"Hey, can I join you guys out here?" I slid the back door closed and looked over at my group of friends sitting near the pool. I made brief eye contact with Connor but he quickly looked away.
"Of course Jay," one of my other friends, Zane stood up and walked over to greet me. "Where have you been?"
"Haha. I was too optimistic with my time," I laughed. "Have you guys had anything to drink yet?"
"Well, they have. I'm the driver though so I gotta stay sober you know."
I looked over at Connor again. I hated the feeling of someone being disgusted or annoyed at me. It made me anxious and worry about what he might say to my other friends.
"How is Connor doing?" I asked Zane. "Has he said anything weird about me?"
"No, he's been fine. Why?"
"Ah nothing. I just got in a little fight with him when I got here. But it should be fine."
"I'm sure it's okay! Sometimes fighting makes a friendship better!" Zane patted me on the back and walked me to the group. "Hey guys! Our boy Jay is here!"
"Jayden!" A few of them looked over at me with smiles on their faces as I sat down at the edge of the pool with them.
"Have you said hi to Chloe yet?" Zane asked.
"Oh, no I haven't! I saw her earlier but she was with some friends so I just left her be."
"Come on man," Connor suddenly spoke up. "She wouldn't have minded you interrupting her. She most likely would've showed you off to all of her friends anyways."
"Hey," I leaned in closer to the group, "That's exactly why I don't wanna go greet her."
Our little group erupted in laughter and continued on in meaningless conversation. I came to understand why they all chose to come and sit here outside. It was a nice night. The calm breeze and full moon made it feel like a cool summers night even in the fall. Perks of living in Vegas I suppose.
"Hey. You," I heard a voice from behind me as I felt someone poke the top of my head. I turned around to see August standing over me with a phone dangling in his hand. "Your mobile lost and found is here."
There it is again. His bad tastes in jokes. It's honestly like he's a 40 year old dad already. I thought it was bad to have to hear them online but it is most definitely worse to hear them face to face.
"Haha, what?" I looked at him in confusion.
"You left your phone in the kitchen," he handed over the phone. "Keep track of your stuff."
"Oh, well thank you."
"Do you mind if I join you here?" He asked.
He's most definitely onto something. Maybe he already suspects me of being Yagami. He probably just wants to hear my voice more to confirm his suspicions.
"Hey, why are you talking to that guy?" Connor laughed. "Hey nasty, get out of here. No one invited you."
Please don't judge me for talking to August. Please don't look down on me or judge me. I can't be seen talking with him. These people will rip into me.
"I wasn't talking to you, shithead," August smiled at Connor. "Hey Jayden I need to talk to you for a sec. It's about the group project in history class."
What group project?
"I'll be right back," I said as I stood up.
I followed him for a little while in silence. He walked me around to the front of the house to the sidewalk right in front of Chloe's house.
"So what's this about a group-"
"I don't understand why you're so hooked on what people think of you," he interrupted.
"Who said I was?" I retorted. "And why do you want to talk to me anyways? To chastise how I live my life?"
"Geez who knew the class prince was so rude," he laughed. "I just wanted to ask why you were at this party. It's totally out of your character."
"Then what is this about a group project?"
"There isn't one. You just seem to care so much about your reputation so I decided to give you a cover up." He looked over at me, with no expression at all.
"Well, thanks for that."
"Wanna sit?" He said, gesturing to the edge of the sidewalk. "It's super loud over at the house."
I wasn't entirely sure why he seemed so invested in talking with me at this moment. The whole situation was just so awkward. The only reasonable explanation for his weird actions was that he knew I was Yagami. In the past, he's always hated Jayden. He always has so what would ever change that?
I think what bothered me most about him was that he was so impossible to read. I always found it so easy to read expressions and understand others. But him, no, there was nothing I could pinpoint about him. His personality was a mystery and his intentions were so unclear.
Although I was weary of him, I sat next to him on that cold curb anyways. Maybe a part of me wanted to be figured out and uncovered. But another part of me just wanted to stay in hiding forever. I guess that was always my struggle. Never knowing exactly what I wanted.
"So you dye your hair," he spoke up out of nowhere.
"Ha, what?" I nervously laughed. "I do obviously. It's not like I try to hide it. No one has this color of blonde."
"Hm, you're incredibly hard to strike up a conversation with, you know."
"We've never really spoken. It's not like it's my fault," I sighed. "If you're just gonna sit here and insult me, I see no reason in staying here to talk to you."
I quickly stood back up but as soon as I stood up I felt August grab onto my arm.
"Don't leave."
What is this guys deal in the first place? Is he even mentally stable? The longer I stay, the more awkward it's getting for the both of us. Just spare me already and let me leave.
"If you want the truth, I called you out to hang with me because you seem easier to talk to than the rest of them," he smiled at me. "I know I'm acting weird and probably making you uncomfortable. I just don't want to go home right now and waiting around alone is boring."
"I did honestly think it a little weird how you pulled me away from my friends for some small talk with me," I laughed. For a moment we both went quiet until I spoke up again. "But I could use some time away from them."
"Wanna leave the party then?" He smiled at me. "There's an arcade that I go to that's still open right now."
"Why not? Sounds more fun than drinking to me!"