"This story begins like any other angst filled high school love story. At a party thrown by the towns rich boy. It was only suppose to be his circle of friends, but one thing led to another and no one actually cared that a little bit of every circle showed up. As inhibitions lowered and social lines blurred acceptance would be found in the most unlikely of places. Whether this acceptance lasted when the sun rose was up to the people who shared the secrets spilled in the smoky haze filled rooms.

Yet, we are going to start this story before the party. In a dingy house on the outskirts of town hardly being kept together with duct tape. A shadow sits in the front of the glow of a laptop trying to finish their thoughts before the battery died leaving them without an escape until they were able to charge it tomorrow at work..."

"So fucking meta." The figure sat back letting the computer die. The room was dark only a few cheep candles from a dollar store dozen box tried to push back the night. Electric should be turned back on tomorrow, that is...if their parents hadn't let their brother do something else to fuck up the house.

Fumbling in the dark they managed to find their cigarette box. Grumbling as they pulled the last stick out they scowled as their lighter flickered but refused to light. Seriously why couldn't anything just work like normal? Eventually getting a flame to appear they got the cigarette started and drew in a deep lung full of nicotine. Holding it for a moment they threw the lighter in the trash before letting their head fall back exhaling into the air above them green eyes watching the smoke curl making intricate shapes.

The writer sighed boredom already creeping into their mind. Only 36 more hours until their next shift, though in 9 hours they could just swing into work to get some power since they worked at the local coffee shop. Thin fingers ran through shaggy blue locks their roots starting to grow back into its natural dirty blond. Stopping at the end of their hair they rubbed their neck trying to ease the tension. "9 fucking hours of nothing but thinking."

Sitting forward the writer leaned one elbow on their knee taking another drag. In the dim light one could just make out the slim body of a slightly malnourished female teen. Her mammary glands were barely existent to the point most days she would forget her bra only feeling self conscience once in awhile when her brother's classmate came bouncing around.

Tasting a difference in her next draw, green eyes looked down to find her cigarette a few puffs away from being nothing but the filter. Putting it back between pale lips she ignored the bitter taste as the filter starting to mix with the tobacco. There was no way she was wasting one of the few things that helped distract her from her boredom generated by this shitty town and its shitty ideals of image.

Honestly, she didn't care that her chest looked like boys, but years of being told she should left a seed of jealousy. What was point of gender anyway? It was just a tool used by society to get people to do things. Discourage people from running for political office, or refusing a nanny simply because it was weird to be the opposite gender in those fields. Well she supposed reproduction was also kind of important, but that would come naturally as families wanted to share their love.

Rubbing her left temple, the ink stained fingers tried to push away the runaway train of thought. Why the fuck did it matter? She still thought of herself as an older sister, and being called a girl didn't feel weird. She simply didn't want people to assume things about her based on her gender. Or call her a lesbian because she preferred boys clothes and being a dominate person in the relationship.

Swearing viciously the androgynous looking youth threw the cigarette butt into the overflowing coffee can between the two twin mattress that acted as beds. All of the butts were smoked to a similar filtered state, though some had a few more puffs left. Her twin more than likely smoked those ones, his habit more for pleasure than as a relief for nerves. Guess it also helped that his girlfriend hated the taste of cigarettes during their kisses.

On that thought, what was wrong with not wanting to be tied to a single person all your life? Sure it worked for her twin, but for the writer monogyny was stifling. The concept of proving your loyalty and undying love by pledging to only focus it upon one person was like asking her to turn off her feelings once she had chosen a life partner. The bluette was intensely loyal to anyone she was in a relationship with, no matter how many people were in that relationship. Yet understanding that was impossible for everyone in this small mountain town and instead she was shunned adding her own flare to the McWhoremick title.

Growling she began searching the small side table for another cigarette. When one didn't quickly appear her heart rate began to speed up as did her thoughts. Why wouldn't anyone listen to her? Would they ever want to? What was the point of becoming a writing if no one would take her seriously? Taking a deep shaky breath, green eyes closed trying to clear her mind. There was no way she would be able to make it through the next 8.5 hours without the distraction nicotine provided.

