The Night

It wasn't long before we saw him, standing next to his vehicle, patiently waiting as he always did.

Parker was low-profile, easygoing-the type of person who did not make waves.

He did whatever Arzhel told him to do unquestioningly, something that everyone was aware of simply because he was crushing on him.

Parker relaxed a little upon seeing us get closer, even though he tried to act indifferent.

"Parker! Baby!" Arzhel yelled, lurching towards him with a smile. "You ready to get us home?"

Parker tilted his head, his own expression serene as ever, yet I noticed the swift look he cast at Arzhel, that flicker of something else.

Arzhel didn't appear to notice-or perhaps he simply didn't care. He was laughing too much, wrapping himself around Parker as if this was the most ordinary thing in the world.

Arzhel chuckled as we all got into the car.

"You're the best, Parker. Seriously." He leaned closer, his breath reeking of booze.

"Aww, shame you're not my type. You know I don't date white boys."

Parker's expression did not alter, but I noticed how his hand clenched on the steering wheel.

My stomach clenched. Arzhel always tossed that phrase out, as if it were nothing, as if it weren't important.

But I knew that it did. Parker never said so, but the words hurt him each time.

I got comfortable in the backseat, my head against the window, seeing the trees whizzing by as Parker began to drive.

Arzhel, though, was leaning halfway into the front seat, his hand on Parker's arm, a wicked smile on his face.

"You're a good man, Parker," arzhel said, his voice falling into something gentler, almost flirtatious. "You'd make someone very happy, you know that?

Parker's gaze flickered to Arzhel for a second before fixing on the road again. Not a word was said by him, but I saw how tense he was, how his jaw clenched every time Jake leaned forward.

I wanted to tell him something. To tell arzhel to leave him be, to stop playing Parker's emotions like this.

But the words were stuck in my throat. Instead, I simply sat there, sensing the tension thicken the air between us.

"Cyrus, you alright in the back?" Arzhel exclaimed abruptly, whirling around to look at me, his eyes foggy from the alcohol.

"yeah," I breathed, hardly audible.

But I wasn't. Not really.

The rest of the ride was filled with the sound of arzhel's laughter, taunting Parker in the same reckless manner, and me, more subdued, with the night pressing down on me more than ever.

I didn't know if things would improve or deteriorate from this point.

But one thing was for sure-this school year was already starting off messy.

As Parker's vehicle came to a halt before my house, I felt the weight of the night pressing down upon me.

I slid quietly out of the backseat, muttering a quick "thanks" to Parker. Arzhel himself was still laughing, bent over in the front seat, unaware of anything but his own amusement.

I nodded to Parker, who gave me a silent, knowing look before peeling off into the darkness.

I crept around the side of the house, keeping away from the front door. The bedroom window was just high enough that I had to stand up and use the ledge to pull myself up.

I made it in by the skin of my teeth, coming to a soft landing on the carpet.

My heart was still pounding, party adrenaline yet to dissipate.

I removed my shoes and put on my hoodie and sweatpants from the chair beside my desk.

I changed quickly, exhaustion overcoming me now that I was by myself.

The bed seemed more welcoming than ever, and I was just going to collapse into it when I heard the door creak open.

My mother stood in the doorway, narrowed eyes, crossed arms.

My heart went into my throat.

"Where have you been, Cyrus?" Her tone was even, but with a bite to it that stopped me in my tracks.