We rang the doorbell of Akira's cousin's house. A girl pulled it open a few moments later.

                "Oh, hey," she greeted. "Here for Emi?"

                "Hi Sara. She still around?" Akira asked.

                "Your dad told her you were with Jack and Garrett when she went by your house, so she's been clinging to her phone hoping you'd call," Sara said, rolling her eyes. "Sorry, Garrett."

                "All good," I said. It was no secret Akira's younger cousin had a crush on me, but she did her best to act casual around me.

                "Go grab her. We'll take her for ice cream," Akira said.

                Sara disappeared into the house. I checked my phone to make sure Roan hadn't texted me, relieved when there were no new messages on my phone. I might have just stuffed my face with fries, but I'd be damned if I wasn't going to get ice cream.

                Emi basically sprinted out of the front door, big grin on her face. "Akira! Garrett! Ja- Oh, not Jack."

                "Jack's in trouble for setting Silas's yard on fire," Akira said.

                Emi's eyes widened. "And Ray hasn't killed him yet?"

                "Not yet. Mr. Waymire might've beat him to it, we're not really sure yet," I said. "Ready for some ice cream?"

                "Absolutely," Emi said, pulling the door shut and following us back to Akira's car.

                "Can I-" Emi started.

                "Absolutely not. Shotgun and aux cord are mine. Backseat for the third wheel," I said, pulling the back door open for her. "After you, ma'am. Except not really after you, because I'm getting in the front."

                Emi pouted but got in the back. I hopped in the front, rolling the window down and turning the volume up as I settled on a song with a heavy beat.

                We drove down to the ice cream shop, getting out of the car. Emi pulled out her wallet, but Akira pushed her hand away.

                "I've got it. Dad gave me some money before we left," Akira said.

                I slung an arm around Emi's shoulders. "You two and your rich dads. Can you just adopt me already?"

                "I do not want you in my family. My brother drives me crazy enough," Akira said.

                "Come on, I can kill your brother and replace him. No one would even notice. I could totally pass for Asian," I said.

                "You wouldn't want all of Kai's responsibilities anyways," Akira said. "Shut up and order your ice cream, Garrett."

                I happily obliged, and we grabbed our ice cream when it was ready, seating ourselves at a table together. Akira took out his phone after a few minutes.

                "Wow, Jack's still alive," he said, looking impressed. "He's going to meet us here."

                "So, what happened with Jack?" Emi asked.

                "He thought he could do a firework display, I told him it was a horrible idea, he didn't listen to me, and it turned out to be a horrible idea," Akira said. "The usual."

                "Ah," Emi said, nodding in understanding.

                "Aw, c'mon guys, he's trying. He'll get it right someday," I said.

                "Yea, if he doesn't get arrested first," Akira said.

                "You need to be more encouraging," I said, elbowing him. "Always a Debby Downer."

                "Always the only rational one," Akira corrected. "Notice how every time I tell you guys something is a bad idea, it always ends up being a bad idea? Yea, that's because I'm not impulsive like you two idiots. You could reboot Dumb and Dumber."

                "An acting career!" I said in excitement. "I could be famous. I could make millions."

                "Or you could struggle to find work and become an alcoholic who's constantly in and out of rehab," Akira said.

                "Man, you are a Debby Downer," Emi said.

                "See? Two against one, Mr. Pessimism," I said.

                "Shut up and eat your ice cream. The ice cream I paid for," Akira said.

                We ate until I spotted Jack's car pulling in. I waved him over and he grinned as he joined us at the table.

                "I survived," he said happily. "And he gave me money for two more planes when I told him about my experiments."

                "You're so spoiled it makes me want to shove those planes down your throat," Akira said.

                "Coming from you, Aki," Emi said, raising an eyebrow. "You get away with whatever you want."

                "And yet I'm still a rational man," Akira said.

                "We're all a little spoiled. It's fine. We're decent people," I said.

                "He sets his neighbor's lawn on fire like it's his damn hobby," Akira said, gesturing to Jack.

                "Well, Ray is kind of an asshole," Jack said. "Silas, too. No surprise there since he hangs out with Kai, though."

                "He's always nice to me," Emi said. "Well, you know, nice for Silas."

                "He'd probably be nice to Jack too if Jack would quit shooting fireworks at his house," Akira said.

                "It keeps life exciting. Is dinner burning? Is the house on fire again because of the neighbor? Excitement!" I said.

                "One of these days Ray is going to punch both of you in the face and I'm not going to feel sorry for you," Akira said.

                "One of these days you'll love and respect me," I said.

                "Great friendship guys," Emi said, flashing us a thumbs-up.

                "Hey, what are we doing the rest of the day? I'm alive, and I want to celebrate," Jack said.

                "My house probably isn't a safe idea, because Kaito and his friends will want to kill us," Akira said.

                "My house isn't a safe idea because Ray wants to kill us," Jack said.

                "You guys can come to my house," Emi offered.

                "No way. Your dad will sell us out. Kaito will find us and kill us," Akira said.

                "Hey, why don't we go walk the trail up near the river? It's a nice day out, and we should probably work off all the food," I said.

                "Oh, yea, I love that trail," Emi said. "It's nice and shaded. I'm down."   

                "Sure, let's go," Akira said, getting up.

                We all got up and headed for the parking lot. We split with Jack so he could take his car, and Akira tossed me the aux cord as I slid in the passenger seat with no complaints from Emi.

                "Better pick a good song to earn that spot," Emi said, peeking her head over my seat and watching me scroll through my phone.

                "When have I not picked a good song? Sit back and let your ears enjoy," I said, tapping on a song and rolling the window down so the air could hit me.

