"Good, you're still here," my mom walks in with two bags in her arms.

"Where else would I be?"

"You know where," she says accusingly. "That's why I want to talk to you about something."

"Something? You're not going to make it weird, are you?"

"Why would it be weird?"

"Yeah...I'm going to just-" I point to my room.

"Sit down," she says sternly.

"Mom," I huff, "why do we need to communicate? Why can't we be like every other family and ignore each other until I'm an adult?"

"Because communication is important. And, I want you to know that It makes me happy seeing you happy with Heather. I wish you would've told me earlier, but that's okay."

"I didn't want you to pull that 'keep the door open' thing, and I knew you would."

"I would have done that a long time ago but I respected the fact that you needed quiet to learn and leaving the door open lets noise in. Girls in the room means door open," she argues, and I roll my eyes. "Or it used to."

"...huh?"

"With the way you two walked through the door, I know you're going to continue doing whatever no matter the rules. So, we need to have the talk."

"Nope," I shake my head, "did that with dad, remember?"

"You're older now, you'll be 18 by the end of the year. You need to have a new one."

"No," I say again.

"Leo."

"You can't tell me anything I don't already know."

"I'm sure you believe that."

"You're too late."

"Because you're sexually active?"

"I will pay you to stop."

"Look in the bag," she nods toward the one she put on the counter.

I sigh and take a peek at what's inside.

You robbed the contraceptive aisle of the pharmacy. Thanks, mom. "Why are you doing this to me?"

She empties the bag onto the counter.

"Do you know what these are for?"

"Sex..."

"Here are your standard condoms," she holds the box up like she's advertising them. "These are latex, but some people have an allergy-"

"I don't. Moving on."

She sighs, grabbing something else. "This— is a spermicide. It comes as foam or gel-"

"Not using that."

"It kills the sperm before it can get to the egg."

"Fun," I say sarcastically.

"It needs to be inserted 10 to 15 minutes before sex."

I groan, "I don't want the foam, mom."

"Spermicide can also be used with a diaphragm." What the hell? "It's placed inside-"

I cringe at the small, rubber bowl, "Is that comfortable?"

"Do you assume everything else you stick up there is comfortable?"

My eyes roll. "Sorry I asked."

"You can ask me anything."

"I don't want to," I whine and lay my head down.

"This is a female condom. I'm assuming I don't need to explain further."

"No, none of this is needed."

"There are other options that Heather can explore, she can go on the pill if she wants, and there are implants, injections, patches-"

"She's not a lab rat," I scoff. "Are we done?"

"This is important for you to know, Leonardo."

"And I do. I told you."

"Okay, then. Outside of the risks, are you respecting Heather?"

"Yes?"

"It can't all be about you, that's not fair to her-"

"That's it," I put my hands up, "I'm never having sex again. Congratulations, you did it. Goodbye."

She scoffs in doubt, "I don't believe you, so at least take the condoms." Reluctantly, I grab them, looking disappointedly at the box. "What now?" She crosses her arms.

"...I don't like these ones," I mumble.

"What?"

I put them back down. "It's okay, I have some already. I'm good."

"Does Heather have some?"

"Yeah, and even if she didn't, I wouldn't give her these."

"What's wrong with these?"

"I don't like them! Can I please go to my room now?"

"Go," she shoos me away in frustration.

"Finally." I grab the phone and carry it with me.

Wait until she hears about this.

I listen to the ringing a few times before I hear her voice. "Hello?"

"Heather, I'm surrounded by baby prevention."

"Baby prevention?"

"My mom is nuts. I'll never be able to look her in the eyes again."

"What happened?"

"You can come over, and we can have sex, but you have to put this foam in-"

"Huh? Start at the beginning."

"She gave me the talk. Birds and the bees and condoms that don't let you feel shit."

"Oh, no," she laughs.

"Can you erase memories? Is there some rich person secret society with potions or something?"

"Not exactly, the closest thing we have is liquor."

"You wanna go do something? I've got to get out of this house before she thinks of anything else."

"Aw, I would but I made plans with Alison and Lisa and the guys."

"Oh, that's okay, " I shrug.

"You should come with us."

Hell no.

"Nah, no thanks, butterfly. "

"Why not?"

"I can't even pretend with your clique...but I want you to go."

"It won't be a problem. Everyone will be busy drinking and too caught up for there to be drama."

"I'll just see you tomorrow. I'm going to hang with some people later anyway."

"Really?" She asks as if her conscience couldn't handle knowing I don't have any real plans.

"Yeah, go be a central."

"...but I feel bad now."

"I don't know why," I chuckle. "You have no reason to. I love you."

"I know," she sighs. "I love you too, that's why I feel bad."

