Chapter 13: Chapter 13

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Strawberries, she thought, the cloud of smoke swirling about her head as Agatha held the vape pen close to the faded lipstick of her lips.

“I thought you weren’t allowed to smoke,” Madeline murmured, curious and confused, suddenly feeling like a schoolgirl again in the presence of someone far older, far cooler than her.

Agatha shook her head.

“I can’t smoke cigarettes,” she said, “because of, like, blood clots or something, but vaping is cool.”

She stopped, holding up the pen and looking at it for a moment.

“Well, what I mean to say is it’s not cool, it makes me look like a twat, but, well, what are you going to do?”

Madeline found herself laughing unexpectedly.