Renlin studied Mona’s costume for a moment, trying to figure out what she was supposed to be. It felt like something from a movie, but he wasn’t much of a movie person. He couldn’t focus on them long enough, they always felt too rigid, like someone else was dictating what he should see. Books were better. He liked readingg because it let him mske the story in his own head. Still, he wasn’t going to ask her about it. She was probably wondering about his costume, too, and he wasn’t in the mood to explain his choice.
As they walked outside, he pulled two cigarettes from his pack, realizing he was down to five. That wouldn’t last long. He’d have to restock soon, probably with Vinnie. They’d done that run hundred times, one of those small-town convenience stores. Renlin wasn’t picky about his smokes. He’d even rolled his own once, but they were awful, burning too fast and tasting like ash.
The brisk wind hit him as they found a tree, and he let it settle in his lungs for a moment before lighting her cigarette. Standing felt like too much work, so he dropped down, his back against the tree. One leg stretched out in front of him while the other bent at the knee, an elbow resting lazily on it. He handed Mona the now lit cigarette, watching as she hesitated for a moment.
“Have you smoked before?” he asked, a crooked brow raised as he twirled his own cigarette between his fingers. “You’ll probably cough,” he added with a smirk, already predicting her reaction. His mind drifted to the first time he’d smoked, a stolen cigar at twelve, sneaking down to the dock during a summer he’d spent mostly alone. Well, except for his sister, who wouldn’t touch a cigarette if her life depended on it. He could still hear her voice, arms crossed and dripping with judgment: “It’s bad for your lungs. You’re going to die, and I’ll have to plan the funeral.”
When Mona asked how smoking would make her feel, he tilted his head, considering. “Well, it’s different for everyone. Takes a lot more for me to feel anything now, but you shouldn’t need much.” He took a slow drag before blowing the smoke up toward the sky. “It’s like…a little buzz of pleasure, you know what I mean?” His lips quirked into a half-smile as he thought about how fleeting that buzz wass for him these days. Yeah, those last five cigarettes definitely wouldn’t stretch far.
“Cold?” he asked, noticing the breeze. He didn’t have a jacket to offer, but he patted the ground beside him. “Come here. The tree’s great company. Very warm and inviting.” His smirk deepened as he tapped the bark lightly. “Five-star accommodations right here.”
Renlin lit his cigarette and brought it to his lips, taking a long, deliberate draw. He leaned his head back against the tree, letting the smoke curl from his mouth in a slow, lazy exhale. His eyes followed the smoke as it floated and faded into the night air.
“Isn’t it such a great night?” he said after a moment, his voice low but content. “Hell, all day has been. Might be my favorite all year so far.” He tilted his head slightly, glancing over at Mona with a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “Don’t you think?”
The wind shifted, carrying the faint hum of the party inside. It was distant enough to feel separate, like they’d stepped out of time for a bit. He flicked the ash from his cigarette and gestured toward the sky. “Look at that,” he said, his tone light, as if they weren’t sitting outside a rowdy party but somewhere far more serene. “You don’t get nights like this every day. Lucky us.”