(Previous chapter can be found below) 

III. The caravan

The glass pipe glittered in Loz’s sun-worn hand as he warmed it from underneath with a jet lighter. My heart drummed in anticipation as he held it up for me. I inhaled long and deep, strapped in now, trying my hardest to return the gesture and not disappoint this bloke. The little shard bubbled from within.

Exhale.

All it took was a few seconds, and just like that, my definition of the term ‘crystal clear’ acquired a whole new dimension of understanding. Time stood still as my brain raced to catch its own tail, drowning in a fresh wave of dopamine; the party music in the background and the perception of reality engulfing me resumed, ever-so enhanced; the psytrance blared out gloriously refreshing highs and lows, abounding through my newfound acute hearing and urging me into action.

By the time I clicked into gear, a tinge of euphoria sparked through my brain, revitalising it instantly. Any tiredness after what had been a long-ass night instantly vanished. There I was, kicking on at Sandtrax inside this suspicious-looking caravan, placing myself in the hands of this bloke I knew nothing about, but that somehow, I knew I could trust – to a certain extent, of course. I looked up towards him as he analysed my face for a reaction – its every tweak and tinge – as if trying to recapture the essence of his first ever hit through mine. I too would come to chase this feeling over and over again. It felt fuckin’ good, and I was ready to start the party all over again.

All I managed to blurt out to thank him was a baffled ‘Wow’, as my brain braced itself from the massive dopamine rush. His was a proud smile, like a father’s seeing his kid kick the footy for the first time, followed by a long laugh and a nasty cough. Loz reached for his Gatorade bong to settle his lungs; I got up, grabbed my beer and paced around a bit, as if to channel my new energy and assert its capacities. Just as I was about to thank him and pledge my euphoric gratitude and consequent subservience to him, the door opened, stopping me in my tracks.

She poked her head inside and our eyes met. The dark of her pupils was stretched to the very edge of a green sea, enhancing the youth of her look; two specks of curly wet hair clung to each side of her face, complementing a ponytail that made her sleek cheekbones pop. My blood seemed to invite a quick boil as Loz’s bong water bubbled in the background. She put a sandy naked foot forward and walked in wearing a fishnet over a wet black bikini. My face must have been a comical one in absolute awe at this mirage, for she smiled at me as if she knew exactly what was going through my head.

‘Hullo,’ I blurted out as she danced towards me and my heart staggered.

‘Hi!’ she replied with a smile without letting go of my popping pupils. She squeezed my forearm whilst walking past me and I was hooked on her, being spun in the merry-go-round of her sweet essence as if in a trance. She laughed and finally let go, sitting on Loz’s lap as he exhaled the bong smoke.

‘Hey baby!’ she blurted as Lawrie coughed his lungs out once more. ‘I’ve just been for a swim; you must come!’

Loz’s watery eyes glistened with affection as she brushed her lips on his.

‘I feel amazing!’ she exclaimed, putting a proud smile on his tired face.

All I could do was watch this scene in hypnosis, standing and smiling.

 ‘Who’s this?’ she asked.

I put my hand forward with a stupid grin slapped across my face, and she laughed again.

‘This is my new friend Tyler’, he said, scanning my face for a reaction once more as I grabbed her hand in mine and smiled. ‘Tyler, this is Alice.’

‘Is he a keeper?’ she asked him.

Loz’s eye inspected mine.

‘I have a feeling that he’s going to be stickin’ around.’