“Sammy,” Ron had said, “Dare you to draw on Kevin.”

     “Easy,” Kevin scoffs, turning to Samuel and handing him a marker. “Don't draw a flower, queer. Draw like a skull or something-”

     “Kevin, Sammy can draw whatever he wants.” Ron grinned. “Though I wouldn’t doubt it.”

     Both boys cackled at their joke. 

     “Guys, come on, that’s not funny.” Samuel mumbled. “I wasn’t gonna draw a flower anyways.” He began to trace his palm on Kevin's arm. “There,” he said,

     “Done.”

     James stood. “D’you guys want water or something? I’m getting some for myself anyways.” The rest of the boys piped in, asking for different drinks and snacks and such. Huffing at the amount of requests, he walked to Kevin’s expansive kitchen down the hall.

     “And then there were three,” Ronald giggled. “Kevin, ask me.”

     “Okay. Ron, truth or dare?”

     “Dare. I ain’t no bitch.”

     “I dare you to show me your eyes.”

     Ronald’s grin grew wider. “Alright, but this is only for you. Sammy has to look away.” 

     “Come on, show me.”

     Ronald lifted his glasses.

     Kevin gasped. “There’s - nothing -”

     Kevin was right. There was, in fact, nothing. Or, at least, what he perceived as nothing. It seemed like there should have been something; of course, how could Ronald have seen so well with no eyes. A tune seemed to play from the silence of shock. A soft lullaby, with a small hint of dishonesty and unspoken lies. A chilling tune, still, but calming all the while. Perhaps an unexpected shift in melodies, though not noticeable with the naked eye. He could almost see the sounds, almost; but not quite. The colors were a duller mix of all the love he had shared. Not quite remembering but recalling every insignificant detail. Everything about Bella. Having to absorb every tone, every beat, every noise that played. The sound was coming from those eye-shaped holes, and he knows he’s seen those pits before, but he can’t quite place it. He could go, he could leave at any time, there’s nothing holding him here. There’s nothing waiting for him to come back, there’s no reward for him staying. Perhaps he didn’t remember the life before he heard these feelings. But, nevertheless, led by nothing and bound by sound, he stayed.

     “It’s comforting, isn’t it?”

     The sudden voice interrupted Kevin’s trance. “What? Huh? O-oh, yeah, uh, it is. I guess.”

     Ronald slipped his sunglasses back on. “Kevin, you never mention Bella.”

     “Who? No, man, Bella and me ended it such a long time ago…”

     “Five months ago,” Samuel piped up. “Five months ago she broke up with you.”

     “Shut up, Sammy! I didn’t ask you.” Kevin shouted. “I broke up with her because she’s gross and weird.”

     James heard the yell from the kitchen. “You guys good?” he shouted back. “I’m almost done with the drinks, I’ll be there in a sec.”

     “Kevin.”

     “Yeah?”

     “You are not to tell anyone what you saw, you hear? Else you’ll be seen as a kook.” Ronald paused for a moment. “Kidding, kidding! It’s just a joke, man.”

     “Heh,” Kevin chuckled. “Good one.” They high-fived.

     James came back from the kitchen with a bowl of popcorn, a slice of pizza, a can of Pepsi, a milkshake, and a glass of iced water. “Are you guys okay? I heard a yell,” he said, then turned to Samuel. “Sammy, are you doing okay? Do you want me to put on some music?”

     Sammy’s lips hinted at a grin at James’s remark. “Yeah, Jamie. Yeah, I’m fine. You don’t gotta worry. I’m okay.”

     Samuel was next to ask truth or dare. “Kevin, truth or dare?”

     “Dare. Obviously.”

     “Have James make up a nickname that you’ll keep forever.”

     “What abou Bingo? Your grandma loves to play it with you.”

     “Fine. But only you guys get to call me that. Also, just because my gram likes to play with me doesn’t mean I like to. I’m not a nerd.”

     Ronald smirked. He had much to report to James’s mother when they were picked up. He could tell Kevin still cared about Bella. “Pathetic,” Ronald mumbled. “Wasting time lying to a woman who cares not for him. If only he knew…”