"Michigan! Come here!" mom said impatiently.

                Michigan let out a small growl and bit down harder on the large chunk of cantaloupe he'd stolen off the table. Mom let out a sigh and went over, yanking it out of his mouth. He let out another little growl, but had been well trained to never bite a person.

                "Will you please put Michigan upstairs and gate him there? We'll let him outside once everyone eats. I don't want him getting his teeth on someone's meal," mom said to me.

                "Sure. Come on, Mich," I said, grabbing his collar. He reluctantly padded upstairs, whining as I set the gate up. I pet his head. "Hey, at least you get the whole upstairs instead of being caged."

                I went downstairs and outside, where a small gathering of people were already mingling about. It was some of my family and some of my parents' friends, but I knew everyone else would be showing up soon.

                "Garrett!"

                I turned as Akira waved from the side of the house. He came over, his parents following him. I found, realizing Kaito wasn't with them.

                "Where's Kaito?" I asked. Silas wouldn't be pleased if Kaito wasn't here.

                "He's with my brother and niece at our office for the day. He wanted to sit in on a presentation my brother was giving, so he isn't going to make it today," Mr. Riku said.

                "Garrett, where's your father? I want to see how his garden is doing," Mrs. Riku said.

                "He's right over there!" I said, pointing him out. Mr. and Mrs. Riku left me to go greet my dad.

                "Jack's not here yet?" Akira asked.

                "Not yet, but he'll be here any minute," I said, checking the time on my phone. "Everyone should be arriving in the next half hour or so, actually. If Kaito isn't going to be here, Silas will be hanging around us, I guess. Hopefully Jack can manage to behave for one day."

                "You already know that's a lost cause," Akira said. "I'm thirsty. What do you guys have to drink?"

                I led Akira to one of the many various coolers we had set up outside. I could see my dad proudly showing off his garden to Mrs. Riku, and shook my head with a smile.

                I looked around and noticed Silas and Ray coming around the side of the house together. Ray had a pack of beer tucked under his arm, and Silas was scanning the crowd, his shoulders tense.

                "Hey!" I said, grabbing Akira and pulled him over to the two. "Glad you guys could make it." I looked around and motioned at my mom to come over. As she approached, I nodded at Ray and Silas. "Mom, that's Silas, the one whose house I slept over."

                "Ray Edmon, I'm his Uncle," Ray said, finally solving that mystery as he shook my mom's hand. "I didn't want to come empty handed, so I figured beer is always a safe bet." 

                "Oh, you didn't have to bring anything! Thank you, Mr. Edmon," mom said, taking it from him and setting it next to one of the coolers.

                "You can just call me Ray. Thanks for having us," Ray said.

                "I'm Ellie Grimaldi, Garrett's mother. Thank you for letting him stay over the other night. I hope he behaved himself," mom said.

                "He seems like a good kid to me. I don't mind him staying over," Ray said with a shrug.

                "Uh-oh," Akira whispered at the same time I noticed Mr. Waymire and Jack walking over.

                Ray noticed and his expression darkened a little. Silas glared at Jack, and mom noticed the sudden hostility. She looked at me in confusion, and I shrugged helplessly. Maybe I should've warned her and dad.

                "Paul," Ray said with a nod. There was nothing friendly about his voice.

                Mr. Waymire ignored him, grabbing Jack's shoulder and pushing him past Ray and Silas. Jack stumbled to a stop in front of us.

                "Hey there," he greeted. "Hi, Mrs. Grimaldi."

                "Hi Jack," mom said, clearly still puzzled over the whole situation but trying to keep the friendly smile on her face. "Hi Paul. Akira's parents are over there with our neighbors, if you'd like to see them. Help yourself to any of the coolers for a drink."

                Mr. Waymire looked from Jack, to Silas, to Ray. He had that intimidating look on his face, which Ray matched with a warning glare of his own.

                "Don't touch my kid," Mr. Waymire said.

                "Do I look like someone that would ever hurt a kid?" Ray said.

