The Hunger, Part 3

The Hunger Part 3

   Meanwhile, Laura was sleeping fitfully.  It took her forever to fall
asleep and when she finally did she was tormented by nightmares.  She found
herself at a party, absolutely desperate for a cigarette, and it seemed that
everyone in the room was smoking.  She didn't know anyone, but she WAS
desperate, so she approached a young man about her own age.  He was the most
gorgeous specimen of manhood that she had ever seen and, if she hadn't been
completely obsessed with her need to smoke, she would have found him quite
attractive.  But she was obsessed.  "Excuse me," she said, "I'm sorry to
bother you but I'm dying for a cigarette.  Could I bum one from you?" she
asked hopefully.

   "Well, I would love to accomodate such a beautiful young smoker," he said,
taking a long drag from his cigarette.

   Her heart leaped and she stammered, "Th..Thank you.  You really are a
sweetheart!!  I'm having a nicotine fit like you wouldn't..."

   "Unfortunately," he cut in, "this is my very last one and, as you can see,
it's finished.  Sorry," he added, blowing the huge gust of smoke directly in
her face.  The smell of the smoke was torture and she breathed in what she
could, although it wasn't much.

   Next she approached a young well dressed woman in her thirties.  Her
elegant dress and fine jewelry made it obvious that she was wealthy.  She was
smoking from a long cigarette holder.  "Probably non-filter, but I'll take
what I can get," thought Laura.  "Excuse me, but could I possibly borrow one
of your cigarettes?" Laura asked. "I seem to have run out and I really need
one now."

   The young lady was just finishing a long drag and she too exhaled her
smoke in Laura's face.  Looking down her nose, she haughtily replied, "I hate
people like you.  If you can't afford to buy your own cigarettes, you
shouldn't be allowed to smoke.  You certainly won't be allowed to smoke here.
This is my party and I won't have you hounding my guests, looking for a
handout.  Now leave me alone!!"

   "Bitch!!" thought Laura.  She made her way to the side of the room where
there were couches and had a seat.  It seemed like everyone in the room was
watching her with contempt.  The smoke hanging in the room just amplified her
cravings.  As she watched the party guests smoke, she found herself mimicking
their actions.  She noticed a young redheaded girl in her late teens just
lighting up.  She found herself putting her empty fingers to her pursed lips
and, with her other empty hand, she flicked a non-existent lighter and lit
up.  As she inhaled deeply, she was jolted back to reality.  Nothing reached
her lungs except stale, smoky air.  She dropped her head into her hands, on
the verge of tears.  As she looked back up, she noticed a pretty young blonde
girl around 14 sitting in a corner away from the crowd.  She was holding an
unlit cigarette in one hand and a lighter in the other, and the cigarette
pack was lying in her lap, although Laura was unable to make out the brand
from where she was sitting.  She looked very unhappy and no one else in the
room seemed to be paying any attention to her.  Laura made her way over to
her, skirting the crowd to avoid attracting any attention.  When the girl
noticed her coming, she quickly lit the cigarette and took a small puff.
"Hi, I'm Laura!!" she said tentatively, wary due to her previous meeting.

   "Hi, Laura, I'm Jenny," she replied, smiling sweetly.  Laura sat down
beside Jenny and noticed that the cigarettes she had were Marlboro 100's.

   "Are you enjoying the party, Jenny?"  Laura asked.

   "Yeah, sure," said Jenny unenthusiastically.

   As Jenny took another small puff and stifled a cough, Laura asked, "I hope
I'm not being too forward, Jenny, since we just met, but you don't look very
happy.  What's wrong?"

   "These," Jenny said, taking another small puff and holding up the
cigarette.  "My Mom says that all young ladies my age should learn to smoke
or they'll never get a boyfriend.  I just can't seem to get the hang of it."

   "Well, Jenny, I smoke.  Let me watch you and maybe I can tell what you're
doing wrong.

