"You're $50 short," Matt says aloud to the table, and we all immediately start digging into our pockets. Crumpled dollar bills and dingy cash gets tossed into a pile, and once Matt counts it, he slides the money into his pocket. "Good."

Jordan finishes sealing the blunt and hands it to Amanda to take the first hit.

"You need a light?" Danny offers.

She nods and they both lean forward as he brings the lighter out to burn the tip.

Amanda takes a drag and nods in content before passing it back.

Loud banging on the door practically makes the floor shake.

"Yo?" Jordan says loudly.

"It's the police!" The door swings open, and Colby Allen pops his head in, "This house has been reported for having too much bud, not enough weiser!" He proudly walks in with two cases of beer.

"Colby..." Jordan says with halfhearted enthusiasm.

He's that person that you never invite anywhere, but they show up anyway.

"Where are all the women?" Colby gazes disappointedly around the room. I don't know what he was expecting, this isn't a party, we all just decided to hang out tonight, it's a Friday.

Jordan laughs, "hiding from you."

Amanda's the only girl here because she wanted to smoke. That...and because no one feels like they have to censor themselves around her the way we usually do with girls.

Colby takes a seat next to her, and she rolls her eyes and scoots away.

"You don't have any friends?" He asks her.

"None that would bother faking an orgasm with you."

"They don't fake it, babe. I'm just that good."

"Like you'd be able to figure it out. We're just that good."

"How hard can it be to know if they really got off? It's just like when a guy does it, right?"

"No!" Amanda says in offense.

"No," Danny and I dramatically mock how serious her tone got.

"It's not," Mandy says defensively. "It's way more intense and lasts longer, but you struggle to give her even one. That's why sex with girls is so much better, one session— multiple orgasms."

"Oh?" Jordan says in surprise.

"Wait— what?" I furrow my eyebrows.

"Girls like girls, too, Leo."

"Now, I get it. You're a lezzy," Colby sneers.

"She's not," I give her a confused expression, "since when?"

"Since always," she replies, "girls, boys, I don't care."

"How've you never mentioned that before?"

"Was I supposed to?"

"I don't know, there's never been a time when we've hung out where you pointed out a girl and said 'she's hot.'"

"Heather's hot."

I stare back at her, unresponsive as I take the blunt and inhale deeply before passing it.

"Well, if it looks like she's enjoying it, then I'm going to think she didn't fake it. What, am I supposed to ask if she came?" Colby narrows his eyes at us.

"Man," I chime in, "if you have to ask then she didn't."

"You can tell," Danny says.

"You can feel it," I add.

Danny puts his arm out and clenches and unclenches his fist, "it's like this but around your dick."

"And they get so much wetter," I smile, "her legs might tremble."

"You can tell when you're going down on them too."

Colby scrunches up his face, "I don't do that?"

"You don't eat pussy?" Matt says in disdain.

"No," he shrugs, "that's gross."

Matt's jaw drops in shock.

"But I bet you still expect to get head, right?" Amanda narrows her eyes at him.

He nods, "That's just different. Girls shouldn't expect guys to want to-"

"You don't like women," Matt shakes his head, "I love 'em, and I love pussy. You're crazy."

"He probably tried it and wasn't any good at it and now he's scared to go back in," Jordan teases.

"I bury my face between their legs and go:" Matt sticks his tongue out and wiggles it around in circles making us laugh at his stupidity. Amanda throws a pillow at him and he catches it. "That's me! That's what you gotta do."

"And if she starts to suffocate you, you know you're doing it right," Danny says.

"If she starts drowning you, even better," I smirk.

Danny chuckles, "turn any girl into a water fountain, and she'll never let you go."

"I hooked up with this chick who squirted so much she could put out fires," Jordan laughs to himself as he grabs the blunt from Matt.

"I would marry that girl," Matt says through the smoke he's exhaling, "I'm serious, I'd take my hand out her pants and ask for her hand in marriage."

Jordan looks over to Amanda, "can all girls do it?"

"I'm not sure— I know some girls who say they can't, but maybe they just don't know how? And I know some girls who can only get there with a vibrator, so," she shrugs.

