I balanced four sodas and set them on the table. "Are you guys ready to order or do you need more time?" I asked pulling out my notepad and a pen.

The wife looked at her husband expectantly. He smiled at me and said, "We need a little more time if that's okay." His wife helped their youngest son with his drink.

I nodded in understanding. "No problem," I said coolly and walked back to the counter. Arry sat, spinning herself on the swivel stool.

She moaned and flopped on top of the register. She pointed to a young couple across the restaurant. "That couple has been sitting their for two hours. Make them pay. Please. I haven't used the register in three hours. I'm so bored." She pressed random buttons on the register.

After school, we worked at the Brian's Family Pizzeria. In our town people just referred to it as the BFP. Lauren came out from the kitchen with a pie. "Vickie and George said we could leave early, right?" I clarified.

Lauren nodded carrying the food to a table near the window. She said from the table, "Yeah. They're closing up early so that we can leave."

"Sweet," Arry said.

Lauren tended to the customers she served and then came back. "Yeah but they made me promise to bring all the left over pizza since we're making them close up early." She shrugged. The kitchen door swung as Julie and Morgan walked through.

We crowded behind the counter. "The parties at eleven, right?" Morgan asked.

Lauren eyed her cautiously, "You're going?"

Morgan rolled her eyes. "Please don't get all mom on me." Lauren and Morgan were stepsisters. They had actually grown closer ever since Lauren had moved in with us. We wouldn't be working at the pizzeria if Lauren hadn't gotten emancipated.

Lauren pursed her lips. "Just please don't drink."

"Are you?" She retaliated. Before Lauren could respond, she took my notepad and went to the table with the couple and two kids.

Arry shook her head at all of us. "Remember what happened last time? None of us are gonna drink."

+ + +

"Chug! Chug! Chug! Chug!"

Music pulsed through my body. It seemed like the vibrations were shaking my bones. My cup was almost empty, and I couldn't remember how much alcohol was coursing through my veins. I was sprawled on the couch, casually sipping my drink. Arry slammed her cup down, demolishing the pride of Drifton's star quarterback. The crowd yelled and hollered.

Syd and Pinoe had been next door neighbors for as long as they could remember. Even their grade school birthday parties were wild. Both their houses were always flooded with people and their groups were connected by the intertwined backyards.

Amy pushed me off the couch. She jumped over the back and sat down. "Hey! I was sitting their!" I slurred. I gripped the couch cushions to try and stand up. I got to my knees when she pushed my head back. I fell to the ground again. "That's not funny!"

She laughed and said, "Where's the new girl? I thought you said she was coming."

"I said she might."

"Or maybe you wanted her to," she teased. She wiggled her eyebrow. 

I blinked and then laughed. I swatted her empty cup out of her hand. It rolled to the floor with a hollow clatter, but no one heard. "That's the alcohol talking." I sat on her despite the empty other half of the couch. "Where's everybody else?" She looked around the room.

"Partying," she concluded.

Arry stumbled towards me with a grin on her face. "Guess who just arrived," she sang smugly.

As if on cue, the door opened. In walked a person wearing a white blouse and leggings. She had minimal makeup on and awkwardly shut the door behind her. "Alex!" I shouted. She looked thankfully towards me.

She made her way through the crowd, being pushed this way and that. When she broke from the group of rowdy teenagers she sighed with relief. She asked, "Am I late?"

Amy shrugged. "It's a party. People come and go as they please." We nodded in agreement.

Alex seemed uneasy, so I offered to grab her a drink. She refused, and I laughed. "Don't worry. I won't spike your drink." I heard Arry crack up from her side of the couch. "Why don't you come with and see?" Amy and my sister oohed teasingly. Alex blushed and looked to the floor. I didn't know what they were getting on about. I wasn't into relationships. They took time away from what I really needed to concentrate on. Alex was the new girl. She needed someone to thrust her into the lifestyle.

I went into the kitchen where the drinks and food were located. "What would you like?" I asked. Alex bit her lip and chuckled nervously.

She surveyed the choices. "Do you have water?" She croaked.

I grabbed a plastic cup and poured her some of the punch. I grinned as I placed the cup in her hand. "Don't worry, Carli made both batches. This one is definitely alcohol free." She looked at it nervously. Speaking of Carli, the captain walked in and scooped herself some more punch from the same bowl I had gotten Alex.

