Getting Rid of Ryan, Part 3

This fictional account contains adult language and themes.  If such language
and themes offend you, please do not read further.  The persons and events
described in this work are purely fictional.  Any similarity to actual persons
or events is strictly coincidental.  Copyright 2003 by SSTORYMAN.  All rights
reserved.  Permission is hereby granted to reproduce this story in any form
and for any purpose as long as this notice is reproduced and no financial
remuneration is received, directly or indirectly, by the person reproducing or
using it.

GETTING RID OF RYAN

3.	Practicing Together.

   After her last class Christine drove home.  She wasn't sure about this
whole smoking scam.  She liked Lia; it was nice getting to know her.  But she
wondered if Ryan would ever leave her alone even if he believed she smoked.
And could she convince him?  The commitment required was substantial.  How
many days did he have to see her smoking on campus before he finally believed
it?  And once she stopped would he resume pestering her?  Maybe Lia was
right.  Perhaps she should file a complaint with the campus security office
and get him written up as a stalker.

   But as much as she wanted to get rid of Ryan she also felt sorry for him.
He wasn't a bad person; she was convinced of that.  He was just obsessed.
In his own way he was nice.  She just didn't want to go out with him.  So
what should she do?  She decided to talk to her mom about it when she got
home.

   Kevin was out of town so Christine and Karen ate dinner alone.  Unknown to
Christine, for reasons she'd never have guessed Karen was keenly interested
to know about her attempt to trick Ryan.

   "So, honey, how did it go today?  Did you convince Ryan to bug off for
good?"

   Christine sighed.  "Not exactly, Mom.  It was such a mess!"  She
proceeded to explain what happened, about practicing lighting up cigarettes
in her car, involving Lia's help and her new friend's unexpected disclosure
to Ryan that she used to smoke in high school and was even now smoking at
home.

   "All the dumb stuff Lia said and my own awkwardness in trying to smoke
made Ryan suspicious.  He suspects I'm just doing it to trick him so he
won't like me.  He hates smokers but I'm afraid he knows I really don't
smoke.  He even threatened to call and ask you if it's true that I smoked in
high school and that I smoke at home now."  She paused.  "I'm sorry, Mom.
I figured it'd be easy, that Ryan would be turned off seeing me with a
cigarette.  Instead he's gonna watch me constantly now.  So I either have to
keep up the pretense or admit I did it to make him hate me.  What do you
think I should do, Mom?"

   Karen was delighted by this unexpected news.  No one became a smoker after
only one day of experimenting.  It took much longer for addiction to set in.
But this meant Christine's experiment had to continue.  She might yet fall
prey to nicotine's power.  Karen felt guilty about feeling that way but she
wanted it to happen.  It'd deflect criticism away from her plan to return to
smoking.  Any good mother would encourage Christine to give it up.  But for
selfish reasons Karen didn't want to do that.

   "Honey, I think you should definitely stick with it awhile.  You
obviously hit Ryan's hot button with the smoking thing.  Sure he's
suspicious.  He knows you want him not to be interested.  But if you stay the
course he'll soon decide you're not the girl for him.  It can't be that
hard to stick with it a little longer."

   Christine sighed.  "I guess you're right.  Lia suggested I just file a
complaint with campus security and report Ryan as a stalker.  I suppose he is
stalking me, sort of.  But I'm just not sure I want to get him in that kind
of trouble.  You know?"

   "No, don't do that," Karen asserted.  Damn!  It was logical and an
option she never thought of.  But it'd end Christine's smoking experiment.
Karen didn't want that.  No, she had to dissuade her daughter from that
approach.  "I only met Ryan twice.  But he doesn't seem dangerous," she
smiled.  "He doesn't deserve serious trouble.  He's immature, Christine,
and is enamored with you.  You're a pretty young woman.  It's no surprise
he dreams of being with you.  We just need to find some way to convince him
you're not the girl he wants.  I still think you smoking is a perfect way to
do it."

