Naomi makes it about ten feet before the gnawing feeling that something else was happening, something under the surface. Something that made her feel like she was staring into a deep dark pit, standing on the precipice of it. She paused, inhaling on the cigarette and holding the smoke in her lungs as she looked down at the bent, burning stick. The smoke slowly blew from her lips as she made a few mental notes. Mental notes about Dane. And Sophie. And a few other things.Whatever Dane says is lost to Naomi thanks to her headphones, reducing her to a pantomime of throwing up hands in disgust and resignation before turning to leave. Then a cold tugging sensation hooks into Naomi's gut, like a current she didn't realize was there until she tried to swim against it. Whitewater flowing full tilt into a yawning cavern that will never stop drinking.
Then she clicked her tongue, walking a few feet to a nearby bin and grinding the half burnt cigarette out into the top before tossing it out. "Terrible taste anyways.."
The smells of food truck row were starting to waft Naomi's direction, but other needs were taking priority. Probably she should make the healthy(ish) choice of greasy food truck food, but gas station coffee and a pack of Spirit Golds was just as good. Right? She checked her phone again just to be sure before turning the opposite direction. A jaywalk across the street in full view of two public safety officers who did not seem to care one iota about actual safety today, and she was smiling her best smile to the tired looking post-grad holding down the counter.
"Hey. Add to donuts to that.." she told him, already unwrapping the pack of cigarettes and tapping the bottom in that ritualistic way she'd watched her mother do every time she opened a fresh pack. "Premiums.." she said, dangling a cigarette from her lip and waving off the worried look from the cashier she was about to light up in full view of the 'No Smoking" sign.
Bag of sugar-glazed and frosted donuts and an oversized coffee in one hand, Naomi struck the flint of her lighter a few times to get it going before walking down the street. She'd used the crosswalk this time, only because she had a feeling she knew where she was going. Then she shot off one more text.
