"Hey, what do you think you're doing?" Mr. Riku said, grabbing the back of Akira's shirt and yanking him to a stop. "That's a nice shirt. Don't be carrying firewood in that."

                Akira looked down at his shirt. "But-"

                "No buts. You'll get it dirty and make your mother clean it. Go change," Mr. Riku said, giving Akira a shove in the direction of his room. At Akira's expression, he sighed. "Go change, Kira. I'll get the fire started. Jack and Garrett can help me."

                Akira brightened. "Thanks. I'll go change."

                "That kid," Mr. Riku said, shaking his head and leading us out to the garage. We all gathered firewood and went around back, helping Mr. Riku set it up in the fire pit.

                "Mr. Riku, do you know if Kaito is having Silas over tonight?" I asked. I'd been hoping to invite him in person if I saw him here tonight. But, if not, I could just call or text him.

                "He is, yea. Silas and Jill are coming over to watch some movie Silas wanted them to see. Why?" Mr. Riku asked.

                Some movie, huh? "If you don't mind, when he gets here, could you please send him out back to us? My mom wants me to invite him and Ray to the cookout, and I thought it'd be better to ask him in person."

                "Silas and Ray?" Mr. Riku looked surprised. "I wasn't aware your family knew them. Sure, I'll send Silas out when he gets here. Are you boys good with the fire?"

                "Yea, thank you!" I said.

                He went back outside, Akira reappearing a minute later in a new shirt. I took out the snacks and drinks leftover from Silas's house and we sat around the fire.

                We talked and ate and drank, telling jokes and making a few plans for things we could do over the summer. It was relaxing and familiar, something that brought an easy smile to my face.

                After a while of that, Mrs. Riku came around the house with Emi trailing behind her. Akira looked over curiously as they approached.

                "I went to visit your Aunt and Uncle, and Emi looked bored so I invited her to your bonfire, Akira," Mrs. Riku said.

                "Oh, that's fine," Akira said. "Take a seat and help yourself to the food, Emi."

                Emi sat down next to me and I offered her the chips I'd been snacking on. Mrs. Riku smiled at us before heading into the house.

                "Sorry," Emi said, rolling her eyes. "She insisted I come. I didn't want to bug you guys."

                "It's fine. We're just hanging out," Akira said. "Besides, you know how my mom wants to see all of us getting along."

                "Hey, my sister and I get along just fine. It's you and Kaito who fight all the time," Emi reminded.

                "She's got a point," Jack said.

                Akira shot him a glare. "You and Garrett don't have siblings, you can't talk."

                "I have a brother," I said.

                "Your dog does not count as your brother no matter what your mom says," Akira said.

                "I'm telling my brother you said that about him," I said.

                "Oh my god." Akira shook his head. "Neither of you have a sibling, and neither of you have a mom trying to force a good relationship between you and that insufferable sibling."

                "You used to get along," Emi said.

                "Yea, when we were kids and Kaito remembered how to find his chill every once in a while," Akira said.

                "Enough about siblings. You're making me miss my brother," I said.

                "You don't have a br- Oh, what's the point?" Akira said with a hopeless sigh.

                We looked over at the sound of footsteps. Silas stood there, hands in his pockets and looking at us in boredom. It was only from spending so much time with him recently that I recognized that awkward set of his shoulders.

                "Mr. Riku said you need to bother me about something?" Silas said to me.

                "I highly doubt he put it like that," I said, getting up. "But yes, I do need to bother you about something."

                "Hi Silas!" Emi said, waving to him. "My dad said he saw you at the gym today."

                "I was workin' there today," he said. "Come by with him sometime. I'll help you with the machines." He blushed just the slightest. "Uh, if you need help. I'm not sayin' you're not smart enough to figure it out yourself."

                Emi laughed, though. "Oh, no, working out isn't my specialty. If I ever go with dad, I'd like some help so I know where to start!"

                Silas relaxed a little. "Sure, you got it. What did you need, Garrett?"

                I could tell he was still a little awkward, so I gestured at him to follow me around the side of the house and out of sight of the others. He might act tough, but he got uncomfortable around others really easily. I didn't want to make that any worse on him, so talking in private was probably best.

                "So, my family is having a cookout this weekend and my parents wanted me to invite you and Ray," I said.

                He looked surprised and a little suspicious. "Me and Ray? What for?"

                "Well, we've been hanging out a fair amount, and my parents thought it'd be good to meet you and Ray. Especially since I slept over," I said. "We invited Akira's family, so Kaito will probably come with them. But if you don't want to come, maybe at least tell Ray? My parents would just feel more comfortable if they knew you guys if I'm going to head over there more."

                "Who said you were coming over more?" Silas grumbled. He shoved his hands back in his pockets and looked away from me. "I'll tell Ray. Ain't making any promises. Text me about it, I guess."

                "I hope you guys can make it," I said honestly.

                "Why do you always do that?" he said.

                "Do what?" I asked in confusion.

                "You just..." He motioned at me with his hands. "You just say whatever's on your mind."

                "Well...yea. It's called conversation," I said.

                "But you're just so...honest," he said. "Don't you ever think you should keep some of that to yourself?"

                "No," I said, shaking my head. "I like being honest with people. But I am sorry if it makes you uncomfortable."

                "Just ain't used to it," he said. "People around here are different than what I'm used to. You especially."

                "Can I ask where you're from?" I said.

                He shrugged. "Don't matter. This is where I am now."

                "Well, sorry, but you're shit out of luck. I talk before I think," I said. "Some might call me honest. Some might call me an idiot. I assume you lean towards that one."

