“There you are, birthday kid!” Chloe exclaims, literally appearing out of thin air. She’s wearing a bright-orange skintight dress that hugs her curves. She throws her arms around my neck and kisses my cheek. It’s wet and sloppy but nice. I introduce her to Rae and Harry. Her eyes have trouble focusing, but she gives them equally enthusiastic hugs. “It’s time for y’all to get drunk! Go into the kitchen! We have jungle juice in the big Gatorade cooler, beer in the fridge, and some harder stuff on the counter. I think Sofía is there, but who knows.” With that, she jumps back into the crowd, dancing her way to the center of the room, red Solo cup in hand.

Jack’s in the corner leaning against the wall like James Dean. He’s talking to some girl who looks straight from the cast of Riverdale. He laughs, and it’s so over-the-top that my fists clench.

I need a drink.

Rae, Harry, and I snake our way to the kitchen, and we almost make it unscathed.

Almost.

I see her before I hear her, but it takes my brain a few seconds to process Leila leaning against the counter nursing a cup of jungle juice, talking to Benny, Rhett, and Xavier of all people, before she screams, “Rae!”

My whole body goes numb.

Rae screams, too, and they barrel toward each other.

“What’re you doing here, you tall drink of water?” Leila says, practically squealing.

Rae turns to me, and suddenly her eyes sober up. “It’s Chase’s birthday. His friends live here,” she says in a “Chase was invited, what’s your excuse?” tone.

Leila turns to me and offers a polite wave but doesn’t say, “Happy birthday.”

“You haven’t really answered any of my texts, R. Are you mad at me?”

“Sorry, I’ve been busy with sch—”

“I see,” Leila says, nodding toward me. “So busy.”

Benny slowly walks over to me and hands me a cup of jungle juice. I down it in one gulp and shiver from the horrible, bitter taste. It tastes like straight kerosene and feeds the fire in my belly. He quickly takes it and refills it.

“It was really great to see you.” Leila grabs Rae’s hand and swings it like they’re young kids on the playground. “I would love it if we could reconnect. There’s no reason why we can’t be friends.”

Rae nods, but I can tell she’s not sure what to say.

I can’t listen to this anymore. I grab my cup from Benny, take another swig that goes down much easier, and push my way past people until I reach the center of the dance floor. Suddenly, someone grabs my waist, and I turn to see Sofía in a short neon-yellow bob wig and a paint-splattered white dress.