Ethan convincingly kicks my butt playing foosball the way he always does, even though I keep on accidentally holding on to his rods, making it hard for him to move his players. It always works so much better when I play against Dell; she's not that much stronger than me.

I honestly wonder if Ethan even notices that I'm trying to cheat... I mean, make the game more fun.

I wipe the floor with him, playing the two-seater racing car game. I always do. I know, it's weird! Ethan has the license, driving skills, and experience; I'm the one who avoids learning because cars, driving, and traffic make me break out in hives.

That might actually be what is working to my advantage. I ignore rules, regulations and common scientific principles, defying gravity and using my absolute non-technique to ram his car from behind, laughing like a maniac when his car makes summersaults over the roof of mine.

It's awesome!

This game and my talent for causing magnificent crashes in it could be the root cause of my terrible fear of driving.

We both suck rather spectacularly at playing pool, which makes it extremely fun and have us laughing more than we're actually playing. We both excel at cheating, and we're not even subtle about it.

While we hang around in Game Galaxy, getting in each other's way, committing sabotage and mild acts of violence... generally having a blast playing all the 2-player games (especially the funky, pixelated retro ones), it becomes startlingly clear to me that I really love hanging out with Ethan.

Since when?

As though unleashed, my mind runs along hills, valleys, and dark caves, all filled with scattered memories of me giggling and shrieking while hurling abuse at Ethan. These memories form a chaotic timeline starting from the day I met him right up to this moment, where I'm trying to wrestle him away from the controls of the machine to stop him from preventing me from beating his high score.

Since forever?!

That cannot be! It's true, though. As if they've been subpoenaed to bear witness, the memories keep lining up to be counted, heard and seen. I've been a lot of things when Ethan is around, but being bored has never been one of them, and laughter has always been the solid common thread running through all our encounters.

That's impossible!

I hate the guy! He sets my teeth on edge and induces me to violence, and yet... I can see it now, clearly, as if I've just woken from a deep sleep. I love hanging out with Ethan! I've always been able to be completely myself with him. It's because I've never cared what he thinks of me before.

I care now, and it makes me feel a bit more tongue-tied and awkward than usual, but he is having none of that. His antics constantly cause me to forget that I care what he thinks of me, and I end up being myself anyway, which is why I am now shamelessly sitting on his back, trying to strangle him.

People are looking at us, but who cares? It's mostly kids from our school and the primary school hanging out here because they don't have anything else to do, and our unplanned show is probably the highlight of their day. I actually heard some applause a few times.

The place is starting to fill up as more and more bored teenagers trickle in; we see that as a sign that it is time to leave. That and the fact that Ethan's stomach is growling, and we don't want him to scare the little kids.

I let him drag me along the sidewalk like the world would run out of food before we reached the restaurant. Ethan and Hunger cannot hang out in each other's company for too long. When the guy has to eat, he has to eat, and I never argue with that... I could end up being the snack.

I'm actually a little hungry myself. We've worked up quite an appetite trying to prevent each other from successfully playing any of the games at Game Galaxy. It comes as a huge shock that I'm not missing Delia. I was sure I was going to miss her. I don't usually hang out with Ethan without her in the mix. Well, I suppose I have had a new normal since last week Friday.

We're fortunate when a table on the balcony overlooking the sea becomes available just as we enter Rafaello's. Most people don't make bookings, and the place generally runs on a first-come, first-served basis, meaning the coveted balcony tables are almost always filled quickly.

Aside from the beautiful view provided by our table, there is also the therapeutic sound of the ocean and a tantalising, cool breeze, carrying a slightly salty tang with it, making it just perfect.

We order about ten seconds after we sit down because we know the menu by heart and have tried all the dishes. We already know which ones are our favourites. I'm surprised that the waitress didn't just order for us. We're depressingly predictable.

Our drinks arrive quickly, and I'm peacefully sipping my mocktail, enjoying the cool air and the view of the subtly lit beach below, when I become aware of Ethan watching me. His expression is unreadable, his eyes hooded, and I'm suddenly no longer feeling comfortable at all.

