All characters 18+
Spin the bottle, like truth or dare, is a time tested tool to bring sexual tension to a group dynamic. Nico never liked games like this when he was young enough to be playing them, and likes them even less now after graduating high school. He hadn't even planned on coming to this party, but his childhood best friend, Elijah, had practically begged him.
"Come on, it's our last party before we go off to college."
Nico and Elijah have grown apart. He knows that he is the academic one, the one that likes books and video games and Elijah is the cool one that likes sports and girls. They have always existed as spokes on opposite ends of the same wheel, growing up in the same neighborhood, going to the same schools, but living vastly different lives. Elijah has two parents that love each other and dote on him. Nico has two parents that hardly talk at all. Elijah can, and will, talk to anyone without a stutter or hesitation. Nico sweats and stumbles over his words, preferring to keep his headphones on to deter any unwanted conversations. At their roots, they are different. But proximity and an act of kindness brought them together.
Elijah's mom loves to tell this story any chance she gets.
"You wouldn't believe the look on little Nico's face," she would say. "He fell and scraped up his knees. Elijah heard him crying and ran outside. When he saw Nico, he grabbed him by the hand and brought him inside, sat him on the bathroom counter and started cleaning the cuts. He was so gentle and sweet, he kept telling him, "I know it hurts, it's okay." He bandaged him up, gave him a big hug, then brought him downstairs and gave him a popsicle. He wouldn't stop hovering until Nico was laughing and smiling again. They became best friends after that, and Elijah always looked out for Nico."
Elijah would smile at the memory, but it always made Nico feel helpless. Indebted to someone so much more capable than he was. Elijah did always look after him, standing up to mean kids at school that picked on Nico, sharing his lunch when his parents forgot to pack him one, holding his hand whenever he was scared or sad. Nico has always been weak, and as they got older he realized he didn't want to burden Elijah anymore. So he stopped coming over for dinners, made excuses to not sleepover, found friends that were more like him and began to spend time with them instead.
Nico is surprised when his phone buzzes and he sees that it's Elijah calling. He hesitates, debating whether or not to answer. It rings again. He sighs and clicks the green button hearing Elijah's voice, familiar, though deeper now. "Nico! Great, you picked up. I know you don't like talking on the phone. Listen, what are you up to this Friday night?"
Nico is so surprised that he doesn't think before answering. "Nothing, why, what's up?"
"Awesome! There's a party at the Bart house and I'm hoping you'll come. I know parties aren't your thing, I get that, and I know it's been a while since we hung out, but it'll be our last hoorah before college! Say you'll come." Elijah has a way of demanding things rather than asking for them.
Nico hesitates. Elijah waits.
With a sigh, Nico replies, "Yeah, sure, alright."
Nico can hear the smile on Elijah's face, can picture the full lips and perfectly straight teeth.
"Sweet, I'll swing by your place around 7 and we can walk over together. Just like old times!" With no goodbye, Elijah hangs up the phone.
Nico punches in the code to his garage, ducking under the door before it rises all the way up. As he steps inside, he is surprised to see his father at the stove cooking. In an apron. With a glass of wine in his hand and the radio blasting pop music.
"Dad?"
Rob is a kind, reserved man. He loves his job and spends most of his energy focused on it, and when he's home he's usually asleep or watching some documentary in the den. Nico can count on two hands how often he has seen his dad cooking. Rob looks up at him and grins, knowing how odd this must look.
"Hey buddy. I'm making spaghetti, you hungry?"
"Yeah, sure. Are you okay? What's going on?"
Rob laughs. "Your mother and I talked and thought it was time for a divorce. But I realized that losing her, and then you going off to college was too much too fast. So we decided to try some counselor that Amanda, you remember Amanda? She recommended this woman who is a bit of a hippy, and we've gone a few times now and I just feel more alive than I have in a long time. Your mother too." He waggles his eyebrows and Nico tries not to think about what he's insinuating.
"So you're not getting divorced?" Nico can't decide how he feels. Happy for them? Disgusted at their decades late romantic flare? Confused about the hippy part?
"Nope. No divorce. Why don't you go clean up and we'll eat together. Mom will be home any minute now."
Nico cannot recall the last family dinner they shared. Theirs is a household of frozen and fast foods. There is always ramen in the pantry and paper plates in the cupboard. He nods and makes his way upstairs to his room, still feeling a bit dazed.
When he comes back down his mother is home and the two of them are dancing in the kitchen. His mouth actually drops open and he wonders if answering Elijah's call sent him into some alternate timeline where his parents dance and laugh and cook, and he goes to parties with popular kids that used to be his neighborhood friends.
