TAKASHI WAS A LITTLE TENSE WHEN he walked into the house party. Toryn was with him and he didn't exactly know how to feel about that. Honestly if she would have stayed home, he would have liked it better. He wasn't trying to be mean, but it was a party and Toryn wasn't a partying type of person. So it wouldn't be fair for her to bug him about going home early when he didn't tell her to come.

Laura forced him, saying if he went then she had to go too. Toryn promised she wouldn't force them to go early and she'd let him have his fun, but Takashi knew his best friend and those were only words. He was planning on getting lit and wild tonight, and as much as he loved his best friend, if she ruined that for him he would be pissed.

"Aye, what up boy." Dupree said, greeting Takashi by the door with a dap.

"What's good," Takashi said scooping out the place. It was super packed with people standing so close some couldn't even move. "It's mad heads in here...it's lit or nah?"

Thomas gave him a look, "Man it's lit in here...they even got college girls here, bro. Jayden dead told one of those bitches he was twenty three and they believed him. I think one of them sucked his dick in the bathroom."

Toryn immediately looked at the ground, feeling uncomfortable. She had on a plain pink knee length form fitting dress with some black sandals. Her hair was in a ponytail and she had on small diamond stud earrings, her half heart pendant resting on her chest. She looked normal as usual, but that's how she felt most comfortable.

"This you?" Dupree questioned. Toryn looked up and was looking right into Dupree's eyes, realizing he was asking Takashi if they were together.

"Nah," Takashi said quickly, he chuckled, putting his hand on her shoulder. "You met her before, she go to our school." He said not wanting to bring up the incident where they laughed at her last time.

When Dupree realized it was the quiet girl from school only Takashi talked too, he quickly became disinterested in her. He gave a polite smile and put his attention back on Takashi. His smile lit up, "Imma go see whassup wit' everyone else." He remarked.

They split up and Takashi pulled Toryn's hand as they travelled through the crowd. Toryn was in awe at how many people knew Takashi. Every second people were stopping him to give out handshakes, daps and hugs. She wasn't even sure all these people went to their school. It's not like she would know because she didn't know everybody; but surely knew a lot of people.

They got to the kitchen and surprisingly it wasn't that crowded. Everyone seemed to mostly be out in the living room, and the basement because Takashi knew Dupree had a basement in his house. It was probably where they were smoking weed. He could smell it, but didn't physically see anyone smoking.

Takashi walked into the kitchen and opened the freezer which was packed with all kinds of alcohols and soda. He sucked his teeth noticing all the stuff in there was light as hell. Colt 45, Corona, Heineken, Bud Wiser. He closed the fridge and smirked, noticing the heavier shit on the table. He smirked and picked up the bottle of Devil's Springs Vodka and began pouring it out in a red plastic cup.

Toryn frowned, "We just got here, Taka."

"So," He said, "that's how you party. You gotta let the buzz kick in early."

Takashi capped the glass bottle back and shut his eyes as he took a huge gulp. The burn that erupted in his throat caused him to smack the counter and open his eyes wide. "Fuck!"

"You're not going to mix that?"

"You're not going to mix that?" Takashi mocked, coming in front of her. He quickly pecked her lips, then licked his own afterward. "No Dork, I'm not."

His cup was only filled halfway anyway, he wasn't going to go crazy. He still had a curfew and coming home drunk was the quickest way to get him banned from partying until he moved out his mother's house. Takashi pulled out his buzzing phone and began to read text messages and Facebook notifications about people asking for directions on how to get to the house while others talked about how nice it was.

Toryn stared at her best friend, the smell of the Irish Spring soap on his skin dancing around her nose. His head was bent down in his phone so she was staring at the well defined waves in his head. He had on a black Saint Laurent t-shirt with a pair of lips and vampire teeth covered in blood on the front of it. His True religion jeans were baggy, but showed off his Lebron Solider 11's.

"I know I look good, now get out my face." Takashi said randomly. He looked up and saw Toryn staring at him. He smiled and she smiled back, rolling her eyes.