                "Violence runs in your family, Edmon. Adults in your family are used to smacking kids around," Mr. Waymire said, nodding to Silas.

                Silas looked furious at that, but Ray grabbed the back of his shirt. Ray looked just as angry, but he took a few slow, deep breaths before meeting Mr. Waymire's eyes again.

                "I'm an adult setting an example for both our kids since you can't set one for Jack yourself," Ray said. "I'm not going to fight with you at a party someone invited me to when they didn't have to. I'm not going to hurt a kid. I'm not going to pick a fight over a petty cheap shot. Move on, Waymire."

                Akira hastily put a hand over Jack's mouth as Jack opened it to speak. Mr. Waymire simply turned and walked away towards Mr. and Mrs. Riku.

                "Don't," Ray warned as Silas clenched his fists. "If you can't control your temper, I'm taking you home, Silas. We're not here to fight."

                "He doesn't get to just say shit like that!" Silas said angrily.

                "Then say goodbye to Garrett and get in the car. We're not kicking up drama at a party he was nice enough to invite us to," Ray said.

                "Silas, he shouldn't have said that. I'm sorry he did," I said, feeling horrible about this. I didn't think Mr. Waymire would even say a word today. He was usually a man of silent intimidation, not vocal taunts. "I get it if you don't want to be here. I wish..." I let out a frustrated noise. "I'm sorry. I didn't think it'd go like this."

                Silas grit his teeth and looked away from everyone. "Lemme go, Ray. Waymire will get his another time."

                Ray slowly released Silas's shirt. "I see you causing any trouble, I'll drag you right on home, got it? If he says anything to you, you come right to me." Ray looked at my mom and guilt hit his face. "I'm very sorry about that, Mrs. Grimaldi. Paul and I don't get along."

                "That's an understatement," Jack grumbled, immediately losing his ability to speak as Akira covered his mouth again.

                "We can certainly keep the two of you away from each other. I'm sorry. I didn't know, or we would've at least made sure you both knew the other would be here," mom said. "Please, help yourself to a drink and I'll introduce you to my husband while the boys go off." She turned her attention on Silas and held her hand out. "I'm sorry Silas! I never properly introduced myself to you."

                Silas seemed a little surprised, but shook her hand. "Yea, well, you know my name, I guess."

                Ray lightly hit him in the back of the head. "What did I tell you about meeting people?"

                "I'm Silas Kelley, ma'am," Silas amended. I could see how nervous he was, and had to disguise a laugh as a cough. "Sorry I swore in front of you."

                "Don't worry about that. You boys run along now, and Garrett will get you anything you need," mom said, leading Ray away to find dad.

                "Kaito isn't going to be here. I just found out," I said to Silas.

                "I knew. He told me this morning," Silas said, shoving his hands in his pockets. He shot Jack a dirty look. "Best keep your mouth shut, Waymire."

                "Your dad started it," Akira reminded Jack, slowly pulling his hand away from Jack's mouth. "Let's just go play cornhole or something. Silas and Garrett can be a team so you can be kept under control."

                "I don't need to be kept under control!" Jack argued.

                "Yes, you do. I should get paid for babysitting," Akira said, dragging Jack away.

                "Sorry," I said to Silas as we followed a distance behind them.

                "Why are you apologizing? You weren't the one talking shit," Silas said. "He won't get away with it."

                "Look, just stay away from him and let's try to have some fun today? I know Kaito isn't here for you to hang out with, but if Jack can behave for once, maybe you'll actually like hanging out with my friends," I said.

                "I'm here, ain't I? I don't know anyone else," he said.

                We went over to where cornhole was set up, Silas and I standing at opposite boards. Jack came to stand next to me, crossing his arms.

                "Akira, you better be good at this. I hate losing," Jack said.

                "Me? You're the one who has horrible aim," Akira said.

                "I'm just here to have some fun," I said.

                We began to play, Jack trying to hide the fact that his aim was, in fact, horrendous. Silas was surprisingly good at the game, though I did notice Akira explaining the rules to him at the beginning. It was a simple game though, and Silas got it quickly.