   "Yeah, I agree," Christine sighed heavily.  "I don't want to ruin the
poor boy's future.  I just want him to leave me alone."  She smiled.  "He
did look horrified when he saw me with that cigarette," she giggled.

   "I'm sure he did," Karen nodded.  She was pleased that Christine
wasn't inclined to report Ryan.  "Stick with this smoking thing for a few
days.  I bet he'll lose all interest, Christine.  Then you're free and can
get on with your life."

   There was a long silence.  It was time to press the issue.

   "So, honey, how did you feel about smoking?  Was it really all that
unpleasant?"

   Christine flashed a guilty smile.  "At first, Mom, it was horrible.  I
hated it.  But then Lia worked with me a little over lunch.  Then it didn't
seem so bad.  She taught me to inhale."

   "Oh, really?" Karen feigned benign interest.  "And what was that like?"

   "Weird," Christine exclaimed.  "It felt so strange."  She paused.
"Hey, wait a minute.  Didn't you used to smoke, Mom, years ago?"

   "In fact, yes, I did," Karen confirmed nonchalantly.  Inside her heart
was pounding but she remained outwardly tranquil.  "Yeah, I used to smoke
quite a lot, actually."  Yeah, that's it!  Bingo!  Now come on, kid.  Ask
me more about it, she silently pleaded.

   "So I guess you know all about smoking.  Right?"

   "Yeah, I sure do.  I started smoking at about your age," Karen lied.
She began way earlier than 18.  "Yep, I smoked till I got pregnant with you
when I was twenty-one.  I kind of liked it, to be honest," she added
wistfully.  She waited for a reaction to this revelation.

   "Interesting," Christine smiled.  "Yeah, by the end, I could kinda see
why people smoke.  I mean, I don't want to smoke myself or anything.  But
now I sort of understand why people like it so much."

   Karen salivated.  "Did you say your friend Lia told you to practice?
That's a good idea.  Why not show me what you learned today?  Just for
fun," she added casually.

   "Oh God, I don't know, Mom.  It'd be kind of embarrassing to smoke
while you watch."

   "Nonsense, dear," Karen offhandedly assured her.  She desperately wanted
to make it happen now.  "It'd be fun.  Why, I could even smoke with you, I
suppose, and give you some pointers.  What do you think?"

   "Gosh, Mom, I don't know -."

   "Don't worry.  It's nothing to be embarrassed about, Christine.  We'll
just work on your technique so you can convince Ryan it's real, even though
it's not.  You said you bought some cigarettes.  Let's try it together.
What do you say?"

   The teenager was finally convinced.  "Okay, sure, I guess we can, Mom,"
she cautiously agreed.  "I'll get the cigarettes and lighter."

   She bounced up the stairs.  Meanwhile Karen wiped her brow.  She was
nervous!  She wasn't sure how Christine would react.  But she grinned
wickedly.  Her daughter bought it!  Soon, in a few seconds she'd be smoking.
Best of all she'd be smoking with her little girl beside her!  Whether or
not Christine herself decided to become a smoker Karen could now blame this
supposedly innocent experiment for her own relapse back into nicotine
addiction that she planned to announce as soon as possible.

   Christine returned with a half-empty pack of Marlboro Lights 100's and
her disposable lighter.  She sat at the kitchen table.  "God, we should
probably go to the porch to do this, don't you think?"

   "Oh come on, honey.  A little smoke won't hurt anything," Karen smiled.
"After all, you'd be more comfortable practicing in here, wouldn't you?"

   "Yeah, I guess so," she admitted.  Then she hesitated.  "Mom, are you
sure you want to do this with me?"

   "Positive," Karen laughed a little too confidently.  "Come on.  Show me
what you can do, Christine.  I'm curious.  Don't be self-conscious.  It's
just a game, after all," she added, hoping that ultimately it wouldn't
prove to be.