"I heard you growl all the way from Karen's room. Are you...FUCKING SHITTING ME RIGHT NOW, Ali?!" Kenny McCormick stared in disbelief as his twin was currently scrapping the smallest amounts of tobacco from the butts he had left behind trying to scrap together enough for another cigarette.

Alison McCormick looked up into the mirror of her own face and shrugged. A light blush bloomed on her face as she responded, "I ran out." It wasn't a big deal, though maybe a little desperate. If she could get one together then she could make it to the convince store to buy a pack.

"Fucking Christ! How many packs is that today? 15?" Kenny strode into the room his voice no longer shocked but teasing. His blue eyes twinkled and he didn't stop Ali from her task. A lazy grin pulled his checks back making Kenny look his own age. Swinging around the rickety chair they had salvaged years ago to help make Ali a proper work station, the boy in the orange parka straddle the wooden seat.

Sighing the bluette dropped her hands and gave Kenny look devoid of expressions. "It was only 3 packs, asshole." Kenny frowned for a moment and it appeared he would say respond, instead he shrugged giving Ali a shit eating grin. Both knew their twin had their vices, some they shared others they didn't, but they would never judge the other loving their best friend unconditionally. Resuming the task at hand, Ali asked, "You heading out to Token's party?"

"It's easy money, and my friends will be there." The dirty blonde rested his chin on back of the chair. "You should come."

Making a noise of disgust, Ali began looking for something to wrap around the small pile of tobacco. "And surround myself by hormonal teens looking to kill the few brain cells giving them a ticket out of this hell hole. Besides someone should stay here with Karen."

Kenny finally intervened grabbing his sister's hand. "One, you know I would not have left Karen until she fell asleep. And two, aren't you one of those hormonal teenagers yourself killing the last of your brain cells? I mean you're already at 3 packs today." When his sister rolled her eyes, Kenny gently clocked her chin to show he was serious underneath his joking. "Come on, it will be fun. We still have a year in this hell hole and you can't spend it all day turning our room into a smoke box."

Ali sighed and ran her free hand through her hair. It wasn't that she didn't want to go, but the bluette had already done such a good job isolating herself from the town who seemed to only know her name so they could gossip. After years of dying under their unbelievably high expectations, developing anxiety which was only made worse when they turned on her, and left to figure things out on her own; Ali could never find a reason to fight through her anxiety to try and fit in. "What's the point? All its going to do is raise my anxiety and make me smoke another pack probably before midnight."

Cupping her check the male McCormick twin showed a rare moment of true tenderness sympathizing for his sister. Then the teasing returned. "True or you could get completely smashed, not remember several hours and save some money." Kenney laced his fingers with his sister's rubbing his thumb back and forth. "Also if you go, I'll buy your next pack." Green eyes dead panned the temptation to great to pass by, but her pride told her to hold out. Sensing exactly what his twin was thinking, Kenny pulled her to her feet knowing he had won.

"Hold on, let me at least get my coat on and finish my cigarette." Ali laughed donning her signature flannel coat and logger hat. She was a push over for her brother and that bastard knew it. Well at worst she would black out, insult a bunch of people and be the talk of the town. If she was honest it would be nothing new, just a repeat of when she was forced to graduate college early. Her parents had thrown a party letting her sophomore self do whatever the writer pleased. Her thumb began twitching as she remembered those events, hitting it against her thigh Ali tried to quell the tick.

Before she fall deeper into her memories, the bluette made to grab the crudely made death stick, which after crafting this together it could honestly give her cancer. With an "Ah, Ah, Ah." Kenny pulled the bluette out their bedroom door. "Try and wait. It will make everything taste better. Especially better than that." Squeezing her hand Kenny pleaded with his eyes. "I know it will be hard, but I am worried about your habit."

"Tsk," Ali grabbed the back of her neck. Red tinged her cheeks embarrassed by her brother's concern. After a moment she released Kenny's hand and jumped on his back. Scrubbing at his unruly hair, she growled playfully. "Fine, but as soon as we get to the party I'm going to find a cigarette."