Halden looked up when Cass spoke, smiling slightly as he handed him the ibuprofen and the bottle of water. He swallowed the ibuprofen and half the bottle of water.Ibuprofen works by blocking the production of prostaglandins, substances that the body releases in response to illness and injury. Prostaglandins cause pain and swelling, or inflammation. They are released in the brain, and they can also cause fever. Ibuprofen's painkilling effects begin soon after taking a dose. The anti-inflammatory effects can take longer, sometimes several weeks. His thought was cut off and he looked Cass over again. His intentions were pure, and Halden could tell. Still, he felt wary.
"Can I go wash my face first, please?" he asked softly, "I'd rather do the rough scrubbing. Then you can look at it?" He gave sort of a half grin, chewing his lip thoughtfully. Halden looked around, anywhere but Cass' almond shaped eyes. He was intimidated by Cass' kindness and compassion. He was, so far, one of the only people he'd ever met in this shitty little town that was just nice.
"Is there a place I can smoke? Pretty please." He pulled out a pack of cigarettes from his jacket pocket and showed them to Cass. He felt very awkward and like he was pushing some boundaries, but he'd had a rough night.