I opened my eyes, groaning as I realized that I forgot to close my blinds again. I pushed myself out of bed and stumbled my way into the kitchen, running into a chair.

                “Ow!” I whined as I collided with the chair.

                “Rio, where are your glasses?” mom asked with a sigh.

                “Huh?” I reached up, touching my face, feeling around for my glasses. “Well, I can tell you that they’re not on my face. Other than that, I have no idea.” The shitty thing about losing your glasses was that you couldn’t exactly look for them.

                “Hank, please go in your brother’s room and find his glasses for him,” mom said.

                “Why do I have to?” Hank asked. “It’s not my fault he’s too stupid to remember where he put them.”

                “Gee Hank, let me go look for my glasses,” I said brightly. “You know, my glasses. The things I can’t see without.”

                “Shut up Rio,” Hank said, standing up and shoving me as he left the kitchen to go find my glasses for me.

                Mom came over and guided me into a chair. “Rio, honestly, you need to remember your glasses. You’re going to get seriously hurt one of these days,” she said in concern.

                “I don’t mean to forget them,” I said, squinting up at her.

                “Rio, remember the time you broke your glasses playing outside with Hank? You wandered into the road without even knowing it while trying to get his attention. You’re lucky Hank noticed you in time and pushed you out of the way of the car that was coming,” she said. “I worry about you. You’re not safe without your glasses on.”

                “Mom, I’m fine,” I said. It was too early in the morning for this.

                A blob appeared in my vision, and then rapidly cleared into my brother as Hank put my glasses on my face for me. I straightened them out as Hank sat down.

                ‘Thanks,” I said.

                Hank grunted out a response. Well, I guess someone hadn’t been practicing their charisma lately.

                “I’ll make you boys some pancakes for breakfast,” mom said, moving to get the stuff.

                The doorbell rang and dad yelled out that he had it. I folded my arms over the table and rested my head on them sleepily.

                “Rio, your friend is here!” dad said.

                “What friend?” I asked and then groaned, picking my head up.

                “Hi Rio,” Ezra said with a bright smile.

                He was standing in front of me with my dad standing behind him. He still had on that purple beanie of his, and his eyes were bright and alive.

                “What are you doing here?” I asked. “How do you even know where I live?”

                “Internet,” he said, leaning against my chair.

                “That’s really creepy,” I said.

                “I told you I could,” he said, laughing.

                “Rio, who’s your friend?” mom asked curiously.

                “This is Ezra,” I said.

                “Nice to meet you ma’am!” Ezra said, going over and sticking his hand out to her.

                “Nice to meet you too,” mom said with a smile, shaking Ezra’s hand. “Would you like some breakfast, Ezra?”

                “If that’s not too much trouble,” he said.

                “Not at all! Sit down!” she said.

                He pulled out the chair next to me and dropped into it. I sighed, shaking my head at him.

                “Why are you here?” I asked.

                “Because I wanted to hang out with you,” he said, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

                I squinted at him, realizing that Hank must have put his fingers on the lenses of my glasses. I sighed in annoyance. That was one of my biggest pet peeves.

                “Hank, you smudged my lenses,” I said, pulling my glasses off and realizing that I wasn’t wearing a shirt. “Ezra, let me borrow your shirt.” I leaned over, using Ezra’s shirt to wipe off my glasses.

                “Then get your own damn glasses next time,” Hank snapped.

                “Oh, right. This charming man is my brother, Hank,” I said.

                Ezra smiled easily at him. “Hi Hank. I’m Ezra!”

                “Yea, I caught that before,” Hank grumbled.

                “Hank, don’t be rude,” mom said with a frown.

                Hank ignored her and stared blankly down at the table. Ezra seemed at ease, looking around the kitchen with curiosity.

                A few minutes later, mom set down a giant stack of pancakes, and handed each of us plates. We loaded pancakes onto our plates and passed around the butter and syrup.

                “These are so good. I suck at making pancakes,” Ezra said and took another bite.

                “Why does every male teenager suck at making food? It’s not that hard,” I said. Mitch, Jace, and Shane were all helpless when it came to making food for themselves too.

                “I don’t necessarily suck at making food. I’m just not a pro at it,” Ezra said. “I have limited choices when I cook for myself.”

                “Can you make things other than easy mac and ramen?” I asked.

                “Yes,” Ezra said with a nod.

                I pat his shoulder. “Good boy. Then you’re better than all of my friends combined.”

                We finished eating and got up. I led Ezra into my bedroom and sighed, dropping onto the edge of my bed.

                “Go ahead,” I said, gesturing at him to speak. “Ask. Everyone does.”

                “Ask what?” he asked curiously.

                I raised an eyebrow. “My brother. You know, wearing a hoodie in 90 degree weather, super irritable, looks like a drug addict.”

                “Because he is one,” he said.

                “How did you know that?” I asked in surprise.

