Summer Break

My mouth is dry, it's hot, and I'm sandwiched between two excited and sweaty boys. Every now and then when they get sucked into their conversation they jump up suddenly and send me flying sideways.

When I walked into Peter's house, I expected a party. I expected the living room to be crowded and I expected thousands of eyes to stare at me when I walk in. What I didn't expect was "everyone" to mean Dylan, Peter, and Niko.

Instead of their wild and crazy parties, this was just a "hangout". I don't know if Peter was mixed up or if he was trying to make me stress out on purpose. The halfway-hidden smile he wears while talking gave me a hint it was the latter.

Supposedly the "party" was postponed until later because the two had work tomorrow. When they told me, I was surprised because who would've thought that these two had a summer job? Much less that they were actually acting responsible for once.

"Don't let your jaw hang open for too long or the flies'll make a home." Dylan chuckled.

"Are you really that surprised that we have summer jobs?" Peter questions. His attention was glued to the TV but I could tell he was genuinely asking me. He glances over at me once, raising a brow before focusing on the screen again.

"Actually," Pause. "Yes. I am surprised. Can you blame me though? For one, you party and go out every night. What else am I supposed to think?"

Their body language gives me nothing but blankness. They say nothing but exchange a look between the two. Niko gives me nothing but an exasperated look. His eyes widen and he shakes his head with pursed lips. It was like he was telling me to stop.

"Wait." Peter says. "You think we're irresponsible?" He stands up and drops the controller behind him on the couch.

Judging by just his body language, he was getting irritated. Perhaps even more mad than irritated, but how was that my fault? It was true, just not in the way he was thinking.

"That's not wh-"

"C'mon Charlie, you knew exactly what you were trying to say. We get it, we're not good and responsible like you are. We're not boring."

Dylan interrupts, standing to get in between us. "Hey, hey, hey." He says, showing us his palms.

"No Dylan, Don't defend her. Let me say what I have to say."

Peter pulls his phone out and furiously types on his phone. He gives me a deadly look through his lashes. I cringe inwardly but I wasn't going to let him know that. I was more curious as to what he's doing. More so, what he was typing.

"What're you typing twinkle toes? Writing about me to your digital diary?" I laugh to myself. With a sweep around the room, the others aren't paying very much attention. Dylan and Niko had both gone back to playing, awkwardly. I could tell they weren't playing like before with the way they keep sneaking glances over at us.

I could see why. Peter was still furiously typing into his phone, while simultaneously glaring up at me every couple of seconds. Just the look made my joking smile melt from my face. A frown makes itself onto my lips and I harumph when I throw myself on the only open seat: next to Peter.

He doesn't react in the slightest. Even though my knee is touching his thigh and he shifted slightly closer, he pays no attention. He just grunts and scoots right back over.

I couldn't help but let a tinge of coldness seep into my chest.

Was I too harsh? Is he going to give this silent treatment to me for forever? Are they going to ignore it too?

I glance over at Niko and Dylan to see them no longer being cautious, but actually playing for fun. Their laughter is loud and boisterous along with the game. They're playing some shooting game and I watch them shoot at brightly colored targets until they splinter.