                We reached the small parking lot for the trail, only two other cars there. But as we got out of the car, I noticed a turtle in the road.

                Akira noticed it too. "Don't, Garrett. This is a busy road. They'll swerve around it."

                "You know there will be that asshole who doesn't swerve, or who doesn't see it because they're distracted," I said, moving for the road.

                Akira caught my arm. "Then what makes you think they'll move or see you?"

                "Come on, it's a busy season for turtles. It won't take me long to scoop him up and run him across the street," I said, pushing his hand off my arm. "If I die, tell my mom I did it for the turtle."

                "Jesus, I hate you, Garrett," Akira groaned, watching me jog towards the road.

                "Those could be your last words to me," I called over my shoulder.

                "They're perfect last words," Akira called back.

                I looked both ways before hurrying into the road. I carefully lifted the turtle from an angle where he wouldn't be able to bite me. He struggled a little in my hands, but I kept a firm grip on him.

                No point bringing him to the side of the road I'd been on. He'd been crossing to the other side, and he'd just start all over again and risk himself.

                A car honked at me and I lifted the turtle so they could see him. I waited until a car on the other side had passed before darting across the road. I carried the turtle a safe distance from the road before setting him down and backing away. He slowly crawled along, away from the road.

                "I'll buy you a skateboard and you can just shoot across the street next time. Maybe one of Jack's planes," I said. "Only, you know, we won't blow you up."

                The turtle promptly ignored me, so I turned and headed back to the road. It took me a little to be able to cross safely, and when I made it back, Akira smacked me in the back of the head.

                "You do this every time you see an animal in the road. You're going to get hit, Garrett," Akira said. "Compassion isn't worth your own life, you know."

                "This is why turtles don't like you," I said, rubbing the back of my head.

                "Hey, do you think we could stick a firework to a-" Jack started.

                "If you put a firework on a turtle shell, I will rip it off, light it, and shove it up your ass. You can shoot into the air and explode and we won't have to deal with you anymore," Akira said.

                "That was a little too graphic, Aki," Emi said.

                "But true. Stay away from turtles, both of you," Akira said, glaring between me and Jack.

                "You take all the fun out of life," Jack said with a pout.

                The four of us started down the trail. It was shaded and cool, the pavement bordered by grass and flowers.

                "So what do you guys have planned for the summer?" Emi asked.

                "I'll be busy trying and failing to keep them out of trouble," Akira said.

                "We'll be busy trying and succeeding at getting into trouble," I said.

                "Any time you need a getaway driver, I'm your girl," Emi said.

                "Don't go pulling my cousin into your brand of trouble," Akira said, shooting a look at me and Jack.

                "Don't go controlling my life, Akira," Emi said. "If I want to be a getaway driver, then I'm going to be a getaway driver."

                "Sweet, now we can upgrade from setting Ray's lawn on fire to robbing banks," I said, slapping a high five with Jack.

                "I'm going to go far, far away from you people this summer. Somewhere with nice weather, and relaxed people who don't want any trouble or fires," Akira said.

                Jack nudged him. "Somewhere with nice girls?"

                "Jack," Akira hissed, nodding at Emi and roughly elbowing Jack.

                Emi pretended not to notice them, turning to me instead. "Do you have any plans with Roan for the summer?"

                "Other than praying he finds his chill despite the heat? Not particularly," I said. My phone buzzed and I pulled it out of my pocket, groaning. "Dammit, Emi, you summoned him."

                She frowned. "Oops."

                I checked the new message and responded to Roan. He wanted me to come over, but I wanted to finish our walk along the trail first. It was such a nice day out.

                So we walked the trail, me putting my phone on silent when Roan wouldn't quit texting me. I wanted to enjoy my time outside.

                But then we reached the end of the trail, having looped back the cars. I looked at Akira and gave a sheepish grin.

                "Mind dropping me at Roan's?" I said.

                "Guess we're losing you for the night, then," Akira said. "Jack, I'm going to drop Garrett off. Kaito should be off somewhere with his friends by now, so we should be safe to hang out at Emi's. Meet us there."

                "Got it," Jack said. "See you later, pal."

                "See you," I said, waving and getting into Akira's car.

                Akira drove me to Roan's house, him and Emi calling out their goodbyes as I left the car. I rang Roan's doorbell, waiting until he pulled it open, looking angry.

                "Why were you ignoring me?" he demanded.

                "Hi to you too," I said, slipping into the house. "We were walking the trail. I told you I was coming over when we were done."

                "So, what, you can't walk and text?" he said, slamming the door.

                "I like to enjoy the scenery," I said. His expression didn't change and I mentally sighed. "I'm sorry, Roan. I was just enjoying the walk. I knew I was seeing you after."

                "Do you wish you stayed with them?" he asked, dropping his gaze.

                "No, I'm glad I get to see you," I said, putting my arms around him.

                He shrugged weakly. "It just feels like you you'd rather be with them than me most of the time."

                "That's not it, Roan. I love spending time with them, and with you. I promise." I tilted his head and kissed him.

                Roan didn't really care for my friends that much. He spent time around them and acted civil just because they were my friends. If I could avoid mixing them together, I did. I knew they weren't overly crazy about Roan either.

                Roan grabbed my hand and tugged me through the hallway. "Come on, Gar. Let's go do something."

                I smiled and let him tug me along. "Yea, okay. But you better feed me snacks."

                Maybe I could get Roan and my friends to get along. It would be a tough summer if I had to spend my time split between them.

                But I could think about that later. For now, I'd just enjoy my time with Roan. There'd be plenty of time to figure the rest out later.