"It takes a lot for Angela to do it— and right after, she's too sensitive to take anything else."

Mandy turns to me with an intrigued expression, "Is Heather a squirter?" I smirk in response but choose not to answer. I feel like she'd be so shy hearing herself talked about like this. "So, that's a yes?"

"I don't like your interest in my girlfriend anymore, Amanda," I laugh.

"Scared she likes me more?"

"Your girlfriend lets you be friends with Mandy? Even though you've been fuck buddies since sophomore year?" Colby questions.

I shrug, "I guess."

"She really does like her then."

"Shut up."

"Maybe it's you who can't let your girlfriend be friends with Amanda," Jordan joins in.

Mandy puts her tongue between her fingers suggestively, and I flip her off.

"She's probably okay with Mandy because they met before we got together. Heather's not insecure or anything." I've seen her get a little jealous of Peyton, but that was because we were in a weird place.

"I would date you both," Amanda proposes.

"No, thanks."

"Are you passing up a threesome?" Colby raises an eyebrow.

"Heather would not agree to that, and even if she did, I don't want to share her with anyone. She's mine."

"Possessive," Mandy teases.

I jokingly roll my eyes, "Leave me alone."

"You have the best eyebrows," Gina runs her thumbs over them.

"Thank you," I smile up at her.

"It takes me forever to shape my eyebrows even half as nice as yours."

"You don't have to do anything. You're already too pretty for your own good."

She giggles happily before kissing me.

"What happened to your hand, bro?" Jared interrupts.

I turn away from Gina and look down at my bandaged fist. "Some freshman picked a fight in the locker room," I shrug. "It's nothing."

"Freshmen are so fucking stupid," Rylie sighed.

"Did you catch his name? We can find him again and give him round 2," Jared suggests.

"No, don't do that. It was Zach, I straightened him out."

"You hit Zach?" Karlie says with wide eyes, almost as wide as mine were when I saw her at this table.

Jared told me he planned on asking her out, but I didn't think she'd say 'yes.' I thought her type was nicer guys...soft-spoken with shy smiles.

"Yeah," I avoid looking at her.

"Were you straightening out him or you?" She asks and I glare at her.

"How did you not get suspended?" Jared interrupts the bad tension.

"When the coach asked what happened, Zach said it was nothing."

"Who even is Zach?" He scoffs through laughter.

"The dude who hangs around that weirdo Charlie," Rylie replies.

"Charlie?" Jared questions further.

"The kid who's always talking about frogs with the biology teacher."

"Oh, yeah," he laughs.

"Should've hit both of them," Rylie smirks.

"Did it make you feel better about yourself?" Karlie scowls at me.

I slam my hand against the table, "I didn't want to hit him! He made me."

Silence wafts over the table in a suffocating breeze.

Everyone goes from looking at me and Karlie to looking at anything else that would make them more comfortable.

"Will these be enough fries?" Naomi brings two baskets of them to our table.

"Whatever," Karlie starts with me again.

"Why don't you mind your business? You don't know me."

"I know Zach," she argues.

"No, you don't. He doesn't even like you, remember?"

Karlie huffs and gets up from her seat at the table.

Jared raises his arms in confusion, but she continues out of the door.

"More for us then?" Naomi says confusedly.

"Now you owe me your girl," he jokes and Gina laughs...until I actually slide her off of my lap so I can chase behind Karlie.

"Karlie!" I find her outside putting change into a payphone.

"What?"

"I really didn't want to hit him...will you tell him that?"

"Why don't you?" She says like it's that easy.

I shake my head, "we're never going to talk to each other again."

"You know, you're really different when you're with your friends."

I nod, "yeah, I know."

She shrugs, "aren't you exhausted?"

"I've got it under control."

"Punching Zach and kissing Gina? Sure, that sounds like it's under control."

"What's up?" Rylie asks when they all decide to join us outside, "are you two coming back in or what?"

"Give us a minute, we're talking."

"Something going on between you and her?" Jared asks.

"No, I would've told you. We're just talking, really."

"About that guy still?" Rylie furrows his eyebrows and narrows his eyes, "don't you barely know him?"

