"Get drunk. I need the truth.

.

It's a well-known fact among them that they can't keep secrets without sheltering them, treasuring them, taking them to the grave until their corpses rot. They either spill their guts or transform into the secret, there is no in-between. In one way, it's ironic how they know. No secrets have been said. For Skye used to whisper fears of her insomnia as if no one had seen her falling asleep during PE class and Quinn admits of having other friends when all five people have seen her talking to a wall. Because what they say out loud is never a secret but an easy thing to spot.

Real secrets, though, they nest inside their heads and never let go.

"I, personally speaking, am a terrible liar," Brendon states in an almost sincere way. He thinks of the empty pill bottles back home. He thinks of his psychiatrist. He thinks of Sarah. He thinks of Ryan. He thinks of the yellow bottle of pills with the 'large doses can result in death' warning written in bold letters and shivers and just like that he doesn't think at all. "If she suspects even the tiniest thing, I'm screwed."

"You'll be fine. If things go south, my perfect lying skills will save your ass." Skye smirks, a mischevious smile spread across her face. It's ironic because maybe, just maybe, she's the one who has the least secrets.

Quinn comes near them, her steps lighter than usual, her eyes much brighter. Newt and Charlie are walking behind her only a few steps back equally cheerful. "There's our birthday girl!" 

"Thank God, you remembered," Quinn told them, releasing a breath, "I didn't hear from you in the first period and had begun believing you forgot about it. I wouldn't mind, though. Obviously. You have more important things to remember and dates can be so confusing, even I--"

"Slow down, blondie." Skye grinned"We may have about five brain cells, combined, but we wouldn't forget your birthday. It would be either a dick move or a side-effect after being dropped as a baby."

"I told you that story in confident," Newt mumbled to himself.

"That was your first mistake, Isaac."

"Hey, hey, where is Dan?" Quinn asked searching for the other boy in the halls. Charlie and Newt shared a panic look while Brendon turned to Skye, nudging her shoulder. 

"He's skipping today. Went out. With Phil."

"Really? It was about time."

"Dan's going to flip," Brendon whispered for only Skye to hear. The girl ignored him and kept her posture.

"He is coming to Breadstix after school, though, right?"

Skye gave her a short nod. After seeing Quinn smile in return, the boys managed to rest. Phase one of their plan was put in motion.

.

"There is a fence."

"I see that."

"An actual fence."

"Repeating it doesn't make it less true than it is, Dan."

"You aren't helping." Dan shot back before glancing at his phone. He looked at the message Newt had sent him about the area where the tree house was having a bench. Turns out that last part was an autocorrect error. He felt the sweat rolling down his back. Would this be considered trespassing? He didn't even know why there was a new fence here in the first place. Surely, it wouldn't be important. "Okay, we should cut through the fence."

"We could just climb it?"

"First of all, this is my nicest pair of jeans so no. Secondly, this requires some good physique which I, assure you, lack."-Phil scoffed-"We could get a chainsaw."

"Sure, let me just grab it from my back pocket."

"Drop the sarcasm."

"Only if you cooperate. Climbing doesn't seem that hard."

Dan ignored him. He didn't need to prove anything and if he didn't want to climb a stupid fence, he wouldn't. Free will was a thing and Dan was a strong supporter of these values. Phil, apparently, did not share the same thoughts. Before Dan could comprehend his own thoughts, Phil had begun climbing the fence. 

"What are you doing?"

"Proving you wrong." Phil gritted through his teeth as he reached the top of the fence, breathless. He let out a small yelp and fell to the other side. "I'm fine!"

"I can't believe I like this idiot."

"Did you say something?"

"I said I can't believe I brought with me this idiot."

.

Matteusz had been stressing out all day. He had at least three tests to study for, had promised to help Charlie out with his friend's surprise party and also needed to do a project with Tanya for Chemistry. He was almost certain that the stress would eat him. A real pity dying so young but a price he had to pay for good grades and an amazing boyfriend. Speaking of the amazing boyfriend, he found Charlie lost in a conversation with Newt and April.

And April.

Oh no.

"Hey, guys!" he greeted a little too loud. Charlie seemed to notice how tense he was and put his hand on his boyfriend's arm to calm him down.

"Hey, Matteusz." Newt added cheerfully"We were just telling April about a party we're planning. It's for Quinn's birthday."

