Asher sat in the passenger seat of Kevin's old SUV, the engine running quietly beneath them as the car idled in a dark corner of the parking lot behind the campus gym. The night had settled fully, and the area was nearly empty, with only a few scattered lights stretching across the pavement. The silence outside made everything inside the car feel louder ,the hum of the engine, the soft crackle of burning paper, and the slow rhythm of breathing mixed with smoke.
Kevin sat beside him, relaxed like he didn't have a single worry in the world. He held the joint between his fingers, taking a long drag before letting the smoke roll out of his mouth in a lazy stream. The orange tip flared briefly, lighting his face before fading again. Without saying anything, he passed it over.
Asher took it, his fingers steady, but his mind somewhere else entirely.