"What?" I ask, alarmed, but he just gives me a lazy smile and slowly shakes his head.

"I like looking at you."

"Why?!" He has an entire picturesque cove to look at; why would he want to look at me? I have something stuck in my hair or on my face, don't I? He did something to me again!

"Well, you're my girlfriend, so it's only natural, isn't it?"

"No, it's not," I say, wiping aggressively at my face and running my fingers through my hair. Nothing is coming off on my hands. Ethan likes to paste small price tags on my face and get strange things tangled in my hair. I usually do that last one myself when I go treasure hunting in the untouched patches of nature Egret's Rest is blessed with.

Ethan chuckles and takes a sip of whatever concoction it is he's drinking. He won't have a beer if he's driving, so that glass contains something non-alcoholic but bitter enough to make me question his sanity. He loves mixing dry lemon with tonic water and loads of ice, which I've always found strange since he is such a devoted lover of sweet things in all other food-related areas.

He sets his glass down, and though he is smiling at me, there is something slightly defeated about his expression. Bitter drinks will do that to a person.

"Hey!"

We both jerk in surprise when Jet slaps Ethan on the back hard enough to launch him into space. Fortunately, Ethan is a big guy and not easily launchable. He doesn't even flinch under the impact; he just glares at his friend. Jet is not alone; he brought a girl wearing a stunning silver cocktail dress, her sleek black hair done up in an intricate roll with artfully draped ringlets running down from it, as though they made a perfect, immaculate escape.

I don't recognise Akari Yamashita at first. She is a rather shy girl in our class who started at Corbin High at the beginning of this year. I'm a bit surprised to see her with a lush like Jet, but I guess he has a sweet tooth too. She is not the kind of girl he normally hangs out with. Why on Earth are they both dressed so formally? Jet looks almost human and civilised wearing a suit; at least, he would've if the top three buttons of his shirt weren't undone, his tie yanked out of place, and his shirt untucked.

I politely greet them, not sure if I'm relieved or disturbed by their arrival, but Ethan has apparently lost his manners because he is still glaring at Jet. He even growls at him when he sits on one side of our table after telling Akari to take the nearest seat.

"We're on a date," Ethan tells Jet, making Akari squirm. I'm surprised because he is never rude to people who are not his closest friends. Usually, he would be quite nice to someone like Akari. I don't know her very well since she mostly keeps to herself and hardly ever makes a sound in class, but judging by the few interactions I've had with her, she is rather pleasant and kind.

"I'm so sorry," she mutters, pushing back the chair she just sat down on, trying to get to her feet, but Ethan puts a hand on her shoulder, keeping her in place, and now she looks a little frightened.

"It's okay; you can stay," he says. "I'm pretty sure you'll behave and eat your food and not muck up our date." He flashes a sweet, genuine smile at her, instantly melting away her anxiety, and then he glares at Jet again. "You can go sit over there," he tells the boy, nodding towards the balcony's seatless, dark corner. "You can have the chair... eat on your lap."

Akari is looking bewildered, and I'm giggling, shaking my head.

"You are making no sense," I tell Ethan, but I'm lying because I know Jet. I, too, would prefer for him to go sit in the corner of the balcony, far away from us. Jet, being Jet, just snorts at Ethan and unceremoniously takes a sip from his glass, regretting it almost instantly.

"Damn, Ethe, what the hell is that shit? No wonder you're being such a grouch."

"The corner," Ethan tells him, nodding his head in the direction he wants Jet to disappear in.

"There's an open table inside..." Akari points out reasonably, trying to rise again, but Ethan's hand once more shows up on her shoulder, stopping the confused girl.

"Nope, you stay right here. Trust me; Jet belongs in the corner."

"F#ck off," Jet grumbles, helping himself to my glass now. He seems to like it a lot more, and I have to put up a fight to get it back from him.