   Jenny's face brightened and she blurted, "Do you really think you can help
me, Laura?  Oh that would be wonderful!!  I'd be eternally grateful!!"

   "Let's give it a try," said Laura.

   "Okay," said Jenny, her face beaming as she put the cigarette to her lips
and pulled ever so slightly, exhaling immediately.

   "Well," said Laura, "for one thing you aren't inhaling the smoke.  That's
the best part.  It gives you a feeling almost like being outside your own
body, like you're floating."

   "Really?" asked Jenny.  "Let me try again."  This time she took a long
drag, but the smoke escaped before she could inhale it.

   "You have to hold the smoke in your mouth until you can inhale,"
instructed Laura.  "Try it again, but this time keep your lips together until
you remove the cigarette, then as you open your mouth inhale."  Jenny took
another long drag, clasping her lips tightly as she removed the cigarette,
then opened her mouth and inhaled.  As she did, she choked and coughed for
several minutes.

   Discouraged, she moaned, "I'll never be able to get this right.  Thanks
anyway, Laura." She sat dejectedly in silence for several minutes, playing
with the cigarette, then her face brightened.  "Hey, I have an idea.  Maybe
if you showed me how, Laura!!  I've always learned better by watching someone
do something than by having it explained.  Could you?"  Laura looked around
the room.  The hostess was nowhere in sight.  She didn't want anymore
trouble, but that Marlboro 100 was calling her name.

   "Sure, Jenny.  I'm literally dying for a cigarette anyway!!" Laura
exclaimed.  Taking the cigarette from Jenny, she placed it to her lips and
pulled with all her might, parting her lips to inhale before starting a
second drag.  She inhaled the smoke deeply and laid her head back on the
couch and closed her eyes. "Oh God, that's good!!" she said as she exhaled.

   "You must really love to smoke, Laura," said Jenny.  "You make it seem
like it's well worth the effort to learn.  Let me try it again!!" she said,
snatching the cigarette from Laura's hand just as she started to take another
drag.

   "Okay, Jenny, but don't duplicate exactly what I did.  I've been smoking
for a while, so I'm a pro.  Don't try a double drag like I did until you get
the hang of inhaling the first one.  I was just desperate.  In fact, I still
am.  Do you think I could have one of those Marlboro's for myself?"

   "Sure," said Jenny, "Here you go!!"  She handed the pack to Laura, who
quickly took one out and placed it to her lips.  She took Jenny's lighter and
flicked it to life, but just as she was about to get her cigarette lit, it
was snatched from her mouth.  Towering over her was the hostess.

   "What the hell is going on here?" she screamed at Laura.  "First you annoy
all my guests with your begging, and now I find you stealing the pack I gave
my daughter and ordered her to finish!!"

   "I'm sorry," said Laura, "I didn't steal them, she was just letting me
have one.  Jenny and I are friends and I didn't mean to cause her any
trouble.  I'll leave now," Laura said, heading for the door.

   "No you won't!!" the hostess bellowed.  "I gave you your chance to leave
and this is how you repay my mercy.  GUARDS!!"  Two big bruising men who were
incredibly ugly appeared suddenly from nowhere it seemed and grabbed Laura's
arms.

   Fearful and struggling to free herself, Laura said, "Wait a minute!!!  Let
me explain.  I was just trying to help Jenny learn to smoke, just like you
are!!  I know she'll love it as much as we do, but she has to learn first.
Jenny was just giving me a cigarette so that she could watch me smoke and
learn how, right, Jenny?  Tell her.  Tell her we're friends and you were just
sharing your Marlboros with me.  Tell her, please!!"

   Jenny started to speak, but under her mother's vicious glare, she
withered.  Looking at Laura in shame, she sheepishly replied, "I don't know
what she's talking about, Mother.  I was sitting here practicing my smoking
so I could make you proud when she came over here and told me that if I
didn't give her the pack she'd hurt me and cause a disturbance at the party
which would embarrass you.  I couldn't let her do that to you, Mother, so I
gave them to her.  I didn't know what else to do."