   Christine pulled a cigarette from the pack and put it between her lips.
She sheepishly looked at Karen, picked up her lighter and clicked it.  She
touched the tip of the cigarette to the flame and sucked as it ignited.
Smoke filled her mouth and, just as Lia showed her, she inhaled it down into
her chest.

   Karen's heart raced.  She smelled her daughter's cigarette.  The scent
proved to be extraordinarily intoxicating.  It was all she could do not to
grab the pack and light one up for herself.  Instead she smiled serenely at
Christine as the youngster expertly exhaled.

   "My goodness," Karen effused.  "You sure could've fooled me!  To look
at you I'd think you smoke all the time.  How long did it take you to get
that good at it?"

   "Thanks, Mom," Christine blushed.  "Lia had me smoke three cigarettes
with her today.  She said I should go slow to not overdose on nicotine.  By
the last one I felt pretty confident.  Lia says it doesn't matter, though; I
still should practice."

   "I think your little friend is right," Karen smiled graciously.  "You
look okay, Chris, but looking totally comfortable is what will make this
work.  The more you practice the easier it will be to fool Ryan!"  She
hesitated.  It was time!  "Hey, let me have one of those.  I'll see if I
still remember how."

   "Are you sure, Mom?"

   "Yeah, why not?" Karen replied with casual assurance.  "I want to help
you, honey.  The least I can do is suffer through this along with you."

   Without a word Christine slid the pack across the table.  Karen picked it
up, looked at it thoughtfully and shook out a cigarette.  She sighed.  "My
God!  It's been so long since I did this."  It wasn't true.  It was only
hours since she smoked with Sharon.  On her afternoon break she'd bummed
another of her friend's cigarettes.

   Karen put the cigarette in her mouth.  She smiled sweetly.  "Well, here
goes nothing!"  She clicked the lighter, trying not to look as confident or
as eager as she felt.  Her cheeks collapsed as the cigarette ignited.  She
drew on it vigorously, pulling lots of smoke into her mouth.  With no
hesitation she breathed in, sucking the thick, creamy substance deep inside
her lungs.  She involuntarily groaned aloud.  "Oh God, that's nice," she
mumbled.  "Very nice!"

   Christine watched.  "God, Mom, you really _do_ know how to smoke, don't
you?"

   Karen released an endless exhale.  As she talked smoke kept coming from
her smiling mouth.  "Yeah, you never forget.  Never.  Doesn't matter how
long it's been.  Once you learn to smoke you can always pick it up again
with no problem."  Suddenly she felt self-conscious.  She giggled uneasily.
"This is kinda strange, isn't it?  I mean, the two of us sitting here
smoking together in the kitchen?"

   "Yeah, Mom, it's really weird," Christine agreed with a self-conscious
grin.  "But, seriously, I'm kinda glad you're doing it with me.  It makes
me feel less embarrassed.  So, what things did you want to show me?"

   Karen hesitated.  She hadn't really thought about teaching her anything.
She just wanted to smoke.  She trimmed her cigarette in the ashtray, buying
time to think.  Then she smiled.  She had it.  She'd get Christine to inhale
deeper.  After all, that was the key to addiction.  "Hmm.  I don't know.
Let me think.  Hey, I know.  Let me see you inhale again," she suggested
helpfully.  "Perhaps I can give you some pointers."

   Christine put her cigarette in her mouth and dragged.  It was a modest
hit, but real.  As she took it from her lips she breathed the smoke inside
her chest.  She looked apprehensive as she saw Karen staring at her.  She
smiled and pursed her lips to exhale.