"Remind me again of the host," I say as we walk into a house full of strangers.

"It's one of my brother's college friends," Natalia replies.

"So, these are all university students?"

"And probably some alumni."

"Which is why you both should be wearing the scarlet 'M' for minor," a boy resembling Natalia stops us before we walk any further.

"Or a 'J' for jailbait," the girl next to him smiles.

"Hers was funnier," Natalia teases.

"Haha," the boy rolls his eyes.

"Audrey this is my brother Gabriel."

"Hello," I give him my hand to shake.

"Pleasure," he places a kiss on the back of my hand.

"And this is Cassidy, his girlfriend."

"Enjoy the party," she smiles at us before walking off with Gabriel.

"It's nice here." Everything is better away from the facade of grace home has. "Elegant parties, elegant people."

"Don't judge so quickly. They're only elegant in public. Especially Gabe," Natalia says. "But, can I tell you a secret?"

"Always."

"I had the biggest crush on Cassidy."

"On your brother's girlfriend?"

"She spent a lot of time at our house, and we just got along so well. She had to stay in my room when she slept over, and I always tried my hardest to do something that kept her from sneaking off to his...it worked sometimes, but I think she waited until I was asleep."

"...Do you still have feelings for her?"

She shakes her head. "It was a silly girl crush."

"Well, she seems like a good friend."

"She is, but we don't see each other anymore."

"You're seeing her now," I shrug.

"I should invite her out with us?"

"Yes," I nod, though I could do without a straggler on our vacation.

"Gabe," Natalia calls out while he's still close by. "Ask Cassidy if she wants to get lunch with us tomorrow."

"...I don't think that's something she'd be interested in."

"Why not?"

"Because..."

She pushes past him in annoyance, "I'll ask her myself."

He grabs her arm, "You're not friends."

Natalia pulls away. "What do you mean?"

"She doesn't...like you that much. Hanging out with you is babysitting to her."

"I'm only two years younger than you," she scoffs.

"And that's enough for her to consider you my annoying little sister."

"Annoying?"

"To be fair, you were always bothering or interrupting us."

"No, I wasn't."

"It's not a big deal. You have plenty of friends," he motions toward me as he backs away.

"I didn't know I was annoying..."

"You're not," I say sympathetically.

"This is really embarrassing considering everything I just told you. How delusional was I, right?" Natalia tries to force a laugh, but it's too obvious her feelings are hurt. What right does that impudent bitch have to hurt her feelings?

She's wearing eggshell to a black and white party, she's the embarrassment.

"Sweetie-"

"Would you hate me if I asked to leave? I get the feeling no one actually wants me here."

"Because of Cassidy?"

"She can't be that far off from what the others think. I'm Gabriel's annoying little sister."

No.

I step away from Natalia and look around the room. Cassidy is standing by the fountain with a few other girls probably discussing how uneven the bangs are on her melon head.

The nerve of her to be smiling while Natalia isn't.

My eyes narrow into a glare as I head toward her, passing a server on the way and taking a drink off the tray.

Wine?

"Amateurs," I shake my head. A child must've planned this event.

I scout my surroundings for observing eyes, no ones watching— so, I throw it on her.

That stain will be "annoying."

Cassidy's arms raise as the cold, red wine hits her back. "Oh, my-" She turns to face me with a shocked expression.

"I am so sorry." Oscar-worthy performance, truly. "Let me get you cleaned up," I extend my hand like you would an olive branch— if my intentions were to genuinely help her, but they're not, so I push her into the fountain.

Cassidy sputters and splashes like a fool before jumping up. It's almost hard not to laugh, but I contain myself as guests avert their eyes to the scene of the commotion.

"Such a shame," I announce. "Looks like someone needs to call their AA sponsor."

"What is going on?" Cassidy's friends hurry to help her out of the water. "Who is she?" One of them asks with an appalled expression.

"Audrey Michaels," I smile. "Great party, by the way."

I wave 'goodbye' to them and then begin walking to the door as quickly as possible without it looking as if I'm running. My eyes catch a glimpse of Natalia in complete shock, but I continue past her as if we didn't show up together.

All the cars are lined up in a perfect curve, and I don't bother checking for the one that brought us here. I climb into the first unlocked one I could find, shutting the door and hiding in the backseat while I catch my breath.

I can't believe I did that.

The door opens again and I almost have a heart attack thinking someone other than Natalia would chase me out here.

"Audrey, that was awful," she scolds as she gets in beside me. "Why would you do that?"

I leaned over so fast that I didn't have time to think. This is what adrenaline is meant for, right? Pushing bitches into fountains and kissing pretty girls.