She looked up at Alex who was still weakly holding her cup. Carli looked as sober as ever with her annoyed look. "Hope just had a five game winning streak in beer pong, finally beat Arry in a chugging race, and is now puking her guts out. She's so lucky I don't drink," Carli ranted downing her cup. She filled back up to the brim and left to care for the goalkeeper.

Alex cautiously sipped her punch. I gave her a cheeky grin. "I think this is our first conversation alone," I said. Her fingers tapped against her red Solo cup. I threw my empty cup in the trash and cracked open a beer. She glanced at it uneasily. I brought it to my lips, letting the cool, slick liquid slip down my throat.

She hesitated but asked, "How many of those have you had?"

"These?" I held the bottle up. "This is my first." I jabbed my thumb towards the containers on the table. "But it isn't my first drink."

She nodded slowly, licking her lips nervously. I smirked. I guess it wouldn't hurt to talk to her for just one night. Right? No harm done. "So mysterious new girl. Tell me about yourself," I said getting comfortable against the table. She shifted her weight side to side.

She opened her mouth to speak but was interrupted by Arry barreling in. "Guys. O'Solo is probably the most beautiful thing I have ever created," she giggled grabbing another drink. She paused and looked at the ceiling. She kissed her fingertips and tossed them away in that strange Italian gesture. "Mwah!"

"Really? 'Cause that chicken parm sandwich you made was pretty spectacular," I teased.

She gripped my collar loosely. Her head drooped as she whisper shouted, "You ate my sandwich? How dare you! That was my sandwich. My. Sandwich." Alex giggled. Her laugh made me smile.

"Made? You created their relationship?" The confused newbie asked.

I rolled my eyes as Arry's lit up. I butt in, "She thinks she's like Cupid or something."

My little sister gripped Alex's shoulders and got close to her face. "I—Alex Morgan—am the school's matchmaker," she stated. "I don't make mistakes."

"Except for—"

"Shut up Tobin." I closed my mouth.

She cupped Alex's face. "Half of the couples in this school have been foraged by me. Hope and Kelley? Your welcome. Julie and Zach? My pleasure. Ashlyn and Ali? My OTP and my work. The list goes on and on and on."

"Arry? Where are you with the towel?" Carli's voice was heard from the bathroom.

Arry rolled her eyes. "Give me a few mozzarella!" She shouted back. She bid us goodbye and went back on her journey.

Alex and I stared at each other before we burst in laughter. "Mozzarella?" Alex repeated between giggles.

I gasped for breath. "She is so drunk!"

"And you're not?" Alex scoffed.

I stood in front of her. I closed the space and placed my body against her's. I could feel her breathing hitch as I draped my arm over her shoulder. My finger slowly went towards her nose. I tapped it and smirked. "Nope. Just a little buzzed," I said smugly. I stepped back and observed her. She looked flustered and red.

"Stop leading the poor girl on," Ashlyn scolded sauntering into the kitchen. She had her arm around Ali's waist. Her car keys were looped around her finger.

I internally paused. Was I leading her on? I hadn't even noticed. I laughed and took a sip of my beer. "Relationships aren't my thing," I stated. The words suddenly felt stale. I never felt guilty about being single. Alex took a step away, drumming her fingers on the table. "Help yourself to anything you want." Alex looked at me, but her eyes didn't look like she just wanted punch. I rubbed my eyes. It had to be the alcohol. How much had I consumed?

"Alex?" A guys voice called out.

My head snapped to the doorway. Servando Carrasco stood, leaned against the frame. Alex looked surprised to see him. All I knew was that I hated Carrasco and Alex didn't seem happy to see him. "What the hell do you want Carrasco," I growled stepping towards him. I wasn't sure if the alcohol was clouding my judgement, but I couldn't care less at this point.

He frowned and stepped towards me. He puffed out his chest and glowered at me. He snapped, "I wasn't talking to you orphan."

I took another step so that our toes were tickling each other. "Call me that again. I. Dare. You." I clenched my jaw and dug my nails into my palm. My senses dipped for a second, but I came back to reality before I did anything.

He was going to say it, but Alex cut him off. "Tobin, stop it," she said pulling me back. "He didn't do anything wrong."

