Smoke And Mirrors, Part 6

This fictional story contains adult themes and descriptions. If such offends
you, read no further.  All persons and situations depicted are fictional, any
similarities to real persons or events is purely coincidental. All rights
reserved. This story cannot be reproduced without the written prior approval
of the author. You can notify the author at del999@yahoo.com.

Smoke & Mirrors
Part 6: "Getting Better and Better"

The next morning, Jill deliberately got up before Suzanne. After grinding
some coffee beans, she brewed a strong pot in the coffee maker that her
parents had given her. Jill always loved this quiet time when she could have
her first morning cigarette leisurely and enjoy the full effect of the first
deep inhales of the day. She allowed the smoke to escape very slowly from her
nose and mouth. It was her ultimate relaxing moment. She just couldn't
imagine starting the day without a cigarette. It was paradise.

She sat there sipping her black coffee, recalling how well the previous night
had gone. The coffee was rich and strong. She reminisced back to her own high
school days. She smiled again, thinking about the development of her devotion
to smoking. It had been in the first half of grade ten. She had just turned
16, and had only been smoking for a few weeks. She had experienced her first
craving the morning after a rather smoky night out with Melissa. The craving
came out of nowhere, but was there from the time she had awakened. From the
very moment she had opened her eyes, she had felt nervous and jittery. There
was just something missing. It was like an itch she couldn't scratch.

She nervously paced back and forth as she waited by the curb for Melissa to
pull up in her red Mustang convertible. As the car came to its usual
screeching stop, Melissa pushed open the door. She immediately could see the
frantic look on her friend's face. Jill was having her first nicotine fit.
Melissa quickly passed Jill her already lit full flavor VS 100 menthol. Jill
smiled again, as she recalled that first deep drag, the longest and deepest
she had ever taken during her apprenticeship. Then, oh the ultimate relief,
as she felt her anxiety slowly leave her body. She continued to take
consecutive desperate drags, all of them long and deep till the cigarette was
quickly consumed. Melissa grinned at the display. "Well, what do we have
here?" Melissa said sarcastically, "Looks like someone is having nicotine fit
this morning."

"Oh yes, absolutely-. I really needed a cigarette. I can't believe how good
it tastes."   Melissa smiled again, "Jill, my dear friend, I promise you it
is going to get better."  They both laughed as they lit another cigarette.

And Melissa was right; satisfying that ever recurring itch always gave Jill
the greatest pleasure. She wondered, "How long would it take before Suzanne
would experience her first craving."  She started to plot her course of
action.

As she heard Suzanne stirring, she quickly put out her cigarette, starting to
put her plan into action. She watched as Suzanne came out of her room wearing
the same flowered pajamas. Her hair tousled, she sleepily dragged her feet as
she approached the kitchen table.

"So how's my roommate this morning?" Jill said pleasantly.

"Oh- not so good" Suzanne mumbled.

"Why? What's wrong?" she said sympathetically.

"Well, I have a bit of a headache and my throat is sore." she responded.

"Well, that's understandable. Maybe you had a bit too much of the wine last
night. How about a nice fresh hot cup of coffee?  I just brewed it, and after
all it is `fresh ground'." she emphasized.

"I'm not much of a coffee drinker," she said rather weakly, still half
asleep. "But, maybe it will help." she said.

"I don't know how I could have survived college without this stuff. Its
mandatory when you are pulling an all-nighter" she said as she poured Suzanne
a full cup, adding some cream and sugar as she saw Suzanne nod with
acknowledgment. Okay let's get you started on your Every Day Smoking Course,
Jill thought to herself.

She casually reached for the pack of VS on the small dinette table and lit up
with a deliberate satisfying exhale which was unavoidably observed by the
still sleepy Suzanne. "How's the coffee?" Jill asked.

"Actually, it's pretty good. The warm coffee is making my throat feel much
better," she said sounding more awake.

"Oh my goodness, where are my manners?" she said apologetically. "Would you
like to join me for a cigarette?" she said coyly.

Suzanne was taken aback, not expecting this turn of events. "Well, I'm not
sure if I'm up to one so early in the morning" she said meekly.

"Oh, go ahead! You did so well last night. I was really proud of you. Here,
just have a drag. Remember last night you gave me your promise that you would
practice? I don't want you forget all the lessons from last night" Jill said
solemnly, quickly positioned the upward pointing freshly lit cigarette in
front of Suzanne face.