Takashi put his hand out and Toryn immediately put her hands in his as he inspected them. They were normal looking, which meant she hasn't been peeling her skin for a while. Her fingers still looked like someone who chewed their nails excessively but it wasn't terrible to the point people on the street would stare.

Takashi poked his lips out, but Toryn just stared. Unlike him, she was very shy in public. Takashi was the type that would want her to sit on his lap, inside of a crowded train cart full of adults while they made out. She was very private. Toryn looked around, there wasn't anybody in the kitchen except a boy trying to fix a huge black garbage back so it wouldn't spill over.

Takashi sucked his teeth and smashed his lips against Toryn's. She tasted the strong liquor on his tongue and it honestly tasted gross. She was never an alcohol person. She thought alcohol smelled like the rubbing alcohol used for injuries and was very sure it was the exact same thing. Couldn't anybody tell her otherwise.

Takashi was sucking on her tongue so hard she had to grip his t-shirt. When he pulled away he took another big gulp of his drink, this time only making a slight wince. "Yo'...I was thinking, wouldn't it be cool if you were my secret sex slave? On some you lived under my bed and nobody knew type shit?" He chuckled.

Toryn looked at him and her face dropped a little. The comment offended her even though she knew he was just joking. She turned her head to the side and looked off.

He furrowed his eyebrows, "What?"

"I'm not your sex slave, I'm your friend." She mumbled.

Takashi sucked his teeth, throwing his head back. "Here we go," he looked back at her, "Relax, it was a joke, Toryn."

"I don't find it funny, why are you always acting like that?" Toryn questioned, facing him. She wondered if he was already tipsy. He had to be, she wasn't an expert on alcohol but the one he was drinking had at least eighty percent alcohol and he was only fifteen, so it was nothing for him to get under the influence that quick.

"Acting like what, I can't make a joke wit' you?"

"What's wrong with saying friends with benefits? Why does it have to be your secret sex slave? And why a secret?"

Takashi chuckled, running a hand over his waves. "Imma shut up, 'cause you about to be crying in a second. Can't say anything without you bitching and crying."

"Okay Takashi, whatever," Toryn said putting her hand up and looking away from him. "All I said was I'm your friend, not your fantasy and that's an issue."

"Toryn shut the fuck up," Takashi mumbled, swirling the little bit of liquid left in the cup. "'Cause everything you saying making no sense, you being a dickhead right now."

Toryn looked at him in disbelief. "A what?"

"A penis head, a dick, a dumb bitch...did you hear that or you want me to repeat it?"

Toryn's eyes watered as she looked across the kitchen. The boy who had been fixing the garbage bag was long gone leaving just the two of them. That was the one thing with Takashi. He always been really mean whenever he got mad. He talked really reckless to her and sometimes he roughed her up or manhandled her. A lot of girls dreamed of having a best friend or a boyfriend who was like that but it really wasn't cute or fun at all. Takashi sometimes came off just like the people who bullied her.

Takashi closed his eyes for a second, cursing himself for taking it so far. He reopened his eyes and lowered his voice, "Toryn," he called but she didn't look at him. In this moment he realized why his mom said he wasn't capable of taking care of Toryn. Any little words they had whether he was wrong or not would be blown out of proportion. It was something she'd been doing since they were little kids and it annoyed him.

A lot of the time he didn't feel like kissing her ass, which caused them to start arguing and make him talk to her crazy; but he realized if he wanted her to continue living with them he had to stop doing that. It's exactly what made her go on top of a roof last time.

"Toryn," Takashi said again, turning her chin. A tear fell from her cheek but he quickly wiped it away and hugged her. "You're right that would be stupid. We're friends and you wouldn't need to be my secret. I'm sorry, okay?"

Toryn just nodded her head, but she was still feeling a type of way. Takashi picked her hand up and entwined their fingers. He kissed the back of her hand and she instantly got a flashback from the boy at Renown who had did the same thing. Sean...Samuel...Shane...something like that. His name did start with an S though, she remembered that.

