house and saw Evan tilt his head to a side, lips curving into a smile. "Tell me, again, why I entrusted my life to your driving skills?"

I had dropped others a message on the group chat, so I knew they were prepared. All I had to do was take Evan to the backyard, where they were waiting for us. "Well, for one, my license is no longer suspended." I grinned. "And the best part: you never really had a choice."

He slumped into his seat. I grabbed my purse and gave him a light shove. "No time to dwell, birthday boy."

"I should've never agreed to this." He hesitantly stepped out. "I don't like—"

"Take it as a fun evening with your friends, okay?" I reduced the distance between us. We walked through the patio shrouded with shrubs, my heels snapping loose twigs in two. "It's just us."

Evan sighed, but there was a faint grin on his face. The house was dimly lit, door unlocked, and I pretended to navigate the house better than the guy beside me—who had definitely been here more than I had.

"At least tell me," he droned, "what the move is?"

I found the backyard after stumbling over for seconds too long. All the lights went out. He muttered a dejected oh, God, and my laugh reverberated between us while I squeezed his hand and dragged him along.

"Are you scared of the dark, Evan?" I teased. Even under the glow of twilight, I could see the turn of his lips how I saw it in broad daylight, the glint of silver dangling off his neck.

"If it makes you hold me closer," he hummed. "Maybe."

The sudden flash of brightness in our face broke us out of our trance. I let go of his arm, and the rest of our friends slowly crawled into my sight after moments of complete darkness, birthday wishes floating in the air. Xavier was holding a cake in his hands, Leo and Raymond holding confetti. Sean was taking pictures. Chloe had a birthday hat in her hand—a ridiculously big one, which automatically made Evan wince.

Stella stepped on his foot "accidentally" and then crushed him into a hug while muttering, "Happy birthday, you ass."

"All of us could hear you flirting, by the way," she continued and dropped me a singular, sly smile. "Kinda took me out of this whole friendly birthday celebration we have going on."

Evan rolled his eyes. "Just because you're single and miserable doesn't mean we have to suffer too, Reyes."

"I'd beat you up, but I love Laura too much for that."

He thinned his lips. "How kind of you."

"Guys," Xavier held Stella by an arm. "Really? We've got a place to be at."

Stella fell entirely too still in his hold. I stared at her, but she was looking elsewhere.

"Can I finally be told where we're headed?" Evan's voice sounded strained, as if he was actually withering away without this piece of information.

A lady appeared from the shadows of the house, then. I jumped a little out of my skin. I think we all did.

Ominous didn't even begin to explain it.

"Sorry to do this to you," Xavier's voice was unsteady because of how much he was laughing. "But you get to deal with my mom first."

I smiled when I saw the slight dread on Evan's face as Xav's mom hugged him tight for at least five minutes. When he finally got released from her deathly hold, Chloe forcefully made him wear the birthday hat, and the guys hollered and laughed, all while I realized how much I fucking loved my friends.

▂

"THE ARCADE," he had questioned with a humoring roll of his eyes. "Seriously?"

He certainly didn't seem to mind the place as much now. Fluorescents washed his face in bright, glitzy shifts, fingers clad with rings drumming on the glass of alcohol Xavier had not so discreetly slipped to his side. His face was tilted to the right, watching me, and I couldn't help my mouth from twisting upwards.

He wasn't drunk. A part of me had really wanted to see the drunk version of him, to see if he was any more charming, but I had figured his tolerance would be high. He was, however, starting to smile aimlessly just a little more, gaze holding more meaning that they ever did in public. Or among our friends.

It was funny.

Raymond whistled as he nudged past me. "Geez, someone get these two a room."

Ignoring the slight heat rising to my cheeks, I asked Evan, "Are you okay?"

The music was a little taxing. He gauged that from my expressions, situating his elbows on the table and leaning in. "Are you?"

I furrowed my eyebrows. "Why won't I be?"

"This place is a little stuffy," he said. "Too many people. You don't prefer that."

I didn't. Despite it being bigger than most arcades I had been to, the crowd was overwhelmingly large—and disruptive. The air was warm, but not uncomfortable yet. I couldn't really call the masses out on their noise levels when we had Leo on our team.

Evan tapped on the table twice. "If you want out, we can do that."

"Hey!" Speak of the Devil. Leo waltzed right into our table, wincing at the contact of his hip with the wood, and then swiveled his gaze all over. "Don't you dare run away with birthday boy so soon. Be responsible, Laura!"

I rolled my eyes. "I wasn't planning to."

"Good." He grinned. "Want a drink?"

"Hey," I slapped his hand off the table. "I'm the DD, you know."

He held a hand. "Sorry, sorry. Do you want something, man?"

Evan shook his head. His eyes snapped back to mine, and he grabbed my hand as he stood up. "Let's go bowling, shall we?"

The rest of the guys stood in the arena, pitching in what felt an intense battle. Everyone seemed drunk except Xavier, who gave me a singular glance and winked. Stella stumbled on her steps as she threw an arm over my shoulder, and Chloe continued to giggle at something Sean said.