   "Good girl, Jenny, but I think you'll need these," cooed the hostess,
wrenching the pack of Marlboros out of Laura's restrained hands and handing
them to Jenny.  "Thank you, mother.  I love to smoke and I only hope that
someday I can do it as well and look as beautiful and elegant doing it as you
do.  It's no wonder you drive the men wild!!" she said.

   "Jenny, please," Laura cried, but Jenny would not meet her gaze.  She lit
a fresh cigarette and took a long puff, inhaled it like a pro, and held the
smoke in for a long time before exhaling.  "Well, at least I must have helped
her," thought Laura.  She wanted to hate Jenny for lying that way, but all
she could feel was sorry for her, and hatred for her intimidating mother.
"What will you do with me now?" asked Laura, glaring at the hostess.

   "Why, just what you wanted, my dear!!" she said sweetly with an evil grin.
"I'm going to let you smoke like you've never smoked before," she laughed.
"Guards, take her upstairs....to the room."

   Laura soon found herself taken to a room that had apparently once been a
bedroom, but it wasn't like any bedroom Laura had ever been in.  There were
four pulleys attached to the ceiling with ropes in them.  At the end of each
rope was a leather loop with a slide on it.  Underneath the pulleys was a
bed.  The two burly men stripped Laura naked, laid her on the bed on her
stomach and began putting a loop around each of Laura's wrists.  When they
had pulled each loop tight and fastened them so that there was no hope of her
removing her hands, they repeated the procedure, placing the other two loops
around her ankles and tightened them.  Then, they pulled on each of the ropes
and secured them, leaving Laura dangling naked in mid-air by her arms and
legs.  She was thankful that she had been working out or her limbs would
never have been strong enough to support her body weight.  The two guards
left the room and soon the door opened to reveal the good looking man.  He
entered the room and looked Laura's naked body over.  Whistling, he said,
"Boy was I right!!  You really are beautiful, Laura!!  I only wish we had met
under other circumstances."

   "Well," said Laura coyly, "it isn't too late.  Help me down from here and
out of this house and then we can really get to know each other."

   Shaking his head sadly, he said, "I'm sorry, beautiful Laura, but I can't
do that.  Let's talk though," he said, taking a seat so he could look up into
her face.  "When did you start smoking?" he asked.  "When I was 13," she
replied.  "My best friend at school came from a family where smoking wasn't
given much thought, no matter how old you were.  In fact, she had her first
cigarette when she was four.  Of course it took her a lot longer at that age
to get the hang of it, but by the time we were thirteen, she was totally
hooked.  She used to sneak out of school several times a day to smoke.  The
teachers all thought she had bladder problems.  Of course, like all thirteen
year olds, I wanted to get out of class whenever possible, so I asked her if
I could go, too.  She said only if I would smoke with her.  That was a tall
order for the daughter of two zealous anti-smokers.  I had been very
anti-smoking myself.  It's amazing how totally that changed.  Incredibly, I
did it right the first time I tried.  I even inhaled.  I guess I was born to
smoke.  I'll never forget how good it made me feel the first time.  I felt
like I could fly."

   "That's very interesting," the man said, lighting himself a cigarette and
blowing the smoke her way.  "What brand do you usually smoke?"

   Laura laughed ironically, "Marlboro 100's, the ones that got me caught and
into this mess." The reminiscences of her first cigarette and the smoke from
the man's cigarette brought back Laura's cravings.  "Uhh, do you think I
could have one of those while we talk?" she asked.

   "Not yet, I'm afraid," said the man, exhaling her way again.  "Why did you
settle on that brand?"