With one hand, Takashi quickly refilled his cup with the strong liquor again before he pulled Toryn into the living room. "My Chargie" by Popcaan featuring Drake was blasting from the speakers. The song could hardly even be heard as majority of the females sang along loudly, while others were grinding on boys.

Takashi maneuvered them through the crowd, trying to find somewhere for them to sit. He was quickly stopped by some random female who bum rushed him with a hug. She was really short, only being able to reach his waist. When she looked up he saw that it was Rose. He wasn't complaining, but he was a little surprised because they didn't even know each other that well. She had on some high waisted shorts and a bedazzled bra top, her silver belly ring, gleaming.

"Whassup," He said, not knowing what else to say.

"Come on, I wanna talk to you." Rose said grabbing his hand. Takashi looked back at Toryn and that was when Rose noticed her, she glared at her making Toryn get a little nervous. She wondered what the hard look was about. They didn't even know each other. She wondered if Takashi would introduce them later. Maybe they could be friends.

Takashi turned back toward Rose and leaned in close to be heard over the noise. "Can my best friend come?"

Rose immediately frowned, "Um, no! I wanna talk alone."

Takashi looked over his shoulder at Toryn who was standing nervously, her hand still locked with his. "Tee Tee, you mind me leaving you here for thirty seconds? Just a few seconds and I'll be right back, or no?"

Toryn wanted to say no but she wasn't about to say that out loud for people to hear. She had to put on her big girl panties so she quickly nodded her head, "It's okay."

Rose grabbed Takashi's hand as they quickly made their way through the crowd. Toryn looked around, quickly finding herself against the wall. All the couches were piled up with people. She was a little hungry but she was embarrassed to go and eat food. So she stayed against the wall and watched all the wild teenagers as they danced, talked and fondled each other.

*******

UPSTAIRS SAMIR AND HIS FRIEND TINK sat in his room. Samir left his door wide open, including his windows to let the smell of the heavy weed Tink was smoking out his room. All Tink seemed to do was smoke. He's been smoking ever since he was thirteen. He smoked so much his lips were a permanent grape purple.

Tink sat on the ground against the foot on Samir's bed, engrossed with his joint while Samir sat on the edge of his bed, playing Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. Instead of hearing the sound affects from the game, all you could see was the action taking place. The entire house was filled with noisy people and unnecessarily loud music; there was no point in trying to blast his TV extra loud as well.

Tink's eye caught a girl staring into the room as she past down the hall, irritating him. "Man you need to close that door." He complained, tired of all the nosey people.

Samir was annoyed too, but there was no way he was letting that smell marinate in his room. He didn't smoke and he hated the smell of it. He only let Tink smoke because he couldn't invite somebody over to a party and be a grandpa afterwards with regulations and rules. The only place which was off limits was his parents room which he made sure to lock.

"Not wit' that shit you smoking," Samir protested. He mostly stayed in his room, letting his little brother and sister Dupree and Opal do what they did. Sometimes he would past downstairs just to make sure his brother wasn't doing anything stupid and his sister wasn't being fast; but since the party started, he'd mostly been in his room.

Tink snapped his fingers, "Yo' tell me why Malcolm still talking shit?"

Samir paused his game and looked at him, "The same kid you fought last month?"

"Same one. Now he on Facebook talking about he beat me up and all of this." Tink said shaking his head. He never met a dude so bold in his life. Tink fought Malcolm on camera and beat him up so bad, he had him apologizing on camera and still Malcolm was talking shit. It didn't bother him because all he had to do was post the video so everyone could see the truth.

Samir chuckled, shaking his head. "Man that's wild."

"It's cool though because I know what imma do." Tink said shaking his head.

Samir looked at him, he knew what his boy was about and honestly thought Tink was taking it too far. Tink was connected with real killers and goons. He was the type that because he had those connections, every time he got into a little problem he was quick to call up his people. Samir didn't think it was right for one little kid who wasn't about that life.