"Sounds stupid to me too," Jared crosses his arms. "If you wanted her, you should've just said something before."

"Oh, my fucking-" I huff in frustration. "I don't like Karlie, and I don't like Gina! I didn't like Annette or Aimee. I liked Beth when I went out with her, but then I liked Zach!" I take some heavy breaths and clench my jaw at the sight of their eyes burning into me. "So, what?" I slide my jacket off and throw it to the side, "do you have something to say?" I step up to all of them.

Gina stares at me with her mouth slightly open in shock.

I stand my ground as she walks closer to me and shakes her head. "Homo," Gina pushes past me.

"Slut," I grab her arm to make her face me.

"Woah, stop! That's not cool." I'm pulled back immediately and restrained as if they're afraid I'll hurt her too. "You need to chill out."

"Let go of me," I fight off their grasp until I'm released, and they stare at me like I'm insane..."Fuck you," I spat angrily. "Fuck you guys."

"Give me a chai tea latte, hold the sugar."

"Will that be all for you?"

"Yes," I hand her a ten-dollar bill and walk away before she could bother with the change. I don't carry coins or singles in my wallet. I usually don't even carry cash.

"Hi, Audrey!"

I glance over to see Brenda Satterley's enthusiastic smile.

Back in the days of junior high, my mother used to drag me with her to Brenda's house because she was friends with her mother. This was before my parents divorced, of course, and by high school, I was no longer forced to pretend I like her.

I look Brenda up and down before turning away in indifference.

She takes the hint, grabs her cup, and retreats to a table.

"Enjoy!" The cashier says as she hands me my drink.

"Thank you," I say, and as soon as I turn around, Tony comes through the door and we make eye contact.

Why am I not surprised that you've conveniently shown up while I was here too?

I sigh in amusement, awaiting a cheesy remark followed by his usual hardly humorous commentary.

But, he walks by me without even a glance as he heads to Brenda's table.

What the hell?

She stands up to hug him and gives him that same smile she wore for me...a bit toothier maybe, but equally as unnecessary.

I divert my eyes when he begins walking over to the counter where I'm standing.

He speaks to the employee and orders a hot chocolate, but again...says nothing to me.

"Brenda?" I end the silence myself. "Not really a sight for sore eyes."

"What are you talking about?" He gazes over at me, "Brenda's cute."

"It's cute that that's all it takes to get your attention."

"It's cute that you care."

I stand before him, deadpanned.

You've always had the audacity.

"Don't flatter yourself," I reply, finally.

He shakes his head, "it was good seeing you Audrey, but I've got someone waiting for me," Tony motions toward Brenda as he backs away from where I am.

Brenda is no one. You have no one waiting for you.

I huff to myself, and the barista looks at me questioningly since I haven't left yet.

"Is there anything else you need, ma'am-"

"Quiet!" I say harshly and try to listen through the chatter for their conversation.

I hear nothing, but I see laughter. Tony is really not that funny. She's going to burst a blood vessel over-laughing at a joke that wouldn't impress a toddler.

"Ex-boyfriend?" A girl behind me speaks up, and only then do I realize I'm keeping her from ordering.

"No, I thought I saw someone I knew," I step out of her way.

She looks to where I was staring and then back at me almost disbelievingly. I prepare to tell her to find someone else to antagonize, but she talks first.

"I love your coat."

"It's a Carven," I say casually.

"I know, I have the same one in red. It pairs well with a Chanel lambskin bag."

"Oh, that's good," I admit. "I've been leaning away from Chanel ever since the biker shorts on the runway incident."

She gasps, "wasn't it awful?"

"Please, I almost cried," I place my hand over my heart. The very invention of biker shorts must have been another round of revenge for eating that forbidden fruit.

"The line, in general, was a waste of time."

"The colors and fabric," I cringe.

"Absolutely tragic."

As tragic as us never having met before.

"...I'm Audrey Michaels," I introduce.

"Natalia Moreau."

"I hope you don't mind, Trevor is coming up. He wants to bring me something."

"Your parents are letting him into your room? At night?" I say in shock.

Despite the things Alison has done...and continues to do, she has strict parents. The only way she could be behind closed doors with a boy is if her parents don't know about it.