   Laura took a deep breath to try and quell the cravings and said, "My
friend smoked Marlboro reds, you know, the shorter ones.  I found myself
smoking every time she did, so it didn't take long before I was hard-core
hooked.  I obviously couldn't smoke at home and since neither of my parents
smoked, I couldn't filch their cigarettes, so I took money instead.  When I
started buying my own, I bought the 100's so they would last longer when I
smoked at school.  By the time my parents found out that I was smoking, I was
so addicted that they knew it would do no good to forbid me, so I stuck with
these at home as well.  It helped that they were not only longer, but was one
of the highest in nicotine content, so I didn't have to smoke as often.  Each
cigarette I smoked at home was accompanied by a sermon from my parents, so I
smoked as few as possible, just enough to keep me from going into nicotine
fits like the one I'm having now.  Could I at least have a drag off yours to
beat back the cravings?"

   "I'm afraid not," he smiled.  "How much do you smoke a day?"

   "About three packs a day, but that's just because I'm in school and can't
smoke in class.  Classes are torture.  It's a wonder I pass since I can't
think of anything but when we get a break so I can smoke again.  If I had
nothing else to do, I'd smoke a whole lot more."

   "Good," the man said.  "The more, the merrier, I always say!!"

   "I know I'm always merrier when I can smoke.  Please give me one.  I won't
tell anybody and who would know but us?" Laura begged.

   "Well, maybe it is about time," said the man.  Laura smiled as he got up
and retrieved an ashtray from the dresser.  He placed it on the bed, directly
beneath her face.

   "I guess that makes sense," thought Laura.  "If he won't let me down, at
least this way the ashes will fall in the ashtray."

   The man fumbled through one of the drawers that appeared to be filled with
different brands of cigarettes.  After a few moments, he smiled triumphantly
and said, "Ah-hah!!  Look what I found!!"  As he returned to his chair, Laura
could see that he was holding a pack of Marlboro 100's.

   "My brand!!" gleamed Laura.  "That's even better!!"  As he lit the
cigarette, Laura pursed her lips in anticipation of his placing the cigarette
between them.  Instead, he placed the cigarette in the ashtray and sat back
down.  Now, instead of the occasional exhale of already inhaled smoke, the
fresh smoke flowed directly into Laura's face in a steady stream.

   "Are you going to let me down now?" asked Laura hopefully.

   "No," smiled the man.

   "Well, I can't smoke it from down there.  Are you going to give me drags?
I really need one now."

   "I know," smiled the man.

   "You know what?" asked Laura irritably.

   "I know that you can't smoke it from there and I know that you really need
one.  That's the idea.  We're going to show you what cravings are," he
grinned.

   "I already know what cravings are!" screamed Laura.  "I'm dying for a
cigarette!!  Please, God, just one puff!!"

   "Not yet," the man laughed.  "You don't really need it yet.  Just wait,
you'll see."  The uninhaled smoke was burning Laura's nose, but she tried
gallantly to inhale as much of it as possible.  It was to no avail, however.
She just couldn't get enough inhaled to do any good.  The cravings were
stronger than any she had ever experienced.  The man sat quietly smiling
until the cigarette had burned completely down, then he put it out.  "Are you
ready for another one?" he asked.

   "Another one, shit!!" Laura screamed.  "I haven't had the first one yet!!
Give me one I can actually smoke!!"  The man found this very amusing and
started to light another one.  Before he did, he went to the closet and
removed a tall aluminum bar with a clamp at each end.  One end attached to
the headboard of the bed.  He then lit the cigarette and placed it in the
other clamp with the filter facing Laura.  Laura struggled with all her might
to get her lips to the filter, but it was just out of  reach.  She got close
enough to touch the filter with her lips, but couldn't manage to clamp down
on it.  She could taste the smoke, but couldn't pull it into her mouth.
"Damn!!" she screamed. "I'll never reach it!!  I can't take this!!  I WANT
THAT CIGARETTE!!"

