I groaned and sat up, rubbing my head. I looked around and my eyes widened a little. Where the hell was I? Why was everyone passed out? Why was there beer everywhere?

                “You’re up. Let’s go,” Molly said, coming over to me.

                And then it all came back to me. My eyes widened even more. Holy fuck. I had…well, I had had sex with Phillip Fucking Brooks.

                Well, I doubt Fucking was actually his middle name. But it should be after the way last night went down.

                “How did I get on the couch?” I asked, looking around in confusion. I was in Phil’s living room, although I was positive I had passed out on his bed.

                “Phil dragged your unconscious ass out here around three in the morning. He put you on the couch and went off looking for Angel,” Molly said with a shrug. “I tried to get you up so we could leave, but you were gone. I stayed with you all night to make sure you didn’t drown in your own puke or anything.”

                “You are an incredible best friend. Did I throw up?” I asked, slowly sitting up. My head hurt so god damn bad.

                Molly shook her head. “No. You choked a couple of times, but never actually threw up,” she said, holding her hand out to me.

                I took it and she pulled me to my feet. I waited for the world to stop spinning before following her out to Phil’s kitchen.

                “Where’s Phil?” I asked, looking around. A few kids were up and whispering, but most were unconscious.

                Molly shrugged. “He looked pretty wrecked himself. I was actually afraid he was going to drop you when I saw him. But he got you to the couch, found Angel, and I think he ended up passing out in the basement.”

                I looked down to make sure I was actually wearing closed and relaxed. I was back in my own clothes. Phil must have redressed me before he dragged me out to the couch.

                “So what happened last night?” Molly asked, raising an eyebrow at me. She had a knowing look in her eyes, though.

                “I had sex with Phil,” I said with a sigh. I groaned and shook my head. “Molly, I was so drunk last night when it happened. I’m really surprised I even remember it,” I said miserably.

                “Nick, calm down. You’ve had drunk fucks before. It probably meant nothing,” Molly said, patting me on the back.

                “But Molly, I really liked having sex with Phil!” I cried and winced at the pain in my head. I dropped my voice before speaking again. “And we’ve been…I don’t even know. He’s been flirting with me. I don’t know where we’re at. But if he finds out I’m not actually this tough, mean guy, he’s going to kill me. And Kenneth will out me to him. And…I’m starting to fall for him Molly.”

                “Nick, you can’t,” Molly moaned. “That was not part of the plan. If Phil has feelings for you, he has feelings for the tough you. The fake you. That’s not safe, Nick! If he finds out you’ve been tricking him this whole time, you’re fucked!”

                “I hate this,” I whined. I looked down at myself and sighed. “Can we shower at your house? And can I borrow clothes?”

                Molly nodded and we began to walk towards her house. I felt like complete shit. My head hurt, plus, Phil hadn’t exactly been gentle last night.

                We made it to Molly’s house and snuck inside. We went to her bathroom and Molly sighed. “You shower in here. I’ll shower downstairs. Just put your boxers back on and wait in my room,” she said before leaving.

                I started up the shower and stepped in, letting the warm water relax my tense body. I cleaned myself off before just standing there, trying to fight off my thoughts and just calm down.

                After a few minutes, I turned the water off and stepped out. I dried myself off with a towel Molly had left for me before slipping back into my boxers. I gathered up my clothes off the floor and went to Molly’s room.

                She appeared a few minutes later in a bathrobe, her hair wet. She threw a pair of basketball shorts and a soccer T-shirt at me. I put them on and turned around as Molly dressed.

                “Are you going to head home?” Molly asked curiously.

                I shrugged and nodded. “Yea. I feel like shit. I think I’ll go home and take a long ass nap,” I said, standing up.

                “Okay. Feel better Nicky. And, don’t let yourself fall for Phil. It’s not safe. He’s falling for the fake you, not the real you,” she said, glaring at me sternly.

                That hurt to hear, but I knew it was true. I knew Molly was only trying to look out for me. And she was right; falling for Phil would be very, very dangerous.

                I nodded at her and hugged her tightly. I waved and left her house, walking towards my own house and having no idea what time it was.

                I got to my house and used the spare kid to let myself in. I slipped my shoes off put my dirty clothes in the washing machine before making my way upstairs towards my bedroom.

                “Nick? Is that you?” mom called.

                “No. It’s a fucking murderer you crazy woman,” I grumbled.

                “What was that honey?”

                “I said hi mom.”

                She appeared in the hallway and giggled. “Hello dear! Did you have fun at Molly’s house?” she asked.

                I nodded and stretched a little. “Yea. But I’m not feeling too well, so that’s why I left. I’m going to go lie down in my room,” I said.

                “Oh! Nicky, you’re not feeling good? Do you think you have AIDs?”

