Page 76 of The Golden Boy's Guide to Bipolar
We rush into Hunter’s car and drive. I expect us to be heading to downtown Tempe near ASU, hence the whole college-party label, but we end up going closer to where I have therapy.
“This is your first college party, right?” Hunter asks.
“Yup,” I say, a small amount of excitement admittedly coming out in my voice.
“Glad I get to be the one to pop your cherry.” Hunter grins as we pull up to a neighborhood I recognize from the last time I was in his car. “So, I have a surprise for you.”
The excitement vanishes.
“You invited Avery?” I ask as we watch Avery sneak out his own bedroom window.
“Yeah, I invited your whole group! I thought you’d have a better time if I wasn’t the only person you knew at the party.” He grins earnestly, and I do my best to keep the dread from showing on my face. “Besides, I really like Avery! We went to that concert last night.”
“Oh, that’s cool,” I say in the most this-is-incredibly-uncool way, but Hunter doesn’t notice. I don’tthinkhe’s the type to go running his mouth about me, but you can’t trust anyone these days.
Avery climbs into the back seat, and I do my best not to show how annoyed I am that he’s even here.
“Aren’t you supposed to be on house arrest or something? Pretty sure a party doesn’t count as stopping for food,” I say, hoping maybe Avery just hasn’t realized how stupid an idea this is and backs out last minute.
Instead of answering, Avery grabs his leg by the ankle and raises it in the air above the center console. It’s somehow bracelet free.
“Got moved to unsupervised probation, so I’m not on house arrest anymore. As long as I keep meeting with my PO and stay out of trouble, I can go wherever I want.”
“Any chance you took your lawyer’s advice about Nick?” I ask, hoping Avery grew the balls to snitch, but he just scoffs.
“Do I look like I have a death wish? No.”
“Who’s Nick?” Hunter asks.
“Oh, Avery didn’t tell you about Nick? Huh, wonder why?” I know I shouldn’t be antagonizing Avery now that he’s got a little more freedom, but I can’t help it. For a second, Avery almost looks nervous. Like he’s afraid I’ll tell Hunter I’m his best friend’s favorite punching bag. For some reason, I end up choosing peace. “He’s Avery’s friend.”
Luckily Hunter’s phone buzzes, which distracts him from talk-ing about Nick. He glances down at his phone, then back at the road.
“So, uh, heads up,” he says in that weird voice that feels both super serious but also pretends to be nonchalant.
“What?” I ask when he takes too long to finish his thought.
“Um, Sasha just told me he brought Jamal to the party.”
“Cool,” I say, trying not to sound tense at the insinuation I’d have a problem with Jamal going to the party with Sasha. Not because Idon’thave a problem, but because Avery’s literally right here. I don’t want Avery to put together that Jamal was the one I wrote that note to back in sophomore year—the whole reason Nick decided to put a target on my back. He doesn’t say anything, though, so hopefully it’s safe.
I reach forward and turn up the music so I don’t have to pretendnot to feel weird about any of this. Sasha brought Jamal to the party. Which means they’ve been hanging out, probably ever since that open mic. WasSashathe one who gave Jamal that hickey? Are they together now? Not that it’s any of my business....
I spend the rest of the ride trying so hard not to think about it that it’s all I can think about. Soon enough, we’re pulling up to a street with cars parked along the sidewalk. We hop out of the car, and Avery and I awkwardly follow Hunter inside.
It looks like the rest of my group-therapy friends haven’t made it yet, so Hunter introduces us to a few of his friends. But before long, he turns to Avery and me to say, “I’m gonna see what they have to drink. Be right back,” and then walks away, completely unaware of the tension he’s left behind.
And then my stomach tightens even more when Hunter’s heads-up warning comes straight toward us.
Sasha comes up first, with Jamal stumbling right behind him. Sasha waves at me, and I nod back.
“Anyone seen the money shot? I promised this one I’d find it for him,” Sasha says, gesturing at Jamal like he’s about to win him a giant teddy bear at a fair.
“Money shot?” Avery asks.
“Every time Ethan throws a party, he hides amoney shotsomewhere. I don’t think anyone’s ever actually tried to find it, but I’m here to break generational curses,” Sasha says before looking from Jamal to me, like he can smell the tension. “It’s Cesar, right?”
I nod, fully at a loss for words. Jamal seems to be too.