I kick Ethan under the table when the waitress, Bella, a girl he temporarily dated last year when she was in the 12th grade, pops around to get our newest additions' orders, and he tries to order Jet a glass of piss-off with a side order of get-stuffed. I could see that the order was going to grow in disturbing detail if I didn't step in. Chances are increasing by the minute that he and Jet will indulge in one of their endless brawls soon.

I honestly often wonder if the two of them are really friends.

Akari still looks uncomfortable when Bella finally leaves with their actual orders, and I feel bad for her. She clearly doesn't understand these two idiots' dynamic at all. We don't have many classes with Jet, and I've never seen Akari sitting with the group during lunch. How does she even know him?

Well, I don't really understand these boys' relationship either, but I hate seeing a nice girl like her look so freaked out. To be honest, I am completely baffled by the fact that she is out with Jet. I didn't know that they hung out. If this is a date, I'm even more confused, but it's Jet; the guy makes even less sense to me than Ethan normally does.

"I think you should both go sit in the corner," I tell the boys. "That way, Akari and I can have a nice, peaceful dinner."

"I'll happily hang out in any corner, as long as you're in that corner with me, Kicks," Ethan grins, sliding his eyes over me in a way that makes me feel like the last girl still standing in a mindless slasher movie. I gape at him, blinking my eyes, wondering what weird-ass alternative universe I've just stepped into where Ethan Fletcher is apparently flirting with me!

"So, just to clarify," Jet destroys the tension making me nervously shift around in my seat. "The three of us are going to hang out together in a dark corner? Kinky!" His speech ends with a grunt when Ethan pokes him in the ribs.

"Get your own corner."

"Akari," I say, giving her my most unaggressive smile. "Let's swap places."

We're sitting on four sides of the square table, with Ethan and me on opposite sides, making it feel like I'm with Jet and Akari is with Ethan. I don't like the idea of being here with Jet, and I like the idea of Akari being with Ethan even less..., and I'm starting to feel awfully uncomfortable seated in his line of vision.

Why is he constantly giving me such strange looks?

"Are you sure?" she smiles nervously, standing up with me, and we trade places.

"Yeah," Ethan says, pulling my chair closer to his the second I'm in it. I'm rethinking my decision now because he is angling his chair towards mine, draping his arm around my shoulders, and this is suddenly feeling way too intimate. Yup, this is definitely worse than being ogled with a table between us.

What was I thinking?!

"I'd still prefer it if Jet went and sat in the corner, but this is better," Ethan grins, and I shiver when he unexpectedly nuzzles my neck. To cover how overheated I'm feeling, I hastily take a sip of the drink I'd brought with me during the move.

"If the two of you are going to make me nauseous, I'm going to go sit in that corner," Jet says, but he grins, pulling Akari's chair towards his too.

"Promise?" Ethan smirks.

"Get off me, you big oaf!" I tell him when he almost pulls me off my chair. At this rate, I'm going to end up in his lap. Imagine that!

"Ah," Jet grins. "Always thought you were the 'I have to be on top' kind of girl."

"Don't make me hurt you," Ethan grunts at Jet, causing him to laugh again.

"Damn, and I would so love to see you try."

The two of them are now in a strange staring contest of some kind, having a silent conversation that may or may not erupt into chaos. I am never sure what to expect when they are in the same room. I should probably have traded places with Jet instead, creating some distance between the boys.

"Might as well get used to it, Akari," I laugh, rolling my eyes as if I'm not trapped under the arm of the boy who gave me an anxiety-inducing suggestive look earlier. "They are going to carry on like this for the rest of the evening."

I'm right, of course, but after a few minutes, Akari finally settles into the rhythm, and while Jet and Ethan show their brotherly love via verbal and light physical abuse, we girls behave like adults and discuss the books we've both read and our favourite Pokemon.

I rather like her. I hope Jet doesn't pull his usual stunts and ends up breaking the girl's heart. The road from Silverview to Mudville can be paved with the multitude of broken hearts he's left scattered in his wake.

