Destined to Play, Feel, Fly Trilogy by Indigo Bloome

Oh yes, you can call me Lexi, I muse … He opens his beer and we settle in for the movie.
    I sit at one end of the lounge with my legs draped over Jeremy’s lap and Patrick at the other. After our second round of drinks, Pat rolls up a joint. He goes to light up outside when Jeremy stops him.
    ‘No worries mate, it’s still pouring outside. Have it in here and we won’t have to stop the movie.’
    After he has a long drag, he hands it to Jeremy who also wastes no time in sending the essence of the joint directly to his lungs. He allows the impact to settle, takes a smaller drag and offers it to me. When I hesitate, Jeremy encourages me.
    ‘Go on, you’ve finished your exams, loosen up; we’re not going anywhere tonight and we have the next week off.’
    All true, so I take the joint from him and concentrate on doing it properly. It is always so embarrassing if I stuff it up; it seems everyone is willing to offer their expertise on the correct methodology for smoking a spliff. I exhale all air and slowly inhale the smoke deeply into my lungs, resisting the urge to cough and splutter it out. The sensation instantly goes to my brain as I continue to talk myself through the process — hold, hold, hold and very gently exhale. Jeremy removes the joint from my fingertips just before it falls, as my body goes momentarily limp and flops further into the corner of the lounge, feeling comfortably numb.
    I have one more drag and that’s enough for me. I’m content in my own little space for a while and I have noidea how much more the boys smoke or what they’ve been doing. My consciousness returns toward the end of the movie to see the boys lost in laughter at something. Not sure what, but it only takes me a minute before I find it hysterical as well. After the movie finishes, some music videos come on and Pat starts dancing around the room in his towel and Jeremy joins in. It is very funny to watch with the strobing lights of the TV and the sound of pelting rain in the background. At least no one would complain about the volume. Jeremy tries to get me off the lounge to dance with them but I have barricaded myself in the cushions instead.
    ‘No, you two look great up there by yourselves, let me enjoy being a voyeur.’
    This sends them into an array of ever more complicated dance manoeuvres that look completely ludicrous given the state they are in. They eventually disappear into the kitchen to return with a tray full of vodka shots. I shake my head.
    ‘Oh no, not after a spliff!’
    ‘Definitely after a spliff, Lexi, it’s the only way. After all, this is a post-exam downpour party,’ Pat declares to his own laughter and Jeremy endorses his sentiments with his own hysteria. They attempt to high five each other, but miss. This really does just keep getting funnier to watch and my stomach hurts from laughing.
    ‘Okay, Alex, down two shots now and we’ll let you stay on the lounge behind your barricade,’ Jeremy offers.
    ‘Absolutely. You can sit there like the gorgeous princess you are, in your comfy castle,’ Patrick adds.
    Pure genius — what a perfect solution. All I want at this moment is the soft comfort of the lounge and all the cushions I have collected over the course of the evening.
    ‘One?’ I should never have posed it as a question.
    ‘Two. One for Pat and one for me, then you’re safe on the lounge, for a while anyway.’
    ‘Done!’ I exclaim as if their logic makes perfect sense.
    ‘Cheers.’
    ‘To new experiences,’ Jeremy adds, as we all connect our glasses making eye contact, as was the custom between us.
    One shot, down. Second shot, down.
    ‘Jeez, vodka is strong when you have a double shot like that.’
    Patrick hands me some lemonade to help take the burn away. ‘Very considerate of you. Thanks, Pat.’
    ‘We’re here to serve, m’lady,’ he says with a cheeky, mischievous smile as he attempts a courteous bow.
    ‘And that pleases me no end,’ I agree with a wink.
    I’m thankful