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“Raccoons arefucking wild, man,” the guy—Jacob—said, a grin on his face.“They’ll do shit for no discernible reason. Just for the, like,rush.”
“I’ve seen somany videos of them climbing up the side of buildings and thenjust…dropping down.”
Jacoblaughed.“Exactly. Like,why?”
“They’readrenaline junkies.”
“Fuck, that’sexactly what they are. They’re like those extreme snowboarders orropeless mountain climbers. Fucking,Free Soloor whatever.”
“Thatdocumentary is so good.”
“That dude iswild.”
“He’s likeCharlie Sheen but with raccoon blood.”
“Dude, thatreference isold.”
“Fucking valid,though.”
“I mean, I’llgive you that.”
They smiled at eachother.
“So,” Nathanstarted, “what are you doing in Bear Lake? Here for thesummer?”
“Just for acouple of weeks—I have a friend here from college. This place isdope, though. The forest is awesome. I live in a big city, so it’snice to get a break from that, you know?”
“Yeah, it’s notnormal to be stuck on concrete for so long. Don’t know how peopledo it.”
“You get used toit, I guess.”
“Yeah. I guesspeople can get used to most things.”
Jacobshrugged.“You liveclose by?”
“I mean, I’mgoing to college in Salem, but I grew up on the other side oftown.”
“So you’restaying with your family?”
“Yeah.”
“That’s cool.Kinda hoping you lived alone but…” Jacob’s expression turnedmischievous.
Nathan couldfeel himself blush.“Oh,yeah? I can’t imagine why.”
“I mean, I’vebeen flirting with you all night, so I hope you havesomeidea.”
“Maybe alittle.” Nathan looked down, embarrassed and pleased. When helooked up, Jacob’s smile was wide. “Maybe we could—”
Nathan cuthimself off as someone bumped into him, an armsettling over hisshoulder. He didn’t have to look to know it was Simon.
“Hey, baby bro.Having fun?” Simon asked even as he stared at Jacob with a strangelook in his eye.
“Uh, yeah. Youwasted already?”
“Nah, justenjoying myself.” He extended a hand towards Jacob. “Yo.Simon.”
Jacob took hishand after a slight pause. The handshaketook a weirdly long time. “Hey. Nate, didn’t knowyou had a twin.”
