Let's Play Pretend

I. Fake Names

 Charlie's (Hayden's) POV

We rushed through the house, picking rooms and thinking about what we would need throughout the week. But of course, Taylor's list was quite different from Lucy's or mine. 

"This is such a great house for parties," Taylor mused as she lugs her suitcase into the room right off the kitchen. Lucy just shook her head with a smile and claimed one of the rooms on the second floor. 

"When's Arin going to be here?" I asked anxiously. Arin was our fourth friend. The one who was taking the second bed room on the second floor. He was as gay as a rainbow and I love him to death. Out of my three friends he'd been my friend the longest. He was the one that I told everything to. He was the one that really, truly, understood me and what I liked and what I liked to do. Lucy tried but she didn't get it as much as she wanted to. And Taylor didn't even try. As long as I followed her around like a lost puppy she was fine with anything that I want to do. Although I knew that she didn't like how I was treated at school. These three people were my only friends. And I could see that it kills each and every one of them. 

"He's going to be here around midnight. He said not to wait up," Lucy answered. I nodded and hauled my suitcase up yet another flight of stairs. To the third story loft. It wasn't not that big. It had a day bed, a mini fridge, a closet, a bathroom, and a porch that happened to have a rope ladder attached. Not that I'd be needing it. I had no reason or need to be sneaking out. Plus, I could just walk out the front door. It wasn't  like there are any parental units with us. 

I unpacked all my things and then joined my friends down in the kitchen where we tried to decide what to do for dinner. 

"James said that Seaside is packed right now and that we should go join them," Lucy piped up. James had been her boyfriend for two years now. He was the captain of the football team. It was the perfect cliche--with Lucy head cheerleader and all. 

"Packed sounds perfect," Taylor agreed. "Leggo, bitches!" She called over her shoulder as she flung her purse over her shoulder and grabbed the car keys from the table by the door. We piled into the car. Taylor driving, Lucy in shotgun, and me sitting awkwardly in the back. 

Packed didn't really sound as great to me as it did to them. But at least I'd be able to check out the bookstore while Taylor walked around and flirted with countless guys and Lucy and James are sickenly adorable around us. Which I hated. 

"Music?" Taylor asked. As if she has to ask. I wiggled in my seat. I didn't particularly like the music that Taylor listened to. Well, really at all. 

"Why don't you let Hayden pick the music?" Lucy asked Taylor, grabbing her wrist before she could plug her own phone into the radio's jack. 

"Fine," Taylor grumbled. I reached over Taylor's shoulder and shoved the plug into my phone's jack and put my My Chemical Romance playlist on shuffle. Taylor grimaced when the angry guitar blasts through the car. 

"What the hell is this crap? Hayden, why do you listen to this?" I just smiled at her disgusted reaction and bobbed my head along to the beat of the music. 

Taylor looked absolutely relieved when we find a parking spot in Seaside. I think it's mostly because now she doesn't have to listen to my music anymore. I smirked at the thought. I loved bothering Taylor with the things that I like and such. Just setting her over the edge is downright hilarious.

We ordered tacos at a taco bar tucked back into some stores. I mostly ate in silence as I listened to my friends talk and I people watched. Many eyes fell upon Lucy and Taylor as they walked past our table. I tried not to let it bother me. Guys are pigs so why do I care?