"Quite the set-up you got there." April chimed, walking into Jason's small backyard, eyeing the fairy lights he was currently fixing on the tree branch.

"Only for the best late-comer." Jason retorted, adding a light chuckle after his statement. He stepped back, admiring his work on the tree. His attention would soon lay on the Taupe Birkin April was slinging on her arm, frowning at the idea of her developing a taste for the finer things in life.

She could feel the blonde's gaze burning through the snakeskin bag, discreetly shifting it away so the night wouldn't be based off this awkward interaction. The two made their way into the tent, sitting down on the padded polyester. Their conversations ranged from talking about how Mark was in bed to what Jason would be like as a porn star. However, in the back of April's concerned mind, there was a particular topic she wanted, no, needed to talk to Jason about.

"Jason, can I talk to you about something?" Her tone evidently lowered itself, the mood in the tent becoming somewhat intense.

"Hm," He replied, frowning at what her question could be about.

"Remember when I was staying here for a few days, and you told me not to use the main bathroom? Well, I used it." She bit her lower lip, seeing Jason's face become tensed. "I noticed there were heroin related items in there – and I don't know if you noticed but...I threw them out."

'So she's the one who threw them out' He thought to himself, feeling a little stupid for not realizing it sooner.

"I'm sorry for violating your privacy, but I'm really concerned for you. I know, from personal experience, what addiction can do to a person, including the people around them. Jason," She rested a soft hand on top of his, flashing him a look of worry. "I care about you, and I need to know how you're doing."

Jason nodded understandingly. He hadn't been used to people caring about him, let alone his addiction, which only a few people knew about – excluding April. He gulped, feeling highly ashamed for having his best friend stumbled in on something like that.

"Thank you for telling me, and I've been three weeks clean." He proudly stated, gaining a proud grin from April who attempted to hold back her tears.

She knew it was the bare minimum, considering her mother couldn't even stay sober for three weeks, but she was proud of Jason for accomplishing such a goal, never having been more proud of someone than she was of her best friend. The two of them embraced each other, a moment of happiness and self-nesses circling around them.

***

"And my man over here," Chad placed a hand over James' shoulder, trying to hold back a chuckle. "He – for once – decided to play Devil's advocate." The boy hollered, shaking his head while James looked down shyly, an embarrassed chuckle coming out of him.

"Listen, nobody's worse than Eric, alright?" James defensively stated, looking over at the blonde. "He stuck with her through everything! Until she slapped him of course," The group chuckled at the memory of him re-telling the story of the night when he'd confronted April.

Despite the four boy's laughter, only one of them genuinely did not want to be there, no matter how much he was enjoying the free beers. Eric sighed, rubbing the back of his neck uncomfortably as his friend's poked fun at his kindness towards April. Although it was tempting, Eric knew better than to stand up for himself in front of Chad and his three friends – knowing it could get him exile from the social life of Brighton, not to mention his boyfriend had enough evidence to blackmail him, so he opted to just try and 'be like them'.

"Hey, at least he wasn't accused of being a rapist!" Matthew sarcastically retorted, gaining an eye roll from Chad. "Like, seriously man, how have you not file a defamation report against that?" His head tilted in curiosity, causing the other to look at him as well.

"I mean, just because she's with your dad now, doesn't me-"

Chad's brows knitted together before James could even finish his sentence, causing him to turn around to the boy in disbelief.

"What the fuck did you just say? Dude, don't even think about making jokes like that." Chad grimaced, taking another swig of his beer, before seeing Matthew and Eric's expressions. "Come on! You sick fucks are the worst comedians!"

"It's not a joke, Chad." Matthew calmly spoke, sitting up straight after having his head resting on Eric's shoulder. "Majority of the town already knows." He wasn't sure on that part of the rumor, but he knew something was happening between Mark and April – from what he'd heard.

Chad shook his head, not being able to fathom the idea of his dad pounding into April every night before the two of them would wickedly go to sleep in the same bed. He licked his lips in frustration, going on to clench his jaw out of anger. The boy gulped, finishing his bottle of beer before walking down the stairs that'd lead up to the rooftop.

"What's his problem?" James inquired, looking at the couple in front of him.

Besides Chad, Eric was even more confused. 'How did I not know of this?' he wondered to himself, his eyes shifting around in a panic. Right now, he needed to comfort Chad, in case that boy did anything stupid.

"I'll be right back." He mumbled, abruptly getting up and rushing down the ladder till he reached the ground. Eric shuffled around the massive house, before finally finding Chad in his room, looking tiredly into the floor length mirror.

It was dangerous to be around Chad when he was in one of his 'psychotic' moods – as Lisa and Mark liked to put it. Unless you were coming at him with a line of Cocaine, Chad was not going to calm down, words didn't work on him.

"Chad, listen. They're probably just fucking around with us," Eric approached him closer, doing so as slow as he possibly could in hopes that his soothing and soft voice would simmer the boy's anger. "We aren't going to believe what Matthew and James are saying without evidence, are w-"

Chad stood up, turning around to greet Eric with a 9mm handgun clutched between his shaky hands, a line of half snorted Cocaine displayed on the night stand next to his bed.

Eric's eyes widened, the fear and panic beginning to settle in.

"Chad, put that down." Eric requested, holding his arms up in case the boy's coked out mind told him that Eric was also betraying him.

"Tell me you didn't know." Chad simply asked, raising it towards Eric.

"I-I didn't know! Why would I have known we haven't talked since she-"

"Since she met you on your little fag date with Matthew?" The boy titled his head, waiting for an answer, the real answer. "Don't tell me you haven't talked to her since you confronted her."

Eric stammered on his words.

"OK, I saw her when I was on that date with Matthew, but Chad – please put the gun down before you hurt yourself."

Chad's nostrils flared, his chest heaving as the drug made its way around his nervous system. His pupils were dilated, a clear indication of him being under the influence. His mind raced with many scenarios, wanting to pull the trigger in the moment, feeling as though the bullet would cause him some sort of emotional relief.

"Give me that gun." Eric calmly requested, approaching the boy calmly as he held his hand out.

"I'm going to shoot that bitch." Chad mumbled, though it was audible enough for Eric to hear.

"No, you are not going to shoot anyone right now. You're not well, Chad!"

"She's dating my fucking father, man!" Chad screamed as he swung the gun around, his voice cracking at the pain he felt. "You're telling me you wouldn't shoot your ex-girlfriend for fucking your dad?"

"And when did you develop such a bond with him anyway? Huh?" It was bold of Eric to bring up the one-sided relationship he had with his father, especially when Chad was holding a loaded gun in his hand, ready to pull the trigger at anyone. "The problem isn't with the relationship, it's with April – and as much as you hate her, you're going to regret going through with this."

Chad glared at his friend, the boy's words not registering properly into his influenced mind. He knew the problem was with April, but he wasn't going to admit it, knowing it would make him look jealous and vulnerable. He began to slowly calm down, the high from the drug starting to fade away.

"Please give me the gun." Eric asked once again, reaching his hand out further. To his relief (and probably everyone else's) Chad shoved it into his hand, going to his ensuite bathroom.

The boy flinched at the gesture, unloading it, and taking the bullets before placing the gun in his night stand drawer, sighing as he sat down. This night took an unexpected turn, one which could have possibly ended in someone's death.