little control in our relationship so that she knew who was in charge.