Maybe it was the fact that she was still half asleep, or maybe it was just
that she wasn't up to a duel of wills at this time, but Suzanne slowly raised
her hand and removed the cigarette carefully from Jill's fingers. She
tentatively raised the cigarette to her mouth and slowly began to suck
unconsciously a little harder than the night before. As she inhaled, a small
wisp of smoke escaped from her mouth. She breathed in deeply, just as he had
been taught the night before and after a pause, exhaled a surprisingly large
amount of smoke. This morning, without the dulling effects of the alcohol,
the taste and the sensation of the drag were heightened. She casually
positioned the cigarette beside her cheek starting to feel the effects of the
inhaled smoke on her young inexperienced nervous system. She took a long sip
of the hot black liquid and glanced up to see Jill lighting a fresh
cigarette.

"Hey?  I thought I was only going to have one drag," she said inquisitively.

"Well, you looked perfectly comfortable, so I assumed that you wanted it for
yourself. Go ahead. Enjoy yourself. I have lots more." Jill said with a
determined look on her face.

Suzanne began to feel the effects of the coffee and her first deep inhale.
She was now feeling a bit better. Somehow, the edgy feeling that she had
awoken with was now dissipating. She felt a little dizzy, but not so much
that she couldn't handle it.

"Yeah, I guess you are right," she admitted. "I must say the coffee and this
cigarette seem to go well together."

Suzanne smiled at her protégé's realization.

Suzanne and Jill chatted about school, and Suzanne continued to enjoy the
newfound combination of morning caffeine and nicotine. She started to feel
much better, as she felt her heartbeat quicken as she became more alert. They
shared their class schedules and discovered that they had a coincidental
one-hour break, in the same building, at ten o'clock. They agreed to meet at
the student lounge after that class. Suzanne continued to smoke her cigarette
taking small drags but inhaling deeply as she had been shown the night
before. When her cigarette was 2/3's finished, she daintily but deliberately
crushed it out, just as Jill had showed her. She was a little dizzy, but did
not feel the least bit nauseous. To her surprise, it had already become
easier.


Jill agreed that Suzanne, should get the shower first, not sharing her
thoughts that it would give her a chance to have another cigarette. She
needed to fill her blood stream with another satisfying dose of nicotine, as
she would have to sit through an hour and a half of classes before she could
have her next cigarette. After showering and dressing, they both left the
apartment at the same time and proceeded in different directions to their
respective classes.

Suzanne's classes had been rather boring, and she looked forward to seeing
Jill. When Suzanne arrived at the lounge, she saw Jill standing there with
another girl. This girl was slim and tall (5' 9"); dressed in beige khaki
slacks, with a black cashmere turtleneck. She was wearing a rather large gold
necklace which stood out against her black sweater. Her highlighted shoulder
length blonde hair was expertly cut. She had a long cigarette propped by her
cheek. Jill was smoking too. As Jill saw Suzanne enter the lounge, she smiled
and waved her over. As Suzanne got within arm's length, Jill said rather
loudly "How are you doing, my freshman friend?"

"Not too bad, considering the amount of wine we had last night" Suzanne
responded.

"I'd like you to meet my friend Paula Warner. Paula, this is my friend
Suzanne Leblanc" Jill said enthusiastically. Paula moved her cigarette from
her right hand to her left and extended her right hand to Suzanne giving her
a firm but friendly handshake.

"I was just going to get Paula and me a coffee. Do you want one too?" she
said.

"Yeah. Sure. I could use one." Suzanne said smiling.

Jill took a long hit of her freshly lit cigarette and quickly and without
warning offered her cigarette to the unsuspecting Suzanne. Suzanne's eyes
opened wide as she saw the cigarette positioned just inches from her face.
Not wanting to create a scene in front of Paula, Suzanne awkwardly took the
cigarette from her friend and placed it between the fingers of her right
hand, just as she had been taught the prior night.

"Thanks. Now don't smoke all my cigarette before I get back," she said
smiling as she walked briskly away not giving Suzanne a chance to respond.
"Oh damn," Suzanne thought to herself, "Jill trapped me and I have no way
out." Not wanting to look foolish in front of the Paula, she slowly raised
the cigarette to her lips and took as large a hit as she thought she could
handle. She inhaled as deeply as she could, not wanting Paula to know she was
a beginner. Paula did not seem to notice anything odd, and quickly took a
deep drag, saying: "Don't you just love to have a cigarette between classes?
My mother told me in the old days they used to even let them smoke in class.
Wouldn't that have been heavenly?"

"Yeah," Suzanne said, trying to sound as convincing as possible. Suzanne
again took a long deep drag trying to affirm her last remark. Jill prepared
the coffees as slowly as possible without being too obvious. She watched her
protégé out of the corner of her eye. "That's my girl," she thought wickedly.
"Bathe those virgin lungs with smoke."

