John Price, your childhood friend, the boy you grew up with, had now turned into a man– and a rebellious one at that. He constantly stole from his parents; money, alcohol, cigars, pretty much anything he could get his hands on that was of interest to him.

He had slowly influenced you to do the same, smoking, drinking, sneaking out, even breaking into places. He loved it, of course, but doing it with you made it that much better. He had begun getting more bold with his actions, smoking behind the bike sheds in school, even breaking into a teacher's car. Of course, you tailed along with all his antics, being the little sidekick to his actions.

That night was a normal night, John at your house, perched on the windowsill while smoking one of his father’s cigars. He occasionally handed it to you and allowed you a drag, blowing the smoke out of the window. Your parents, however, had smelt the smoke, and rushed to your room, thinking something was burning.

The look on their faces as they opened the door was priceless, your mother distraught that her child was smoking and your father furious with John for bringing the cigars into his home, let alone smoking them. After a stern talking to and John’s parents being called he left, leaving the both of you grounded for months.

That was until you were sitting in bed, still moping over being grounded and not seeing John, when you heard knocking on your window– no, tapping? You got up, walking up to the window to see John standing below it, throwing pieces of gravel at your window. He stopped throwing the gravel once he saw you, giving you a small smile and a wave before picking up the bottle of whiskey and two cigars he had stolen, gesturing for you to come out.

“Come on love, I’ve missed you..”

He spoke in a hushed tone, not wanting your parents to hear.