Every Little Piece - By Kate Ashton Page 0,3

of the night in full-out party mode.

This night was for me.

I shoved my phone in my back pocket. Again she chose Brin and Kama. I got it. The whole girl thing. But what about the whole boyfriend thing? Was this her way of telling me that we were a high school fling? We weren’t one of those couples who were hooked at the hips. I should like that though, right? Wasn’t that what every guy wanted?

A girlfriend who didn’t pressure him to commit more?

I lay back on my bed and slipped in my earbuds. Jamie and Carter would be here soon. I needed to kick back and relax while figuring out what to say to Haley eventually. Maybe tonight. Should we even talk about the future? Haley couldn’t seem to take anything seriously. Would I get some flip answer if I brought up next year? Or three years from now?

I’d known since I was twelve that I wanted to be with Haley forever. It started in second grade. She wore two ponytails and mismatched clothes. She was so brave and full of life. She questioned teachers, stood up to bullies, and pulled bunny ears behind the lunch ladies. Man, I fell hard.

But for the first time, I was doubting her end of it.

My phone buzzed and I pulled it out. But it wasn’t Haley. It was Carly. I ignored her. I was sure it was about the party later, asking if I was going. She’d been subtly hitting on me for months. Good thing Haley hadn’t noticed, at least I didn’t think she had. I admit. Carly was pretty hot. Curves all in the right places. An intoxicating smell. But my heart knew and only responded to Haley.

The phone buzzed again. I didn’t even look this time.

Footsteps clomped on the stairs. Jamie and Carter would burst into my room in about one second. The door flew open and banged against my wall. A photo of Haley and I dropped to the floor.

“Watch it!” I pulled out the buds and hung up the photo again.

“Sorry, man.” Jamie flopped on the bed. As usual, his red hair stuck up in the front. Freckles smattered his nose and cheeks. “We ready for a night of booze and girls?”

I held back a retort. They were constantly trying to get me to party more, to get drunk more often, to get my mind off Haley. I’d go with them. I’d party. But my heart wouldn’t be in it. What I loved was hanging out at the pool hall. I wasn’t the big party kind of guy.

Carter leaned against the wall and dug his hands into his pockets. His dark brown hair shaded his eyes. We were the same height and teachers often confused us from the back. “What’re we going to do before the party? Where can we drink?”

“Is that all you think about?” I threw a stuffed pig at him that Haley got for me.

He smirked. “Well, no. There’s always fantasizing about Carly.” Then his eyes gazed off.

“Dude! Save it for another time.”

He fake-coughed. “What? She’s hot.”

Jamie laughed.

“I’ve got an idea.” I grabbed my jacket.

“What?” They both asked.

“Pool.”

They groaned. “Seriously?” Jamie asked. “Can we get any lamer?”

It was Haley’s influence. She celebrated after a big event, not the night before. Almost as if she was holding her breath to make sure she made it through the day. When the big day was over, she’d breathe a sigh of relief and loosen up, ready to party a little bit. Maybe she’d rubbed off on me.

“We graduate tomorrow. How many times have we played pool there over the years?” I asked.

“Fine, fine. I’ll play.” Jamie stood. “Let’s get going so I can kick your ass.”

Carter started to whine but I shut him up with a punch to the arm. “Don’t worry, you’ll have plenty time to hang with the girls later.” I was joking. None of us were really chick magnets. Carter had been crushing on Haley’s best friend, Brin, for the last year. He’d just been too chicken shit to make a move.

We gathered our stuff and I grabbed some cash from my sock drawer. My parents were in the living room in some deep discussion, and at first, they barely noticed me. When I was half way out the door, Dad called me back. Normally I’d leave my friends in the front hall, but Dad sounded serious.

“Know what,” I said to Jamie, “go on down to the hall and grab a table. I’ll drive