"He exists," I snap. "That's what's wrong." I wasn't going to mention the fact that he forced himself on my sister.

She put her hand against my chest so that I couldn't lunge at him. I brushed her hand off and took a few deep breaths. "I think the queen of chill needs to take a chill pill," he snarled. I stared blankly at him. Alex relaxed her stance and began to shrink back into her spot. The minute she stepped back, I lunged at him. He was shoved into the island with no regrets.

"Tobin!" She shrieked. "Stop it!"

She threw herself in front of me. I didn't follow up on my attack. "Is he hurting you?" I shouted. "I swear to god if he's hurting you and threatening you—"

"I haven't seen him before today! I've talked to him over the internet. That's all."

My jaw set angrily. I suddenly shouted, "Do you like guys or girls?" Even I was ready to jump out of my body and stare at myself. The question had burst from my lips like it had spent a lifetime in solitary confinement. I hadn't even thought it through.

"Why does that matter?" She responded defensively.

Her lack of decision fueled the fire that had been set. How? Not even I knew. All I could process was the burning anger in my core. "Answer the question Morgan. Boys or girls?" I stumbled horizontally, into the island. My eyes burned with tears and my cheek burned with red, hot pain.

She had tears streaming down her cheeks. She was clutching her hand to her chest. When did she start crying? "They were right! You are a psycho without a single ounce of compassion in your blood!" She stormed out of the room. Servando followed and I was tempted to take his feet out from under him.

I shouted after them, "Screw you Morgan! Guess what? I know you're filthy rich. Didn't think I knew the name? Cause I'm poor and stupid." She was long gone by now but I kept screaming. I shouted louder knowing she was further way. "Hang out with your fellow royalty. Don't mind us peasants. We're just the roaches you step on to get to your castle!"

A hand was placed on my shoulder. "You okay Toby Moby Scoby Doby—"

I interrupted, "We're done. Get the others. We're going home. I'm officially done with this party crap."

She made me stare into her eyes. She had our mother's eyes. This hazel color with green specks. "Tobs, this party crap is the only socializing we do," she whispered. The sound of the party was muffled by the now closed kitchen door.

I jerked away. "I'm done socializing too! Who the hell needs this drama to be successful? I'm done. We're leaving Arry, let's go."

"You're being really, really, really, really selfish right now!" She shouted at me, pushing me weakly.

I snapped, "I don't want to hear it. Let's go!"

"I'm sorry you don't have feelings but some of us do. Not everyone is trying to have a boring life!"

There was a knock. Our argument was cut short when Christen Press walked in. "Hey Tobin. Do you want a ride home? I couldn't help but overhear your conversation. I'm headed out anyway." She fidgeted. "Lauren's sober. She can drive the others home." Before I could respond, Arry left the room. I nodded at her thankfully.

The car ride back was silent and awkward. I had history with this specific Christen Press. Arry didn't make mistakes often. She was a perfectionist after all. She had thought that Christen and I would make a great couple. She subtly pushed us together and it had worked. I had tried a relationship with her. It was really low key and only those I trusted had heard about it. Not many details were shared.

I ended up breaking up with her because I felt like she was giving her all, and I wasn't. Despite her devastation, I still trusted and loved Christen. "Chrissy," I muttered softly.

Her grip on the wheel tightened. I hadn't called her that since we dated. She hummed in response. "Am I a psycho?"

The car swerved slightly. There was a pause on her end. She cleared her throat and said, "Psycho is a loose term used inconsistently throughout court and in medical situations."

I didn't even blink. She didn't answer my question. "A psycho is someone without a conscience. Someone who does the wrong thing and feels no remorse. You are not a psychopath."

Christen was smart, but she was only sixteen. "How do you know?"

"Because I know you feel things Tobin. You just feel the need to block it out. You even deprive yourself of the ability to share your compassion with others. I know you care. You show it without knowing."

I licked my lips. I wanted to feel something. I was reminded of the small bursts of happiness and love I felt when I was with Christen back then. I leaned over the console. "Is their a cure Doctor Press?" I whispered huskily as I leaned further.

Catching my movement, she copied too. Soon our lips met and I longed for a connection. Proof that I wasn't as psychotic as people said I was.