I glanced between them as they met each other drink for drink. This wasn’t going to end well. I moved to the end of the couch as the game continued. Neither showed signs of stopping. This whole thing was pissing me off. Both Titus and Chris were going to be drunk and hungover. I guess I wouldn’t be hanging out with either of them tomorrow. I’d spend another boring day alone in my room.

Chris was starting to look flushed. He forced himself to drink one more. Titus still looked the same as when they started. He picked up a shot, swirled the liquid around before drinking it and turning the glass over.

“I’m done.” Chris waved it off, and the crowd awed. “You can handle your alcohol.”

Titus nodded. “It’s a gift.”

“Aden,” Chris laughed. “One and he’s done. He can’t even take the smell.”

I shrugged and went to help Chris stand. “Do you want to go upstairs for awhile?”

Chris waved me off. “I’m fine.” He leaned on me, and I led him through the room.

I didn’t need his permission to know he wasn’t fine. He was well past his limit. Titus followed behind as we stumbled up the stairs.

“Aden, come on I’m fine.” He stumbled into the wall.

I grabbed him before he fell back down. “Just amuse me, Chris.”

Somehow I managed to get him into his room and help him to the bathroom. Just in time too, because he started puking the moment he’s knees hit the tile. I went back to the bedroom and shut the door. Titus was wandering around.

“How do you feel?”

Titus shrugged. “Fine. I guess I just have a higher tolerance.”

“Titus,” I breathed, sitting down on the bed. “Just don’t, alright.”

“What?” he snapped, playing with one of Chris’s trophies. “The idiot challenged me. I just walked in, and he decided to be the big shot.”

“You didn’t have to do that though.” I marched over and grabbed the trophy from him, before he broke it.

“It’s not that big of a deal. He’s puking it up right now.”

I punched his arm. “Jackass.”

Titus rubbed the spot. “You keeping calling me that, but we all know the real jackass is vomiting right now.”

I glared at him. “You’re not funny.” After putting the trophy away, I marched out of the room.

“Aden, wait.”

I hurried downstairs and slipped back to the kitchen. Going back to the bar, I slumped down on the stool. I never should have invited him. Hell, I didn’t even want to be here anymore.

“Hey Aden.”

Looking up, I saw Katy pouring herself a drink.

“How have you been?”

I shrugged. “I’ve been cleaning toilet and picking up garbage all summer, so life kind of sucks right now.”

She giggled. “I heard about that. You poor thing.” She took a sip of her drink and scrunched up her face. “Who’s that boy that beat Chris? Did he just move here?”

I shook my head. “He’s not from around here. I met him at work.”

“So his family are like lumberjacks or something?” she laughed.

“No,” I replied sharply. “They just own land up there.”

“The boy is mighty fine.” She hide her smiled behind the glass.

I narrowed my eyes. “You’re going out with Chris.”

She shrugged. “I can look.”

“Like you did with me.”

“It didn’t work out, Aden. Get over it.”

I glared at her as she walked around the counter and sat down beside me.

“What’s his name?”

“Go to hell.” I ran my hands down my face.

“Excuse me.” She lurched back and looked at me repulsed. “When did you turn into a jerk, Aden? I just asked a question.”

“When you broke up with me and started sleeping with my best friend.” I stood and turned to leave. “Sorry, but Titus isn’t interested in a whore.”

She grabbed my arm and blocked my path. “Our relationship was going nowhere, Aden. Deal with it. It turned out just like all the others, because no girl is going to stick around with a loser like you. So yes, when Chris started showing some interest, I broke it off. I’m not stupid enough to pass that up.” She leaned against the counter and took a sip of her drink. “Besides, he’s a way better kisser than you.”

“I’m surprised he’d want to kiss you with how many places that mouths been.”

I pushed past her and knocked her cup. The liquid splashed onto her shirt. Katy screamed. I didn’t stick around long enough for the girl drama that was soon to follow. Her friends were already swarming.

Slipping out the back door, I wandered over to the pool. I sat down on one of the lounge chairs. The night had turned out horrible. My best friend was drunk, Titus was being ridiculous, and now Katy was going to make up some stupid story to why she smelled like alcohol. I thought about just walking home. It wouldn’t be the first time I left one of Chris’s parties early.

“Hey!” Chris was marching toward me with Katy and her friends huddled at the windows.

Titus appeared in the doorway.

“Chris?” I stood. “How are you feeling?”

Chris cocked back his fist and slammed it into my jaw. I toppled back, tripping over the chair and landing on the hard cement. He leaned down and grabbed my shirt. “You think you can hit on my girlfriend. What the hell Aden?”

“Chris, I didn’t-”

He hit me again.

I felt the blood gush from my nose. “Chris?”

“I’m going to-”

Titus caught Chris’s arm and buried his fist in the other boy’s chest. Chris flew into the pool.

I stared at him in shock. My eyes couldn’t look away from Titus’s hand. Long claws were attached to his fingers, and his muscles were straining against his shirt. He growled, and I saw elongated teeth. Something wasn’t right with him.

Chris was screaming in pain as Katy and her friends helped him from the water. By the time, they drag him out he was struggling to breath.

I slowly stood and wiped my nose on my arm. Titus started to relax, and he returned to normal.

“Titus?”

He turned to face me. “Aden, I…” He reached for my arm.

Shaking my head, I avoided him and went to help Chris. When I arrived at his side, I saw him contorting in pain. Three cuts were bleeding heavily on his chest. I swallowed hard and clutched my shoulder. This wasn’t the same. There was no possible way that it could be.

Katy helped him sit up. “What did you do to him!”

My hands hovered over the wound as I tried to figure out what to do.

“Here.” Titus handed me a piece of his shirt. “Press it against the wound.”

I quickly did so. Titus knelt beside me and grabbed my hand. He dragged the cloth across the cuts. Chris lurched away, but with time, he settled down. I removed the rag to see the bleeding had stopped, and the cut had started to heal.

I peeked back at Titus. The wounds reacted the same as when I cut my thumb. I rubbed my forehead. My head hurt so bad. I must have hit the deck harder than I thought.

Chris sat up straight and clutched his stomach. “Both of you, leave. Get the hell out of my house.”

Titus stood and grabbed my arm. “Let’s go, Aden.”

I resisted. “Chris, I’m sorry.”

“Leave, Aden.” He slowly stood with Katy’s help. “Just go.” He staggered into the house with the girls.

I knelt there for a moment, staring at the blood stained rag. “What did you do to him?” I took in a deep breath. “Weird things like this keep happening. I don’t understand.”

Titus shook his head. “Let’s just go back to your place.” He touched my arm.

I jerked it away and stood. “Don’t.” I shook my head. “We’re done, Titus. I can’t do this anymore.” Running past him, I hurried inside.