Please

Part 7

"So, I was thinking," Devin plops down beside you where you sit on the bench, criss-cross, a bag of food in the curve of your legs.

"About?" you ask, lifting a french fry to your lips.

"Your birthday. What we're gonna do. What you're going to wear."

You roll your eyes.

The band was taking a food-break along a coastal city, which you find to be amazing. You were sitting on a park bench, gazing out at the ocean, listening to the seagulls as they fly above. You can smell the salt air, feel the cool breeze of the water as it washes over you.

You never want to leave.

You gaze out at the water, people on bikes and rollerskates going by you as you sit, the fast food warm in your lap. You have your sunglasses pushed back into your hair, and you weren't wearing makeup today, not feeling a need to doll up as much now that you're bruises were gone and you had nothing to hide.

"Why do I need to wear something special for my birthday?" you ask after a moment, glancing at him. Most of the guys were still at the fast food place, standing in line and waiting for their orders or chasing each other through the sandy beach just over the rails.

Balz was in a pair of flowered red shorts and a shirt that basically didn't have any sides, and he was chasing Ryan around with a watergun, both of them laughing and carrying on like teenagers.

You were amused, watching them.

Boys never did grow up.

"Because! It's your birthday, you're supposed to feel special," Devin informs you, watching the two of them as well. "And we'll be in a venue on your birthday, so we'll have to party either before or after that; probably after, because I bet a lot of us are going to get drunk."

"Ricky doesn't -."

"Yeah, yeah," Devin rolls his eyes, as if he's heard it a thousand times. "Ricky and Chris are straight edge, I know. But that doesn't mean the rest of us are and don't need to get wasted, right? Besides, you need to relax a little, have some fun!"

You roll your eyes, and smack his hand thoughtlessly as he reaches for your fries, earning a cross look.

"Hey, go get your own!"

"Well, I'm waiting on them. C'mon, I'm starving!"

You scowl, and then begrudgingly offer him some.

Fries were some of your favorite food, you weren't much for sharing.

Devin chuckles, taking a few and eating them before you can change your mind. His gaze turns back to the beach where Ryan and Balz are trotting forward, soaked to the skin and laughing, pushing back and forth at each other.

"Hey," Balz says breathlessly, hopping over the railing and going to where you and Devin are sitting. "Dude, that smells great!"

"Your orders should be done soon," you respond, glancing up at him, seeing the water glistening as it rolls off his skin in the warm sunlight. "You two are soaking wet."

"Totally worth it," Ryan laughs, running a hand through his messed, wet hair. "I kicked his ass -."

"Bullshit, no you didn't!"

"I totally did, dude."

"Nope." Balz raises the watergun, shooting Ryan right in the face and making him squawk and sputter. Balz laughs, and then takes off for the line where the rest of the guys are waiting, Ryan chasing after him.

You laugh, watching them go.

"Are they always like that?"

"Of course," Devin sighs. "What more do you expect?"