I buttoned up my black shirt, running a hand through my hair. It would do. Nothing special, but I had no one to impress. Wilford was standing on the stairs as I walked out into the hall.

'So... looks like someone's going out somewhere' He mocked, smirking.

'I need to keep up the appearance of everyday life, my friends are forcing me to go out and... How did you know?'

'You're not the sort to wear a nice shirt like that for no reason kid, but...the Host.'

'Oh. Does Dark know?'

'They always know. They always know.' He said ominously, allowing me to walk past him, down the stairs and out of the house. The sun was setting, it would not be a good idea to walk home in the dark.

I trudged to the bus stop, shivering in the cold. I didn't want to be here, why was I doing this? I clutched tightly to my phone, getting on the illuminated bus as soon as it arrived. Nodding at the driver, I walked towards the back, checking my phone every couple of minutes. I didn't mind going out, dancing was always fun but the drinking side of things was not my cup of tea. It didn't help that Wilford's warning was ringing in my head.

Soon enough the bus pulled up on main street, close enough to the restaurant that we had agreed to meet at. I was immediately greeted by a very enthusiastic Natalie, I resisted the urge to scrunch my face up and take a step back.

'Hey! Evan! You never gave me your number! I asked Reyna for it but,' she shot a pointed look at Reyna who shrugged with a smirk, 'But she wouldn't give it to me!'

'Oh, sorry but...'

'Are you one of those hipsters that doesn't carry around their phone? I bet you are! I love that... gives you some uniqueness.' She continued on as we sat at the table. I swallowed but said nothing.

Levi and his boyfriend were there, Reyna sat next to Natalie and I was on Natalie's other side. As usual we ordered a cheese pizza to share, the only one we could agree on, even without Natalie being there.

'I thought your boyfriend was supposed to come?' I asked curiously, digging into a slice of pizza.

'Yeah, but he got another shift at the bar, so he's working. At least that means we get discounted drinks?' She laughed happily as Natalie let out a giggle.

'Discounted drinks, on top of the student discount? Sweet!' Oliver claimed with a smile, inhaling his third slice.

'How are we settling the bill?' Reyna asked, putting her knife and fork on the plate. Yes, the psychopath that uses a knife and fork to eat pizza.

'Split per slice, as usual. Two bucks a slice.' Oliver laughed, tallying up his five pieces. I looked down at my plate, seeing my three pieces and slapping down six.

We cleared up the table and headed down the street, two doors down and to the usual club. It was a small rooftop affair, closed spaces and some dark corners.

Natalie practically dragged me over to the bar.

'What do you drink E?'

'Please don't call me that-'

'What do you drink?' She asked again, raising an eyebrow.

'Just a whisky on the rocks.'

'A whisky on the rocks, a beer and two shots of tequila.' She demanded of the bartender, slapping the money on the counter.

'Miss... this isn't enough money'

'We have student discount and my cousin's boyfriend works here. It's enough money.' She demanded and I took a step away from the bar.

The bartender looked towards Reyna's boyfriend, who nodded reluctantly. They handed over the drinks and we headed through the crowd to where Levi was sitting. Oliver and Reyna brought over their own drinks.

Natalie slid my drink over to me and I sipped it listening to the music that was more headache inducing than enjoyable.

'Are you sure you don't want to give us another shot? Here - take a shot!' She pushed a shot over to me when my glass was half empty.

'I'm sure and uh, thanks?' I said hesitantly, downing the shot.

Soon the room was spinning and the flashing lights were more like blurry flashes. Natalie pushed me onto the dance floor and we stumbled about. She never let me get in a full sentence and leant in to kiss me a little. I stepped away from her, looking for Levi or Oliver, even Reyna, I couldn't see them.

There was a hand on my shoulder. I whipped around, coming face to face with Dark, who seemed to appear from the dark corner. Shaking in fear, but also from being too drunk to stand I gave him a small wave as he took a couple steps closer.

'H-hi' I slurred, still looking around for the others. They scowled, tightening their grip on my shoulder. Was the ringing from them? Or was it from the music? I hardly noticed them leading me over to the exit. 'You know what happened? You know what fucking happened?'

They looked at me with a scowl, saying nothing.

'So... I got set up on this other date with Natalie, she's my friend's cousin, and I don't like her. And she pushed me around. I think maybe she's the reason I'm this drunk, but at least I got free drinks. And oh god she-'

'I do not care. Please, be quiet' Dark scowled as we walked out onto the street.

'And she didn't care.It was like she was trying to be better than me. She knows nothing about me! I can't get a fucking word in and she just makes me feel so shit...I didn't want go on this night out. Because don't I have to wake up early and go visit Yancy? Yeah, I do. Speaking of Yancy. His letters are the most confusing things I've read. I don't understand what he means' I shivered in the cold wind of the dark night, Dark's hand still on my shoulder. The ringing in my ears could be residual or could have been from them.

'Oh shut up'

'He write me all the time. He says that he's not sure about living with all of you because he doesn't trust you. Yet... Get this, he wrote that he likes the sweater I gave me. Is he saying he likes the way that I smell? Is he?' Dark shook their head, ignoring me. 'But, isn't that a kind of odd thing to say to someone? I like, appreciated it. Of course I did. But, is that odd that I appreciated it? Should I like that he likes the way I smell? Is Reyna right? She has set me up with five girls and I didn't like any of them? There was just something about them that was just inherently unattractive...' I continued to ramble.

Dark looked at me, their scowl turning into a frown.

'Why don't I like them and why does Yancy being possessive over my sweater make me feel something? I don't even know what I feel.' I could feel the frustrated tears rising as we continued to walk.

'Have you considered, the possibility that you are gay?' Dark said bluntly, keeping me steady as I almost tripped over.

'No... well. Maybe I am? What if I am? Oh god am I!?' I grew increasingly panicked. 'Oh god! I am! I think I'm gay!' I said loudly, starting to cry.

Dark put their hand on my shoulder with a sigh. 'There is nothing wrong with it. If you are,you were meant to be. That's how it works. I struggled with not coming out... but, it isn't worth it.' They said calmly. 'Wilford knew it.' They chuckled.

I blinked back my tears. 'He did?'

Dark nodded, saying something under his breath that I couldn't catch.