"Chill, you buggin'. Just leave em' alone."

Tink chuckled, his purple lips stretching across his face. "Look at you, all scared and shit."

Samir just shook his head, he looked up at his room door and out of the blue, saw Toryn walking past. It didn't even look like she had seen his room door was open. He wondered if she was going to the bathroom like last time. He smiled, "Yo'!" He called louder then he had meant to.

Toryn jumped, but took one step back and peeked into the room. She saw two boys in there and the smell of weed attacked her nostrils. One was sitting on the ground. He was dark skin with small twists in his hair. The other one sat on the edge of the bed with a big smile on his face.

"You remember me?" He asked.

Toryn did. The boy from Renown. She slowly nodded her head up and down, but the boy sitting on the ground is who really had her attention. He was staring at her so hard that she felt uneasy. She was trying to ignore him but it was almost like this energy he was producing. It was so negative.

"I'm Samir, from the bookstore."

"I know." Toryn mumbled, she was sure he didn't even hear her. Toryn nervously pointed, "I-I'm going to t-the bathroom."

"Okay, when you done come over here, aight?"

Toryn quickly nodded her head not knowing what else to say, before she was gone. It didn't even take two seconds for her to disappear from the doorway for Tink to look at his friend with a questioning and crazy look on his face. "Who da fuck is that?"

Samir shrugged, he didn't even really know. "A friend of one of my brother's friends...she was over here one day and my sister friend, that lil' chick Rose was bothering her I guess and she was crying. I felt bad for her so I gave her some tissue and shit, but I just like bothering her now." Samir smiled.

"For what?" Tink said with a screwed up face, "that girl look like...like ew. She couldn't even blow on the tip of my dick."

Samir didn't know why the comment irritated him. It's not like he knew Toryn personally; but he did find her a little cute. It was weird because he didn't think she would ever be his girl, he couldn't see himself with her. She was just attractive in a nerdy kind of way. He liked messing with her because she was awkward and it was funny which made her cute; but it was not as if he was seriously interested in her. She was just really nice and that was most likely why Tink going in on her was annoying him.

"Man chill, I didn't even say it was like that. And even if it was so what. Why you worried about where my dick go?"

Tink sucked his teeth because it honestly wasn't like that. He wasn't clocking who his friend was with, he was just checking to see if his boy had lost his mind. The girl he was smiling all hard at and shit was the definition of a goofy bitch. He quickly raised his eyebrows for a split second, "Yeah okay," he mumbled.

Samir happened to glance up and once again caught Toryn trying to breeze past the door. That was what he found so cute about her, she was so shy. "Toryn!" He called, amused that she was trying to escape chilling with him.

Man, Toryn thought to herself. She wondered if he had been watching his room door the whole time just to see when she was going to past again. Toryn calmly walked back into the doorway and sent him a small wave. Again she noticed the boy with the twists staring at her. He looked her up and down as if taking her in.

"C'mere," Samir said.

She honestly didn't feel comfortable being in a room alone with two boys. Especially when one didn't seem to like her so much.

"I-I'd much rather go downstairs...please?" She mumbled.

Tink looked at Samir and gave him a look that said 'are you dead serious with this bitch' but Samir ignored his friend.

"Ah man, now you about to make me sad. If I can give you one good reason why you should chill with me until you ready to go, will you stay here with me?"

Toryn bit her bottom lip, avoiding eye contact with his menacing friend. "Okay."

"Remember at the bookstore I told you I was throwing a party? I said if you come, that meant you were coming to see me. You said okay. So you here for me right now. You gotta come and chill with me, so," he said, making a motion for her to come.

Toryn sighed and began slowly walking into the room. Samir smiled and looked at Tink, putting his hand out. "Aight, imma get at you later."

Tink grilled his friend, but he wasn't about to cock block. He gave Samir some dry dap and got off the floor, walking out. On his way past he glared at Toryn so hard it sent a shiver running through her body. Samir pat the bed next to him but Toryn made sure to put a space big enough to fit one other person between them.