“Why can’t you go with me?” muttered Titus.

“Do you want to ride over with Chris?” I pulled on a blue t-shirt.

Titus fell silent as he laid across my bed. For once, the boy had proper clothes and shoes. He was even wearing jeans. It was kind of weird to see him dressed up like a normal person for once.

“You could come with me,” begged Titus.

“I already told Chris that I needed a ride. He’s probably on his way right now.”

Titus rolled onto his back and dramatically throw his arms over his head. “You did a horrible job of thinking this through.”

“I thought I was meeting you there. But for some reason here you are.” I glanced over my shoulder at him. “That was the plan, remember?”

Titus rolled his eyes. “Whatever.

“At least you didn’t have to climb through the window.” I sat down on the chest at the end of my bed and pulled on my socks. “You would have ruined your fancy new outfit.”

He crawled to the end of the bed and draped his arms over my shoulders. “I hate these clothes.”

“I know,” I laughed. “It’s weird to see you in them.”

“I’m not meant for this city living.”

“Yeah,” I scoffed. “You’re a country boy.” I stood and looked at myself in the mirror. “Sorry, but you’re going to have be civil for one night.”

“Never,” he muttered.

“You sure are whiny tonight.” I run my hand through my hair, trying to tame some of the waves.

Titus crawled off the bed and walked up behind me. “You look really nice.”

I shrugged. “I look alright.”

Titus leaned down and nuzzled my ear. “You look better than alright.”

I smiled.

“Aden!”

I threw open the closet door and shoved Titus inside.

“Thanks a lot,” he muttered as I slammed it shut.

“Aden.” The bedroom door open, and Chris stepped inside. “Hey, I rang the doorbell and no one answered.”

“Oh, sorry.” I grabbed my phone. “My parents went to dinner, and I didn’t hear it.”

“Is that new?” He took the phone from me.

“Yeah, I accidently broke my other one.”

He smiled and tossed it back to me. “Nice.”

“Yeah.” I slipped it into my pocket.

“Let’s go.” He stopped and stared at the wooden animals lining my dresses. Chris glanced over his shoulder, and it said plenty.

I snatched a shoebox off the ground. “Sorry my mom was going through my things.” Holding the box to the edge, I swiped all of them into it.

Chris laughed. “Worried me there for a second. I know you’re bored, but I didn’t think it was that bad.”

I shook my head. The closet door creaked open. I ran over to it, shoved the box into Titus’s hands, and slammed it shut. “We better go.”

He shrugged and walked into the hall. I was right behind him. We hurried down the stairs. Demon ran over to Chris and pawed at his leg.

“You got a dog?”

I sighed. “My mother’s little monster.”

Chris laughed. “Still hate them?”

“All it does is bite and poop,” I muttered opening the front door.

Chris stepped outside, while I kept Demon back with my foot. Titus was standing at the top of the stairs with his arms folded. I gave him a weak smile and a small wave, before hurrying outside before the dog could escape.

We climbed into Chris’s truck, and he started the engine.

“So how’s your summer been so far?”

“Interesting,” I replied. “Very interesting.”

***

I elbowed my way through the crowd, trying to reach the couch. Chris had disappeared the moment we arrived. I kept looking around, but Titus still hadn’t shown up.

“Hey, Aden.” Jack waved me over.

I took the spot beside him on the couch.

“How have you been?”

“Fine. I didn’t expected to see you here?” I glanced toward the door when I heard it open.

“Coach gave us a week break for the Fourth of July,” said Andrew, sitting across from us.

He repositioned his girlfriend on his lap. She giggled and whispered something in her ear. The smile that spread across his face was enough to know what she said. He grabbed her hand, and they disappeared into the crowd.

“You looking for someone?” asked Jack.

“No.” I shook my head and stretched my neck to see around a group of people.

“Are you sure?” laughed Jack.

“Yeah, I-I’m just wondering where Chris went.”

“He’s probably upstairs with Katy, or playing some beer pong in the other room.”

I sunk into the couch. “Oh.”

A group of girls moved in, and I inched to the side. One quickly filled the space between me and Jack.

“I’m going to get a drink,” I muttered. I didn’t think Jack heard, but it not like he’d miss me either.

I trudged to the kitchen. I was never that popular with girls. They never swarmed me like that, but at the same time, it was more annoying when they did. Sitting down at the bar, I laid my head on the counter. I wanted Titus to come already. It didn’t take this long to drive from my house to Chris’s. Maybe he was lost.

I watched a couple of girls mixing drinks and go back to the living room. Someone had turned the music up, and it was blaring into the kitchen. I was going to have a headache without even having a drink.

There was chanting and yelling coming from the den. Glancing over my shoulder, I saw a group of girls run off to see what was going on. I rose from my chair and followed them. My eyes grew wide when I rounded the corner to see Titus and Chris sitting across from one another.

Chris poured the shots. “Ever done this before?”

“No,” said Titus, staring down his opponent. “Never drank in my life.” He placed the shot to his lips and down it.

“Pretty simple, shot for shot, first one to bow out or puke losses.”

“Sounds good to me,” said Titus with a smirk.

I maneuvered my way through the crowd. Titus tipped his glass to me before downing it.

“What are you doing?” I hissed.

Chris finished off his second glass. “You know this guy?”

Titus scooted over, and I sat down on the couch.

“Yeah, I’ve met him over the summer.”

“You should have warned him about my tolerance.” Chris threw back another.

Titus did the same.

“You don’t have to do this,” I said in a hushed voice.

“He challenged me.” Tius grabbed another shot. “We had a little chat, and what better way to settle things than over a drink.”