"If it isn't the lovebirds," Ray pointedly looked at us, then directed his attention to Evan. "I'll beat you today, fair and square."

Evan chuckled. "We'll see about that."

I held onto Stella's arm before she collapsed in front of me. "Jesus, Stella, why don't you tone it down when you know you cannot manage it?"

"I've been telling her this since we got here," Xavier stood near her, eyes alarmed. His hands went around her frame. "She just won't—"

Stella's eyes shot up, red and slightly teary. "Shut up, Xavier." Her voice squeaked. She flailed her arms, swatting his hands away. "Leave me and Laura alone."

"I was just—"

"Leave." She punctuated her words. Xavier's eyes widened, lips pressing into a line, but he gave me a look and walked away. I put my arm around her waist as she crumpled her body on the chair kept beside us, eyes frozen to the floor.

"Hey." I shook her. "What was that about?"

"Nothing." She mumbled. Her hair was covering her eyes, fingers gripping the hem of her dress, and today—this very moment, this girl juxtaposed the Stella Reyes I knew. The collected, aloof girl known-to-be grinning from the top of the world was tearing up while the weight of the it pushed her down.

Something wasn't right. My voice came out soft. "It doesn't seem like it was nothing, Stella. Talk to me. This isn't like you."

"I'm—" she bit her tongue. "Too fucking wasted to think straight. Not right now."

I held her hand. "Okay. When you're ready, I'm ready. You have me, okay?"

Slowly, a smile caught up to her face.

For the longest time, the silence between us rung. Then she lifted her head to look at me again, and this time, her gaze was intense. "Can I ask you something?"

I nodded.

The question hit me like the sky falling down on the centre of my chest.

"You like him a lot, don't you?"

My face froze.

"Must be nice." She rolled her eyes, but she was grinning. "It's hidden in the way you look at him, you know. In the way you wait for him after classes or during lunch or during practices. . .and just how you seek his presence out of a crowd. And he's the same, with the way he acts like time stops when you arrive; how much more he smiles every time you're here."

My mouth had run dry.

"He's still staring, do you know? He's been staring ever since the game began. Fleeting glances, just to know you're here, and you're safe." She laughed, probably at how wide my eyes were. "Don't give me that look. I've seen you go from hating to not caring to caring too much to be called sane. It's sickening, and I want to throw up."

I laughed, but my heart felt the size of this arcade—only twice as warm. "You don't sound very disgusted."

"Because I'm fucking happy, bitch," she spoke, and her arm went around my shoulders for a hug. "I'm so happy for how happy he makes you. I know this sounds insane—you shouldn't have let me do this when I was drunk out of my mind—and I know it's not like we've known each other forever, but you're one of my best friends. I love you, care for you, and want the best for you. If he is that for you, what more can I ask for?"

I didn't realize she'd started crying on my shoulder until Leo walked towards us and actually screamed.

"Oh, my God," he gasped. "They're totally crying!"

I was not, but okay.

Stella wiped her cheeks. "I'm never fucking drinking again."

"Who's crying?"

"Stella is sobbing, dude," Raymond was laughing.

"Laura?" Evan's voice rung out. "Are you okay?"

This was so funny. I grinned. "Yes, yes. Sorry. I guess the alcohol finally got to her."

"I got worried." His eyes searched my face before he broke into a soft smile. "All good?"

I nodded. Xavier came running to us, crouching to meet Stella's eye. "Hey, are you okay?"

She didn't respond to him. Evan nudged me, mouthing what's with her?, but I shook my head.

Xavier straightened himself before clearing his throat. "I'll go get some water."

Ray motioned for Evan, and then to the bowling arena. "Let's wrap this up." It was down to the last throw. Before Evan could get into position, he turned around and said, "If I get a strike on the first attempt, what do I get?"

All the guys stopped what they were doing and looked at me, grins on their faces. I contemplated, lips turning. "A win, I guess?"

He frowned. "Anything you're willing to offer me?"

"My congratulations?"

"Jesus, woman," he laughed. "What I'm wanting to hear is, maybe you'd want to go out on a date with me."

I gave in. His smile was persuasive. "Maybe."

The widest grin overtook his face. He turned around, took position, but the sound of cheering took the place of background noise. My eyes superglued to a girl in black standing slightly afar, a girl whose laugh enclosed around me wholly. A girl I would've recognized anywhere.

A girl I had once called my best friend.

Elizabeth. And standing a few steps away from her was Jayden.

uni has started for me and i'm officially being trained to be a cog in this capitalist world. the soul selling ritual has started. i am nothing but a shell of a human. i'm sorry if i told y'all i would update more (that was a lie. i haven't written a word in weeks.)

dramatics aside, there's not a lot left of this book, and i'm so excited for you guys (and myself, since i've been waiting for the end for so damn long). your patience is really all i can ask for at this point lmao. i hope you're doing well! you're golden,

abrial