                “Mom!” I said in annoyance, the pounding in my head starting up again. “You don’t get AIDs. You get HIV, which turns into AIDs, which kills you. AIDs is not an STD, HIV is.”

                “Look at you being all smart mister! But what’s wrong with you Nicky? Do I need to call the doctor? Do you want me to ask daddy to take a look at you? Want me to take your temperature?” She began to press her hands against my forehead and cheeks. “David! Nick’s sick!”

                “Mom,” I groaned. “I’m probably just tired. I’m fine. Really. I just need to nap,” I grumbled, pushing by her and going into my bedroom.

                I laid down and buried my face in my pillow, hating my life. Why had I let myself get this close with Phil? I needed to get the hell away from him before he found out that the me he knew was completely fake.

                “Nick?”

                I jumped a little and turned over. “Dad, really. I’m fine. Mom’s overreacting. I’m just really tired,” I said with a sigh.

                “Well, uh, okay,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck. “But if you need anything, let us know.”

                I nodded and slipped under my covers, pulling my shirt off. “Can do,” I grumbled, lying back down and pulling the covers over myself. I squeezed my eyes shut, feeling exhausted, my head throbbing violently.

                                                                                                ***

                I cracked my eyes open and slowly sat up. I rubbed my eyes and pulled the covers off of myself. I slowly crawled out of bed and made my way out to the hallway and down to the kitchen.

                “Mom, do we have any apple juice?” I asked, opening the refrigerator.

                “Your mom is in the basement.”

                “Oh my lanta!” I cried, jumping back and smacking my head against the refrigerator. I groaned and rubbed my head as Kenneth grinned.

                “Hi Nick,” he said pleasantly.

                “Kenneth, what are you doing here?” I asked.

                “I came over to see you, and your mom told me you were taking a nap. She said I could hang out here until you woke up,” he said with a shrug.

                “That is a little disturbing Kenneth,” I grumbled, grabbing a water bottle and shutting the refrigerator door. I opened the water bottle and took a few swallows.

                “Nick, I’m going to get right to the point. I want to get back together with you,” he said simply.

                I began to choke on my water and it was a minute before I could speak again. “Kenneth…no! I broke up with you. I don’t want to get back together with you,” I said, glaring. “Ah shit. That was really mean. I mean…you’re a great guy and everything, but I moved on. I’m sorry.”

                By “great guy”, I meant total creeper. But that seemed a little mean to say to him.

                “Moved on with Phillip Brooks. But I’m not stupid Nick. You change when you’re around him. You act meaner. Phil doesn’t like nice guys; everyone knows that. And you’re the nicest of nice guys. What if Phil found out you weren’t such a nice guy?”

                My heart began to slam wildly as I tried to keep a calm expression. “Kenneth, I’m sorry, but I’m over you. I’m not with Phil. I won’t be with Phil. I just tutor him afterschool sometimes. That’s the extent of our relationship,” I said with a shrug.

                Kenneth smirked. “Nick, I don’t believe you,” he said simply. “And you’re going to get back together with me by Friday at the end of school, or I’m going to out you to Phil as the nice guy you really are.”

                “Kenneth, there’s nothing going on between me and Phil!” I snapped, losing my patience with him.

                Kenneth raised his hands innocently and shrugged. “Hey Nick, if you’ve got nothing to hide, you’ve got nothing to worry about, right?” He laughed. “But if you do have something to hide, you better get back together with me.”             

                He stepped up to me and searched my eyes, his smirk growing wider. “I’ve missed you so much Nick. You were sweet, hot, and wild. I fell in love with you. I’ve dreamt about getting back together with you, and now I finally can.”

                He stepped back. “So, either we’re back together by the end of the school day Friday, or Phil finds out that you’re just some nice little boy. Your choice Nicky.” He winked at me before giving me a small wave and leaving my house.

                I went down to the basement and spotted my mother. “Mom, next time one of my crazy ex-boyfriends comes to the door…DON’T LET THEM IN,” I cried in annoyance.

                “Nicky, don’t you tell your mommy what to do,” mom said sternly, spinning around and pointing a finger at me. She dropped her finger and giggled. “Whoopsie. I forgot he was the super crazy boy. He was the one that used to stalk the hell out of you, right?”

                I nodded slowly and she giggled again. “Sorry Nicky! I forgot. I knew he looked familiar. You’ve just had so many boys, it’s hard to keep track. Your handsome appearance is such a curse sometimes.” She sighed and shook her head sadly. “My poor, good-looking, slut of a son,” she said and pat me on the head sympathetically.

                “Oh my lanta,” I groaned miserably. So, I had one week to figure out some sort of plan, or else Kenneth would out me to Phil, and Phil would kill me. Oh, this should be so much fun.