"My dad said it was okay," she shrugs. "He's even paying for our trip during spring break."

"That sounds nothing like your dad."

"Yeah, he isn't who you think he is anymore."

"...what do you mean?" I question hesitantly.

"I've just learned to never set expectations for people. You can never predict the choices they'll make."

I can only assume I helped spawn that conclusion.

Though, it's completely right. I've learned to stop expecting Alison to be bubbly and playful.

We both look toward the door when we hear talking, "mirror, mirror on the wall..who is the fairest of them all?"

"He does this," she laughs lightly and stands to open her bedroom door.

"Ah, yes, it's her," Trevor smirks as he enters the room, his hands hidden behind his back.

"Trevor," she smiles.

"My love," he hands her chocolates.

"Oh, you shouldn't have," Alison swoons.

"These too," he holds out what looks to be tickets.

She gasps, "to the ballet?"

"You wanted to go, didn't you?" He smiles.

"What's the occasion?" I ask out of curiosity.

"No occasion needed for me to just think of her."

"You're certainly a catch, aren't you?" I say sarcastically.

This gives me flashbacks of being easily bought by Jace no matter what he was paying the price for.

"Isn't he?" Alison gleamed, and he grabbed her hand to place a kiss on it.

"I'm afraid I can't stay. I found this one nursing a bottle of bourbon at The Palace bar."

Trevor pulls Jace in by his shirt.

Thinking of the devil.

"Aren't there usually three of you?" He slurs.

"No," Alison sighs disappointedly to Trevor. "Why do you have to run behind him so much lately?"

"It is becoming a habit," he side-eyes Jace.

"What? She's becoming a habit," Jace replies.

"Alright, calm down," Trevor hushes him.

Jace scoffs, "no, she is. You don't even want to be in a relationship," he turns to Alison, "he doesn't even want to be in a relationship."

Alison fleered at him, obviously not taking what he said seriously.

But Trevor's look of horror shows that these aren't just drunken splutters.

And I could see the moment of realization hit right when the smile falls from her face. "...You don't?"

"Do you know how boring you are with your clothes on?" Jace asks her.

"Okay," I quickly jump up to diffuse the situation. "I'll get him," I grab his forearm and pull him out of the room.

The door shuts behind me, and I continue to lead him further away from it so that he couldn't add any more comments to their budding argument.

"They're not supposed to be together," Jace shakes his head, "he doesn't know who he's supposed to be with, she doesn't know who she's supposed to be with. It's all fucked-"

I put my hand over his mouth and quietly shush him, "Hey hey hey, you have to be quiet now."

"Hey, Heather," he says muffledly.

"Hi, Jace," I reluctantly remove my hand.

"Is this a sleepover. You're sleeping over?"

"I am," I nod.

"Are you having fun? It's fun?"

"Sure."

"You're happy?"

"I'm annoyed," I answer honestly.

"Because I'm a bad friend?"

"That's for Trevor to decide."

"I was mean to you."

"Oh," I say when I realize he was talking about me. "It doesn't matter. Already forgotten."

"I thought we were going to get back together," he admits. "But you started dating Leo fucking Rylin...so, I thought you really were on drugs. But I didn't spread the rumor. You know he does drugs?"

"You do too."

"Yeah," Jace says obnoxiously. "But, he does the bad stuff. Did he tell you about Ryan?"

"What?"

Jace steps away from me and looks dazedly at the ground. His breathing becomes labored, and I turn away immediately when he lurches forward into the plant.

"Oh, my god," I say uncomfortably and cover my ears. "Gross..."

I hesitantly peek over my shoulder to see if he's through and find him on the floor.

Jesus Christ, Jace.

I knock lightly and Trevor opens the door. His jaw clenched and face stained with the after-effects of crying...less of tears and more of the strain of holding them back.

"He's on the floor..." I say lowly.

"Leave him," Trevor seethes and brushes past me.

"You're going to leave him here after all of this? Do you think Alison is going to want to see him?"

"Alison doesn't want to see anyone. Why don't you go home and take him with you," he snaps.

"Are you kidding me? And you wonder why you couldn't keep her."