                "I hope your shoulders are all good my dude, because you're going to carry this team," I said as I tossed a bean bag so far off course that it nearly hit Akira in the face. "You good, Aki?"

                "You're lucky my reflexes are better than your aim," Akira said, dangling the bag from his hands. "Maybe putting you and Jack together was a bad idea."

                "Jack's the worst. At Garrett made some of his shots," Silas said.

                "Hey, I clearly stated right in the beginning that I was here to have some fun. I never claimed to be good at the game," I said.

                "Uh, Garrett? You're about to have a lot less fun, pal," Jack said, nodding.

                I followed his gaze and paled a little. Roan stood there with his parents, his mom and dad talking to my parents. I hastily looked away, pretending to focus on the game.

                "He just saw us," Jack said. "This is so awkward."

                "Ain't that your boyfriend?" Silas said.

                "I, uh, broke up with him. And didn't think he'd come here," I said. "It's okay guys, really, just act normal around him. It's going to be awkward, but if he's here, maybe it's because he wants to try to be friends again."

                "Friends?" Jack snorted. "He never liked us in the first place."

                "Jack, please, for me, just get along with him for now," I said.

                "Fine. But you're asking a lot of me between Silas and Roan," Jack said.

                "No one asked you to be nice to me. I ain't afraid to trade words," Silas said.

                "Stop it," I said sternly. "You can shit talk each other about cornhole and that's it. Got it?"

                "Sure, boss," Silas said, rolling his eyes. "In that case, you fucking suck, Jack."

                "I can't work with this," Jack said, tossing his bean bags on the board. "Let's go get something to drink."

                We walked over to one of the coolers and dug around until we each had a soda. We sat down in the grass, and I realized just how many people were here now. I saw some of my family sitting around, making a mental note to go and greet everyone after we ate.

                "So, would you be my partner again?" I asked Silas. "We also have KanJam, and Akira absolutely refuses to be my partner because I suck at it. And Jack's just as bad, so I don't think you want us teaming up."

                "I can carry us just fine," Silas said. "You have fun, and I'll win for us."

                "Hey, sounds like a good deal to me," I said, grinning widely at him. I held my drink out and he smacked his against it.

                "Oh no. They're teaming up for KanJam," Akira said in horror. "That leaves me with Jack."

                "Sorry Aki, Silas has already accepted he's stuck at my partner," I said. "That means Jack is stuck as yours."

                "You should feel honored," Jack said.

                "I feel horrified," Akira said.

                "Garrett?"

                I looked up at Roan and forced a smile. "Hey, Roan! Did you want something to drink?"

                He sat down and nodded. I dug in the cooler and handed him a soda, hoping he wouldn't start any trouble with my friends. Surely he had to have figured out they'd encouraged our breakup, but they'd only done it because they were worried about me.

                "I talked to your grandma when we got here. She didn't know...about us," he said.

                "Well, uh, I haven't really talked to my family. I've been busy this summer," I said. "Hey, we were going to play KanJam if you want to join? I don't mind watching. You can team up with Akira."

                "I ain't playing with Jack," Silas said.

                "Same to you, pal," Jack said.

                "I said I'd be your partner. Not theirs," Silas said.

                "Okay, okay, KanJam was a bad offer, then. The food is almost ready, so we can eat and figure out what to do after," I said.

                My dad came over to our group and nudged me with his foot. "Hey, do you mind bringing out the fruit trays from the kitchen? I've got the burgers and hot dogs cooking now, so everyone can start eating in just a few minutes."

                "Sure," I said, getting to my feet.

                "Thanks, Gar. Check on the dog, too," dad said before heading back to the grill.

                Silas got to his feet as well. "I'll go with you. I ain't sitting out here with Waymire and Kai's brother."

                "We'll be right back," I said, shooting Akira a look that begged him to keep things calm between them and Roan while I was gone. He nodded and I led Silas into the house. "I just have to check on my dog first."

