"Aden!"
"Leave me alone." I marched across the front lawn.
Titus jogged after me. "Can you just listen?"
"No." I increased my pace. "I want to be alone."
"Aden, stop." He snatched my wrist. "Wait."
I pushed him back but he didn't let go. "I don't know what is going on with you, but something isn't right. You can't lose it like that and hit someone."
"He hit you?"
"You're such an ass," I stated plainly. "This is different."
Titus grabbed my upper arms. "Aden, wait a second." His veins budged under his skin. "Please, I'll explain but you have to hear me out."
I shook my head. "No. T—this isn't going to work. I've decided, and I can't do it."
Yanking my arms free, I hurried down the driveway. Titus didn't follow. Keeping my head lowered, I walked along the road. Blood was splattered on my shirt. I'd never be able to explain this to my mom. I was going to have to get rid of it without her finding out.
A black car was coming up behind me. I moved to the side. It slowed and drove along beside me. The window rolled down.
"Aden, please."
"No," I muttered. "Go away."
"Aden, get in. I'll take you home."
"I'll walk. Besides, you're drunk."
"I'm fine. Get in the car."
"No."
"Don't be stupid. It's like four miles to your house."
"I've done it before!" I snapped. "So leave me alone."
The car zipped in front of me and stopped. I walked around it as Titus stepped out. He ran over and stood in my way. "You're being ridiculous."
"No, you are." I shoved him. "You only came to the party to piss off Chris. You've never liked him. Did you forget what high school is like? One word and everyone will stop talking to me."
"So that's the real reason you're friends with him. I thought he was using you, but it sounds like it goes both ways."
"Yet again, you are an asshole." I stepped past him.
"I'm not done talking to you." Titus yanked me back. "That guy is an idiot. When are you going to figure that out?" He tried to touch my face, but I jerked away from his hand.
"Chris is my friend. Well, he was my friend, but after tonight who knows if he'll even talk to me again."
"Why does it matter?"
I wanted to rip out my hair. He was so infuriating.
"Because it does, so leave me alone!"
"You let him do whatever the hell he wants. He treats you like shit and all you care about is if you're still friends. What is so great about him?"
"I'm not dealing with you right now." I pried at his fingers.
"Do you like him?"
I froze. "What?"
"Do you have a crush on him?"
"I'm not gay." I clenched my fists and struggled to get free.
"Oh, I think you are." He released me. "You're as gay as it gets."
I punched Titus as hard as I could. His head snapped to the side, and he touched his jaw. Holding up his hands, he backed away.
"Have it your way, Aden. Keep living in your delusional world, but I don't think Chris is never going to give a damn about you."
"He's my best friend."
Titus opened the car door. "And that's all he's ever going to be."
"That's all I want! I'm not like you."
He laughed. "Deny it all you want, but one day you're going to have to stop lying to yourself." Climbing into the car, he slammed the door.
I stood there as Titus drove past and disappeared down the street. I couldn't take it anymore. Grabbing a rock, I hurled it after the car. I hated him. I hated him so much.
Taking out my phone, I pressed on 'Dad.' It rang twice before he answered.
"Aden?"
"Hey, can you come get me?"
"We're just leaving the restaurant. I can't be there for another twenty minutes or so."
"Never mind," I breathed. "I can walk."
"No, Aden. Wait out front. We'll come and pick you up."
I heard muffled voices as my parents discussed it.
"Aden," said my mother. "Where's Chris?"
I glanced at the Harpers' house. "He's busy right now."
"Did something happen?"
I took in a shaky breath. "Yeah."
"We'll be right there."
The line went dead. She had entered mother bear mode. This night was going to end even worse than I thought.
***
My parents' car stopped in front of the drive. I jumped off the stone fence and quietly slipped into the back seat.
"Are you alright, honey?" My mother turned around in her seat.
I nodded. "I'll be okay." I kept my head down.
She grabbed my chin and turned my face. "Oh Aden, who did this?"
I shook my head. "I'm okay.
My father started down the street. My mother kept giving me worried looks while my father stared straight ahead. His knuckles were white as he clutched the steering wheel. We drove in silence the rest of the way home.
Getting out of the car, my dad led the way into the house. I headed for the stairs the moment I was inside.
"Aden, kitchen," he said firmly.
I shrunk back and followed them to the table. I sat down and my mother went to the fridge. She returned with an ice pack and a rag.
"Who hit you?" asked my father as my mother cleaned my face.
"It doesn't matter." I held the ice to my cheek.
"Aden," he said sternly. "Who did it?"
I shrugged. "I deserved it."
"Aden, now!"
"I spilled a drink on Katy, alright. Chris got mad and hit me." I stood and headed upstairs.
"Aden," called my father. "Aden, sit down."
"I'm going to bed."
My dad followed me to my room. I sat down on my bed and stared at my lap. My mother waited by the door while he paced the floor.
"Why would you do that?" he asked.
"She dumped me to be with Chris." I adjusted the ice pack. "I was mad."
"Chris is your best friend, though?" said my mother, clutching her chest.
"He was drunk at the time, so I doubt he'll remember doing it."
My dad had me by the collar of my shirt in seconds. "Aden Perri, if I find out you've been drinking—"
"I didn't." I sunk onto the bed and he let go. "I promised I wouldn't do it again and I didn't."
My father shook his head, turning for the door. "I'm going to have a word with the Harpers."
"Dad," I whined. "You're going to make it worse."
"They deserve to know that they had a house full of minor drinking. Someone could get killed, Aden." He clenched his jaw. "At least you were smart enough to call us to come get you, instead of asking one of your friends to take you home." He marched into the hall. "Go to bed, Aden."
I could hear his heavy footsteps stomp down the stairs. My mother walked over and sat beside me.
"He's worried about you." She put her hand on my knee. "Some of your friend-choices..." she sighed. "We just want you to be happy."
"I'm going to be fine, Mom."
She smiled. "Just remember we love you, okay?"
I nodded and hugged her. "Mom, if I— would you..."
My mother pulled back. "What, Aden?"
"Nothing." I shook my head and gave her a smile. "Never mind."
Patting my thigh, she stood. "Get some sleep. I'll talk to your father."
"Thanks."
She left and closed the door. I saw the lights go out in the hall. Laying down, I closed my eyes. I'd figure it out tomorrow. I'd apologize to Chris and everything would work itself out.
It took some time for me to calm down enough to feel tired, but seconds away from falling asleep, I heard tapping on the window. Grabbing my pillow, I slammed it over my head to drown it out. The knocking steadily got louder. I threw the pillow across the room and sat up. Titus waved me over, looking rather annoyed.
Trudging over to the window, I threw it open. "What!"
"We need to talk."
"You punched Chris into the pool. I'm done talking with you."
His hand gripped the window frame. I heard the wood creak under the pressure. This boy was something strange, and it was messing with my head.
"Go home, Titus." I staggered back until I hit the wall and sank to the floor. "I need to be alone."
Titus crawled into the room. "I was trying to help you." He knelt in front of me. "Look what he did."
I turned away and pressed my hand to my swollen cheek. "I dumped alcohol on his girlfriend. I'd be mad, too."
"Stop defending him." He grabbed my wrist and brought it to his lips.
I stared at his fingertips.
He released me. "I just wanted to protect you. No one else was going to stop him. Why do you hate me because I actually care about you?"
"Please go, Titus." I laid my head on my knees. "I need to think."
"Alright." He kissed the top of my head. "I'm sorry."
I heard him climb out the window. Taking a deep breath, I went to my bed and laid down. I needed to sleep this off. Tomorrow would be better. It had to be.
At least, I hoped.