Annie and Max hadn't come to pick me up by the time I left the building, so I waited outside. A few people shot me dirty looks as they walked past me, which I returned.

Less than two minutes later, my ride arrived.

As I opened the door, Annie frowned. "Hmm, I thought for sure you'd have gotten into the mood of partying and wouldn't want to leave. I had my whole 'I told you so' speech planned and everything!"

How ironic.

I smiled. "I had a wild time."

She smirked. "Ah-ha! I told you so!"

No, you didn't.

I got into the car, then shut the door. "I guess you did."

Her stare grew concerned. "Hey, is something wrong?"

No, something's right. I put Hans in his place. Plus, I ensured Aimee will never pull some crazy stunt again. So why do I feel like everything is out of balance?

Leaning my head against the window, I sighed. "I'm fine. Just tired. Can we go home now, please?"

Annie peered over my head. "Why are so many people leaving so early? I mean, I'm not saying they should stay out till 4 am, but it's not even midnight yet, and tomorrow is the weekend."

Fuck, I'm acting too weird!

I smirked. "Annie, do you think they're going home right now? Someone else threw a party this night as well, so they're all transferring to it. It's the reason I'm back so early."

Her eyes narrowed.

I looked away. Unfortunately, my eyes met Max's scrutinizing ones, but he looked away when he sensed my mood.

A moment later, Annie said, "Well... if you say so. In that case, I'll make sure to gloat once you're feeling better. Tony, take us home."

. . .

As soon as we got home, I left the car and went straight into my room without another word. Tossing off my clothes, I plopped down on my bed, wincing a bit as my face landed flat on my pillow.

Fucking Hans!

I tossed and turned in bed for about fifteen minutes before I sat up. Opening the drawer of my nightstand, I fished out my history textbook, lay on my back, and began reading.

Maybe this will bore me to sleep.

Just as my eyelids began to droop, Annie murmured, "Do you think he's asleep?"

I sat up, scanning the room with my eyes. No sign of her. Maybe I imagined it.

Picking up the textbook again, I lay back down and continued my reading.

Shortly after, Annie said, "I'm going to knock. Do you think it'll be okay too?"

Okay, I did not imagine that. Should I ignore...no? Better to speak to Annie while she's calm.

Dropping the book again, I dragged myself out from under my warm duvet. Grimacing, I walked to the door and opened it.

Annie stood in front of it, poised with her right fist raised upwards. She blinked. "Oh... you're awake."

"Yes. Why are you here?"

"We." Max stepped out from behind her.

"Not that you didn't know that, considering you could hear our voices," Annie added.

Shaking my head, I walked back to my bed and sat down. "Your voice only. That's all I could hear."

Max grinned. "And she claims she knows how to whisper."

Aimee pouted as she walked into the room and sat on my bed as well. "Shut up, Max!"

Chuckling, Max shut the door behind him. He walked to my sofa and plopped himself down on it.

Annie held out a glass of milk to me. "I brought something for you."

My brow rose. "Warm milk before bed? What am I, five?"

"Oh, so now you're too old for warm milk? Tell me, Max-" She smirked, "-what's that song Angelo loved singing before? How does it go again?"

I groaned. "Please don't-"

"Oh yeah, it went like 'why do stars suddenly appear, every time, we're all near?"

I winced. "Ann!"

"What? You loved it as a kid!"

"Yeah, as a kid!"

"We still sing it every Christmas!"

"That's different, it's a sacred tradition! Max, back me up here."

Max smirked as well. "Sorry, Angelo, but that song is way too catchy for you to disregard it. Now, how did the next line go again? Was it 'just like birds suddenly appear, say the place, and I'll be-"

"Alright, fine, I'll tell you what happened tonight! Anything to get you to stop!"

They both grinned.

Annie nodded. "Well, if you insist. But low-key we all know you'll be the first to lead us into the song during Christmas."

I rolled my eyes. It sucks that you're right!

Taking a deep breath, I told Annie and Max all that happened that night.

After I finished, Annie said, "Well, this is more believable than that lie you told earlier."

Max nodded. "For sure."

"Also, I think I speak for Max when I say that you handled the situation with Hans quite well."

My brow furrowed. She's not going to lecture me?

Max sighed. "We're not on the same page then. Angelo, though your frustrations were understandable, you could have handled that better."

Narrowing my eyes, I huffed. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but Ann is making a lot more sense than you right now."

He's right, though.

Annie frowned. "While I'm going to ignore the first part of his statement, Angelo is right. Hans was bullying him, and Angelo retaliated. Sounds good to me."

Max sighed. "My my, to think my twin doesn't know the difference between bullying and teasing. Something embarrassing happened to Angelo, a few jokes were made about it. It's not something to freak out over."

Annie's eyes widened. "H-how can you say that! What happened to the person that wanted to wage World War Three when we found out that Dylan and his friends were bullying Angelo?"

"I'm still that person. This scenario is different."

"How exactly?"

"Well, Angelo doesn't have a black eye."

"So, we have to wait for it to get physical before it's called bullying?"

I frowned. "Since my input isn't needed, why don't both of you take this argument to the living room? I'm ready to sleep now."

They paused their argument, facing me.

Max cleared his throat. "Right, you deserve more of an opinion on this, sorry. What do you have to say?"

I replied, "While I appreciate you finally letting me speak, I want to go to bed right now."

They both glanced at each other before Max nodded. "Alright then, we'll leave you for the night." Getting up, he walked over and ruffled my hair. "Goodnight."

"Well, I do have something to say before I leave," Annie remarked. "You should apologize to the other people that attended your party. You were kind of a dick to them."

Max nodded.

I shrugged. "Fair enough."

Annie smiled. "Great! Also, apologize to Aimee as well."

I bristled. "Why the hell would I do that?"

Annie rolled her eyes. "Come on, Angelo, we both know you didn't mean the things you said to her."

"Wow, and I thought you know me!"

"I do, and that's why I'm saying this. If you didn't at least find Aimee interesting, you wouldn't have agreed to work with her. Closure or no closure."

"Yeah, well...the interest died tonight."

Max chuckled. "Wouldn't life be so much easier if we can just say things like that and make them true?"

You're not fucking mind readers, so how can you know what I want?

I slid under my duvet, closing my eyes. "All this talk has drained my battery. Entering sleep mode now. Goodnight."

"Well, whenever you come out of sleep mode, feel free to mull over what we discussed." Annie kissed my forehead. "Goodnight."

I peeked through my eyelids, watching her as she got off my bed and followed Max out of the room. "Jeez, one party fail, and suddenly I'm the baby of the house!"

Annie grinned. "You always have been. Don't forget your warm milk!"

She left the room, shutting the door behind her.

Glaring at the glass of milk, I picked it up and downed its contents. First the song, then the kiss on the forehead, now this. I'm surprised she didn't tuck me in as part of her whole care package!