Sometimes, I hate technology - Chapter 9

Sitting with this new group of friends was different, he realized. Gone was the familiarity of the sibling-like relationship of Eliza and Tres. Conversation was more refined, as if even here, while just having dinner and enjoying each other’s company, reputations had to be preserved and images upheld. It was actually exhausting.

Of the three—Ceres, Rachel, and Ricky—the only one he had any kind of interesting conversation with was Ricky. They talked a lot about lacrosse and the upcoming spring season. Of course, Jennifer didn’t know much about lacrosse, so she mainly talked across James to Rachel while keeping a hand on him flirtatiously.

James learned that Ricky had several big parties every year. The shorter boy’s eyes lit up at the mention of his get-togethers. “Normally I just throw one for Halloween, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and my famous End of the Year Bash. But from time to time, I like to just go crazy as hell and throw one for no reason at all.”

“Let me gues