Changes

11

Zac and Finn are on the couch when I get downstairs. Zac glances at me, and raises an eyebrow.

"You helped Micah?" He asks.

"How'd you know?"

"You have paint under your fingernails." He says. "And you look exhausted."

"He said Ryder's being annoying?" I say as I sit beside them.

They share a look. Finn sighs.

"We aren't all agreeing about something, that's all." He says. "I fell asleep before you guys got back yesterday, how'd it go?"

I tell him about the party, but I'm interrupted by a loud scream. I start to stand, but Finn shakes his head.

"Just wait." He says.

"MICAH, I AM GOING TO MURDER YOU!"

"Not if you can't catch me!"

I hear footsteps, and Micah sprints into the room. He gives Zac and Finn each a quick kiss and grins at me before dashing to the sunroom. A minute later, Ryder comes into the room.

Finn giggles at him, and Zac coughs to hide a smile. Ryder's in just his boxers, his still-wet hair green with bits of purple on one side. His nails are bright pink, and there's purple paint on his chest from the towel.

"Where is he?" He snaps.

None of us say anything. His eyes narrow, and he comes over to me. He grabs my wrist, looking at my nails.

"You helped him?" He demands.

My face is flaming at how close we are. I can't deny the fact that Ryder is attractive, even looking like this, and he's hardly wearing any clothes. "I-it-he promised me cookies?"

He glares for about two seconds before muttering something, and dropping my hand. "Where'd he go?"

I point to the kitchen, and he goes. He gives me a look when he comes out a minute later, going towards the sunroom. There's a shriek, then Ryder drags Micah upstairs.

Lio comes down the stairs a couple seconds later. "What just happened?"

"Happy birthday." I say.

He tilts his head. "It's my birthday? Oh, yeah. Nevermind. Happy birthday to me. Can I have cake?"

DJ asks me to keep Lio out of the house, and Ari wants to see us anyway, so we go out to meet them at a coffee shop.

"This is so ironic." Lio mutters, pushing open the door.

I spot Ari immediately. They have dark skin, and bright green dreads that are twisted up into a bun. They're wearing a black shirt and bright blue jeans that are rolled up over their shoes that have sharpie doodles on them.

We walk over to their table, and they grin. "Jake! I haven't seen you in so long!"

I laugh as they hug me. "Hey, Ari."

"I'm here, too." Lio says as he sits down.

"I know, Lio, but I saw you two days ago."

I sit down beside Ari. "How've you been?"

"Fine. My new job is boring."

"Where are you working?" I ask.

"Movie theater. The only good thing is getting to watch movies for free, and Ella works there."

"Is Ella going to last?" Lio asks, smiling.

They sigh. "I think so. She's really nice."

"A couple months ago you were calling her an idiot."