CIGARETTES [LWT]

unclean

[11:56 PM]

[lola joins Louis in his porch. today he's smoking a cigarette. the faint smell of cannabis lingers in the air and lola looks at him strangely, but doesn't say anything. louis stares in the distance, blowing smoke out slowly.]

"i thought you wouldn't,"

"me too."

"back go square one?"

"looks that way, love."

"yeah."

"it's not all that bad."

"louis, that article sai-"

"fuck that article. it's bound to happen anyways. death, i mean."

"pessimist."

"what?"

"you're a pessimist. that's why you throw parties. they're bad, but they're the best of the bad."

"got me all figured out. you should be a psychiatrist or whatever."

"or whatever. hm."

"what does that mean?"

"doesn't matter."

"why are you being so hostile lola? don't you accept me for who I am? at least you used to."

"who's the 'psychiatrist or whatever' now?"

"honestly, what the fuck lola? I've been nothing but nice to you. I've treated you like an adult. I've hung out with you. what more do you want from me? i can't be this perfect loser. you know why?"

"stop."

"no, go ahead ask why."

"no."

"lola, i swear to god,"

"fine. why louis?"

"because. im unclean. and believe me babygirl, ive tried to be clean. ive tried not to get attached to you so you wouldn't get hurt. but I can't. so yeah. im back to drags. so what? cigarettes cause death. but guess what princess? we all die. some of us faster than other."

[Louis blows the last of his smoke into Lola's face and laughs. she fans it away and pushes him backwards. her face is set stone but she never moves. she never leaves Louis' side. they both sit there in silence, taking in what was said. it had to be done.]

"do you remember what you promised me?"

"yeah."

"tell me."

"i promised that I'd stay pure."

"that's not what you promised."

"yes it is."

"no it isn't. you promised that you'd stay my pure princess."

"princess. see, why do you say things like that?"

"because. princesses are royalty. not quite a queen. everyone loves a princess, people may hate the queen. princesses are delicately beautiful. the way you are."

silence.

"why'd you break your promise to me?"

"don't, lola."

"why?"

"just don't,"

++++

sad.

j