Meadow wasn't exaggerating.

I watched as everybody in the room flocked to her sister. It was as if they were seeing a celebrity. I watched as Meadow hung in the background, like she was used to it. I didn't like it. She was more than a shadow figure.

To my surprise, Oz (Halo's boyfriend) sat down beside me.

"Hey," I greeted.

He only nodded, his eyes forward. He didn't quite seem like he was in the mood for small talk so I didn't push it. But then, he said something unexpected.

"I looked into you."

I frowned, turning to him.

"There's not much, aside from what you post on social media."

My family paid a hefty price to keep it that way.

"Interesting what you managed to keep out from public knowledge."

I watched him carefully, trying to see where he was getting at.

"Like the fact that one of your friends overdosed last year."

My eyes turned to slits.

"You called 911 and stayed with her until the paramedics arrived. That's when the rest of you were found high on—"

"That's private information," I said sharply.

The thing was, my friends and I normally used for different reasons. Conrad and Aurora did it because it kept them distracted from their sucky parents and even suckier predicaments. Gavin and I used because it kept us awake and energetic, which meant we had more time to do things without wasting it to sleep.

I wasn't justifying it. It was a simple fact.

"I know," Oz replied nonchalantly. "Funny how much people are willing to open their mouths for the right price."

"That's still none of your business," I ground out.

"I agree." He nodded, leaning back to stare at me. "But see, if you drag Meadow into all that shit, you're gonna make it my business."

Ah, I finally understood what this was about.

"I'll never do that to her." My eyes found Meadow across the room, recalling the time she caught me smoking pot. "I'm not even sure I need it anymore."

"That's where you're wrong, you know." Oz shook his head. "You never 'needed' it to begin with."

I frowned and looked at him.

"You just thought you did 'cause you were stuck in your bubble and thought you had no other option." He nodded to Meadow, adding, "And then you met someone who made you see that that's not the case."

"You sound like you're talking from experience."

"'Cause I am."

My eyebrows raised. "Halo?"

"Yup."

"Meadow did mention you're the town bad boy."

The corner of his lips lifted up.

"A reformed rebel in the flesh," I mused, smirking. "Are you going to give me an autograph?"

"Sure, it comes with a free fist to your face."

I laughed, but I knew he wasn't kidding.

"The thing is, Halo didn't reform me." He paused, glancing at his girlfriend. "She accepted me, which was something I didn't think I needed at the time."

"And you fell for her."

"No shit."

"I'm not falling for Meadow."

His piercing blue eyes landed on me. "I didn't say you were."

"She's just... unlike anything I've ever known."

"Like a breath of fresh air."

"Exactly."

"Yeah, I know what you mean."

"Someone like that is meant to be treasured."

"As a friend."

"Yes."

He only smirked.

Halo saw us and immediately walked over. "Well, hello."

Oz's face lit up. "Hey, babe."

Halo turned to me. "How was the pizza?"

"Quite good," I answered.

She beamed, clapping her hands. "Yay! I knew you'd love it."

"She made her 11:11 wish on it," Oz said.

Halo shrugged, unashamed. "Gotta be sure."

Oz sat up straight, as if spotting someone. "Rafe's here."

"I texted him." Halo smiled, nudging him. "Go say hi."

"Be right back." He kissed her lightly on the lips, before getting to his feet and walking towards the new arrival.

"So!" Halo exclaimed, clapping once again.

"So..." I trailed off.

"How did you do it?"

"Do what?"

She stared at me curiously. "Convince my sister to take you, someone she just met this summer, around town. Not to mention, she sneaked out and got drunk with you in the middle of the night. That's not something she typically does."

I chose my next words carefully, not wanting to get Meadow in trouble. "Perhaps she just needed someone to give her the opportunity to break out of her shell."

"And you're able to do that."

"I can't say for certain. I only know that I challenge her."

She continued to stare at me. "What's your dream?"

I blinked, caught off guard with her very random question. I opened my mouth to reply but came up short, then I frowned.

What was my dream? What did I want to become? Who was I meant to be? Why didn't I have answers to these questions?

And why was I only realizing this now?

"I have no idea," I admitted.

She studied me.

"Is that odd?" I asked.

Halo smiled softly. "No, it's not. That's why some people take a gap year, to figure what they wanted to do first before they go off to college."

I stayed quiet, wondering what my family would say to that. It was likely that my grandfather would let me do it. Not sure what my mother and sister would say, though.

"You can do that if you want, you know."

"Maybe," I murmured. "I still have a year to figure it out."

"Don't force it. Things are way better when they come to us naturally."

"Thanks, I'll keep that in mind."

"Good." She grinned. "Thank you, too."

"For what?"

"For taking care of my sister."

A small smile stretched across my lips. "She'd say it's the other way around."

Halo shrugged. "It goes both ways, you know."

"Isn't that what friendship is all about?"

There was a knowing smile on her face. "It is."

I caught sight of Meadow leaving the room. Where was she going?

"It was nice seeing you again," I told Halo, getting up from my seat. Something on Meadow's face didn't sit right with me. She looked like she was up to something.

"Ditto! See you around, Anders!"

I nodded to her before following Meadow out.

She appeared to be following a guy out to the hallway that led to the restrooms. Suddenly, she crouched and tiptoed in a hurry to get behind a plant.

I watched Meadow hide from sight. When five minutes had passed, I was about to go over to her and ask what she was doing. But someone came by and she crouched even lower. Without warning, she jumped out from her hiding spot and surprised the person.

What the?

I wasn't sure who was more shocked between the both of them. If I had to choose, it would probably be the guy since he almost stumbled backwards and lost his balance. I tried not to laugh at Meadow who looked quite frantic.

"Oh, my God. I'm so sorry! I thought you were someone else. I'm so sorry!"

The guy clutched his chest and shook his head, as he walked away. He didn't say anything, but he didn't look too upset.

"What were you trying to do?" I asked Meadow, chuckling.

She whipped around and gasped. "I thought it was you! I wanted to scare you."

I laughed. "That'll never happen."

Meadow opened her mouth to respond, but then the people from the recreational room roared in excited cheers. Our heads turned to the direction of the noise, and Halo's laughter rang above everyone else's.

"Will they miss us?" I asked Meadow.

She turned to me. "Why?"

"I'm bored."

She started to smile, reading through me. She seemed like she would humor me, though. "We can't have that. I promised you fun, your highness."

I smirked. "Glad we're on the same page, Buckley."

"Let's go before they catch us," she hissed, as she hurried out of the front door.

I chuckled as I followed her.

I wouldn't admit it out loud, but...

I was excited for our next adventure.