                “I had a friend who knew him,” he said, leaning against my wall. “My friend Brian was a year younger than Hank. They were friends in high school.”

                “Brian Norelli,” I said, my heart aching. “I remember him. He was one of Hank’s best friends.”

                “He stopped hanging out with Hank after he saw him do cocaine at a party when they were 16,” he said.

                I shook my head. “He stopped for a little. He came by a few times to try and talk to Hank. He really stopped coming over just before Hank overdosed.”

                “Brian’s been a long time friend of mine,” Ezra said.

                “You knew all along,” I said.

                Ezra nodded. “Yep. But he’s your brother, and you’re you.”

                I felt the dark grin coming to my face. “He was my older brother and I loved him and idled him my whole life. You think he didn’t have an effect on my life?”

                “Of course he did,” Ezra said, smiling. “But I’m not going to judge you based on your brother. Also, that’s interesting. You use the past tense when you talk about you brother.”

                “Because the brother I remember isn’t the asshole sitting in my kitchen,” I said.

                “Memory can be our greatest enemy,” he said. “You remember when things were good, and you long for that, and it tears you apart.”

                “I’ve never liked change,” I said.

                “No one really likes change. Not with something so major,” he said. “But that doesn’t matter. Change always happens. Nothing lasts forever.”

                “This is getting so deep,” I said.

                “I know. Let’s lighten it up!” he said, straightening up.

                “By doing what?” I asked.

                “Anything,” he said with a shrug. “Want to go smoke cigars?”

                “Yea, sure,” I said with a sigh, getting off of my bed. I changed into clean clothes and fixed my hair before leading Ezra out of my house.

                We walked down to the nearest gas station and bought vanilla cigars. We went down to the park and sat on the swings, pulling them out.

                Ezra took out his lighter, flicking it and lighting his cigar before offering it to me. I took it in my hands, surprised at how cold it was to touch. I flicked it and lit my cigar, handing it back to Ezra.

                “Vanilla cigars are my favorite,” Ezra said happily, blowing out rings.

                “That’s impressive,” I said, watching. “You’re a guy who knows how to work his mouth.”

                “Want to find out for yourself?” He winked at me before resuming the activity of blowing rings.

                I put the cigar in my mouth, loving the taste. I blew out the smoke, not even attempting to blow rings. Ezra was watching a squirrel that was darting back and forth in front of the play set. I used his distraction to study his face.

                I knew something was weird about him. How he had seemed almost a little too happy-go-lucky for someone who obviously wasn’t that innocent. He was hiding things, but I had no clue as to what those things were.

                He noticed me looking and grinned. “See something you like?”

                “No.” I put the cigar back in my mouth, staring thoughtfully up at the sky. Darker clouds were starting to roll in, which meant it would probably storm tonight.

                I finished the cigar and dropped it to the ground, stepping on it just to be safe. Ezra copied me and the two of us got off of the swings.

                “I’ve got to go,” Ezra said, pulling his phone out and checking the time.

                I raised an eyebrow. “Does your wall miss you?”

                “I have friends,” he said, laughing. “I promised some friends I would meet them at the movies.”

                I shrugged. “Alright then.”

                “Will I see you at the wall?” he asked as we started walking out of the park.

                I shrugged again. “Maybe I’ll grace you with my presence,” I said.

                “You better,” he said. “Anyways, I’m off to go stuff my face with popcorn and watch…hell, I don’t even know what we’re seeing.”

                “Okay,” I said.

                “No, we’re not seeing that,” he said.

                I rolled my eyes. “I wasn’t making movie references. I meant ‘okay’ as in ‘okay I really don’t care’.”

                “Well next time just say that!” he said. “Goodbye Rio!”

                “Bye Ezra,” I said, and the two of us went opposite ways.

                I made my way to Mitch’s house and let myself in. Carol noticed me as I came up the stairs and nodded towards the kitchen.

                “The fatass idiots are in there,” she said.

                I went into the kitchen, where Mitch, Shane, and Jace were snacking on cookies they had obviously just come out of the oven. Mitch was cursing as melted chocolate clung to his fingers.

                “Hot! Fucking hot!” he hissed, trying to lick it off.

                “I know I’m hot,” I said with a grin.

                He glanced over and winced, licking at his fingers again. “Shut up Rio. My fingers are being burned off.”

                “Well that’s what you get for grabbing a cookie that just came out of the oven,” Shane said, carefully nibbling on a cookie himself. “The chocolate is obviously going to burn you.”

                “I’m going to stick you in that oven if you don’t shut up,” Mitch growled.

                “Calm down Hitler,” I said, sitting at the counter with them.

                “I’m going to break up with you if you ever grow the little mustache,” Jace said to Mitch.

                Shane smeared a little chocolate on his finger, wincing at how hot it was, and reached over, poking Mitch’s upper lip with it. Mitch snapped his teeth at Shane’s retreating hand.

                “Don’t bite,” Shane said, flicking Mitch’s nose.