Dinner is long and full of chatter. Nico tells them about the party, harboring a scrap of hope that they'll tell him he can't go. They, instead, are delighted. They can't believe their baby boy is grown and going to college and are beyond pleased to hear Elijah's name again.
"I don't know why you ever stopped playing with him. He's a sweet boy and his family loves you." His mother says this with a spot of red spaghetti sauce on the side of her mouth and he watches in horror as his father gets it with his thumb then licks it off, his mom giggling like a kid. He excuses himself before they start making out at the table, wanting to keep his dinner down.
As he lies in bed he dreams about he and Elijah playing hopscotch and detective. He dreams about crying, and Elijah holding him and reassuring him that everything is okay.
Friday comes and is dragging by. Nico finds himself looking at the clock every ten minutes for most of the day, too anxious to find something to do. He supposes it's nerves that have him so on edge. He thinks about different ways he might cancel on Elijah, but as one plan is forming in his head he receives a text.
Better not be thinking about cancelling ;) I'll see you at seven
Nico rolls his eyes, cursing Elijah for still knowing him so well. He stands and grabs his wallet and keys, unable to sit still any longer.
Used bookstores like Rainey's Reads have always felt like a home away from home. When he was old enough to be on his own, Nico's parents would drop him off here while they went out to run errands. He would wander around looking at the games and records, the trinkets and instruments. He would gather up a pile of books and find a quiet corner with a chair, rifling through them until his parents came to pick him up. They would let him buy as many books as he wanted, the walls of his room quickly filling with shelf after shelf of books, comics, and manga. Rainey's is always quiet but alive, patrons whispering about which stories they've read and which ones they still want to. He loves the dim, peaceful atmosphere, smells of coffee and old paper calming his nerves. He does a lap, slowly, picking things up and putting them back down. When he finds a couple items he wants, he heads to his favorite seat, currently unoccupied, and parks himself there. Before he knows it, two hours have passed and he makes his way to the front. His free book punch card is stamped and a Rainey's original bookmark is tucked into the cover one if the covers. Nico walks back to his car feeling lighter, though still unprepared for whatever tonight might bring.
By six thirty Nico is showered, dressed, flossed and brushed, cologne sprayed sitting and waiting for seven to come. Not that anyone would know, but he feels embarrassed by how many times he changed his clothes. He settled on some basics; a black T-shirt, plain with nothing nerdy on it, jeans, and chucks. He sits at his desk, opening and closing the apps in his phone, too nervous to really pay attention to what he's looking at. He managed to choke down some dinner while avoiding looking at his lovesick parents, and he regrets it as his stomach twists and knots. He plays some sudoku, the squares and numbers comforting, taking just enough attention to occupy himself.
Finally, Elijah texts that he'll be outside in a few minutes. Nico breathes deeply, hoping he isn't sweating too much. He stomps down the stairs, yells goodbye to his parents, and sits on the curb to wait. He spies Elijah rounding the corner and gives him a halfhearted wave. Elijah smiles ear to ear, surprising Nico with a hug when he reaches him. Elijah has grown even taller and broader, his body solid muscle against Nico's. His dark hair is cut short, more grown up looking than the shaggy hair he wore throughout middle school. He wears a simple gold chain, a crisp white shirt, dark jeans and clean white sneakers. Nico can smell his body wash, cedar wood and amber, and starts to feel taken by nostalgia.
Amy and Aaron Bart are twins with wealthy parents who have a giant house in the neighborhood behind Elijah and Nico's. Their parents go on business trips and vacations year round, leaving the twins to host the most epic parties their year has ever seen. Nico had only heard the stories about them and seen videos, but it was the stuff of high school legends.
"So, how's it going? It's been so long since we really talked. How are your parents?" Elijah asks, bumping Nico with his shoulder.
Nico laughs. "So weird, to be honest. My dad told me that they were going to get divorced but saw some hippy therapist instead and now they're dancing in the kitchen and making out. I'm convinced they've been drugged or hypnotized or something."
Elijah's laugh is loud and hearty. "Man, I cannot even begin to imagine that. Must be weird, but you've got to be happy for them, right?"
Nico shrugs. "Yeah, better than them acting like the other doesn't exist. And we're eating real food lately, not something from a paper bag. How about you?"
"Same old. Mom and dad are happy, they just got a new puppy that is way too cute even if he pees in the house sometimes. I stay busy playing basketball on the weekends. Just waiting for college now, I guess."
Nico nods, knowing exactly how that feels. It's almost like high school won't really be over until they pack up and move into the dorms. They are silent for a moment.
