"So where are we off to?" Dave asks me as we drive down the street and I come to a stop sign, looking both ways.

"I have something I gotta do, and then we can do whatever you'd like."

The rest of the car ride is in silence. We don't say anything until I pull up to a house, parking in the driveway. Dave looks at me.

"And we are...?"

"Matt's house," I reply, putting the car in park and shutting it off.

"Oh," Dave says awkwardly.

I pop open my door and start to climb out. "Well c'mon."

So Dave unbuckles and scurries after me. We go up the porch and I ring the doorbell. As we wait, I adjust my ballcap. The door swings open, and I'm relieved when it's Matt himself. He looks shocked, and honestly a little sick at the sight of me.

"Tristan."

"C'mon out here," I tell him.

Matt doesn't move. I sigh, looking at my feet. "'M not here ta kill ya, yaknow. I wouldn't do that."

Still apprehensively, Matt comes out to join us. He nods at Dave.

"Look," I say, messing with the hem of my shirt again, mumbling a bit. "'M sorry I hollered at you like a brute over the phone."

"Tristan," Matt says, and the soft tone in his voice makes me jerk my head up. "C'mon, man. You know I wouldn't do anything to put you in danger."

I look down again, but I don't reply. Matt sighs, so I look at him again.

"Look. Jon came around looking for you. I told him he wasn't gonna find you because you left the state. He tried to get out of me where you were, but I wouldn't. I, uh, I ended up calling the cops because he shoved me up against a wall."

My eyes go huge and I clench my hands into fists.

"Woah," Dave mutters besides me.

Matt notices my stance, and he holds up his hands. "It's okay, Tristan. As soon as I pulled my phone out he took off running. I still called them, though."

"I'm fixin' to murder him," I growl.

Matt laughs. "No need. Isn't he out of the country now, anyway?"

I relax, just ever so slightly.

"Anyway," Matt says, sweeping his messy hair off his forehead only for it to fall right back, "I was kinda hoping they'd track him down, but they didn't."

I let out a long sigh, allowing myself to relax. I then narrow my eyes. "He didn't hurt you, did he?"

Matt laughs. "Naw. Like I said, as soon as I pulled out my phone he booked it."

I look down. "Sorry I brought you trouble."

"Oh! Speaking of which!"

Before I even raise my head, Matt has taken off quickly into his house. Dave looks at me, confused, and I merely shrug. Moment later, Matt is back outside and hands me a slip of paper, grinning. It's a check for the five hundred he owes me.

I laugh and shake my head, holding it back out to him. He looks confused. "I can't."

Matt furrow his brow. "The fuck?"

"Really," I insist, "don't worry about it."

"Tristan--that's a lotta money. I can't--"

"Yes, you can."

Besides us, Dave has started to chuckle.

"Tristan," Matt says sharply, getting angry, "take the God damn check."

"I'll take it, but I ain't gonna cash it."

Matt throws his hands into the air. "Just take the fucking money, Tristan Kai Smith!"

That makes Dave crack up. I grin at Matt and he relaxes. I fold the check, slipping it into my back pocket. Joking, I speak.

"This ain't blood diamond money or something, is it?"

"I'm gonna murder you, Trist. Get the fuck off my property."

"Your property?" I tease with a huge grin. "I feel like your parents are the landowners—"

"I'm gonna kick your ass, Tristan!"

I laugh. "Alright, alright."

"Good."

Dave and I walk down the steps. Matt calls to us.

"Hey Tristan."

I turn back around.

"I promise you I'm not gambling anymore. That money is for real. The check isn't gonna bounce or anything."

I grin at him. "I know."

When Dave and I get back in the car, my phone rings before I can even buckle myself. I pull my phone out of my pocket, and I'm surprised at the name that's on my screen.

"Hold up, I have to take this, sorry."

Dave shrugs as I swipe the screen and I put the phone to me ear.

"Er, Gloria?"

"Hi baby," she greets me happily.

I close my eyes and smile, allowing myself to relish the sound of her voice for a second. "How've you been? Sassy as ever? Keeping everyone in check?"

She laughs. "Si, you know I wouldn't have it any other way."

I chuckle.

"So," she says, and I'm surprised as her voice falters. "I wanted to let you know Orion is out of rehab today."

My throat goes immediately dry. "O-oh."

A pause, and then, "I don't expect you to say or do anything, I just wanted to let you know."

"Well, I appreciate that."

There's a long pause where I don't think either of us know what to say. I'm happy when she speaks.

"So, how are things?"

"Good," I tell her, "really good."

"I'm really happy to hear that," she tells me, and I can hear the genuine tone of her voice. "I've been worried about you."

I chuckle. "No need to worry, I'm fine."

I glance at Dave, who has his eyes honed in on me. I clear my throat. "Actually I'm out right now, with my boyfriend."

A pause, and then, "Boyfriend?"

"Yup," I say, "his name's David--well, Dave."

Another pause, and the next words are forced and hesitant. "Well, if you're happy, then I'm happy for you, Tristan."

I smile and close my eyes, even though I know her words weren't genuine. "Thanks, Glo."

Suddenly she laughs. "Your accent got a lot stronger. It's cute."

Now I laugh. "Goodbye, Gloria."

"Don't be a stranger, Tristan."

I smile. "I won't. Promise."

"I'm holding you to that."

I hang up. My grin slips away when I look over at Dave. He doesn't really look angry, he looks...

Honestly? I can't read the expression on his face.

"What?"

Dave narrows his eyes. "Mind me asking who that was?"

I can't help but roll my eyes. I'm sure he was able to hear that entire conversation. "An old friend to let me know Orion is out of rehab."

Dave nods a few times, his face still unreadable. It's making me a bit uncomfortable, especially given his usual open features. Clearing my throat, I start the car. This seems to make Dave relax, and he smiles at me, finally.

"So, what're we going to do today?"

"Well," I say, grinning as I back out of the driveway, "I just got five hundred dollars. Lets go paint the town red."

And that's exactly what we did.