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Tommy pulled the cigarette away from his lips, leaning his head back as he blew the smoke out of his mouth, watching the gray dissipate into the air. All Tommy could hear was distant chatter from his 'friends', aka a group of kids that he met in his freshman year that didn't know him on a personal level but still insisted on dragging him to every party or event that they could.
Tommy didn't usually smoke. Or drink. Weed at the most. But the base-level college work on top of his full-time job left minimal time for actual self-care, so he decided that he could let his body go to shit for one year. He'd get better by senior year, when he'd be too old for this shit. But for now, he let himself have the free shots and a few packs of cigarettes over a month. He was allowed.
"Hey!" An unfamiliar voice called out, making the group go silent and look over, including Tommy. There, a boy, (around their age, Tommy guessed), stood. Tommy couldn't make out many features from the minimal lighting, but he could guess that he was around 6 foot.
"Just a warning, the cops were called. I saw y'all escaping as a group earlier and thought to give a warning before it really goes to shit here."
Silent glances around the group were shared, showing no indication that they believed him. The man just nodded, turning to awkwardly walk away at the lack of response.
"Hey." Tommy spoke up, making the whole group (including mystery man) look up at him. "Thank you for the warning. Y'all can get out, I'm going with him."
While speaking, Tommy dropped and crushed the cigarette underneath his shoe, walking past the group as they all stared at them in shock. To be fair, he only every really spoke small, shy sentences when with them. He figured that they doubted he had it in him, but he happily walked past the group and towards the stranger.
The stranger narrowed his eyes, an amused smirk on his face as he let Tommy get close, turning to exit as Tommy followed.
Tommy could better make out the man's features now that there was a soft lighting. A tattoo sleeve on one arm, wearing some sort of anime graphic tee, with that naturally-wider build, as well as a dyed purple hair.
A sight that Tommy greedily took in for sure. The man was undoubtedly attractive.
They stopped in an alleyway about a block from the original party, hearing distant sirens coming from that general direction.
"Damn, not your people?" The man finally spoke, leaning against the brick wall.
Tommy snorted, shaking his head with a smile. "Yeah, was it obvious? Honestly hate them."
"I can tell. Why'd you stick with them? Well, until you left with me, obviously."
A sigh, glancing around. "It's- well, it's complicated." Tommy leaned against the wall next to the stranger, their arms pressed together.
"Yeah, I get that." He responded, and the two sat in silence for a bit.
"Damien. 's my name."
"Tommy. You go to UCLA?"
"Yeah, senior. You too?" The stranger, Damien, spoke while pulling out his phone, texting someone.
"Junior."
"Ah, cool." Damien put his phone down, turning to lean only his arm against the wall and face Tommy, who mirrored the action.
The two engaged in casual conversation, before lights illuminated the space from behind Tommy, and Damien grimaced. "That's my ride. You have a way home?" Damien asked, slight worry in his eyes. It was too sweet.
"I have my ways."
"Okay. Be safe, yeah?"
"Yeah, I'll see you around."
"Yep, goodbye, Tommy."
"Goodbye, Damien." Tommy waved him off, standing in the dark alleyway for a minute or two. He cursed under his breath silently as his phone rang, finally turning around and beginning his walk back to campus as he answered the call.