   "Well," giggled the man, "maybe I CAN help you a little."  He went to each
rope and loosened each one just a bit.  Laura was now hanging a little lower.
She found that with the slack, if she moved her arms and legs just right, she
could swing back and forth.  She moved forward and back, getting a little
closer to the cigarette with each arc.  When she had almost reached it, she
noticed that he had tied a string around the cigarette that disappeared
through the ceiling.  Finally, with one great lunge, she was able to grab the
filter between her lips just as she moved backward.  She smiled triumphantly,
but before she could take a drag, the string went taut and a huge stream of
water emerged from the ceiling, dousing the cigarette.  Laura spat the soaked
cigarette from between her lips, screamed furiously and then began sobbing in
agony.

   The door opened and the hostess came into the room.  "What's the problem?"
she asked.  "Your screaming is disturbing my guests."

   "What's the problem, you ask?  What's the problem?  I'm hanging here,
stark naked in mid-air, and I still have the same problem I had when I got
here.  I NEED A CIGARETTE!!  Is that too much to ask?  Millions of people the
world over smoke.  I'm not a criminal.  I'm just having a nicotine fit.  I
just want a cigarette," she sobbed pitifully.

   "Well, that's not much.  We can do that," said the hostess calmly.  "Let
her down and give her a cigarette, Antonio."  The man slowly released each
rope, lowering Laura to the bed.  As she relaxed and rolled over, the man
took a Marlboro 100 from the pack and handed it to her.

   "Finally," she wept.  "Can I have a light?"

   "A light?" asked the hostess.  "You didn't say anything about a light.
You said you needed a cigarette.  Now you've got one.  Quit complaining."

   "Oh no," cried Laura.  "No, no, no, no, no.  Please light my cigarette.  I
need to smoke.  Just one puff.  Just one tiny puff of that rich, gray smoke.
My lungs are screaming at me for nicotine.  My head is pounding.  Please,
please, please, I'll do anything you ask if you'll just give me a lighter."

   "Oh alright," said the hostess, "quit sniveling.  Give her a lighter."
The man dug through the dresser drawer and withdrew a gold Zippo lighter.

   "This one?" he asked.

   "That's fine," replied the hostess.  Laura smelled the cigarette as he
tossed her the lighter.  She was shaking uncontrollably and tears were
streaming down her face.  She was sure that she could already taste the
strong smoke in her anticipation.  She placed the brown filter between her
lips and flicked the Zippo greedily.  It didn't light.  She tried again.  No
dice.  She tried again and again to light the lighter with no luck.  She
began pounding her fists into the bed as her torturers laughed hysterically.

   She awoke to find that not much had changed.  She really was pounding her
fists into the bed, shaking like a leaf and with tears streaming down her
face so hard that her pillow was soaked.  One other thing was the same.  She
was feeling the cravings like she never had before.  Her whole being cried
out insistently for nicotine. She got up and started downstairs, wiping her
face, but to no avail.  The tears were coming as quickly as she could wipe
them away.

   Laura reached the living room, stumbling blindly through the tears.  As
she made her way across the room, she tripped and screamed in pain. " OUCH!!"
Looking down, she realized that she had stumbled ove Leanne's History Book.
"Damn it!!!!" she bellowed, then snatched up the book and flung it with all
her might across the room.  She heard a crash and her heart sank, realizing
she had broken something.  Crossing the room, she looked in horror to realize
that it was the lighter her Grandmother had given her.  She collapsed to the
floor, cradling the shattered shards of the lighter, and buried her face in
her knees and let out an agonizing wail, her heart absolutely broken.

   Leanne was just making her way through the back door when she heard the
crash.  "Oh Shit!!!," thought Leanne, "I'm busted!!!"  Then she heard Laura's
pitiful moan.  Peeking around the door, she saw Laura crumpled in front of
the fireplace.  "Laura!!!" she cried with alarm.  "Are you okay?"  No
response.  She crossed the room in a bound, grabbing Laura by the shoulder.
"Laura, speak to me!!!  Are you hurt?"

   Laura looked up at her through tear stained eyes.  "No, Leanne, I'm not
hurt.  Hurting, but not hurt," she whimpered.

   "What happened?" asked Leanne.  "What's wrong?"

