Sitting outside behind the gym was becoming morning routine.
She took a long drag, inhaling a crisp mix of hot smoke and cool air, senses saturated with the musk of tobacco. Autumn had swept into the valley, and in the early hours before the bell rang, you could watch the mist roll down from the mountain slopes and flood over the grass. Campus glistened with dew, and a pair of shades rested on the bridge of her nose, even though the sun still hadn't peeked over the hills to melt it all away. Here, behind the gym, was the spot, no teachers, not much of anyone at this hour. Her spot, for now, anyways. You could never get too careless, even with a gift like hers. If mom caught her with a cigarette between her fingers, or worse, dad caught her, she'd be dead. Actually dead.
Esther stuck to the very middle of the wall, where it was coolest and darkest, and where no one could round the corner and surprise her. She leaned her head against the concrete, closing her eyes despite herself, deaf with both earbuds in. I should just skip first period and go back to sleep... The temptation was sounding sweeter and sweeter by the second.
