“Why do you put up with him then?” I am curious. We have to deal with Whit because he’s blood. Why do people actuallychooseto spend time with him?
“He’s a good friend. Loyal. He’s funny. And he’s got access to some really good weed.” Spencer laughs at my shocked expression. “What, it’s true.”
“You smoke weed?” My voice is a rasp. I’m just—shocked. I snuck a few sips of alcohol here and there, but I’ve never done drugs. Of course, I go to a very sheltered, all-girls’ private school, so we’re not exposed to much. This is my last year though. Once I finish the eighth grade, it’s off to Lancaster Prep I go. Where Whit is.
And Spence.
I was never excited about going to Lancaster Prep but now…
I totally am.
“I do.” Spencer tilts his head toward me. “Have you?”
I shake my head furiously, practically making myself dizzy. “Never.”
“Want to?”
“With you?” I gape at him. “Where’s my brother?”
“Talking to your dad. They got into a fight earlier. God knows how long that discussion is going to last.” Spencer glances over his shoulder quickly before he reaches into the front pocket of his jeans and pulls out a little baggy of green stuff. “Know somewhere we can smoke this?”
This is how I came to have my first experience smoking weed with Spencer Donato.
I led him outside and over to the garden shed, which no one really uses in the winter. We enter the small, dark shack, our gazes adjusting to the dimmed light, and I lean against the wall, watching in utter fascination as Spencer uses the potting table to lay out his paraphernalia. He has the baggie of weed, plus a glass pipe that’s actually quite beautiful. A swirl of various colors formed into a delicate shape. He packs the tip of it with the marijuana, pulls a lighter out of his pocket and sparks it up before taking a slow, deep inhale.
“You gotta hold it in your lungs for a minute if you wanna feel it,” he says, his voice strained before he exhales all the smoke in my direction, making me wrinkle my nose.
“Maybe I don’t want to feel it.”
“I think you do.” He takes another puff, not holding this one in as long. “That’s why you came in here with me.”
“I think you wanted me to come in here with you because you can go back to school and brag to all your friends you got Sylvie Lancaster high for the first time.”
He chuckles. “No one knows who you are.”
I’m offended by his comment, but he’s probably right. Why would they know me? I’m just Whit Lancaster’s little sister.
“Come here.” He waves the pipe at me. “Let’s do this.”
I take cautious steps toward him, still keeping my distance while watching him prepare the pipe for me. “I don’t know…”
“Just don’t inhale as deep as me.”
Panic zips through my veins. I think of my mother. My health problems. I’ve been feeling good since arriving at the house once winter break started. Mother has been preoccupied with holiday preparations, giving me some much-appreciated freedom, and it’s so weird, how when I’m not around her as much, I always feel better.
Sometimes I think she’s just bringing me down. Her moods. Her drinking, which has increased lately. She complains about Daddy a lot, and I think they’re having problems.
“I don’t have the best lungs,” I admit, noting the irritated look on Spencer’s face. He must think I’m so young and scared.
Well, if that’s the case, he’s right. I am.
“How about we shotgun?” He raises a brow.
“What’s that?”
“I’ll inhale, and then breathe it out into your mouth,” he explains. “It’s like the ultimate contact high.”
My entire body tingles at the thought of Spencer’s mouth close to mine. Is he for real? “I don’t know…”