Steam wafted off the pond in the Fischer's backyard, sending ribbons of smoke into the night. The October air was cold and biting against my cheeks, and the mug of hot chocolate clutched between my hands did little to warm me up.

"Fancy a night cap?" Leah said with a smirk as she returned to her back porch, holding a handle of vodka and sloshing the bottle of liquid around in front of me. She took the seat across from me at the creaky wrought iron table, where we had spent countless nights like this talking about everything and nothing.

"Hurry up, before my fingers freeze off." I shoved my mug in her hands as she generously poured the vodka into my hot chocolate. I took a long sip and sighed as burning liquid hit the back of my throat, instantly filling me with a dizzy warmth.

Leah picked at her nails in silence. Crickets and toads croaking echoed in the dark.

"So, Braxton asked me to go to homecoming with him," Leah finally said, not looking up from her hands. "Pulled me aside after cheer practice and gave me a rose and everything."

"That's actually kind of cute," I replied, taking another sip of hot chocolate. "I like Braxton. He's one of Jayden's few friends that isn't a total neanderthal."

"Yeah, he's nice I guess," she muttered. "I said no."

"What? Why?"

Leah still wouldn't look up at me, and I already knew where this conversation was headed before she even had a chance to speak. I could always tell when she was lying. It was in her eyes.

"Leah..." I felt like my mother, with warning and disappointment laced in my voice. "If you really thing your bullshit college girlfriend is going to miraculously appear and take you to a high school dance, you're dreaming."

The image of Leah slumped over on the curb in front of Freya's sorority house a few weeks ago flashed angrily in my head.

"You don't know that," Leah pleaded. She finally looked up, and I could see the lost hopefulness in her eyes. "I know you don't like Freya, but-"

"I don't like anyone who lets their friends torment someone they supposedly care about," I bit back.

"That's rich, coming from you." Leah folded her arms over her chest.

"Don't start." I groaned and pointed a finger at her. "I mean it, don't go there."

"You went there first," Leah replied in a mocking tone. "Why is it okay for you to date someone I don't like, but I can't date someone you don't like?"

"Because at least Jayden acknowledges our relationship," I snapped. "Freya doesn't even want to be seen in public with you, and when she does, she lets her stupid sorority sisters put drugs in your drink. How do you think that's okay?"

"The same reason you think it's okay for Jayden to tell you what to wear or who you can and can't talk to." Leah's voice became painfully hushed as she gingerly stirred her hot chocolate with a spoon. "But I guess we do stupid things for love."

My head pounded. I groaned and rubbed my face with my hands. "You fall in love everyone, Leah."

"Well, it's better than not loving anyone," she retorted, her voice still eerily calm.

"Kenny?"

My eyes snapped open, instantly blinded by harsh rays of sunlight glaring down at me. My head pounded, and my thighs stuck to the leather cushion of the seat I was slumped over in. I tasted beer on my tongue, and when my eyes finally adjusted, I turned to see Grey sitting in the driver's seat, his car engine rumbling underneath me. The clock on the dashboard blinked 6:45 AM in bright green numbers.

"I mean, you can keep napping I guess, but I have to get to work, and I think you do too." Grey looked over at me, with big aviator sunglasses, donning the same hat and jean jacket he was wearing last night. The last thing I remembered was sitting on the beach drinking at 2 AM, and  the rest was a blur.

"Were we out all last night?" I groaned, rubbing my eyes.

"Damn, you're still such a lightweight." He chuckled dryly. He rubbed the back of his neck, and even behind the dark lenses of his sunglasses, I felt his eyes studying me. "But yes, we were out all last night. Somehow."

I glanced out the window at my little, one-story wooden paneled house, half expecting my mother to come strutting out the front door with curlers in her hair, ready to chastise me for staying out all night. "Just like old times, huh?" I muttered.

"I guess so," Grey shrugged. The silence between us sat heavy in the air. I felt sweat trickle down my back.

"Well uh...see you around..." I fumbled for the car door handle and pushed it open, greeted with a blast of morning heat.

"Wait," Grey called as I was about to shut the door. "I know you said no before, but I just want to let you know that my offer still stands..." The rare hint of softness in his voice came through. "If you need a ride while your car is getting fixed."

"I'd like that," I nodded. "Thanks Grey. I just need to go inside and change, and I'll be right out."

"There's one condition though." His tone turned cold again, and it was back to business for Grey.

I sighed. "Of course there is."

"You have to come to Leah's grave with me this weekend," he said. "You owe her at least that much."

"Grey..." I couldn't muster up any more words as a lump started to form in my throat.

"Non-negotiable," he replied, still stone cold.

I swallowed hard, begging the knot in my throat to disappear. I nodded wordlessly at him and slammed the door before he could see the tears that began to sting the corners of my eyes.

Thanks to Grey, I was only 15 minutes late for work, and our morning rush had just begun. I was running on nothing but one half-assed nap in an old Jeep, and for once in my life, I contemplated making myself a cup of coffee.

"Long night?" Delilah prodded as she made a latte.

"Is it that obvious?" I moaned, pulling at the strands of dark hair that had fallen out of my already messy bun.

"Well, you've got more bags under your eyes than a flight to Dubai," she replied with a giggle.

"I suppose you think you're very clever, don't you?" I gave her a sideways glance.

"Oh, honey I know I'm clever." After a moment we both laughed, and the tenseness that wracked my whole body dissipated. It was weird how infrequently I actually had a reason to laugh or smile, and realizing that fact hurt. It hurt a lot more than it should have.

"Kennedy?" I heard a voice call from the other side of the counter.

As I turned to face the owner of the voice, all the tenseness in my body returned, and my heart stopped.

"Jayden?"