                "You're assuming right." He checked his phone. "I'm going back inside. That's all you wanted?"

                "That's all," I said. "I'll text you the details tomorrow. Just, let me know if you're coming? Just so my parents know how much food they need for everyone."

                "Sure. See ya." He disappeared around the house to rejoin his friends.

                I went to rejoin mine, taking my seat. Emi looked at me with curiosity on her face.

                "What was that about?" she asked.

                "My parents are having a cookout this weekend and they wanted me to invite Silas and Ray so they could meet them," I said.

                "Great, I can't even escape them at your house," Jack said, crossing his arms.

                "Shit, I forgot your dad was coming too," I groaned. "Please don't start a war with Silas and Ray at the cookout. You know my dad hates fighting."

                "Don't upset Garrett's dad, he's a really nice man," Emi said, whacking Jack in the arm.

                "Ow! Don't start going to the gym, you already hurt," Jack said, scooting his chair away from Emi. "I can't promise my dad won't poison Ray."

                "We'll keep your dad far away from Ray," I said. "He can hang out with Akira's dad. They can discuss all their sketchy business."

                "I'm fine with that," Akira said.

                "Is Roan still invited?" Jack asked.

                I nodded. "I told my dad not to uninvited his family. I don't want things to be awkward for our parents."

                "Awkward?" Emi asked.

                "They broke up," Akira said, and I could see the warning in the look he shot Emi.

                "Oh," Emi said, and hastily shoved a chip in her mouth so she wouldn't have to say anything else.

                "Look, it's just a cookout. It'll be fine," I said, trying not to think about how much potential drama was actual pooling between everyone invited. Oh boy. Couldn't everyone just eat a hamburger and get along?    

                "So, are you and Silas friends now? What's going on with that?" Emi asked.

                "Uh...I guess we're sort of friends? It's hard to tell with Silas," I said.

                "I think it's weird," Jack informed Emi.

                But Emi just shrugged. "I don't think it's weird. Good for you, Garrett. Now you have someone other than these two idiots to spend time with."

                "Idiots?" Jack said indignantly.

                Akira sighed heavily. "My mom just had to bring you here."

                "I like spending time with these two idiots. Two heads are better than one, but three heads gives you Fluffy," I said, slinging an arm around Akira's shoulders.

                "Nerd," Akira said affectionately.

                The four of us slipped into easy conversation. As it got later, we set up cushions and blankets and laid under the stars together, the fire dying down to embers nearby.

                I reached out as my eyes started to get heavy from sleep, pressing my palm against the grass next to me. A light breeze ruffled the leaves of the trees, and bug chirped out a steady rhythm of noises, easing me into sleep.

                                                                                                ***

                I opened my eyes and sat up, looking around. A badly burnt log had fallen over, waking me up. Akira was also sitting up and looking over at it. He noticed me and gave a sleepy wave.

                But I smelled that faint scent of cigarette smoke on the air. Akira had already laid back down, adjusting his blankets. But as I got up, he picked his head back up.

                "Where are you going?" he mumbled.

                "I'll be back. Go to sleep," I said.

                He shrugged it off and put his head back on the pillow, closing his eyes. I went around the side of the house, following that scent as it got heavier. Silas came into view, tensing up until he realized who was walking towards him.

                I sat down next to him, rubbing my eyes. "How mad would Ray be if he knew?"

                "Pretty damn mad," Silas said, taking another drag.

                I waved the smoke away as he blew it out. "You really shouldn't do it. You only get one body in this life."

                Silas looked down at his cigarette. "Just a habit. Been doing it for years. It ain't that easy to just stop."

                "Then don't hide it from Ray. Get help from him," I said.             

                Silas shook his head. "You seen Ray? I ain't bringing on that wrath."

                "Usually when people get that mad about you doing something that harms you, it's because they care about you," I said.

                He put the cigarette back between his lips, letting it dangle there. "There you go, saying stuff like that again."

                "Because it's true. Ray doesn't want you to smoke, and neither do I. It's just because we're worried," I said.

                "Why would you be worried? You've only known me for a bit," he said.

                "So? I like spending time with you," I said. "You like climbing up to the top of that waterfall, right? The more you smoke, the harder that'll be for you. When we take that hike together, I don't want to have to keep taking breaks because you wrecked your own ability to enjoy a hike."

                He took the cigarette between his fingers and blew the smoke out of the corner of his mouth. "I can't get used to you."

                "And yet, here we are," I said.

                "Here we are," he said. He was silent for a moment before speaking again. "If you want me to stop so much, how come you don't stop me yourself? You could just snatch it from me and put it out."

                "Because I don't control your life. I might disagree with some of your choices, and I'll tell you that. But that doesn't mean I can stop you. It's your life," I said. "You're old enough to make your own decisions, even if I think they're bad."

                We sat in silence as Silas smoked his cigarette down. I felt exhaustion started to creep up on me as I watched the sky.

                "I hope you quit someday. I hope your body is still okay. I hope you can hike mountains and climb to the top of waterfalls without losing your breath," I said.

                And I did hope that for Silas. As I looked over at him, I realized just how deeply I meant my own words.

                Silas drew a knee up to his chest and rested his arm on it. "I don't understand you. I really don't."

                I stood up and stretched a little. "Sorry."

                "I don't understand the stars either. I still like 'em," he said.

                I smiled softly. "Goodnight, Silas. I hope I see you this weekend."

                "Yea, night," he said, turning his attention to the stars overhead.

                I went back to my pile of cushions and got myself comfortable. He hadn't said it, but I had a strong feeling I'd see Silas at the cookout, and that made me happier than I'd expected.