It smells like oregano and I'm not sure why. No one ever cooks with it, not since Mom. The toxic smell drifts up the creaky staircase and pours under the crack below my door, through the vent near my closet, and proceeds to swirl around my head making me cough. I open the door and poke my head out to see Laei and Kota, my siblings who are both a few years older than me, doing the same. I glance down into the kitchen as they shrug at me and retreat back into their rooms. Reaching back into my bedroom I grab my phone and proceed downstairs and into the kitchen.
Dad looks up from his laptop and flashes me a smile.
" What's up Pumkin' ?" I walk over and he gives me a one armed hug around my waist.
" I just wanted to see what smelled so..." my voice trails off and I feel him freeze. He looks up at Patience, his girlfriend, who is humming with a spatula in hand. Patience looks over and smiles at me, and tosses me an onion.
" What's up Ceati? Do you think you could help me out with dinner?" I shrug at her and pull out my phone. Opening messages I pull up Ray's number and shoot him a text.
' Hey can i stay over at urs '
He takes a minute to reply.
' Y '
I smirk and reply.
' Cause I wanna you dumb bitch '
' yo watch your fucking language '
I send him back the emoji with no mouth. I can totally see him smirking down at his phone right now.
' whatever just no smoking after we fuck ok '
I reply, stifling a laugh.
' does poor bby not like cigarette smoke '
' says miss I'm drunk after one shot '
I role my eyes and send the flipping off emoji.
I slide my phone into my back pocket and get up to leave.
" Daddy can I stay over with Ray ? " I look up to see Patience glaring at me. My Dad shrinks lower behind his computer. He's learned not to get involved with our fights.
I sigh and stare at her for a minute.
" Look I'm not in the mood for this right now. I don't wanna chop you a fucking onion and pretend to be your friend." Grabbing my jacket I get up to leave. When I get outside I reach under the planter, the one with tulips, and grab my cigarettes.
Smirking into the night air I whisper under my breath,
" I'm totally smoking after we fuck and you can't stop me."