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[fayzedandconfused]

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[fayzedandconfused]

Yeah. I think so. I liked one girl here, but she left. And now I don't really know... what's going on.

[ She starts giggling, a little bit manic. It's not that she ever thought Mike would react in any other way, but his simple "That's cool" is such a relief. ]

[micycle]

What was her name?

[Inexplicably, the giggle catches, and Mike matches it. The night that started so bleak suddenly feels strangely giddy.]

[fayzedandconfused]

Beverly.

[ Well, if he's laughing, how is she supposed to stop? Huh?? ]

She was from the 80s too.

[micycle]

[For awhile, Mike just laughs. It's a wheezy, doped-up thing that the neighbors probably think is a dying animal, but in the moment he can't quite seem to do anything else. Just... laugh like an idiot, and get grass in his hair, and bat one slightly hysterical hand out towards Breeze when the laughing turns into coughing. The air is too warm, too thick with the dissipated smoke, and it's making his eyes water and his throat itch.

When he finally gets his bearings, he turns towards her and says, ] I'm sorry she left. That sucks.

[fayzedandconfused]

It's okay. I mean it's not like I was going to marry her. She didn't even like me back.

[ Brianna struggles to a sitting position, wheezing. Her stomach hurts from laughing and her arms feel all noodly. It's fantastic. ]

[micycle]

You don't always know. Like, even if you think you know.

[He looks up at her like he's making an incredible wise pronouncement. Mike is a renowned philosopher and this is Important Life Advice Hour.]

I didn't think Will liked me for a long time.

[fayzedandconfused]

[ Brianna stares at him, eyebrows raised. ]

Are you for real?

[micycle]

[He makes a face as if to say, Are you for real?, his hands doing slow, flappy gestures.]

Um, yeah? Why would I assume he did?

[fayzedandconfused]

Because it's totally obvious every time he talks about you, idiot.

[micycle]

Well I haven't seen him talk about me, have I?

[Duh.]

[fayzedandconfused]

Well, you should spy on him sometime, 'cause it's totally embarrassing.

[micycle]

Whhhhhat kind of stuff does he say?

[Said slowly and uncertainly, as if he may have forgotten how to speak halfway through the first word.]

[fayzedandconfused]

I dunno, like...

[ Hmm. She thinks back, but it's hard to come up with specifics when you're stoned. ]

You're the coolest person ever, he'd kill anything that messed with you, blah blah blah.

[micycle]

[His face goes even pinker, a violent salmon under the porch light, and he grabs the joint back just to busy his hands.]

Is he gonna kill the Titanic?

[It... isn't quite intentional. Just a dumb joke, the only thing he can think of that's really messed with him. Immediately he regrets the words, and he turns his head away from Brianna a bit.]

[fayzedandconfused]

[ Brianna just gives him a sideways, knowing look. ]

He obviously meant that creepy double of him who was messing with everybody.

[micycle]

[Oh. Yeah, that. The day he ran a whole mile home and puked in the driveway. If it weren't for the creepy clone though, maybe he wouldn't have told Will he's... you know.]

Did you have one of those? You already mess with everybody.

[fayzedandconfused]

[ She has the audacity to look offended by his question. ]

No, of course not. Did you?

[micycle]

[Mike can't help but smile at her expression.]

Maybe just the good people had them.

[fayzedandconfused]

So you definitely didn't.

[ BOOM. Roasted. ]

[micycle]

[He shoves a finger at her like he's making a very important point.]

Hey, I used to be good. Never got in trouble at all 'til- [What is time? What are numbers?] -seventh grade.

[fayzedandconfused]

Hey, I used to be good too! I went to boarding school! I mean, come on.

[ Like, yeah, the boarding school was for "problem" kids, but she wasn't actually a problem until way after that. Probably. ]

[micycle]

So did the me from the 19-whatevers, and it was 'cause he was a fuck-up.

[Check and mate, Berenson!]

[fayzedandconfused]

[ She catches the giggles again, throws an arm over her eyes as if that will help. (It doesn't.) ]

Yeah, okay, you have a point. The school I went to was for bad kids anyway. But I wasn't really bad! My stepdad just wanted me out of the house, you know?

[micycle]

My dad would send me to one in a heartbeat. My mom, too, prob'ly.

[It's been well over a year since he's seen his parents, but it's been more than that since he really felt more than criticism from them.]

They're always pissed at me. [Are? Were? What's the right tense here?]

[fayzedandconfused]

[ Brianna understands where he's coming from, and it dries her laughter up fast. If she thinks too hard about the fact that she was robbed of a good relationship with her mom for the last few years she had a mom... or the feeling that no matter what, she'd never be good enough for the family she was supposedly a part of... well.

It gets too heavy even for weed to make it okay. ]

Yeah, I bet it's because you smell bad.