                Silas followed me up the stairs, where Michigan was waiting. He leapt up, barking eagerly as we approached. He whined and pawed at the gate, barking more.

                "I know, I know. You can go out after we all eat, Michigan," I said, scratching behind his ears.

                "Michigan?" Silas said, raising an eyebrow.

                "My parents let me name him," I said. "I was just a kid, and they said he was from Michigan so I just, you know, named him that."

                Silas reached out and ran his hand along Michigan's fur. He looked like he wanted to say something so I waited, but he didn't speak.

                "Is something on your mind?" I said at last. "No one else is in the house."

                "He said your grandma," Silas said, eyes on Michigan as he kept petting him. "Your whole family knows you dated a guy?"

                "Yea," I said with a nod. "I'm lucky. I come from a very accepting family. I know my grandparents might not agree with it, but they love me more than their old fashioned beliefs." I leaned on the railing, watching him pet the dog. "I really am lucky. No one really gave me trouble for my sexuality at home or at school or anything. I struggled a little, sure, but my parents were always really supportive of me, so I learned to accept my whole self. Some of the kids at school were homophobic, sure, but other than the Guzzling Garrett thing, most never paid me any mind. It's not like Roan and I were a PDA extravaganza. The most we did in school was hold hands and maybe a quick kiss."

                "People got beat up for it where I'm from," Silas said, his voice quiet. "You didn't tell anyone, especially your family. That would get you kicked out and beaten."

                "That's horrible," I said. "I never feared for my safety here. The most frustrating thing I had to deal with was people fetishizing my sexuality."

                "Yea, you see that everywhere, too," Silas said. "Damn disgusting. All of it is."

                "Roan and I were holding hands on a date once, and sort of leaning on each other, and I saw a girl taking a picture of us," I said. "It really was disgusting. So many people think their fetishizing of gay relationships is support. It's harmful. But then there are people like you're saying, people who are violent towards people who aren't straight. It's a messed up world. But I love the person I am, and I'm grateful I can have a boyfriend and feel safe going out in public with him."

                "There are all these terms and shit. All I ever knew was gay and lesbian, and that if you were one of them, you were a fag. Or the guys would beat up on a gay guy, but then cheer when two girls started making out." He looked frustrated, holding his palm out as Michigan licked his hand. "Everything here is so different. You treat homosexuality differently, and you even fetishize differently. Everything is so damn different, I can't keep up. You don't fight back when people like Waymire talk shit, and you just say what you're feeling, and you tell your family when you date boys. I can't..."

                I put a hand on his shoulder. "It's okay, Silas. You grew up somewhere totally different, and it's hard to adjust when you grew up in a completely different environment. You don't have to be so frustrated about it. You're getting it more than you think you are. I promise."

                "I ain't," he said, that frustration leaking into his voice. "You all talk different here too. And you look at stars, and swim with waterfalls."

                "So do you," I said, squeezing his shoulder. "Silas, you look at stars and swim with waterfalls. You told me you liked the ocean and sharks. You stopped yourself from hitting Jack at Akira's house that one day. You're getting it. Don't underestimate your own progress so much."

                "Why are you always so damn nice to me?" Silas demanded.

                "I try to be nice to everyone," I said. "Besides, I like hanging out with you."

                "Yea, well, I guess you ain't so bad," he mumbled, pulling his hand away from Michigan. "Let's go."

                I pat Michigan's head one last time before going downstairs with Silas. He helped me carry the fruit trays outside to the long table my parents had set up for food.

                Before he could walk away, I put my hand back on Silas's shoulder. He looked at me with uncertainty in his eyes.

                "Silas, you're really doing great here. You deserve to know that," I said.

                His shoulders slumped a little. "Doesn't feel like it."

                "Sometimes when you're too close to a situation, you can't see your own true position in it," I said, thinking of my relationship with Roan. "I haven't even known you that long, but even I can see the progress you've made. Just because you're not where you want to be, doesn't mean you're not getting close."