Of course, Newt knew about his and Charlie's hidden relationship. How could he not? This made Matteusz feel guilty. Newt was a very outspoken person, brave even, and he cared about his cousin a great deal, he probably didn't approve of the secrecy. Although, Matteusz thought, if he knew why they were hiding, he would hopefully understand. Matteusz did it for April, to spare his friend's feelings until she got over Charlie. He was just being a good friend.

(He wasn't a coward. He was a good friend.)

"We would love to come. You're free, right?"

"Um, yes."

"Great. You guys don't mind if I tell Ram and Tanya as well, yes?"

"Oh yeah! I like Tanya. And Ram's pretty cool too, at least compared to the rest of the football team."

"Cool then, see you at the party?"

Newt and Charlie nodded happily, waving them goodbye. 

.

"This is the third bag of Maltesers I've seen you eat."

"Although I am sure my eating habits are a joy to the eye," Skye shrugged as she threw a Malteser in her mouth"You could just ignore my food and let me die of diabetes."

"I wouldn't want to leave Buddy an orphan."

"He would have Dan!"

"That doesn't make me feel any better," Grant told her. He didn't know Dan all that well, had hardly paid attention to the guy, but he knew he had many problems. Probably a stoner, unsociable and from what he had heard had serious anger issues for someone who looked like a noodle. Plus he didn't seem that capable of taking care of another being while Buddy wouldn't be able to take care of a human. 

Grant shivered at that thought, bringing him back to reality. He cleared his throat gaining Skye's attention who was previously busy searching her candy bag. "I have something for you."

Skye's eyes lighted up with amusement. "Easy there, robot, you haven't even taken me on a date."

"It's for Buddy."

"Are you trying to be my dog's sugar daddy? Bribing him with fancy toys so he will escape from my household?"

"Me? I would never." he chuckled and handed her a box. Skye shook it near her ear until a squeal was heard. 

"God this thing is loud. No more sleep for me."

"We all make sacrifices in the name of love."

"Whatever you say, Romeo." Skye grinned and opened the box revealing a green chew toy. "Thanks."

"Anything for the best boy in town." he nodded and turned around to go to class. 

"Hey, Ward?"-Grant stopped on his tracks and turned to Skye-"You know, today, we're having a party. For Quinn. It's her birthday and, um, my older brother is working and Dan will be with me so I'll bring Buddy as well and you could possibly, maybe, drop by. If you want."

"We have practise today but I could find some time to drop by."

"Great."

"Great."

.

"It's not just great. It's amazing."

"Whatever is that you're thinking, "Grant mumbled as he closed his locker"drop it."

"Come on, man. This is a perfect opportunity for me to get a headstart with the bet. All I'm asking you is not to tell Rachel about it."

"I wasn't going to."-Noah threw his fist in the air victoriously-"Because she wasn't invited, just like you. Besides, I'm not going either."

"Bullocks. Why can't you just go with me? It's free drinking and you'll be helping a bro out."

"I don't know. It just seems wrong for us to go. I hardly remember the girl, we have never spoken, and showing up at her birthday party just because her friend invited me, out of pure politeness, seems kind of a buzz killer."

"It's her birthday party, she won't even notice you." Noah tried to argue. Grant cocked his eyebrow in response but Noah remained persistent. Suddenly, he saw Grant's expression changing and his look focused on something else. Yet Noah continued his argument. "Please Ward, this birthday party might as well be my saving grace."

"What birthday party?"

"Motherfuck,"-Noah turned around to see Rachel standing right behind him-"warn a guy."

"What birthday party?" Rachel repeated.

"Quinn Fabray's."

"Ah. I assume you're going," she told Noah. 

"Yes."

"No." Grant shot back"First of all, you can't just crash the party uninvited. Secondly, I don't trust either of you to be civil."

"This is why Kara dumped you for Finn, you're no fun." Noah huffed"Also, let me remind you, you were the one who picked her for our bet. You can't chicken out now."

"Ward's right."

"Rachel!"

"I'm not saying we shouldn't go to the party. We can, and we should approach her but, let's just agree not to make a move or anything. Try not to mess up her party and all." Rachel explained. For a brief second, if Grant didn't know her better, he would think she acted out of kindness. "Not only that but if it's her birthday, she'll probably get drunk as hell. Our bet doesn't count if she isn't even aware of her seduction."

Thank God, he knew her better.

.

"Open the door, idiot!"