   "Not bad," Karen nodded like the world's leading expert.  "Not bad at
all.  But to really convince Ryan try dragging much longer and harder on the
cigarette.  Let your cheeks cave in when you do it.  Like this."  Karen
dragged on her cigarette, noticeably hollowing her cheeks to demonstrate.
She opened her mouth and snapped the smoke inside, drawing it deep in her
lungs.  "When you inhale," she went on, "breathe it in farther, as far as
you can, like I'm doing.  Then hold it in your lungs awhile before you
finally exhale."  She pursed her lips to release the smoke.  "Like that,"
she concluded, pleased with herself.  "That makes you look like a serious
smoker!"

   Christine nodded.  "I think I get it."  She dragged harder and longer
this time.  Her cigarette crackled as the burning tobacco sizzled in response
to the pressure.  Finally she took it from her mouth and inhaled, imitating
her mom's snap.  This inhale was deeper; much deeper.  The youngster's
breasts elevated to make room for all the smoke inside her lungs.  "How's
that?" she asked, still holding it inside.  "Better?"

   Karen laughed as Christine let it out.  "Yeah, better.  It's great,
Christine.  God, you look fabulous.  So just practice awhile.  Soon Ryan will
be convinced."  Karen took another hard hit.

   "Mom, what are you doing?  Aren't you enjoying this a little too much?"

   Karen blushed.  "Sorry, honey.  It's just instinct I guess.  Or maybe
force of habit.  A very old habit."  She exhaled again.  "I didn't even
think about it.  I just did it, I guess."

   Christine didn't seem concerned by her mom's answer.  After manicuring
her own cigarette in the ashtray she carefully placed it in her mouth.  She
dragged long and hard like Karen showed her and sucked more thick rich smoke
deep down into her chest.  She held it a few seconds and then exhaled
confidently and energetically.  "So that's all there is to it?  Right?"

   "Yeah, basically," Karen smiled.  "And the good thing is that the more
you practice the more natural it becomes.  I can teach you some tricks like
exhaling through your nose and stuff.  But basically you've got it.  Here's
what I think.  Let's smoke a couple more tonight.  You keep working just
like you have been, honey.  Then by tomorrow morning when Ryan sees you smoke
you'll absolutely knock his socks off!"

   Christine watched her mother hit on her cigarette.  The teenager made a
face.  "Mom, for someone who doesn't smoke you're sure entering in
enthusiastically!  What's up with that?"

   Karen thrust out her lower lip to exhale upward.  "Oh, uh, nothing,
honey.  Yeah, nothing at all," she lied, though the guilty grin on her face
almost gave her away.  She cleared her throat and went on.  "It's just
that, well, even now after all this time I must admit that smoking still just
seems so strangely pleasant.  God, I don't know," she fibbed while
de-ashing.  "After trying it tonight, well, I don't know," she repeated.
"I was thinking that maybe I might like to enjoy a cigarette every now and
then from now on.  Would that be so bad?"

   Her daughter frowned.  "Smoking's not good for you, Mom.  Or for me.  I
don't want you to start smoking.  God, I'd feel so guilty if you did!  I'm
afraid it'd be my fault."

   Karen leaned forward.  "Christine, by now you surely understand.  Come
on, be honest.  Can you honestly tell me that you don't enjoy doing this?
Don't you agree that pulling smoke inside your chest like this feels damn
good?"

   Christine squirmed.  "Mom, I know.  I agree it's kinda cool; and it sort
of grows on you, too.  But that's not the point.  It isn't a good idea.
Who knows where it might lead?"

   Karen shrugged.  Damn her conservative daughter!  She had to try a
different approach.  "Okay, but do me a favor, Christine.  Hit on your
cigarette, inhale real deep like I showed you and then hold the smoke inside
your chest awhile just like before.  Go ahead.  Do it."

   Christine complied.  After a long drag she sucked a mouthful of smoke down
into her lungs and held it inside.  Finally she opened her mouth to exhale a
stream of smoke into the air.

   "Now describe for me what just happened, what it felt like."