   Sobbing, Laura replied, "My....head....is splitting, my l..lungs are
aching, my ni..nipples are throbbing, and every cell in my body is screaming
viciously for nicotine.  All I can think about is smoking.  I can taste the
smoke, feel it burning my lungs as I inhale.  I honestly believe that I could
kill someone for a cigarette right now.  And now," she moaned, "now look what
I've done!!  I've broken the most precious thing I own in this world.  I've
destroyed my Grandmother's lighter!!  My life isn't worth living."

   "Oh Laura," soothed Leanne.  "I'm so sorry."  Leanne dropped to the floor
beside Laura and cradled her in her arms, wracked with guilt.

   "Oh well," said Laura, "it's not your fault."  She buried her face in
Leanne's neck and began sobbing again.

   Quietly, Leanne replied, "Yes, Laura, it is."

   "Don't be silly, Leanne," said Laura.  "It's not your fault.  I brought us
up her and got us snowed in.  Besides, I'm the heavy smoker.  I should have
known better than to let myself run out.  I don't care how tired we were, we
should have stopped by the store on the way in.  For that matter, I never
should have left home without a couple of extra cartons.  I took for granted
that we would be able to run to the store for more.  I have to take the
blame, or at least share it with Beth.  She's as heavily addicted as I am.
She should have known better too.  But then she was asleep when we came
through town.  Either way, you aren't addicted, so you certainly aren't to
blame.  This fiasco is another Laura special.  I can't do anything right."

   "Oh Laura, that's not true," said Leanne.  "That's the depression talking,
the nicotine withdrawal.  You're good at everything you do.  This disaster
just caught you offguard.  At any rate, it breaks my heart to see you suffer
like this, and I could have prevented it."

   "How, Leanne?" asked Laura.  "You gave us all the cigarettes you had,
right?"  Laura glanced at Leanne and noticed that she was staring at the
ground.  "Leanne, look at me!!  What's the deal?  DO you have more
cigarettes?  A Marlboro 100 would be worth it's weight in gold to me, but
even a few more Carlton's would help.  DO you have more?"

   "Yes, I mean, no," stammered Leanne.  She sat there for a moment, then
rose.

   "Where are you going?" asked Laura quizzically.

   "I'll be right back," she answered.  Leanne made her way to the garage,
retrieved her treasure, then returned.  Without a word, she handed the pack
containing the two remaining Mores to Laura, along with her lighter.  Laura's
face registered shock.  She looked into the pack and saw the cigarettes, then
back at Leanne, then back to the pack.  She tore one of the cigarettes from
the pack so quickly that it flew from her fingers, landing on the floor a few
feet away.  She dove for it, snatched it from the floor and placed it between
her tightly clenched lips then, lying on her back, she lit it.  She pulled
with all her might, refusing to allow even the slightest hint of the
delicious smoke to escape from her ravenous lungs.  Once, twice, thrice, she
pulled the smoke into her supple young body, as the tears once again flowed
freely down the sides of her face.  The orgasmic rush she felt as the
nicotine soaked into her starving body was incredible.  Two more cheek
hollowing drags and, unbelievably, she began to get light-headed.  "Oh my.
OH MY!!!!" she moaned.

   "What's wrong?" asked Leanne.  "Are you okay, Laura?"

   "Okay?" Laura purred.  "Leanne, I'm better than okay.  I'm actually
feeling a nicotine rush!!  I haven't felt one of these in 9 or 10 years!!!
It's AWESOME!!!"

   Leanne giggled.  "I'm glad to see you feeling so much better, Laura.  I'm
sorry I was so selfish."

   "Selfish or not, Leanne, right now I could kiss," Laura replied, smoke
punctuating every word.  She took 3 more rapid fire, chest expanding drags
and held in the precious smoke.

   "I'd give you every cigarette we have left if it would make you this
happy.  Of course, that's easy for me to say right now,"  Leanne said.

   Finally releasing her exhale, Laura asked, "What do you mean?  You said
you weren't addicted.  Seems like it would be easy for you to say that
anytime."

