“See! Like damn. I didn’t plan on shaking my ass for the entire school, but he’s kind of tempting me.” Felix keeps laughing, but I can see the building frustration in Benjamin’s eyes. They’re close to a breaking point. Being out of that town and in the real world,Drew is losing his grip—so he’s grasping onto whatever he can find.
Drew’s been like this since the day they moved in almost two months ago—constantly hovering and watching Benjamin’s every move. Sometimes he and Felix will be at the apartment and he’ll get a call, wondering where Benjamin is andwhy is he there at 8 P.M.?The fuck? So weird. I know they’ve been in a few fights surrounding me. I’ve seen the tail end of a few of them—Benjamin gesturing in the direction of the group and Drew shaking his head. At the end of the day, Benjamin still treats me the same—the same way he treated me before I ever saw him naked back in 2017.
Except now he bears my mark and openly wears my charm.
Mine.
I’ll wait.
“I don’t know what to do with him sometimes. Once I explain why what he said or did was too overbearing he’ll own it and apologize and get all sweet and touchy. But two days later I’m outside of a coffee shop trying to calm him down over the phone.” God, he looks miserable.
“Whatever you decide to do or not do, we support you.” Benjamin groans and flops back again.
“Fuck this. Aaron, I’m taking a nap.” He crawls up my bed and tucks himself under my comforter—pulling in a deep breath as he buries his face into my pillows. Then he releases a content sigh.
I love him so much.
“Sweet dreams, Button.” Felix and I leave the room, shutting the door behind us. Once we’re in the living room he turns to look at me where I’ve dropped onto the couch. “What?”
“Drew has always been a good friend. And in junior year he was a really good guy. He was so good to Bear. It was a hard time for him and Drew really kept him together. Then, they started dating. Drew wasobsessedwith Bear. It was cute, but it just makes everything else more odd, doesn’t it?” This strikes my interest, but unfortunately the play-by-play of their fairytale love story that I’m being subjected to does not.
“What do you mean?”
“Think about it. He’s a nice guy—befriended us most likely to get close to Bear—and wasexactlywhat he needed. Then they start dating and it’s like the volume was turned up by twenty. Which is fine, until you think about how Bear’s dad was a dick to them and then Bear said some hurtful things when he was recovering from the trauma—and suddenly Drew’s completely different?” I sit at attention, leaning forward.
“Thatisweird.” Felix nods.
“Sure, Drew was recovering too, but not to that degree. And heabandonedBear. Do you do that to someone you love?” I shake my head no. “Right. And then, Aaron—I snooped on their talk. The one where Bear told him about that night after Ronnie.”
“What?!” Felix waves a hand at me.
“He knew the whole time. Point being, the way he told Bear you never loved him—that Bear shouldn’t think you ever did—implying you never respected him and shit-talking what he enjoys in, uh, in bed. I understand he was mad. I would have been so angry. But Ineverwould have spoken to Kayla like that.Ever.”
I’m staring at my baby brother as he trembles in front of me. He’s got something big to say—the final send-off—but he just can’t get himself to say it.
“Go ahead, Fe.” He takes a breath.
“I think he’s hiding something.”
I’ve never considered it. I just figured he was dumb and mean. Brainless. Apparently, he’s a criminal mastermind.
“Don’t mention anything to Bear—I’m going to be normal until he wants it differently. Or something comes to light. Whichever comes first.”
The second time Felix says it, he says it like whatever Drew is up to has already been confirmed.
???
A few hours later, most of our little friend group has gathered outside of the library. Once we cross the street, we’ll besurrounded by Halloween parties to attend. Halloween isn’t here yet, but in college you have parties to celebrate leading up to the party. Benjamin is calling itcostume test runs—which I think is pretty cute.
Josh and Angie stand close by—devil and angel, which is perfect in every way. Cammie and Jenna are Bonnie and Clyde. Amber is a witch, but of course it’s a mostly naked one. Gotta love her. Kade and Darian go as zombie basketball players—which is completely unoriginal, but to be fair so is a witch. Alex is Shaggy fromScooby-Doo. It looks pretty convincing since I think he’s actually stoned. Felix is a zookeeper, following around his sexy cat—something I find adorable and weird in so many different ways.
My costume is decently lame. When you don’t know what to do, you goPurgestyle. Amber smeared fake bloody handprints all over my bare stomach and chest—some on my back as well. I have a glowing, neon-blue smiley mask pushed up on top of my curls, and I’m wearing a pair of those camo, army-grade cargo pants with some boots. Bam.Purge.
We’re really just waiting for Benjamin and Drew, and everyone’s getting restless.
“He just texted—they’re almost here from Drew’s dorm.” I have a feeling there was a lot of bickering about whatever Benjamin is wearing.
I, more than anyone else, hate the idea of anyone even looking at Benjamin. I actually feel a murderous rage most of the time. But I’m not a dick and can tell that it’s not Benjamin’s problem. He can’t control them. He’s enjoying dressing up and should be allowed to. Damn. Drew really needs to get his shit together. And then give Benjamin back to me.
