branch's pov:
i was back in the forest. i wasn't lost. i knew my way back. but i didn't want to go back. not yet. i had too many problems. i was burdening my family too much. i couldn't live knowing that..
but i couldn't bring myself to tie a rope around my neck and swing it around a tree. that felt like the pussy way out. i've been running away from my problems a lot recently. if i run away from life too then it will really show how much of a coward i am.
after pacing back and forth for what might have been an hour, i heard a noise in the forest. it sounded like a lighter flicking on.
i followed the noise all the way to it's culprit: a troll.
she had dark purple skin and darker purple hair which was put neatly into long braids. she had some freckles scattered across her face and she wore what looked to be a beanie.
she had a cigarette halfway towards her mouth and a lighter being put into her pocket. she jumped at the sight of me.
"your not a cop.. are you??" she questioned while looking me up and down.
"uh.. no...?" i said scratching the back of my head.
she let out a relieved sigh. "good cause i don't know where i'd hide this oxy if some cop searched me down." she giggled a bit.
there was a short silence.
"excuse my manners, my names jules." she patted the seat next to her.
i took the queue and sat down, eyeing the cigarette. "you want one? i think i have a few extra in my pack.." she began pulling it out.
"i.. don't smoke." i tapped my fingers against the log.
she laughed. "come on, try it."
i nodded my head, taking a cigarette. "i kinda don't know how to do this.."
"no problem. let me show you." she took the lighter out and flicked it on.
jules lit my cigarette. huh. i liked this troll.
"like this.." she demonstrated by taking the cigarette out her mouth and blowing a puff of smoke into the air.
i followed her exact moves. i breathed it all in. i took the cigar out. and i breathed out smoke like some sort of dragon.
i coughed a bit, which gathered a few chuckles from jules, but i felt good. more relieved.
"thanks." i mumbled while breathing in some smoke once more.
she leaned back casually. "no problem bitty b."
my face flushed a dark shade of red immediately.
"you.. you listen to bro zone??" i stumbled over my words.
she chuckled again. she sure did laugh a lot.
"course! i wouldn't be a troll if i didn't listen to bro zone. no problem though. it's cool." she spoke casually.
"yeah, cool." i attempted to imitate her casual tone but failed miserably.
she gave me a smile before turning away to throw out her cigarette.
"that could cause a fire!-" i yelped worriedly.
"chill b. nothing to worry about." she shrugged.
she gave me a nickname. b. god she was so cool.
i watched as she took out a small zipped up bag with pills in it.
"you ever tried oxy?" she questioned while unzipping the bag.
i scratched my neck. "i- uhh.."
"no worries. there's a first time for everything." she smiled before handing me a pill.
i didn't feel pressured. i knew i wanted to take that pill. and jules wasn't forcing me, either. so i took the opportunity and threw that shit down my throat.
"wow! b's not as much of a coward as i thought!!" she teased as she swallowed her own pill.
now i was laughing. this troll had a way of bringing something out in me i never knew i had. maybe it's just because i hadn't taken those stupid pills the psychiatrist prescribed in a while now. or maybe it's the oxy taking it's toll on me. but i felt kind of happy and relaxed for the first time in a long, long time.
7 hours later
my eyes fluttered open attempting to adjust to my surroundings. i was passed out on a log. jules was next to me.
memories from last night flooded my brain quickly. i held my head in pain.
wow that was a bad headache.
i hesitantly shook jules awake. "hey. you have anything for headaches?" i mumbled sleepily.
she slowly awoke, stretching her hands high above her head while yawning. a huge smile appeared on her face.
"nope! but i know how we can get some." she answered cheerily.
i turned my head to the side. "what?? how?"
she giggled. "just follow my lead. you okay with stealing?"
oh.
i knew that this was some bad stuff. but i was in pain. a lot of pain, actually. and i wasn't going to miss a chance to spend time with such a cool person.
"yeah, of course." i smiled.
it didn't look like she believed me but she signaled for me to follow her anyways.
"stay low." she ordered before dropping down into a crouch.
i followed her movements as she led me out the forest and to the outskirts of troll village.
she pushed a bush aside to reveal a pharmacy with a long line winding out the door and basically across the street.
"how are we going to get inside??" i questioned frantically.
"we don't have to." she shrugged.
i rolled my eyes. "are you going to elaborate?"
"shh.." she placed a finger close to my mouth as an old troll walked out the pharmacy.
she had a bag in her hand which obviously contained pills.
"you stay here." she commanded before popping out the bushes and towards the troll.
she bumped into the troll casually, causing her to drop the pills.
"damn it.. sorry miss!! i'm so clumsy.." she pretended to gasp.
"no worries dearie." the troll smiled kindly while patting jules' hand.
"awhhh how sweet." she smiled back.
suddenly, jules' eyes darted to me and then the bag on the floor.
she wanted me to steal them.
didn't need to ask me twice!
slowly and carefully i began stretching my hair out, inching closer to the bag on the floor. unfortunately, the bag made that indescribable crinkling noise which alerted the troll.
"hey!" she screamed out.
but it was too late, i had already swung the bag over to myself.
"nice talk miss!!" jules announced hurriedly as she ran over to where i was.
"thief! thief!!" the troll yelped out.
me and jules paid no attention to that old troll. we just kept running deep into the forest. we couldn't help but giggle the whole time. adrenaline was pumping through my veins i felt so.. alive!!
thats the end!! i felt things were getting a little boring so i spiced things up a little!! hope you guys liked it :)