   With a sheepish smile, Leanne admitted, "I lied, Laura.  I AM addicted.
VERY addicted."

   Realizing that her cigarette was spent, Laura took the other long brown
cylinder from the pack, placed it between her moist lips, and lit it with the
still burning butt, just as Leanne added, "I'd have never made it without
these Mores of Beth's I found."

   Laura bolted upright, a look of panic on her face.  She gave Leanne a look
of surprise, then looked longingly at the freshly lit 120 between her slim
fingers.  Then she sighed.  "You're right, Leanne.  Much as I hate it, you're
right."

   "Ummmmm," Leanne stuttered, "right about what?  What'd I say?"

   "That these are Beth's Mores.  I've had a whole one, and you have too."

   "2 actually," Leanne admitted guiltily.  "I found 4 still in the pack."

   "Okay, so you've had 2, I've had one, and Beth has had none.  I know how
desperately she needs to smoke.  She's dying for a shot of nicotine just like
I was.  We've got to let her smoke this one, at least."

   Leanne gave her a look of surprise.  "Are you sure, Laura?  I mean, I know
it's the right thing to do, but that one More is the most nicotine you've had
since this whole ordeal started.  It's not going to be anytime until you'll
be starving for nicotine again."

   Laura looked at Leanne, then at the cigarette.  She quickly placed the
cigarette between her lips and pulled hard.  She inhaled the precious smoke
and held it.  After several long seconds, she exhaled.  Taking a deep breath
and closing her eyes, she said, "No, I can't do this.  Come on."

   Laura made her way to Beth's room, with Leanne close behind.  Beth was
asleep.  "Look, Laura," Leanne whispered.  "She's asleep.  She'd never know
the difference."

   Laura grinned, then began to put the cigarette back between her lips.
Just then, Beth let out a low, pitiful moan.  With a guilty look at Leanne,
she stopped and took one last longing look at the burning cigarette.
Sighing, she made her way over to the bed and sat down on the edge.  Beth let
out another moan, more pitiful than before, but didn't wake up.  With a grin,
Laura placed the butt of the cigarette between Beth's sleeping lips.  In her
sleep, Beth was breathing deeply.  A smile crossed her face as she
inadvertantly inhaled the smoke.  "Why yes," she muttered in her sleep, the
cigarette bobbing with her words, "I am a smoker.  I love to smoke.  I
couldn't make it without my beloved nicotine."  Suddenly her eyes shot open
and she clamped down hard on the cigarette, pulling with all her might.  She
inhaled the smoke and held it for an eternity, then exhaled through her nose
and began another monster pull.  "MMMMMMM," she moaned.  Tears began
streaming down her face as she pulled the smoke again and again deeply into
her starving lungs.  "Thank God, oh Thank God," she whined out the side of
her mouth, refusing to remove the cigarette for even a second.  She puffed
continuously until she was finally pulling on the burning filter.

   "See," grinned Laura, "I told you it was possible to smoke an entire
cigarette without ever removing it from your mouth."  She took the burning
filter from Beth as she tried desperately to snatch it back.

   "WAIT!!" cried Beth.  "I'm not finished!!!"

   "Yes, you are," replied Laura.  "It's gone, Beth.  Nothing left but the
butt, see?"

   "Oh," answered Beth sadly.  "Okay."  She sighed, then suddenly brightened.
"But wait!!!  That was a More!!!  Not a Carlton!!!  Where'd you get it?  That
must mean that you got out and made it to the store, right?  I hope you got
me a couple of cartons.  I'll smoke them all in one sitting.  Gimme,
quick!!!!  My nicotine gauge is still way below empty!!!!"  Laura looked
guiltily at Leanne.  "Come on, come on, come on!!!" pleaded Beth.  "I need
another cigarette!!  Where are they?  Downstairs?"

   Beth shot out of bed and headed for the door, but Laura grabbed her and
sat her back down on the bed.  "Beth, there are no more.  That was it," Laura
explained.

