After the boys played The Arrow, they left the stage in a whirl. Bystander was waiting backstage as the boys shouldered past. One of the girls with the guitar on her back looked over Bill and Ted, biting her lip and running her fingers up their arms.

I was uncomfortable watching that, and quickly tugged both boys out of the way. Something in me didn't like her flirting with them. It was too desperate, something I always hated with the girls in our school.

The drummer shot me a wink, and I quickly turned my attention to Bill and Ted.

"You guys did great!" I cheered, hugging them both tight to me. They both stiffened a little, like they weren't expecting it, then melted into the most comfortable hug of my life.

"Thanks, manager dude," Bill grinned, smiling like a ray of sunshine, "We couldn't have done it without you!"

He kissed me right on the cheek before running over to thank Scar for rewriting the songs. I blushed hard at the contact. These boys were much more affectionate than any other friends I'd had in my life.

Ted kinda scuffed the ground with his toes. He was excited and still high on adrenaline, but he also seemed a bit jittery.

"C'mon, dudes, you've got fans waiting,"

"Fans?" They chorused in disbelief.

"Yeah, I know a guy who got me a deal on posters, so I set a few up over with the Bystander merchandise and people are waiting. Go say hi!"

River led the boys out to the merch table, where a couple girls took some pictures with Bill and Ted. We only sold probably 10 mini posters all night, but Bill and Ted were more than thrilled to sign for anyone who wanted something, just because they were there.

At the end of the night, we were dead tired and decided to go for dinner. The boys cleared spots on their band van for us, and we drove off victoriously to a little diner.

***

The place was deserted except for a few college students working tables and an old man in the corner reading a paper. We took a seat in this little shop in downtown San Dimas, a hole-in-the-wall joint you'd miss if you blinked. It was perfect for us, almost a metaphor for our little group of friends.

We squished into a booth in the way back and pooled our money for some orders of fries, onion rings, pretzels, milkshakes, and a few bottles of Pepsi, as well as a massive cake --vegan per request-- to share.

"The crowd was awesome!" Bill was saying, taking a long gulp of his chocolate shake. "I mean, we only played four songs but they were totally into it!"

"Yeah dude! I think a girl even flashed us!" Ted added, then he went red, like he should've kept that information to himself. He was trying to hide a cute little knowing smirk, the type that would make you roll your eyes and go 'ugh, boys.'

"I've never heard you guys do Broken Record until tonight, and I think you killed it!" River grinned, reaching over me for some cake.

Scarlet took a bow, "You're welcome," she smirked. The table applauded her rewrite, which the band would have been lost without.

"Bystander was pretty triumphant, too!" Ted added as an afterthought.

"I think I saw the guitarist checking you out," River noted, wiggling his eyebrows. Ted ducked his head shyly.

Bill smirked, "I should totally get with it next time."

"Wait until I get your next gig first," I teased, stealing a bit of frosting from River's cake. He slapped my hand away.

Scarlet downed the last bit of Pepsi in her bottle and wiped it clean.

"We should play," she said in a soft voice that made everyone pay attention. "We should play spin the bottle."

Bill seemed all for it, still on his adrenaline rush. River considered and agreed pretty quickly. Ted mulled it over and shrugged.

Meanwhile I was hiding behind my milkshake.

"If I tell you something, will you swear not to laugh?" I asked meekly.

Everyone turned to me eagerly. Under their gaze, I felt my neck and ears burn.

"I've never kissed a guy before...," I mumbled to my french fries. The group gasped and stifled their little chuckles. I self-consciously started playing with my glasses.
"Go on, laugh it up..." I bitterly laughed with them.

Suddenly, River turned my head right to his and planted a kiss on my lips. I jumped back with the shock and fell right out of the booth.

"River!"

Everyone erupted into uncontrollable fits of laughter.

"Hey, don't take it as anything other than what it is," he said, raising his hands in self-defense, "it was only to get the awkward first kiss out of the way."

My body temperature was steadily rising, and I'm sure my face looked badly sunburned. I quickly shifted into my seat again, smiling shyly to myself, the glow of the first kiss still around me.

I genuinely couldn't believe that he'd just done that. I understand it was just to get the awkward feeling out of the way, but to be willing like that to kiss a stranger? (Not that I considered him a stranger...)

"Well, Lucky already went, so I'll start," Scar said between laughs.

She spun the glass bottle on the table and the neck pointed to Bill. Bill blushed, but then looked proud.

"Okay before I do this, one rule is that this is just a game, remember that. These kisses mean nothing more than the fact that we're not chicken to do stuff. Besides, none of us are dating, so no getting jealous."

After we all nodded, she leaned over the table and kissed Bill once. They both broke away like it was an electrical shock, and burst into giggles.

Ted spun and it landed on Bill. They stared at each other for a moment of deep contemplation, and I could see the colors rising in their faces. Bill couldn't seem to look him in the eye. Ted leaned forward slightly, as though he was going for the kiss, then quickly shook his head.

"Re-spin," he said hastily. Bill almost looked disappointed.

"Chicken," Bill mocked. Ted spun again and it landed on Scar.

Ted blushed, stole a glance at Bill, then a glance at me, and then kissed Scar once. He sat down in his seat quickly and passed the bottle to me.

The pressure was on. I was a bit uncomfortable and wanted to skip my turn, but everyone was staring now.

"Come on, you got the worst out of the way!" River reminded with a smirk. That didn't help my face cool off.

I spun and it landed on Bill. I bit my tongue in my teeth and braced as though it would be something awful. Bill looked at me for permission, then gently cupped my cheek and pulled me in for a kiss.

My skin lit up under his touch; it was much more tender and sweet than River's hasty joke.

My eyes widened, and when I looked at Bill, he almost seemed really into it. I backed up a moment later and he coughed awkwardly and stared down at his lap.

River just laughed and took his turn. It landed on Ted. Before Ted could protest, River kissed him on the forehead, and everyone laughed as Ted tried to push him off.

Scarlet spun and it landed on River. They both shrugged it off and leaned in for the kiss like it was no big deal.

Bill spun and got Ted. This time, he pulled a River and kissed his forehead. Ted squirmed with amused discomfort, blush creeping across his face.

Ted spun and leaned across the table to kiss Scarlet on the corner of her mouth, like he didn't want to offend her or something. He was jittery with nerves of constant anticpation.

I spun, and the nose of the bottle pointed to Ted, who looked like he was trying to retreat into the corner. We locked eyes, asking each other if it was okay.

I stood up to lean over to him, and we were just about to kiss when the waiter came over with our bill and interrupted my burst of courage.

Instead of kissing Ted in front of everyone, my heart pounded with the sudden attention and I kissed his cheek, very close to his mouth, and lingered a bit longer than I should. I felt his skin heat up.

"Next time, I promise," I whispered into his ear, so just he could hear me.

I fixed my glasses and took out my wallet to pay, and Ted buried his pink face in another slice of cake.