Natalia is so pretty.

She doesn't seem startled at all when my lips crash into hers, falling into step with hers, moving over and between...hers.

And I'm scared to pull away because then I have to face the fact that I just kissed you.

"Audrey..."

"I'm sorry," I say, still at a loss for air.

"About what you did to Cassidy?"

"No, she can capsize in that fountain for all I care. Tacky little mountain dog with the sheer audacity to insult you-"

She throws herself against me and I topple over on the seat with her lips on mine again. Our legs are interlaced, soft skin is against even softer skin, and the temperature rises with the hem of our dresses. Her hair drapes down and touches my face whenever our heads move. I don't think I've ever kissed anyone before tonight.

This is a kiss. Everything else was nothing.

I've never tasted anything better or felt something more exciting than you.

Natalia.

I set the bag down by the door before knocking.

The plan was to be long gone before it opened, but she must have been standing right by it.

"Daniel?"

"Hey..." I say nervously. "I was just leaving."

"What are you doing here?"

"It's your birthday," I pick up the bag and hand it to her. "I wanted you to have this." But I didn't want to see your face saying goodbye to me again after pretending to be happy I showed up.

"Thank you," she smiled...she felt obligated to.

"It's nothing. I just had to get you something, you know?" It's a purse she probably already has now. She wanted it while we were together...I don't know why I didn't get it for her.

"I appreciate it, Daniel. It's really nice that you remembered."

"So— what're you doing? You're not staying in, are you? I can-"

"I'm about to go out for dinner, actually."

"Oh, yeah? You look nice."

"Yeah."

Some dude comes up by her side. "Everything good?"

Who the fuck are you?

"Danny this is Marcus."

"What's up, man?" He reaches out to fist-bump me like a fucking jerkoff.

"Nothing much..." I step away from the door. "Happy birthday, Val."

"Bye, Danny...thanks."

"Yep, bye."

For real this time. I'll leave you alone.

I put my hood on and head down the stairs with my hands in my pockets.

Why did I think she wouldn't date? As if she'd wait around for me to become the guy she wants.

I thought I was...

There's a shitty store down the street with a payphone outside. I go up to it and think about who to call. I can't go back to my house— I don't want to be awake while my dad is. That would push me over the edge. God, I miss you, Val.

I put quarters through the coin slot before punching in a phone number.

"Hello?" Kat answers.

"Is Mandy there?"

"Danny?"

"Yeah...can you put Amanda on?"

"Long time no speak. You avoiding me now?"

"If she's not there-"

"You're supposed to shut me out before you get dumped not after."

"Tell her I called, okay?"

"I didn't do anything wrong, Danny."

"Alright, I've got to go."

"Just come over...she's here."

Leo opens the door still half-asleep but gives me a tired smile anyway.

I reach in and hug him, backing him through the door where I can protect his bare skin from the cold.

"Did you have a good time?" He asks, his arms still around me.

I pull away and shrug. "Sure."

"You don't sound sure."

"...I wanted you there."

Leo chuckles, "Are your friends that lame?"

"No," I jokingly rolled my eyes, "but still."

"Next time, butterfly. I promise."

"Sleepover?" I say with hope.

He smiles, "yeah, come to bed."

Leo grabs my hand and leads me to his room. I watch him close and lock the door once we're inside.

"Are we alone?"

"Yeah, don't worry, she's at work for another hour."

I'm not worried. Isabel has always been asleep when I left out in the mornings. Leo is the only one ever nervous. Even with my parents, though the newfound interest in my love life is solely because of who I'm in love with. To my knowledge, they still believe I'm a virgin.

I take my shoes off by the door, and Leo glances back at me in thought.

"What's wrong?" I ask.

He walks up and runs his fingers down my dress. "Pretty...but not to sleep in." I feel his hand on my back before he pulls down the zipper, letting the dress fall down my body.

His eyes linger on me for a moment, but he looks away and opens a drawer.

Another shirt, as promised.

I smile as he puts it on over my head and makes sure it's long enough for me.

"Thank you."

"For what?" His hands cup my face and he moves in to kiss me. I put my arms around his waist, and he guides me down on the bed— laying on top of me in the process. He's so tired, his lips lazily follow the lead of mine until I cave and push him off. I've kept you awake long enough.

He pulls the blanket up to cover us and then nuzzles against me as if my side is somehow warmer. He gets like this when he's sleepy— cuddly and clingy like the only place to be is all over me.

I push his hair back, and he responds by kissing my forehead and then my nose.

"I love you."

Leo smiles, "say it again."

"I love you. I love you. I love you."

"Sleepovers are so fucking great," he pulls me toward him until we're chest to chest. "I love you too."