                He eyed my hand on his shoulder, but didn't say anything. I offered him a smile and slowly pulled my hand away from his shoulder, starting to walk. Silas followed me, both of us heading back to rejoin the others.

                "Way to take forever. The food is ready. We were just waiting on you two," Jack said, getting to his feet, Akira and Roan copying him.

                "Hurry up bitch I'm hungry, I smell spaghetti," I said.

                "I'm not pinching your limpy ass," Jack said.

                "I cannot believe the two of you just made me listen to that with my own two ears," Akira said.

                "Bad joke?" I said.

                "Horrendous, actually," Akira said.

                "Fair enough. Let's go eat!" I said.

                We grabbed plates and filled them with food. My parents had set out several tables in the back yard, so we moved around in search of one to sit at.

                "Silas!" Ray called, gesturing him over. He was sitting at a table with one of my mom's coworkers, but he stood up. "Here, take this table. We'll go sit at another one."

                "Thanks, Mr. Edmon, but you don't have to do that," I said.

                "It's your house, kid," Ray said. "You guys take the table."

                He and the other guy left the table, instead sitting at another one. We took the empty table, setting our plates down and digging into our food. Roan was making me nervous with how quiet he was being, but he wasn't exactly a fan of anyone at this table.

                "When we're done eating, we could play basketball in the driveway?" I offered.

                "Great, just one more thing I suck at," Jack said.

                "Maybe if you'd played a sport instead of setting off fireworks all the time, you wouldn't suck at everything," Akira said.

                "I did play sports! When I was little," Jack said. "Not a fan. Track was alright, but it was all boring after a while."

                "You any good?" Silas asked Roan.

                Roan shrugged. "Decent, I guess."

                "Then slap the three of them as a team. I can carry us against them," Silas said.

                "Oh boy. Okay, sure, we can try that and if it goes horribly wrong then we can switch up the teams," I said.

                Roan looked moody about being stuck with Jack and Akira, but he kept his mouth shut. We finished eating and went around to the front, grabbing a basketball out of the garage and starting to play.

                I certainly wasn't good at basketball, and was convinced my parents had only bought me a hoop because it seemed like the suburban neighborhood must-have for your son. Still, I tried to have fun with it as Jack and I taunted each other and pathetically attempted to take shots.

                Silas kept his promise, and if I managed to get the ball to him, he could usually get it in the hoop. He was quick and good at jumping, so even when Roan tried to block him, Silas could easily sidestep him and jump up for an easy shot.

                I knew Roan well enough to tell when he was getting frustrated. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't manage to stop Silas.

                "Don't," Jack said, narrowing his eyes at me as he attempted to get past me with the ball.

                "Don't what?" I said before bumping him with my shoulder and snatching the ball. "Silas!"

                "Got it," Silas said as I chucked the basketball.

                Roan reached to grab it, but Silas darted past him and snatched it out of the air. Roan stood his ground, trying to corner Silas out of a shot. Silas dribbled the ball easily, attempting to fake out Roan.

                Roan advanced on him, attempting to knock Silas away with his shoulder. But Silas turned quickly, hitting Roan with the side of his body so hard that Roan fell over.

                "Oh, that's a foul," Jack said, watching Roan hit the ground hard.

                "Roan, are you okay?" I asked with a frown.

                Roan just glared over at me. "I told you he's violent. He can't even play a lax game of basketball without trying to take someone out."

                "It ain't my fault you can stay on your own feet," Silas said.

                "To be fair, you did just half body slam him," Akira said.

                I went over and offered Roan my hand. I helped him back to his feet and looked over at Silas.

                "Take it a little easier. It's just a game," I said.

                "Wasn't trying to hurt anyone. Just didn't realize how fragile that guy was," Silas said, shrugging.

                "I'm not fragile. You're just violent," Roan said angrily. "If Garrett wasn't on your team, you'd probably hit him, too."

                That seemed to strike a nerve with Silas, who hit Roan in the chest with the basketball. "Got me all figured out, huh? I can show you violent."

