The Boy Behind the Mask {Delirious}

Chapter 38

Jonathan

"Seriously, man, why'd you hide for all these years?" Brian asked.

We had a bonfire going in the backyard. Everyone was here now, excluding Macy. She claimed that she wanted us to have our "guy time", so she went to sleep a bit early.

Marcel and Craig arrived a little bit after David. And Brock lived up to his "Early Bird" title and arrived last. We had chairs set up and Luke was kind enough to go to the store really quick to buy a few cases of beer for all of us. While he went to the store with Craig, the rest of us split up. Some set up chairs and other things for the bonfire, while everyone else followed me to the forest to grab as many sticks as they could.

Everything had officially been set up by nine and we were still talking at one in the morning.

"Yeah," David added. "Was it just that you were afraid of what we'd think of you?"

I felt their stares on me, yet I didn't want to run or hide.

"I mean, that's some of it. I was just in a really bad place for all those years. Online, it was really the only place where I could let myself laugh and be happy. Once I logged off, I was just irritable and just really self-conscious about my looks and my behavior."

I had way too many drinks tonight, but it helped to say the truth. My explanation left my friends quiet. I could see Luke's face across the fire. He looked worried, but I smiled at him.

"I've gotten over it now, though."

"Why after all these years?"

I smiled, staring down at the bottle in my hand. "Because of Macy. Everything is because of Macy. She's made the biggest impact on my life and if it wasn't for her, I wouldn't be smiling right now."

The night played along. Tyler was quick to change the subject after it got quiet and I soon found myself pushing everyone around as we played a drunken game of football in the backyard, far away from the fire.

I was stumbling most of the time and in the middle of my wobbly legs, I fell and Brock pulled me across the grass by my legs.

"You're the last one left! Complete the mission!" Craig said as my back was dragged across the backyard.

I looked up at the night sky in confusion, laughter and shouting in the background. Then I was drenched. Luke stood by the hose spraying it directly at me, then onto Brock, and eventually all of us were soaked.

I wondered if this was what I had missed out on for so many years. It was just stupid, amazing fun and I needed this. God, I've needed this for ages.

The boys and I, we sat in our seats again around the bonfire, trying to dry ourselves as we shivered in the cold.

"Did you guys figure out where you'd be sleeping?"

"Yeah," Evan answered. "Brian and I are rooming together. Then, Brock and David. Then, Tyler and Luke. Marcel and Craig are sharing the couch-bed downstairs."

Craig winked at Marcel playfully. "Can't wait to see you in bed."

"You know it boo."

It was around three when the nine of us finally called it a night. We had to take turns going into the bathroom to change and get ready for bed. There was a bathroom in the hall upstairs and one downstairs so it didn't take all that long.