Jill casually arrived carrying the coffees, just as Suzanne was extinguishing
the unexpected cigarette.

"Oh, I see you finished my cigarette," Jill said laughing.

Suzanne smiled sheepishly, rolling her eyes, not being able to think of any
kind of reply.

They all sat down on the couch as the coffees were placed on the scarred
coffee table. Jill quickly extended the pack to Suzanne. Not wanting to be
trapped again and feeling rather dizzy from her over enthusiastic smoking
with Paula, Suzanne said. "I don't think I have time for another one. I'll
just finish my coffee and be off to my next class."

Jill smiled, and said "Sure, no problem." Jill lit up and smoked with her
usual flourish. Suzanne watched in admiration as both girls demonstrated
their smoking skills. It seemed like it was an extension of their femininity.
They really looked cool and somehow sexy when they smoked. Suzanne wondered
if she would ever be able to look like these girls; so confident, so with it.

The girls continued to talk about boys and school and Suzanne felt like she
was fitting in as part of the group. As Jill and Paula talked about the cute
guy in their Psychology class, Suzanne's eyes scanned the lounge. There was
an endless stream of guys and girls entering and leaving the lounge. She was
amazed to notice that nearly two thirds of the girls were smoking. They
looked like they were having so much fun as they shared cigarettes and
lighters with each other. The girls were all shapes, sizes, and
nationalities. This smoking thing is quite popular here in college, she
thought. She had never seen so many girls smoking. She laughed to herself. If
only her high school pals could have seen her smoking and looking oh so
mature with her new college friends. The dizziness finally began to subside.
Her thoughts continued, "College girls are just so sophisticated."

With the coffee finished, it was time to get to the next class. The girls
agreed that they should all meet at 12:30 at the cafeteria. They would eat
outside on the picnic table, as it was such a beautiful day. "And of course
we can all smoke there too," Paula said as she winked at Suzanne.

"Sounds great." Jill said agreeably.

"Yeah great" Suzanne said sheepishly. As she thought, that would be her third
cigarette today. Could she do it? She would have to try. She really didn't
have much choice. After all she had done quite well so far. She felt
strangely proud of herself. It was getting easier.

When Suzanne arrived at the cafeteria, the girls were already outside, seated
and eating their lunch. Suzanne had decided to have the pasta salad, along
with a piece of chocolate cake. Her blood sugar seemed a little low and she
was craving something sweet. The chocolate cake would be just what she
needed. After the obligatory hellos were completed, she sat down. She noticed
that both girls were having a garden salad. As she placed her tray on the
table, Paula made an offhand comment about the large piece of chocolate cake
on Suzanne's tray. Paula said she remembered how she always used to have
dessert at the end of her meal. That was before she decided to take up
smoking to help her lose weight. In fact it was her mother showed her how to
smoke and even bought her all the cigarettes she wanted. Her mother was very
supportive, helping her control her weight. Two smaller dress sizes later,
now she almost never craved sweets.

With a big smile on Paula's face she proclaimed, "Cigarettes are just much
yummier than desserts." All the girls laughed at her comment.

Suzanne ate quickly, not wanting to hold up her friends. Suzanne was half way
through her cake, when Paula said, "Do you mind if I light up? I just have to
have my dessert," the girls again laughed.

It was Suzanne who uncharacteristically took the lead. "No, go ahead, I've
finished eating." despite the half eaten chocolate cake remaining on her
plate. "I could use a cigarette about now," Suzanne said smiling.

Jill nearly choked on her last mouthful of salad. She could not believe her
ears. Was this the sweet innocent Suzanne? Her eyes twinkled, as she quickly
tapped out two cigarettes and offered them to the girls. Passing Suzanne the
lighter, she watched in amazement as Suzanne cupped her left hand around her
cigarette, and with one click of the lighter, fired up her third cigarette of
the day. Jill thought to herself, this girl doesn't miss a trick. With a full
stomach and the effects of last night finally wearing off, Suzanne found
herself actually enjoying the first few drags of this cigarette. It tasted
slightly different, much easier to inhale, when it was mixed with the fresh
outdoor air. Unconsciously she dragged more deeply, and only started to feel
that dizzy feeling towards the end of the cigarette. With the cigarettes
finished, the girls stacked the plates on the trays.

Before leaving, Paula suggested that next Saturday, they should get together
and go to the opening of the new dance club. Paula would bring Charlie, her
steady since first year. The girls could come stag if they wanted.

