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A week had passed.
For one of the first times in my life, I was feelin' good. Feelin' real happy. My bruises had healed completely, the plants were growin' and sellin' well, I had settled into Jimmy's place real nicely, and I had passed both tests in History 101, bringin' my average up. Which was right on time, because the exams were comin' up this week, and so was the Petty concert. The school year was coming to an end.
Today, I had convinced Lana to come out to the woods with me after school. She was curious to see the plants and learn a little bit about the upkeep. I promised her that it was secluded- we wouldn't be seen as deep into the woods as it was. She had even packed a light dinner and brought a blanket for a picnic.
I bit into a gala apple and listened to her talk. She claimed to have seen Bryan's car outside of her house a couple of times in the past week. The last time I had been there, night before last, I had seen him too, but only for a split second before he sped off. I figured he was up to no good, but I was unsure of what, exactly.
"So, what are you going to do without me all Summer?" She asked, playfully.
"Ain't plannin' on goin' without. I'ma still come over."
She smiled cutely, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. She looked beautiful, dressed in a salmon pink and pastel yellow sundress with light brown sandals. Her hair was halfway-up, and the light, warm breeze blew it behind her shoulders ever so gently.
"Yer a good lookin' woman, Lana." I was surprised I said it my damn self. I felt kinda stupid, but I wanted to get it out.
"Think so?" She mused.
I nodded my head, stared at her for a moment, and went back to chewin' my apple. And then I remembered the baggie full of shrooms I had in my front pocket. I patted my jeans, to make sure they were there.
They were.
"Look, don't get pissed but..." I reached my hand deep inside my denim pockets and pulled out a clear baggie, hanging it front of her face. "I just got my hands on these for the Petty concert. Ever done 'em?"
"Are these...shrooms?" She furrowed her curious brow and grabbed the baggie from me to examine it closely.
"Mhm. Ever tried 'em?"
"No." She shook her head, still focusing on the small bag full of white and black bits of earth. "Have you?" She asked inquisitively.
"Lotsa times. Been a couple months though. Me 'n Jimmy used to come out here and do 'em a couple times a year."
"What does it feel like?"
"Depends on how much you take. Between me and him, we would eat that whole bag. The trip would last for about six or eight hours. Then we'd go home n' go to bed."
"Can't it kill you?"
"I mean, if ya take the wrong amount of the wrong kind, yeah. But these here are safe." I grabbed the bag back from her and studied her for a moment before asking, "Ya wanna try?"
"God, no." She breathed. "It's bad enough that I smoke pot with you."
I snorted. "They both grow from the ground. Ain't nothin' wrong with it."
She nodded her head and chewed her bottom lip, starin' off at a nearby tree.
I reclaimed her attention by setting my hand on the smooth skin of her knee. If I tilted my head, I could see up her dress, but I ain't that damn desperate. Well, shit. Maybe I am. But I ain't that damn stupid. "C'mon. Put yer big girl panties on and have a little fun with me."
She furrowed her brow again, questioningly. "What if I have a bad trip?"
"Ain't gon' let that happen. Yer with me. In the woods, away from everything bad."
She let out a long sigh and hung her head. "Fine. But I better not die or I'll fucking kill you."
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Didn't take long. Seconds later, we tossed several into our mouths, chewed them, and swallowed them down. I watched her gag and I couldn't hold back my laughter.
"They taste like shit."
"Well, no shit. They're made of dirt and cow shit."
She gagged again and spit onto the dirt nearby. "Thanks for telling me after I put them in my mouth."
"Oh, I'm sure ya put worse in there before." I prodded her. To my surprise, she laughed.
We stretched out our legs and leaned onto our arms, side by side on the blue and gray striped blanket. I titled my head up to look at the sky that was barely peaking from behind the tree-tops. The weather was perfect today. A gentle breeze blew through my unruly chocolate brown locks and I laid down flat on my back. She did the same.
"How long does it take?" She asked, turning her head to look at me.
"In about ten minutes yer gonna feel yer muscles ache a little bit. Ain't gon' last long. And in about thirty yer gon' start trippin'."
She surprised me by grabbing my hand. "I'm scared."
"Don't be." I looked over at her. "Ain't nothin' gon' happen to ya."
She forced a smile, but it was obvious that she was still nervous. "Listen," I rolled over on my side to face her and rested my head into the palm of my hand. "Yer gon' have to be positive. Don't think 'bout nothin' negative or ya gonna have a bad trip. Ya hear me?"
She nodded nervously.
"You got bad anxiety like me?"
She nodded again.
I brushed a strand of hair from her face, stroking the smooth skin of the pink apples of her cheeks. "Look up at the sky. Look at the trees. It's jus me 'n you out here tonight."