Forbidden Sparks

[chapter four]

| Forbidden Flames |
[chapter four]
[Acacia's p.o.v]

     Inhaling the smoke into my lungs caused a burning feeling in my throat; a good kind of burning. But each drag I took, pushed me deeper into a memory of Brody and I. At first, I didn't want to think about it. Yet, here I am smoking my third cigarette of day, so clearly my mind was telling me I do want to think about it.

.

.

.

     The warm California breeze brushed over me and threw my auburn hair flowing in all sorts of directions but I didn't even care. I couldn't help myself from staring as he held the cigarette perfectly between his lips. Each puff of smoke that escaped his mouth had me more and more intoxicated, and I wasn't even the one smoking.

     I shook my head and laughed, "It's just like Aspen to be late for college orientation." Brody and I both promised to wait for her, but here we were making our selves late in the process of keeping it. I don't think Brody cared though. It was his second year here, I guess he knew the guidelines.

     No matter how many puffs he took of that cigarette, his eyes never left me. It was as if he was examining a human being he's never seen before in life. I tried my hardest to make the blood rush to my cheeks, turning them into a rosy pink color. I mean, I know I've changed a bit over the last year, but nothing drastic. Just longer hair, a cup size bigger chest, plus maybe an inch of height. Other than that I was exactly the same. The way Brody was looking at me made me feel naked, in my black jeans and black sheer collared shirt. I didn't mind it though. He was doing that thing again. The thing where he wanted me to catch him looking. It made me feel like the last year apart didn't really happen. Like it was just a long recurring dream.

     "Yup, that's my sister for you. She insists on being fashionably late for just about everything,"

      He let out a laugh that made me realize just how much I actually missed him. Ever since he went away for college last year, I've seen him probably a maximum of three times. That was a big transition from the usual everyday high school hangouts.

       "You want one?" He asked.

       I had been so focused in my thoughts of him that I had forgotten to answer him. "What?" I finally shook out of it and turned to him. The light wind was now flowing just right through his chocolate brown hair. Ugh, what am I doing? Thinking about the way the wind hit his hair. Good one, Acacia. Here I am, alone with Brody Matthews for the first time in a year and I'm more focused on his hair that what he's actually saying to me.

     He held the small red and white box of Marlboros with the golden filters sticking out at the top. "A cigarette. You look like you need one." He said while flashing me one of those electric and contagious smiles of his that you only get to witness on rare occasions.

     "With the summer I had, I need a whole damn box." It was just one of those 'What The Hell Moments', so I grabbed one of the cigarettes and brought it to my mouth.

      "Here, keep it, I have tons." He handed me the whole box. Before I could decline the generous offer he came unbearably close to me with his black lighter. Brody brought his face to mine and slowly lit the poison that was placed between my lips. After I took my first drag, he just stood there silently looking at me. Our eyes were locked the entire time. It was almost as if we were in our own little world as he watched the smoke exhale. I couldn't help but notice how his eyes were lingering on my mouth. But unfortunately, before we could really get caught up in the situation that was hopefully about to unfold, he cleared his throat and spoke again.