I got out of the shower. Drops of water slid down my hair, forming a small pool on the floor.
The mirror was fogged up from the heavy pressure of the hot water, and I couldn't see anything.
I wiped it clean to look at my jawline—it still wasn't perfectly shaped, so I needed to train it more until it was just right for me.
"Malachai!" my mom yelled from downstairs.
They were probably about to head out to some Halloween party and leave me home alone. They probably think I'm staying here.
A few minutes before the shower, I'd texted James, Ryan, Mike, and Joshua to ask what time we were meeting up, but I still hadn't gotten a reply.
"Malachai!" my mother's voice again, louder.
"I'm coming!" I shouted back.
I left the bathroom and went into my room, locking the door so nobody would walk in by accident.
I let the towel drop from my waist. Turning my head, I glanced at my exposed body. My eyes traveled from top to bottom, stopping at my crotch.
"Malachai, is the bathroom free?!" This time it was my dad.
We had two bathrooms in the house, and of course, today they both chose the one upstairs for their endless walks back and forth.
"Yes," I said. They probably didn't hear me with the loud music blasting through the house.
My hand brushed over the scar near my navel. James gave me that one when we were eight, playing on some sandy hills. He hadn't noticed a pile of boards with nails sticking up at the bottom. He chased me for so long that he got tired, and in a fit of rage, unable to catch me, he used the last of his strength to shove me hard instead of tagging my shoulder. I fell down.
A few millimeters off, and I would have lost an eye if I had landed in the "perfect spot."
The sound of a notification.
I grabbed my phone, quickly unlocked it, and saw our group photo as the wallpaper.
I immediately clicked on James's message.
James: We've been waiting by your gate for five minutes.
Malachai: Why didn't you text earlier?
Silence.
A moment later, he replied:
James: I texted you before. Hurry the fuck up.
He was right. I hadn't scrolled up. Probably missed it because of the music, my thoughts… or my dad.
Malachai: I'm coming out now.
I pulled a random t-shirt from the closet—not exactly Halloween-appropriate, but I thought, fuck it.
Most people would be out there running around in slutty costumes or outfits designed to give someone wet dreams anyway.
But I'm not like that. I'm not like them.
Another notification from James:
James: How much longer are we supposed to wait?
I didn't answer, but I knew I had to hurry.
I threw on the shirt, black pants, and a leather jacket. One last glance in the mirror, and I left my room.
My dad had come out of the bathroom by then.
"Where are you going?" he asked.
"With James, for a beer," I said, heading for the stairs.
My parents never had an issue with us drinking—in fact, they encouraged it. Joshua would be in seventh heaven here. Me, not so much.
"We'll leave the key in the usual spot," he said.
I nodded.
Downstairs, my mom was dressed in a Catwoman costume. Have people completely lost their fucking minds?
"Where-"
"With James, for a beer," I cut her off, knowing exactly what she was about to ask.
I walked to the door, grabbed the handle, and pulled it open slowly.
"The key—"
"Yes, where it always is," I interrupted again, predicting her words.
I looked at the wallpaper on my phone again. We look so happy here. So pure and sweet.
I shook my head and quickly turned off my phone, shoving it into my pocket.
I took a deep breath, exhaled slowly.
And stepped outside.