I gaze at my reflection, scrutinizing every detail. My dark eyes scan my outfit to ensure I look just right. Today, I chose a white tank top paired with a stylish black and white jacket. For my pants, I opted for sleek black trousers and comfortable black sneakers. I run my fingers through my blonde hair yet again, messing it a little bit.

"It's just a little get-together, Casper," I remind myself for what feels like the hundredth time. 

Why did Matt have to invite me? I don’t even get along with either of them. Ugh! I should have just said no.

Taking a deep breath, I consider my options. I could easily come up with an excuse to leave early; there’s no need to stay until the end, right? Yes, that sounds like a solid plan. As I run my hands through my hair once more, I glance at the clock—it reads 7:10 PM. 

I step out and head straight for the bar down the street. It’s the same place Matt frequents, and we agreed to meet there instead of going together. Tonight, I decided to take a taxi; I simply didn't feel like driving. In less than fifteen minutes, I find myself standing at the entrance of the bar. I stare at it longer than I should, mentally wishing it would vanish so I could avoid this whole situation. But, of course, that didn't happen.

As I stepped inside, I was greeted by a cool ambiance. Soft jazz floated through the air, while dim red and blue lights set a moody tone for the bar. People mingled, sipping their drinks and chatting, with a few swaying gently to the music a bit away from the stage. 

As I scanned the room, my gaze landed on Rex and Matt seated to my left. They were deep in conversation, clearly engrossed in whatever topic had captured their attention. Rex cracked a joke that sent Matt into a fit of genuine laughter. 

A pang of jealousy flickered within me. Their easy smiles and closeness reminded me of all the reasons I shouldn't have come here. It was clear they shared a strong friendship, and it seemed like it was always just the two of them hanging out. 

Why did Matt have to invite me? 

Just as I contemplated turning around and leaving, Rex said something that made Matt’s smile fade. He looked down at his drink, lifting it to take a hefty gulp, nodding in response to Rex while a strained smile crept onto his face. 

What could they possibly be discussing? 

Matt ran his fingers through his hair and glanced around the bar. Our eyes met, and he quickly raised his hands, beckoning me over. The forced smile on his face was replaced by a look of relief. 

“Hey, Casper,” he greeted as I approached. Rex merely leaned back in his chair, watching me intently. 

“Did you just get here?” Matt inquired. 

“Yeah, few seconds ago. I was looking for you two,” I replied, smoothly weaving my lie. 

"Oh, my mistake. I should have sent you a message to let you know where we were sitting. Rex and I just arrived a few minutes ago." 

So they came together? 

A tall guy approached our table, looking slightly older and covered in tattoos on his neck and left arm. "Do you know him?" he asked Matt, pointing at me with a skeptical eyebrow raised. 

"Yeah, why?" Matt answered, and I was just as curious. 

The guy gestured to where I had been standing moments earlier. "He's been standing over there, watching you all. Honestly, I thought he might be a stalker and was about to call security," he said. 

This revelation made Rex and Matt turn to glance at me in surprise. My cheeks flushed with embarrassment. I officially disliked this guy. 

"You were just standing there, watching?" Rex asked incredulously. 

"I was trying to make sure it was really you guys. I didn't want to approach the wrong table," I explained. Rex raised an eyebrow and chuckled. 

What’s so amusing? 

"That's cool. What would you like to drink?" Matt inquired. 

"I'll have the same as yours," I replied. 

The tall guy nodded and walked away. "Sorry about that. He's the bar owner and a friend of mine, so he was just looking out," Matt said. I nodded in understanding. A different guy soon brought my order. I took a sip, the liquid searing my throat as I swallowed. Wow, what on earth is Matt drinking? 

"You know, when I first spotted Rex, it took me by surprise. It brought back memories of our high school days, even though it hasn't been that long. I heard Collins High isn't homophobic—true?" he asked, taking another sip of his drink. 

"Yeah, we were pretty chill about it." 

"Wow, I'm envious," he must have noticed the look of confusion on my face. "Lead High was basically the exact opposite. Only the wealthy and popular kids managed to escape bullying." 

I had no idea their school environment was like that. It made me wonder whether Matt faced bullying for being gay. 

"Back in the day, I really wished I had gone to Collins High instead. Not to mention the attractive and dominant guys who were there," he said with a giggle. I think he might be a little tipsy now. 

I noticed Rex's expression darken when Matt mentioned the attractive and dominant guys, but his frown quickly vanished as soon as they arrived. 

"I also heard about that ridiculous friend group rule you all had. Who came up with that shit?" Matt asked. 

"Yeah, it was pretty silly. But honestly, it was a good time; I made some solid friends through it," Rex replied. 

"I remember telling Ben how dumb that rule was, only for him to end up being part of it later," Rex added. 

I simply hummed in response, unsure of what to say. 

"You know what, I'll be right back," Matt said, his gaze locked on the tall bar owner who had come by earlier. "Just need a moment," he added as he stood up and approached the guy. Rex and I watched as they headed to the back of the bar, the guy's hands resting on Matt's waist. 

I have a feeling we won't be seeing him again tonight. 

Rex let out a sigh and took a large sip of his drink before asking, "Who's Jess?" 

"What?" 

"You mentioned it yesterday, that I gave Jess a handjob. Who exactly is Jess?" he inquired, licking his lips as he leaned back casually. 

Why was he bringing this up out of the blue? And why did he pretend not to recall? 

"Don't act like you don't know Jess," I pressed, noting his persistent gaze as if he was genuinely trying to convince me he had no memory of him. 

"Jess, my friend—the one who approached you during our exercise in school." 

He pursed his lips, clearly struggling to jog his memory. I took a big gulp of my drink, the liquid burning my throat as I swallowed it all at once, prompting a cough. 

"Forget it; it’s not important. Just disregard what I said." 

"The only person I gave a handjob to at your school was that weird guy. But how did you find out?" 

I grabbed Matt's abandoned drink and downed that in one go as well. "I saw you two. How fucking else would I know?" 

Rex smirked, "Are you getting tipsy just thinking about the handjob?" 

"Shut it." I shot up from my seat, the room swirling as I tried to stabilize myself. 

"You’re drunk, Casper. Calm down a bit," I heard him say. 

"Go tell that to Jess," I snapped. 

He chuckled, "You're funny." 

I attempted to roll my eyes but it only made things worse as the world became increasingly hazy. I stumbled my way out of the bar, muttering apologies to the people I bumped into. 

Great, why did I drink so much? I lost my balance when someone caught me, their hands gripping my waist as I turned to see who it was. 

I found myself staring into Rex's green eyes, a small smirk playing on his lips. I mumbled something, and instantly, his smirk vanished. 

Then the world turned black.