"You're closer to it!"

"I'm binge watching The Umbrella Academy."

"And I'm playing on my phone."

"The world is in danger."

"It's a timed choice!" Quinn yelled at her sister" And it's my birthday, have mercy."

"No."

"Cruel," Quinn whispered to herself and got up to open the door. As soon as she opened it, she saw Newt waiting for her with a bright smile. The boy was ready to explain why he had come so early until Quinn's shirt caught his eye. She wore a black turtleneck with a silver chain on the end of the right sleeve. Exactly the same as him. The two of them burst into laughter. "Want me to go change?"

"No, you're the birthday girl. Just remember not to take any pictures with me by your side."

"Got it, chief." she chuckled"Also, isn't it a bit early? We were supposed to meet up at nine."

"Yeah, but we figured we should take you out and spoil you. After all, we have some missed birthdays to make up for."

Quinn smiled brightly and grabbed her jacket. Hopefully, Brittany would realize her absence before finishing up the series. "Am I to know where we're going?"

"Nah. We don't want you to escape."

"Alarming."

"That's the point." Newt told her"Anywho, we're meeting up with the gang at Skye's house. Charlie and Dan might be coming a little later though."

"Of course," Quinn whispered to herself. Newt caught up on it though and grabbed her arm giving it a light squeeze.

"No gloominess on your special day." Quinn only shrugged in return. Newt sighed, he knew they should have sent Brendon or Skye to take her instead of him. It wasn't that he didn't like Quinn, quite the opposite, out of all his friends she was the calmest and peaceful. Sure, at times, she showed ambition which might have resulted in a completely different person had the circumstances been different, and yet, today in this life she was his friend and the kindest hearted person he knew. But that didn't change the fact that he never had the chance to click with her, or Dan for that matter. As a child, when he would not hang out with his friends as a group, he would find comfort in his cousin or the boy living down the street with the large forehead-who he thought was some kind of wizard for a lot of time or the girl with the sharp tongue who you didn't decide to befriend but she did it for you.

It made sense in a way. Charlie was related to him, of course, he would be his closest friend. Meanwhile, both Brendon and Skye were more sociable when it came to their group of friends. Now, Quinn and Dan were more closed to themselves and while Newt had fun with them, they rarely ever hang out by themselves. Especially now.

"Hey, I know you might not want to talk about it, especially with me but if something is bothering you,"-he stopped to take a breath-"you can talk to me. It'll stay between us."

"I can't. It's stupid."

"If it's bothering you, then it can't be that stupid."

"It's about you."

"I overstep with the khakis yesterday, didn't I?"

"No, no, you looked great. It's just, promise me you won't hate me, my insecurities are talking and I have barely gotten any good sleep this month."

"Promise."

"I feel as if,"-she sighed-"we're not friends."

"That's a bit harsh. I mean I like you--"

"Not you. I mean, not just you. I'm talking about us, us a group. You can't really pause our childhood friendship and unpause it now. It just restarts. And we're almost grown-ups. We're different people and we know little about each other. We know so little that it takes so much effort to rebuild what has crumbled and although I'm trying to make that effort, I sometimes feel the rest of you are moving on. Like Charlie has a boyfriend now who takes up most of his time, and Dan has been hanging out with Phil a lot, and Skye has a dog, you have Thomas and I have my ballet and it just feels as if we can't keep up with each other."

"You're being stupid."

"I'm being selfish I know--"

"No, you listen to me, Fabray. You're right for the most part, but I promise that we all feel that way. Your fears are valid and I promise you, we're all trying our best in our own ways. We just need time. This needs time." he smiled"But we aren't going to go down without a fight, yeah?"

"Yeah." Quinn replied with a tiny smile" I suppose tonight will do us good. Just the six of us hanging out. Like old times."

It was at that moment, Newt's mind drifted to the big party Dan had organised. To how not even Brendon or Skye were able to tell that maybe a big get together wasn't part of Quinn's wishlist. Maybe, Quinn was right.

They knew so little.

I'm sorry? In my defence, this single chapter took me two months to write-as in I opened the tab and then closed the tab-and this was supposed to go differently but I'm tired so I'm going to do a brand new chapter for the party. Cool? Cool. I know this sucks but bear with me, I'm trying to get motivation back. If it makes you feel any better, we're almost at the end.

not. I lied I'm sorry, you're in for a ride.