Last Year of Seventeen

Chapter 9 - The Mockingbird

On a typical Sunday night our hangout place will be The Mockingbird, the club owned by Altair– Dove and Raven's older brother. We always get a free pass and a VIP Lounge in an area that overlooks the entire place. We get dibs on the finest drinks and freshest weeds. Legally speaking, we're not really allowed any of those yet. But what is even illegal to us?

In our defense, we don't take anything more than what's provided. Nothing hard and dangerous. And Altair always makes sure of that. Even freedom has their restrictions.

When I got there, Theo was already raving at the dance floor trying to pick up girls. But his aggression and massive ego could only chase them away. It was painful to watch him. I guess that's why he accepted the deal. He's in desperate need of guidance– my guidance specifically. And he knows I'll never help him in any other circumstance.

Arlo and Raven were already on their own corner and whatever they were doing should be done in private. I still wonder when they started to transition from being casual friends to almost eating each other's faces. It still gives me a weird vibe.

A server came to bring a bottle of Don Papa– our usual starter, and Dove invited me beside her and poured me a glass.

"God, they're disgusting" she said, a clear jab towards her twin and Arlo.

I shrugged. "They are, but hey, whatever makes them happy."

Dove exhaled comically, "How can she like Arlo's face?"

"Hmm– she's probably thinking the same thing when you're kissing me. You wanna see what's more disgusting?"

She shakes her head but still, I pointed to the dance floor and watched her follow my finger until her eyes landed on Theo. And Theo, well– let's just say it's the fourth girl who just told him she has a boyfriend and quickly skidded away. From the looks of it she definitely didn't have a boyfriend. We watched her as she sat back with her group of friends who subsequently laughed after what appeared to be her, telling them about Theo.

Dove and I grimaced at the same time, "Oh poor boy" she exclaimed. "Why don't you just help him? Just this once."

"He never really asked. Only when we made the bet did I figure he probably wanted– needed my help."

"But he's such a sad little thing," Dove mused. She swirls her glass before taking another sip. "I mean, he's not even bad looking. He just needs a change in–" she stopped to ponder what makes Theo so unappealing. We both know the answer. I was already laughing before she could finish her sentence, "–his entire personality, I must say."

Being friends with Dove is easy. She knows me like the back of her hand and I'm the same with her. She knows what I like, in wine, horses, girls, art– basically anything surface level, and she knows what I hate. We can laugh at the same things, fuss over each other's problems, pick-up the same hobbies and the same worries– she with Raven and I with Theo. We have so many things in common, it's not impossible for anyone to think we match. But something just doesn't feel right with Dove, at least with me. For a while, I kept telling myself that it's because we've been friends for so long that I can't see her as anything more. But that's a lie. We fit, but we're not compatible– if that makes any sense. She knows me. Well, at least the Henry she created in her mind– the charming, unpredictable paramour, and in some way, I do like that version.

Theo came around this time. Flushed, embarrassed and a bit annoyed. Nothing out of the usual. Dove greeted him first, "How are you darling?"

He mumbled something I couldn't hear over the blasting music and rumbling crowd but I saw Dove comfort him. She does a really great job in coddling Theo. Like an older sister to a much younger brother. When in reality it's Theo who's the older one by eight months. And this is the main reason why Dove thought Theo was joking when he asked her out when we were fifteen. She couldn't be convinced that it wasn't one of our bets. And to save face, Theo just claimed it was. Of course, I have to corroborate this. Because that's who I am for Theo, his arrogant but always dependable best friend.