One Last Attempt

004

As we hit the streets, my laughter bubbles out. I realize that in the kitchen it wasn't tears I felt but giggles nearly bursting to the surface. As we walk down the sidewalk, past the university and towards our apartment building, I find myself throwing my hands in the air and whooping.

Baker is alive and breathing. His body is in one piece like it should be.

The others are good as well. Ava is smiling, maybe for the first time in her life. Jessie is playful and funny, and still a bit of a jerk but he's perfect exactly the way he is. Mari might be checking in on me, but she's no longer biting back tears.

When I shout into the night, so does Baker. A car drives by and honks at us, but I don't give a damn. Baker flips the bird at the driver before he wraps an arm around me. He's warm, which means his heart is still beating. I have been resurrected along with him.

"We're Kings of the Night!" he laughs, leaning his head on top of mine. "We're plastered idiots, and we are the best."

I nod, trying to regain my composure. I am acutely aware of people staring at us now. Even with Baker next to me, I am not immune to their glares.

"Baker..." I begin, but I trail off. I can't break this happiness. I just can't.

"We should celebrate," he says it and it becomes the only reality in the world, if only for a second.

I look up at him, but he pulls away. Already, I miss his touch. "We already did celebrate. I know that party was for Ava, but it was for us too."

The cold air is sobering. I find myself asking what the Hell I am doing, and what my plan is. I need to actually go over the events of this week and plot out a way to save Baker's life. I have three attempts, but I'm hoping I only need one. We should go to bed early tonight so he can study for his test in the morning.

"Comeon," his voice is still racing. Baker practically leaps off the sidewalk and knocks me over. Maybe he is drunker than I think he is. I'm still only one drink in. Maybe I should've counted how many he had poured back more carefully. "Please. Justone funthing."

I purse my lips together, unsure of how to proceed.

Baker pouts out his lip, leaning down towards me. He puts two hands on both of my cheeks, and they feel hotter (probably from the alcohol; which makes me glow). "Please Freds. For me."

My head is pounding. I look into his dark eyes, and I can barely see my reflection under the dim streetlights. Do I always look this afraid? "Okay."

He grabs my hand and pulls me down the street. We race along the sidewalk, dodging by drunk girls getting carried home from bars by their friends. When the red man flashes, we still cross the street. People honk at us. People stare. I push through it just to see Baker's smile.

We get to the supermarket, and I stare up at its big doors. "What are we doing here Baker?"

"A scavenger hunt!" he shouts, throwing his hands up in the air. He puts a hand on his chin and shakes his head. "No, that won't work. Notonebit. No, we'll play hide-and-go-seek. You ever played hide-and-go-seek in a shopping mall before?"

I shake my head.

"The trick to not getting caught is to walk briskly," Baker announces as we enter through the main doors. "I'll hidefirst."

When Baker said briskly, he really meant it. He speeds off into the store, turning around and throwing a wink at me. I shake my head back and forth, wishing I could text the others a picture of Baker and I playing to our group chat. I remember that this week will be the last time that any of us share pictures together.