As Rosie entered her house, she found it dark with only someone sitting on the couch.
"Mom, you scared me. What are you doing here with the lights off?" Rosie whispered.
"Shh, don't wake up my princess. She's finally asleep," her mom replied.
"Oh, sorry. Were you waiting for me?" Rosie asked.
"Just thinking. And it's cool to think in the dark," her mom laughed lightly.
"You and Desmond seem to be quite close now," her mom said.
"We're just friends," Rosie blushed.
"You're blushing, right?" her mom asked knowingly.
Me? No, I'm not," Rosie denied.
"I'd like to hear more about your relationship with him. Has he asked you out?" her mom probed further.
"Privacy, Mom! Privacy," Rosie protested.
"Okay, sorry. You can go to your room now," her mom relented.
"Good night," Rosie said as she left.
At the arcade, Raymond and Desmond were playing video games. After the game, they headed to the vending machine to get drinks and snacks.
"So, tell me about Sarah," Desmond said, breaking the silence.
"She's a beautiful and sexy young girl, with thick thighs and lips you'll want to kiss when you look..." Raymond started to describe, but Desmond interrupted him.
"Dude! Not that. Tell me about your relationship with her, not her body," Desmond chided, slapping Raymond's head lightly.
"Oh. Well... we're friends," Raymond said after a brief pause.
"Just friends?" Desmond asked skeptically.
"Yeah, friends. Or... we were friends," Raymond admitted.
"Were? The way you described her body earlier suggests you guys aren't - or weren't - just friends," Desmond observed.
"We made out a few times, though," Raymond admitted.
"So, friends with benefits?" Desmond asked.
"I guess so," Raymond replied.
"Have you guys ever been intimate?" Desmond asked curiously.
"Nah, I haven't done that in a long time," Raymond lied.
"Why did you say you guys were friends? Did something happen?" Desmond asked.
"I was going to end things with her because I wanted someone new. I wanted a new body for my pleasure, but she said it first. She ended things with me first. She said she liked someone now, so she had to call it quits. She doesn't even want us to be friends - Sarah blocked and deleted my number right in front of me," Raymond explained.
"But..." Desmond began to ask, but Raymond quickly cut him off.
"I know what you want to say. You want to know why I'm sad, right?" Raymond guessed.
"Yeah. Didn't you want to end things with her?" Desmond asked.
"Yes, but I wanted to say it first. It hurt me when she said it first. Also, I would like to remain friends with her too," Raymond admitted.
"I don't understand you. It sounds like you're just greedy," Desmond remarked.
"It's not like that. I just don't know how to explain it, really," Raymond said.
"Player!" Desmond teased.
"Enough with the questioning. It's your turn now. Tell me about Rosie. You and Rosie," Raymond said, changing the subject.
"We're buddies with benefits," Desmond replied with a laugh.
"For real? I'm not sure she looks like the type of girl who allows guys to smooch her," Raymond said skeptically.
"Well, she had a crush on me first," Desmond said, trying to defend himself.
"If you guys kiss and make out, I guess she doesn't have a boyfriend," Raymond observed.
"That's correct. She doesn't," Desmond confirmed.
"And you don't have a girlfriend, right?" Raymond asked.
"You know I don't," Desmond replied.
"Well...," Raymond started to say, trailing off.
"Well what?" Desmond asked, curious.
"Single motherfucker!!" Raymond laughed and playfully poured some of his drink on Desmond.
"Hey! You just ruined my favorite T-shirt," Desmond said, trying to wipe off the drink.
"Well, we can always buy replacement shirts," Desmond remarked as he emptied the rest of his drink on Raymond, ruining his white shirt.
Raymond and Desmond both laughed.
"What an evening," Desmond sighed.
"You like Rosie, don't you?" Raymond asked, his hand around Desmond's neck.
"Yes, I like her. But she doesn't know I feel that way," Desmond admitted.
"Are you sure she doesn't know?" Raymond asked skeptically.
"Yes. We agreed to be friends with benefits and nothing more after the second time we kissed," Desmond explained.
"So, what's your plan?" Raymond asked.
"Nothing for now. Let's finish our senior year. Besides, I may attend a university in a different country. We would be separated in a couple of months," Desmond said.
"What about Sarah? Do you want her back?" Desmond asked Raymond.
"No, I don't. Our relationship is over. I think I'm interested in someone else," Raymond hinted.
"Really? Who?" Desmond asked eagerly.
"I said I think. I'll tell you later if it turns out well. I don't want you to ridicule me if it doesn't," Raymond teased.
"Okay, let's head out. I'm exhausted and can't wait to sleep," Desmond said.
"Sleepyhead," Raymond teased.
They both left the arcade and parted ways as they headed home. Despite the unresolved questions on their minds, they were ready to call it a night and get some rest.