   Christine looked quizzically.  "I smoked," she shrugged, not quite
understanding.  But seeing her mom's clear discontent with that answer she
amplified.  "Okay.  I puffed on the cigarette, or dragged as you call it,
and pretty hard, too.  I felt the smoke fill up my mouth."

   "And?  How did it taste?"

   "Okay," Christine offered.  "I didn't hate it.  I don't hate it
anymore like I did at first."

   "Oh come on.  You didn't hate it?  That's all?"

   Christine tapped an ash in the ashtray.  "Okay, it tastes good.  I admit
it.  Happy?"

   "Yes, I am happy," Karen smiled.  "What was next?"

   Christine sighed.  "Then I took the cigarette out of my mouth and
breathed in just like you and Lia showed me how.  All the smoke traveled down
my windpipe and into my chest."

   "And how did that feel?"

   "God, it felt warm; sort of full, I guess.  I don't know how to describe
it exactly."

   "Did it feel bad?"

   "No," Christine smiled apologetically.  "It didn't feel bad at all.
Actually it felt good, nice, in fact.  I  like how it feels," she admitted.
"And when I breathe it in I feel a little buzz."

   "Right.  But you like that buzz, don't you?  It makes you feel good?"

   The teenager grinned again.  "Yeah, it does.  It _does_ make me feel
good, I guess."

   "Okay.  And then what happened?"

   "Mom, you're being weird," the teenager complained.  But seeing the
look on her mom's face she went on.  "All right, then I opened my mouth and
exhaled.  The smoke came out a thick stream when I did that."

   "Exactly.  And what did _that_ feel like?"

   The youngster blushed.  "Gosh, Mom, I don't know what you're getting
at.  It felt nice, I guess.  I kinda like watching it, controlling the smoke,
when I breathe it out."

   "So, your overall evaluation of the smoking experience is what?"

   "Mom, this is crazy.  Do you want me to admit I like smoking.  Is that
it?  Okay, I will.  Yeah, it's fun.  Smoking's kind of satisfying in a
weird sort of way.  So what?"

   Karen laughed.  "That's all I wanted you to say.  I wanted you to admit
that the smoking experience is very nice.  Look, honey, I smoked when I was
around your age.  I only quit because your dad and I felt I should when I got
pregnant with you.  But smoking again here with you tonight?  Well, it sure
brings back lots of fond memories.  It's really nice, like you just
agreed."  She gazed deep into her daughter's eyes.  "So I'm saying I
might want to do it again; to smoke, I mean"  Christine tried to protest but
Karen continued.  "I like it, honey.  I really don't care if you agree or
even if you approve.  And I also don't care if you want to smoke yourself.
You do what you want.  But I simply can't turn my back on it all over again
for all the reasons you yourself just described for me.  Smoking makes me
feel good, just like it does for you."  For emphasis Karen  put her
cigarette in her mouth and took a last drag before crushing it in the
ashtray.

   Christine was stunned.  "Mom!  Are you saying that you actually don't
care if I smoke?"

   Karen smiled smugly.  "That's right, honey, I don't care; not a bit.  I
don't mind at all.  But you're missing my main point.  More important, I
was trying to say that I almost forgot how much I used to enjoy this," she
fibbed.  "I plan to smoke myself from now on, dear.  But if you do decide
you want to join in and smoke along with me, no, I don't mind.  In fact, not
at all."

   "Oh my God!"  Christine crushed her cigarette out.  "Mom, this is
upsetting.  What's going on here?  What's gotten into you?  I mean, what
will Dad say when you tell him?"

   Karen smirked.  "Honestly, I don't care.  I really don't give a shit
what your father thinks.  Smoking this cigarette was a revelation.  It showed
me once and for all what I want to do.  I used to dream about becoming a
smoker again, Christine, but I never did anything about it.  Doing it with
you here has helped me make up my mind.  I want to smoke again.  I want to be
a smoker!"

   "Oh no," the teenager groaned.  "Mom, I feel terrible doing this to
you."

