Falling in Reverse (The Seasons Change)

by Julia Wolf

“S’up, flower child?” he rasped out, pinching his joint between two fingers. I laid my head on his shoulder. Rodrigo was the sweetest human alive. He’d managed to hang on to his kind heart and optimistic soul through all the corruption and blackness of our industry. “I’m pissy, Roddy. My beautiful bed is all gone.” “That sucks, man. Want me to buy you a new one?” “Yes, please.” I held my joint up to my lips, pinky out like a goddamn lady. “You got it.” He tugged on my hair. “I’m so fucking sorry this happened. I’m worried about you.” I picked up my head, goose bumps pricking my arms. “Don’t worry about me. I’m safe and sound.” “What were you thinking not having an alarm?” he admonished gently. Hope raised her hand from across the room. “Don’t make me whack you too, Go.” Adam rubbed his cheek. “She’s violent.” His eyes narrowed, and his mouth tipped into a playful smirk. “Maybe you like that…?” I sputtered a laugh, smoke passing my lips. “Shut up, Adam.” That was such a common refrain in our group, he didn’t even blink when we said it. “And I do have an alarm, I just forgot to set it.” I mumbled that last part, but from the groan coming from Roddy, he heard me. I would have groaned at me too. I’d lived in the city my whole life. I knew better. But sometimes I forgot I wasn’t invincible. My possessions sure as shit weren’t. Rodrigo tapped my nose. “Set. Your. Alarm.” I blew a puff of smoke in his face, which he inhaled into his own lungs. “Talk. About. Something. Else.”