Apparently dialogue isn’t my forte. I’m working on it though! I’m more of a lazy stream-of-consciousness gal. For now, this chapter is Brian’s POV. Think of these first two chapters as something of a prelude to the action. I hope I can pull it off!


<i>Oh, it's a picture of perfection
Ah, and the postcards gonna read
"Fuck yeah we can live like this...
We can live like this"
But if you left it up to me
Everyday would be
A holiday from real...</i>
-Holiday From Real, Jack’s Mannequin 


Justin is leaning into my chest and I can’t tell whether it’s my proximity to the blonde that’s making my heart race, or if It’s just the drugs taking effect. I blame it on the later and continue to enjoy another night of nothing out of the ordinary. These past few months have reassured me that I made the right decision in coming here. I should be worried about the fact that I am spending an obscene amount of my time with a future student, an underage student no less, but don’t want to sully the time we spend together. Regardless of the platonic nature of our relationship, fraternization between teacher and student is hardly encouraged. I doubt the school board would appreciate my sexual orientation either. I guess I’ve just never been one to follow the rules. Sometimes you <i>want</i> to break the rules, and then sometimes you simply <i>have</i> to. I could have written the kid off the moment he told me how young he was, but I didn’t. I felt an inherent need to be in his presence and I haven’t regretted the decision to keep him around...yet. 


I feel myself falling asleep and realize that it’s time to make our way back to my place. I run my fingers through his hair in hopes of waking him from his drug-induced reverie. His glazed and bloodshot eyes meet mine as he snaps back into reality. The ride home is spent pretending to listen to the mix tape he made me as our minds become occupied with thoughts of the future. How the hell am I supposed to handle this situation? I am the adult here. I have to be a professional, but I can’t imagine being able to think of Justin as just another student even if it’s only during school hours. 


As I speed along the deserted roads, I take in the sights and sounds and remember why I love smoking myself into this altered state. When the drugs hit your bloodstream the world burns just a little brighter. I experience everything with each of my senses. In this state of mind colors have sounds and the music floats around us as a soft haze blankets the world. 


We stumble through the doorway and make our way to the couch. He immediately makes himself at home, laying down in the fetal position while I contemplate tonight’s movie options. My eyes settle on <i>Citizen Kane</i> and decide that this is as good a time as any to appreciate a classic. 


It’s a little past three in the morning when I start the film and make my way back over to the couch where Justin has decided to take up as much space as possible. He is laying on his side and I manage to climb over him and spoon up against his warm body as the movie plays. I wrap my arms around him against my better judgement and feel him press himself closer to me in his sleepy state.


I revel in this feeling because I’m afraid to discover what the future has in store for us. This moment is perfection and I want to drag it out for as long as possible. I am startled from my thoughts as Justin turns in my arms to face me. His eyes meet mine for what seems like an eternity and I feel myself release a breath that I didn’t realize I was holding as he snuggles against me, his head under my chin. I kiss his hair and hold him tighter as I give into sleep.