   Karen reached for the pack of Marlboro Lights 100's on the table.
"Honey, don't feel bad.  Thank you.  I mean it.  I'm happy about it and
you should be, too.  For once in my life I'm gonna do something that I want
to do, just because I want to do it.  It makes me feel good."  She slipped
another cigarette between her lips.  "I want one more.  Why don't you join
me?"

   "No!  God, I don't want to smoke anymore," whined Christine.  "Not
now!"

   "Okay, suit yourself," Karen shrugged, lighting up again.  She smiled.
God, it felt great to have smoke inside her lungs.  She felt bad dumping the
blame for her relapse on poor Christine.  It wasn't fair but that was just
too bad.  She needed a scapegoat.  Her daughter was simply in the wrong place
at the wrong time.  Karen double-pumped and savored the satisfying feeling of
filling her lungs with smoke, lovely, thick, nicotine-loaded smoke!

   Karen could see Christine was upset.  "Look, Chris, be as mad as you want
about this," she went on.  "But the simple fact is that tomorrow you'll
have to smoke again for Ryan.  If you don't, you'll look like an ass.  So
you may as well keep on practicing.  Who knows?  You might even decide you
like it," she smirked.  "Like I do."

   Before Christine answered the phone rang.  Karen picked it up.  Christine
heard only her mom's side of the ensuing conversation.

   "Hello?  Oh, hi, Ryan.  -  Yes, Christine's here.  -  What's that?
-  Okay, sure, let me confirm that for you.  Yeah, Christine's definitely
smoking.  In fact, we're both sitting here smoking right this minute.  -
What?  -  Oh yeah, that's right, I smoke, too.  -  Well, I'm sorry you
think it's disgusting, Ryan.  But really it's none of your damn business,
is it? -  Yeah, that's right.  Christine really did smoke all during high
school.  She kept it a secret from her coach and all the other girls on the
track team.  No one knew but her dad and me.  -  But why should I be upset
about her smoking?  After all, I smoke myself.  -  Actually, no, you heard
me right.  I don't mind Christine smoking.  She's a big girl.  She's over
18.  She can make the decision for herself.  -  Yeah, well, I don't think
she really wants to talk right now, Ryan.  But I'm sure you'll see her
tomorrow on campus and I'm sure she'll be smoking away now that she's
started up again.  -  Okay, bye."  She hung up the phone and giggled.
"That was your soon-to-be former boyfriend," she smiled warmly.

   "Mom, I can't believe how you're handling this," Christine muttered
angrily.  "It's one thing if you want to smoke.  That's bad enough but
it's unbelievable that you want me to smoke, too!"

   Karen thoughtfully released an exhale toward the ceiling.  "But honey,
you already _do_ smoke.  I just confirmed that to Ryan."  She laughed at her
own joke.  "Look, I know you're upset by my sudden change of heart," she
went on, turning serious.  "But this isn't only about me.  It's about you.
You started down this smoky road of your own volition.  My advice?  Don't
screw it up by getting sidetracked.  Stay the course.  Convince Ryan you're
a bona fide smoker over the next few days.  He'll be watching.  And then
once he ditches you, you can do whatever you want.  Like I said, I don't
care if you smoke.  You're 18.  It's totally up to you.  But from now on I
myself plan to be a smoker!"

   Christine was upset and confused.  She retreated to her room.  At first
she appreciated having her mom's support.  But her sudden unexpected and
unbridled enthusiasm for smoking disturbed the teenager.  Her mom was right
about one thing, though.  She had to stay the course and keep smoking till
Ryan lost interest.  It was the only reason why she tried it in the first
place.  She couldn't give up now, even though she felt terrible about
inadvertently having led her mom into temptation.  But maybe her mom would
come to her senses.  Maybe she wouldn't really turn into a smoker.
Christine sighed.  God, she sure hoped so!

   As it turned out, Christine was quite destined to be disappointed on that
count!

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