Jill piped up "I can get a date, Paula. Can you Suzanne?

Suzanne thought for a moment. I wonder if Phil could go. "Yeah, I think so,
I'll see if Phil is free," Suzanne said proudly.

"Great, this will be a lot of fun. I can't wait to meet him. He's not one of
that anti's is he?" Paula said laughing as she lit another cigarette.

"No he is definitely not an anti, Paula. I wouldn't date an anti!"  Suzanne
said laughing out loud.

Towards the end of Suzanne's last class of the day, she again started to feel
the effects of the previous late night. She seemed quite tired as she dragged
herself into the small apartment. As she entered the apartment, she saw the
smoke from Jill's cigarette rising slowly to the ceiling. Seated on the
couch, with her feet up on the coffee table, Jill watched TV, looking very
relaxed.

"How you doing, Suzanne? Or should I call you `Bette Davis, the great film
actress,'" Jill said sarcastically.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Suzanne said defensively knowing full well
what Jill had meant.

"Quote, unquote. `I could use a cigarette about now.'

"You're pretty cocky for someone who had her first real cigarette just last
night," Jill added, smiling as she laid it on.

"Well, you're no better she laughed. Remember? `Now don't smoke all of my
cigarette before I get back.'

"What the hell was I supposed to do?  You gave me no choice. I had to smoke
in front of Paula. Now she thinks I'm a real smoker, just like you. I thought
this was going to be our little secret?"  Suzanne whined.

There was a pause, and then both girls laughed out loud.

"Touché." Jill continued. "I just thought maybe you needed something to give
you a little bit more confidence. Paula loves her cigarettes and I didn't
want you to come across as some `goodie two shoes from Podunkville.'"

Her words hit home with Suzanne. "Well, I really like Paula. She's a lot of
fun, and I sort of got caught up in the moment." Suzanne said defensively.

"Well my little freshman, you certainly have spunk. I will say that about
you." Jill said smiling.

"Well, this freshman doesn't have much spunk right now," Suzanne said as she
plunked down on the couch.

"I know just what you need to pick up that dragging butt of yours." Jill said
smiling. She shook loose another VS from the pack, and with the look of
someone who wouldn't take no for an answer, offered the cigarette to Suzanne.
Suzanne paused, and then decided. What the heck, one more couldn't hurt.
After all she had almost enjoyed the last cigarette that she had at lunch. As
Suzanne reached for the long white cigarette that somehow seemed more
appealing, she heard the click of Jill's lighter. A smile emerged on Jill's
face, as she expertly guided the flame directly to its target. Suzanne again
inhaled deeply, but this time instead of quickly exhaling the smoke, leaned
back into the soft and welcoming sofa, pausing for a long moment, before
slowly exhaling the gray blue smoke that was soon to become her new found
friend. Her heartbeat quickened as the drug started to take its effect. As
both girls were tired, the chat was sparse. She leisurely smoked this
cigarette slowly and deliberately, concentrating on every inhale. Suzanne's
exhales were highlighted by the light from the television, and it amazed her
how much fuller her exhales had already become. Jill had been right. It was
getting better. This cigarette had made her feel so relaxed, yet at the same
time made her feel a bit more alert. The magic elixir was starting to exert
its influence.

Later on that night with only a bit of encouragement, Suzanne had her fifth
cigarette of the day. It had been just before they were ready for bed.
Suzanne was again in her pink pajamas. The pajamas reminded Jill of the
progress she had made with Suzanne's smoking program last night. She smiled
thinking about how her student had smoked five cigarettes spaced fairly
evenly throughout the entire day. She had started and ended the day with a
cigarette. It was a good start, she said to herself, but she would not let
up. She would continue to encourage Suzanne to smoke until Suzanne would
reach the stage where Suzanne would be lighting up on her own. It wouldn't
take that long. She had never failed to get someone fully hooked on smoking.
Suzanne was no different, she thought, smiling

Suzanne, again fell into her bed, feeling tired but somehow satisfied with
herself. She had met a new friend today. She was proud of how well she had
handled all the new situations which had been thrown at her. She slowly ran
her tongue along the inside of her mouth. That last cigarette had actually
tasted good. She couldn't believe it. And then she remembered what Jill had
said last night about her own smoking experience. The words rang true in her
ears. "It takes a little while to get used to, but it gets better and better"
And her good friend Jill had yet to steer her wrong, she thought. She
repeated the thought "It takes a little while but it gets better and better
and better." as she slowly fell into a deep and undisturbed sleep. Her
breathing finally slowed as the nicotine continued to affect the pleasure
center of her brain.

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