Entering back into the living room, everything's the same, but it's much quieter.  The only people talking are Cooper and Travis, mumbling to each other and munching on the cookies.

Nobody else feels it, but I'm pretty tense.  I'm not all nervous and messy about the situation between me and the boys, but I feel awkward as hell.  Schlatt and I just made out-  And that thought hurts my head to think.  But we did, and it's making it hard for me to act light and casual around everyone, especially Ted.

I watch as Schlatt sits back down between Noah and Charlie on the couch.  It feels almost wrong to do, but I still take my spot in Ted's lap.  His arms instantly wrap back around me, and I relax against his chest.  I love this feeling.  And it makes me feel so guilty.

Schlatt's words run through my mind, his voice telling me to just live in the moment.  How I'm not tied down so I shouldn't think about anything I'm doing.  So I try my hardest, just soaking in Ted's scent and his body warmth and his heartbeat.  I absolutely adore the feeling.

I glance around the room again.  Everyone's silent now, eyes on the TV.  Noah's eating an edible, and Cooper's digging in the box for another.  Schlatt's sipping on his white wine- no, almost chugging it.  As I'm observing, I see Schlatt staring at Ted and me over the top of his wine glass.

He doesn't notice for a moment, then gagging on the wine when he sees me staring back.  I accidentally burst out laughing, making the whole room turn and stare at me.  Charlie's staring at Schlatt, probably having heard him choke.

I can't stop laughing.  Tears are taking over my vision I'm cackling so hard.  When I can see again, Schlatt's giving me a look.

"Not funny," he says blankly.  I only giggle back.

I feel Ted laugh, him asking, "What is it this time?"

I immediately return Schlatt's serious look, joking, "Mr. Schlatt was staring at us."

A couple of the boys laugh, Noah calling loudly, "Ooh, Schlatt."

"Was not!" Schlatt scoffs.

"Whatever," I roll my eyes, my smile coming through.  "You were so staring."

"Whatever," he mocks in return.  "I was so not."

Carson laughs, joking along, "Now, Schlatt, don't be trying anything."

Ted continues, "Yeah, Schlatt."

My head fogs up with thoughts of that awful car ride to the party, working through how that conversation went.  It was very similar, but right around this part changed.  Schlatt said something back to Ted about it and- oh, that's when Cooper jumped in.  That's what's different.  My mind keeps swirling, thinking about how ironic it is that Ted specifically told Schlatt not to try anything.

"I wasn't staring!"  Schlatt's chuckle pulls me back into the conversation.

Charlie jumps in, "Are you calling Y/n a liar?"

"No!" Schlatt answers loudly, everyone laughing again.

"Hmm," I continue to challenge, "I don't know.  It sounds like you're calling me a liar, Schlatt."

"Fine!" Schlatt calls back.  "You're a liar!"

My jaw drops in shock, everyone laughing around us.  Schlatt only smirks, and a smile is pulling at the corners of my lips.  Even Ted's laughing underneath me.  The room feels so light again.

"Hey!" I fake-scold Ted.  "Don't laugh!"

I can't stand his ultra-bright smile as he chuckles, "It was funny."

"But I'm not a liar!" I only whine, having too much fun to let go of the joke now.

"I don't know," Ted half smiles.  "I didn't see Schlatt staring, Y/n."

"Ha!  I told you!" Schlatt bursts from halfway across the room.  He points at me with a real smile and teases childishly, "Told you so, bitch!"

Now the room is really alive with laughter, all of the boys cackling.  I laugh at Schlatt, too, because it's hilarious, even if he's targeting me.  Then, I hear it.  My ears and brain go into hyper-focus, drowning everyone else out.

Cooper.

He's laughing, too.  He's laughing that loud, stupid laugh that makes my brain completely collapse from the overload of memories it brings back.  All of my senior year in high school, all of the amazing things I had with him before the bad came.

When I zone back in, the room's getting quiet again.  The laughter's dying off, but everything's still light.  Except for me, who's drowning in memories.  Everything I put behind me, shoved deep down inside so I wouldn't have to ever think about Cooper again.  They're real.  Those things really did happen, and I'm feeling the heartbreak all over again.

Suddenly, Noah starts the conversation back up with, "Man, I shouldn't have had two of those.  I'm about to feel it."

Cooper shrugs before adding, "I had three.  You'll be fine."

"Woah," Noah chuckles back.  "You're gonna be in so much pain."

Cooper only shrugs again.  After a moment, he counters, "Schlatt's on his third glass of wine."

I laugh as Schlattt gulps down more of the alcohol, defending, "So what?"

Cooper laughs lightly, which is so weird to see him do, and answers, "It means that's your last glass. You have to drive home."

I decide to jump in, "Hey, I have a ride, so I can get wasted, right?"

"Totally," Cooper agrees, making Schlatt scoff.

"You know what?" Schlatt goes along. "I'm- that's sexist!" Everyone breaks out into laughter, and I can't stop myself from giggling. "You're a simp!" he goes on.

Charlie follows up by beginning to chant "Simp!", pointing at Cooper. Noah, Carson, and Travis all join in, but I can't even see straight I'm laughing so hard. My stomach hurts, and I can feel Ted laughing underneath me.

Eventually, everyone calms down a little.  I'm still clutching my stomach, but at least I can breathe.

Of course, Schlatt starts again, "My point proven.  Cooper's a simp for Y/n."

"Woah, buddy," Ted says in that comical voice he always uses.  "Are you sure you want to go there?"

"Yes!" Schlatt nods.  "Cooper's totally simping for Y/n!"

I start giggling again but not just at Schlatt's tipsy stupidity.  Mostly at the fact he's calling Cooper a simp when he's the biggest simp for me that I've ever met, but I can't say that with everyone around.

Ted continues, "Is this true, Cooper?"

"No!" Cooper laughs, his giggly stoner laugh coming through.  It hurts and feels amazing at the same time.

"I don't know," I decide to jump in.  "I think Schlatt is definitely the one simping for me."

His eyes go wide, and his jaw drops.  And the sight is so hilarious.

"Am not!"

Ted speaks before I get the chance.  "I agree!  Schlatt's the one simping for Y/n!"

"No," Schlatt huffs, "No.. you!"

Perfectly in sync, both Carson and Noah yell, "Ooh!"  Carson says through laughs, "He really pulled the 'no you'!"

"Yeah, I did!" Schlatt chuckles.  "Just look at them!  Ted is totally simping over her!"

I'm back to tears again with laughter.  I'm in pain, but I'm having so much fun.  I don't ever want the moment to end.

"Okay, okay!" Cooper calls over top of everyone.  It's so weird to hear him this outgoing again.  It's definitely the weed.  "Let's just all agree that we're all simping for Y/n and be done with it!"

"No!" Schlatt protests.  "I'm not!"

"Real funny, Schlatt," I manage to breathe between chuckles.  "Definitely not."

"Whatever, I give up," he sighs with a half-smile, slumping back on the couch.

Then, the calm settles in.  The peaceful quiet.  The break from the constant storm of joking and howling with laughter.

But Cooper breaks it.  "I can't stand how quiet it is when I'm high."  And before anyone can reply to him, he's standing and hovering over top of Ted and me.  My heart skips a beat, and I'm unsure of what to think.

"I wanna talk to you for a minute."

Again?

"Okay," I breathe, climbing out of Ted's lap for the millionth time.

My stomach fills with butterflies.  Cooper wants to talk again?  Is it about the situation with Schlatt or is it just the edibles talking?  I don't think there's a way for me to know.