i should hate you , scream [REWRITING]

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"Your parents won't be home for a while, right?" I asked, pulling a joint from my pocket and rolling it between my fingers. The sun was beginning to set, casting a warm, amber glow over the room through the half drawn curtains.

Amber grinned, a mischievous sparkle in her dark eyes as she shook her head. "Not for hours," she said, leaning closer until I could feel her breath against my ear. She pressed her lips to my neck, the familiar scent of vanilla and citrus surrounding me.

I let out a sigh, feeling the tension in my body lessen. "Amber," I said, my voice wavering between warning and surrender. I wasn't sure what I was cautioning against—her touch, the evening, or the things we were about to let slip away.

She laughed softly, the sound light and carefree, as her hand slid up my leg, sending a shiver through me. "Relax," she whispered, eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that made my heart race. "It's just us tonight. No parents, no rules."

The air between us seemed to crackle, heavy with unspoken promises and the heady mix of excitement and danger that always came with moments like this. I looked down at the joint in my hand and back at her, a crooked smile finding its way to my face. The world outside seemed to disappear, leaving just the two of us in our little bubble of freedom and recklessness.

"Alright," I said finally, bringing the joint to my lips.

———

The room filled with smoke, curling up to the ceiling in lazy, drifting tendrils. Laughter spilled between us, bubbling up as we shared jokes that only made sense in the hazy, mellow atmosphere. Everything outside this room—outside Amber's little sanctuary—felt miles away, like it belonged to a different world entirely.

Amber lay sprawled on the bed, eyes half closed, a content smile playing on her lips. She passed the joint back to me, the warm glow reflecting in her eyes. "Do you think your dad will let you spend the night?" she asked, tilting her head, her dark hair cascading over her shoulder as she took in my expression.

I hesitated, holding the smoke in for a moment before exhaling in a slow, deliberate stream. The thought of staying here was tempting. But I knew better. "He never lets me stay over anywhere," I said, my voice tinged with the familiar frustration. "Plus I promised Wes I'd help him study. He needs all the help he can get."

Amber's smile faltered slightly, her brow knitting together. She bit her lip and then rolled her eyes. "Bummer," she said, but there was a softness in her voice that took the sting out of the word. Her fingers reached out, brushing my arm lightly, as if trying to hold me in place for just a little longer.

I took one last drag from the joint, feeling the warm, fuzzy edges of the high settle deeper into my chest. The room felt smaller, cozier, as if the walls themselves were drawing closer to keep us safe. I handed the joint back to her and pushed myself up, the bed creaking under the shift in weight.

"I really should go," I said, reaching for my shirt and pulling it over my head. My voice was more apologetic than I intended.

Amber sat up, the sheets pooling around her waist, and watched me with a mix of disappointment and understanding. She let out a small sigh, but then she leaned in, cupping my face with one hand and pressing her lips to mine. It was a slow, lingering kiss, one that spoke of a wish for more time, more nights like this where the world beyond her bedroom didn't exist.

"Drive safe, okay?" she said, her voice barely above a whisper as she pulled back, her eyes searching mine for a moment longer before she settled back against the pillows, the joint still smoldering between her fingers.