Matt lights up a joint and takes a drag off it before passing it to Drew, who, in my experience, has never smoked before. But he takes it anyway and breathes it in. Honestly, it feels like I’ve woken up in somebody else’s skin for a moment, and I’m stuck trying to remember who I am, how I got there, and why there are so many people around me. I lean back in my seat and stare out at the lights, silently counting down until we finally get to leave and go to Devin’s place.

Drew seems pretty content to drink the night away, and I don’t know if he’s really having a good time with old pals or if it’s a reflection of how badly his parents’ divorce has been getting to him. Just after eight, I tap him on the shoulder and say, “You ready to go?”

He laughs, his words a little slurred as he says, “Wait, we’re just getting to the good stuff.”

Which seems like a pretty ridiculous thing to say considering they’re on their twenty-third round of Texas Hold’em. “Okay, but it’s getting kinda late, and I want to get to Devin’s party before everyone leaves.”

Drew rolls his eyes. “Okay, well, you already know it’s a shitty party if you’re worried about everyone leaving by eight o’clock.”

A couple people at the table chuckle, and I take in a deep breath before saying, “Either way, I promised em I would be there, so we should go.”

“Oh my God, Noah, lighten up,” he snaps. “We’re just gonna play a few more rounds and then we can leave, okay?”

“Man, where are you guys going?” Matt asks. He’s got another blunt to his lips.

Drew smirks. “Noah’s got a friend hosting some crappy-ass recycling party.”

The table starts laughing, and I hold my breath, reminding myself that Drew’s drunk and he’s just getting caught up in being around shitty people. He’s not normally like this.

“That’s worse than that anime watch party my ex invited me to!” the girl says, throwing her head back to laugh but almost falling out of her seat.

“Yeah, it’s pretty embarrassing, right? I don’t know why Noah wants to go so much,” Drew says, throwing a glance my way as if giving me the opportunity to change my mind for this sea of assholes.

“Because Devin’s my friend,” I say.

Matt laughs. “You need cooler friends, dude.”

“Apparently, what I need is a boyfriend who keeps his promises, but I’m not so sure I’ll find one here,” I snap.

The table falls quiet, and it’s kind of a relief. If any one of them spat out another round of bullshit, there was a pretty good chance I’d punch someone’s teeth out.