   Beth gave a puzzled look at Laura, then Leanne.  "I don't understand.
That was the only one?  And you gave it to me?  Oh Laura, you're an angel!!"

   "No," said Laura, "I had one too.  Leanne, I think you'd better explain."

   Leanne looked at Laura fearfully, then sat down on the bed beside Beth and
took her hand.  "Beth, I...I...I don't know how to say this.  You see, I'm
hooked.  VERY hooked.  Incredibly hooked."

   "What are you talking about, Leanne?  You aren't hooked.  We talked about
that remember?"

   "Yes, I remember, Beth.  But you see, I'm so terribly hooked that I would
do anything for nicotine.  Even lie."

   Leanne looked down in shame as Beth replied, "Lie?  Then you've had these
all along?  But that doesn't make sense, Leanne.  You smoke Carltons.  Why
would you have brought Mores?  That's my brand!"

   "I haven't had them all along, Beth.  In fact, they WERE yours.  I found
them the night I went out to the car to get my book.  You had apparently
dropped them when you fell asleep on the way up here and they must have
gotten accidentally pushed up under the seat."

   A look of shock crossed Beth's face.  She looked at Leanne, then at Laura,
then back to Leanne.  In a flash, she leaped up and slapped Leanne's cheek so
hard that she fell across the bed.  "BETH!!!" screamed Laura, "Stop that!!!"

   Taking a deep breath and exhaling slowly, Beth said, "I'm sorry, Leanne,
but I think you had that coming.  Laura and I have been in agony and,
selfishly, you just let us suffer.  I'm glad your conscience finally got the
better of you."

   Through her tears, Leanne replied, "You're right, Beth.  It was evil of
me.  I'd like to think that if I had it to do over, I wouldn't do the same
thing, but the truth is that I was hurting badly for nicotine.  I'm more
addicted than even I ever realized."  Sniffing, she added, "Even...even so,
I'll do the only thing I can think of to make up for it.  I...I...," she
sobbed, "I won't smoke for the rest of the time we're here.  I'll do without,
just like you two have had to.  You guys can have the Carltons that are left
all to yourself."

   "Oh Leanne!!!" said Laura brightly, shooting an accusing look at Beth,
"That is so sweet of you!!!  You don't have to, of course, but if that's what
you want to do, I sure won't argue with you.  I mean, Beth and I sure could
use the extra nicotine, right, Beth?"

   Quietly but firmly, Beth said, "No."

   "What???" said Laura.  "C'mon, Beth.  I know what Leanne did was wrong,
but you can't hold a grudge forever.  She's said she's sorry.  She's offering
to go without nicotine for the rest of the week to make up for it.  Let it
go, girl."

"No," repeated Beth.  "I can't let her do it.  Yes, what she did was, as she
so aptly put it, evil.  Evil with a capital E.  But I, for one, am not evil.
I can't let her suffer just to get even.  The cigarettes were hers to begin
with.  Even with what she's done, she deserves her fair share of the
nicotine."  Beth quickly approached Leanne, who had risen to a sitting
position on the edge of the bed.  A look of terror crossed Leanne's face and
she winced, preparing for another slap.  Instead, Beth hugged her.  "We
addicts have to stick together, even if it means suffering together.  I'm
sorry I slapped you, Leanne.  Still friends?"

   With a smile, Leanne nodded and said, "Still friends.  You were right.  I
deserved it."

   "Now ladies," grinned Laura, "I think we need to get some sleep while our
nicotine gauges are still full.  I don't know about you, but this withdrawal
has been causing me some horrendous nightmares.  Maybe I can get some decent
sleep for a little while."

   "Sounds good to me," said Leanne, rising and heading for the door.  As she
reached it, she hesitated and said, "Good night, Beth.  Sleep well."

   "You too," replied Beth with a smile, adding a little wink.  With a huge
grin, Leanne wandered off to bed.

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