Ellis was too busy with the grinding card to look up, but when she said not a big planner, they looked up anyway. Really? They didnât exactly figure law school was a chill place for disorganized people â but theyâd been wrong before. There was an aid for every deficit, after all.
They tipped the pipe over to knock its screen out, and â gingerly, with great care â held it up between two fingernails to make sure it was still usable. âYou must not be looking very hard,â they said, with a glance and a smile. Only took a couple seconds to tap the bud into the bowl. Ellis drew those seconds out. âI dunno, this is pretty much it. Hanginâ out. Doinâ my part to keep Frostford green.â They tried to summon the image of whoever Liv thought they were, this 20% life spread out to make 100 like too little butter over bread. Jesus. Nevermind. They licked a fingertip and collected the flower-dust from the corner of the grinding box, touched it to their tongue.Â
âGuests go first,â they said. The lighter was already on the table; they pushed it closer and turned the bowl.Â
âOh, thanks,â she said, reaching for the bowl. In her open hand, Ellis placed the miniature galaxy, fingers brushing against her palm. Liv held the pipe firmly, taking care to keep it level. Without hesitating, she grabbed the lighter, flicked it with her thumbnail, and held it to a corner of the green. The flower crackled as it began to burn. As she inhaled, her cheeks puffed out a little, and as she held her breath, they stayed that way. The smoke pressed out from inside her chest, and she only held it in for one, two, three, four-- and exhale.Â
She couldnât help it; she coughed. After she handed off the pipe and the lighter, she pressed her lips together, face growing a little pink from the effort. Another cough, and another, and she turned away from him and held a finger up, as if to say give me a sec. When her breath returned, she looked back at Ellis, still a little pink. âWhew! Itâs been a while.âÂ
It was Ellisâ turn now. She watched him take a hit, and leaned back in the couch. âWanna listen to some music?â