                “Oh god he has the little mustache,” Jace said.

                Mitch wiped the chocolate off of his lip and glared at us. “I hate all of you. And I really only have to deal with Shane since I’m related to him. I could just dump Jace and ignore Rio.”

                “You’d miss me,” I said, picking up a cookie and eating it slowly.

                “Not really,” Mitch said.

                “I can feel the love.” I looked out of the window at the darkening clouds.

                “You idiots better stay inside today. It’s supposed to start storming really badly tonight,” Carol said, coming into the kitchen.

                “Mitch tried to bite me again,” Shane said.

                “I’m really not that surprised,” Carol said, flicking Mitch’s nose. “No biting. Bad boy.”

                Mitch pushed her hand away and rubbed his nose. “I’m not a damn dog!” he said.

                “But you’re Mitch the Bitch,” I said, and yelped as he punched me. “Ow, okay, I get it, I’ll stop saying words.”

                “Let’s do something. I’m bored,” Shane said.

                “You could do me,” I offered.

                “I’d rather do Jace,” Shane said.

                “That’s my pleasure,” Mitch said, pulling Jace over to himself.

                “Mother standing right here,” Carol said, gesturing at herself.

                Mitch glanced at her. “And…?”

                Carol rubbed her temples. “Jasper! Get ready to scar the boys for life tonight!”

                “NO!” Mitch and Shane cried horror.

                “Then stop talking about your sex lives in front of me!” she snapped and left the kitchen.

                I laughed and shook my head. “My mom would kill me. Anyways, let’s go do something.”

                We ended up in the living room, blasting music and playing video games. My phone rang a few hours later and I paused the music, answering it.

                “Hello?”  I said.

                “Rio, it’s getting late and it’s starting to rain. You walked today. I’m going to pick you up. Where are you?” mom asked.

                “I’m at Mitch’s house,” I said.

                “Okay, I’ll be there in a few minutes,” she said and hung up.

                I stood up and stretched. “My mom’s coming to get me. See you guys later,” I said, heading down the stairs to wait.

                The car pulled into the driveway a few minutes later and I left, ducking against the rain that was starting to pick up. I got into the backseat of the car since my mom and Hank were sitting in the front. I stared at the back of Hank’s head bitterly. Mom brought him along like she was bringing a dog for a ride.

                “How did you end up at Mitch’s house?” mom asked as she started driving back towards the house.

                “Ezra was meeting friends at the movies, so I just went to Mitch’s,” I said.

                “Well, I hope you had fun,” mom said with a smile.

                “I did,” I said as she pulled into the driveway.

                We got out of the car and went inside. I went to my bedroom and started to shut the door, but Hank pushed it open, letting himself inside before shutting it.

                “What are yo-”

                I was cut off as he slapped me. I stared at him in shock, and he gripped my shirt and pulled me close, sniffing me.

                “This is very romantic, but my heart belongs to someone else,” I said, trying to push him off of me.

                “You were smoking,” he snarled.

                “No,” I lied.

                He barked a laugh. “Rio, I’m not an idiot. I know the smell.” He shook me a little. “Why were you smoking?”

                “It was just a cigar!” I said, gripping his wrists and trying to get his hands off of my shirt. “They’re not that addictive. I just smoke one every once in a great while.”

                “Yea?” he said, his voice suddenly viciously sarcastic. “And weed isn’t that addictive. I just smoked it every once in a great while.”

                He backhanded me so hard that I almost yelped. He slammed me up against the wall, getting in my face.

                “Do you want to fuck up your life, Rio? Huh? It always starts innocently.” He gave me a smirk that was far darker than anything I could ever be capable of. “I would abandon you in a heartbeat if it meant I got a fix. Tell yourself it’s every once in a while. Tell yourself that until you realize that it’s all you want, and you don’t care about anything else anymore.”

                He slapped me again and released me. “Don’t do that stupid shit!” he snapped. “There’s no reason to smoke or drink. So don’t do it. You’re lucky I don’t tell mom.”

                “Don’t tell her,” I said immediately. “I’ll stop. I’ll stop, Hank.”

                “You better,” he growled before leaving my room.

                I sank down against the wall, rubbing my smarting cheek. If Hank told my parents, they would freak out. They had enough to deal with. They didn’t need to worry about me, too.

                I stood up after a while and sat on my bed, grabbing a book. I laid down, opening my book and losing myself in its pages for a while. I was barely even aware as a storm finally started up after a few hours.

                “Shit,” I hissed as the power suddenly went out. I sat up, using my phone as a flashlight. I checked the time and realized that it was late enough for my parents and brother to be asleep.

                I looked out of the window as lightning flashed and thunder rumbled. Rain was hammering down, and the wind was howling.

                My eyes suddenly widened as another flash of lightning lit up the sky, revealing just how hard it was raining. My heart slammed as I wondered how I could be so stupid and forget.

                Ezra was out there.