I'm relieved (and disappointed) when the food arrives, and I'm allowed to escape from the cuddly situation I was starting to enjoy way too much.

The food is excellent, as usual, and the company is... not boring. All in all, I'm really enjoying myself. When Ethan and I swap plates halfway through our meal, as we sometimes do, usually with Delia's food added to the mix, Akari watches us with a longing look on her face. I'm not sure which of our dishes she's coveting, but I'm about to offer her a bite of either when Jet chuckles, calling Ethan a domesticated poodle, which I'm not entirely sure I understand. The shoulder punch Ethan delivers with deadly precision at short range only increases the boy's laughter.

When we're done with our food, the four of us order a variety of desserts to share, and I'm a little sad when the bill is paid and we decide to leave.

On the way out, I excuse myself to go to the restroom, and Akari joins me.

"I wish I could have what you have," she tells me when we've used the stalls and are washing our hands and adjusting our hair and clothes in the mirrors. I look down at my floral top and jeans, my fingers instinctively touching the stone necklace I've faithfully been wearing around my neck when I'm not at school. I tie it around my wrist during school hours, making it look like part of my watch strap.

There's no way I'm giving it to her!

"Ethan," she clarifies, and that is even worse!

"You want Ethan?"

"No," she laughs, and I'm really relieved to hear that. I was having disturbing visions of a full-on hair-pulling brawl, and I don't think Akari would be much of an opponent in that fancy dress. Her heels could possibly stab me to death, though. "Your relationship. You guys are so comfortable and natural with each other. I wish I could have that too. I guess Jet is definitely not an option, right?"

She's right. Ethan and I are very comfortable and natural with each other, but it's because we've known each other for 12 years; we're not a normal couple. Jet behaved pretty well tonight. He didn't treat Akari the way he usually treats the girl - or girls - he takes out on dates. I gaped at him a few times, surprised at how kind and considerate he was towards her. I was seeing a whole new side of him.

"Stranger things have happened," I smile, and I have proof. I've been holding Ethan's hand and fed him bites of cheesecake, and there wasn't any violence involved at all. I didn't even flinch when our plates were cleared, and he pulled my chair towards him again, wrapping his arms around me when I came within reach.

All pretty strange.

Hearing Akari's words stabbed at my heart. This isn't real. It will end eventually. To be honest, I would also like to have what I seem to have. I turn to the mirror to finish fixing the hair Ethan mussed up earlier and am startled to see how heartbroken I look.

"How did you come to be here with Jet tonight?" I ask the question that's been baffling me during dinner. I'm trying to stop myself from bawling my eyes out or confessing my deep, dark secrets, but I really would like to know.

"We were at a fundraiser with our parents, and we both tried to hide in the same closet to escape them," she giggles, and now I really want to hear this story. "We started talking while we waited for a chance to make a break for it, and he invited me to have some real food and go watch the movie we both wanted to see tonight."

I think I know what fundraiser she means. It's a yearly event in Silverview and is primarily a see-and-be-seen networking opportunity for the rich and the famous. Ticket prices are in the triple figures. Well, it's worth it since the proceeds go towards researching various orphan diseases, such as Fabry's disease, Huntington's Disease and Alveolar Echinococcosis. Daddy always buys a ticket but never goes; he says he already knows all the people he wants to know.

"I'm really sorry we ruined your date, Kira," Akari says, her gentle brown eyes earnestly peering into mine.

"Oh! No! Not at all. Ethan was just messing with Jet. We didn't mind at all." I'm not lying; having Jet join us was a pretty natural occurrence. Besides, it was me and Ethan, so... doesn't matter. "It was fun; anyway, Ethan and I have known each other since I was five years old. We don't need romantic bonding."

Akari is frowning at me, clearly not understanding that any more bonding with Ethan could drive me over the edge of sanity to a place where I'll fall at his feet, declaring my undying love for him and begging him never to leave me.

How awesome that wouldn't be?

♂♀