                "Stop!" I said, hurrying between them. "Silas, please, Ray is going to make you leave if you start a fight, remember?"

                "Who says I want to stay when you got pricks like that thinkin' they know a person?" Silas said. He spit at Roan's feet. "Ain't in the mood for shits like you."

                "It is so much more amusing when it's not me he's threatening to kill," Jack said, wincing when Akira stomped on his foot.

                "I warned you about him," Roan said to me.

                "You're picking a fight with him!" I said. "You can't purposely make someone angry and then say it's proof they're a naturally angry person. Roan, please, I don't want any more drama today. Leave Silas alone."

                Roan clenched his fists and stormed past us, roughly knocking his shoulder into Silas. "Lay a damn finger on Garrett, and I'll kill you myself."

                "He ain't the one about to catch these fucking hands," Silas said, and I hastily grabbed his arm to hold him back.

                "Don't," I begged. "Silas, don't."

                He looked at me, that anger burning in his eyes. But he closed his eyes for a moment before looking at me again.

                "Fine," he mumbled.

                I released his arm. "Thank you."

                Roan disappeared around the side of the house, and I picked up the basketball. I rolled it back into the garage and instead led us to KanJam, wanting to get everyone's mind off that awkward situation.

                As it got later and the sun set, people began to leave. I laid in the grass in the front lawn, looking up at the stars. My friends laid down with me, all of us just watching the sky.

                "It's a nice night out," Akira said.

                "There's the little dipper?" Silas said hesitantly, pointing.

                I nodded. "Yea, that's the little dipper!"

                Silas seemed pleased that he'd gotten it right. He folded his hands behind his head, eyes roaming over the stars.

                "Akira, we've got to go."

                I looked over at Akira's parents and realized Ray was standing just behind them, car keys in hand and looking ready to leave. He caught my eye and just smiled a little, shrugging, putting his car keys back in his pocket, and heading back around to the backyard.

                Akira got up and followed his parents to their car, waving to us as he left. Mr. Waymire came to collect Jack a few minutes later, leaving just me and Silas to lay and watch the sky.

                "Thanks for not going after Roan. I know he can be a pain in the ass, but I do still care about him. I swear he's not that bad. I think he's just frustrated to see me moving on in life after the breakup. It'll get easier as time goes on," I said.

                "Well, he best stay away from me. Ain't a fan of him," Silas said. "You ever watch the stars with him?"

                "A few times," I said. "He didn't really like to star gaze, but he knew I did so he'd take me out to do it sometimes."

                "You ain't so bad to look at the stars with," he said.

                I looked at him in surprise, but offered him a smile at the nervous flicker of his eyes. "Glad you're finally accepting that. Hey, my dad has a telescope. Why not come over tomorrow night and we can star gaze? I'd say we could do it tonight, but there are still some people here, so my dad's probably too busy to help set up the telescope right now."

                "Really? A telescope?" He bit his lip, trying to hide the excitement creeping into his expression. "Sure, I guess. Can, uh, can your dog come out with us too?"

                I laughed. "Sure, Mich loves the outside. Dog person?"

                "Never had a pet before. There was this one stray where I grew up, and I used to feed him. I like dogs," he said.

                "Some stars and a dog sounds like a good time to me," I said, sitting up. "I'll text you tomorrow, then."

                "Yea, I best get going. Ray's got to be up early tomorrow. I'm surprised we stayed this late," Silas said, checking the time.

                We said our goodbyes and I waved as he and Ray left. I joined my parents and the rest of the people still here, falling into conversation with them.

                But my mind was on tomorrow, and how much fun it could be. My heart sped up a little in anticipation, thinking of that amazed look Silas got when he saw something beautiful. I couldn't wait to watch that expression light up his face.

                I could make it even better than just star gazing from the telescope. I could surprise him by picking him up early and getting us dinner. He seemed to like trying new food, so hopefully I could find something new for him to have before we set out to watch the stars.         

                A small smile curved my lips as I talked to the others, the conversation having nothing to do with it. Tomorrow would be great.