gladly [haim] DISCONTINUED

xvi

,,

As the music played and the whole group was having fun except Vivian who didn't want to be there at all. In fact who knew why she was so pissy lately, but soon they would know.

The two lovers sat in a circle as they listened to Paco tell his stories as always. "What about that bruise on the cheek?" Leo asked taking some of the chips along with a beer. He cockily raised his hands smacking his hands. "When was it? Last Friday, Ara, Brisa, Erika and I went to El Olé and this little rat got drunk as fuck-" pointing at Brisa who rolled her eyes. "So you know them perverts and me being the local hero punched the dumb fuck on the nose, but you know I ran, fuck you mean, not getting my ass beat by a preppy- So, before we could walk away he caught up and punched me, but no one is going to win me so you know, a kick in the nuts, a purple nurple and another punch, we all ran out while Brisa laughed her ass off and in the car she let everything out."

Everyone there laughed and got disgusted, but that happens when you know so many people who have stories. Later on almost everyone there told stories while they drank alcohol. Corey was having fun and he enjoyed being with Neely's friends. Hell, he enjoyed how many stories they all had of all the things they do. It made him think that he should do something, all he had done was play sports and hang out with the popular kids who only went to parties where only the pops and rich were invited. The only party he enjoyed all his high school years was that bon voyage where every senior was aloud and they had fun. Shit- that was the night he made love instead of have sex.

"Okay, here. Back in lets see... 88' when I came with Leo and Caifes to visit this rat, Pacin because he was feeling down and we picked him up going to el cerro and since his grandpa was a train conductor we would get on the train and run around pissing people off and you know it was those old 1800s trains so it was dangerous hopping from cart to cart, either you would get stuck in the rails or it was your end. So when we got caught running around and we were on the bridge above the lake we had no option other than jump- well we did, but eh we were younger we didn't care. Later on the day when I went back home I was all wet and bloody from the thorns of the bushes when we went around the woods and scraped knees from running around the cerro and slipping when the rocks would appear. Ask Dani, he scrapped his cheek and started crying like a pussy, but who wouldn't. There were even shards of broken beer bottles. From all those falls we had we leaned how to tolerate physical pain. Yet I'm still a bitch like back then." Everyone laughed and behind stood Vivian who sat in a chair drinking beer while watching Corey kiss Neely from time to time.

"Why are you mad?" Wil asked her as he sat next to her with a beer in hand. "I'm not mad." She said while looking at him. "You're mad with Neely, I know that for a fact." She rolled her eyes looking at the dark haired boy who drank his almost finished beer bottle. "I'm not." "Bullshit, that sarcasm in your voice when we appreciate her and the way you talked earlier, shit even the way you're looking at her right now when she's with Corey..." Vivian looked at Corey with a smile as he turned looking around. "Shit, Vivian." Wil muttered as he looked at her in shock. "You're dead meat." He laughed standing up as he walked to Sean and Ed who were playing pool.

"Sup, dude." Sean said as he saw Wil's face. "You look like you just heard some stuff." Ed laughed as he finished his beer bottle. "So you know how Vivian has been a bitch to Neely- well I think I know why." The guys paid attention and when Wil told them they had the same look as Wil. "Weak dude!" Sean said as he chuckled. "That's so fucking dramatic. What kind of bullshit." Ed scoffed looking at them. "It happens. Remember last year when Mel was dating this one guy and her friend ended up liking him? There's the same story." Ed laughed nodding as he remembered how that went. "Mel beat the shit out of her, but it's Neely we're talking about she's not as violent anymore. She would probably expose Vivian until she wants to leave the country." Wil raised an eyebrow nodding. "How come though?" Sean asked, Wil shrugged throwing the bottle he had away. "She doesn't want to tell me anything."