The Day Love Burned Out

The Gathering

Johnny had been close enough to overhear the conversation. So, he arched an eyebrow challengingly at Zoe. "Seamus is my bro, woman. You can't do shit about me."

The two of them were like powder kegs, and they looked like they were seconds away from exploding. This time, I didn't step in like I used to.

Instead, I checked the time. "It's almost time. I'm going in."

The two of them exchanged a look and stopped bantering right away. How interesting. After all, their reactions suggested that peace had always been an option for them without my well-meaning interference.

The SATs were finally done, and a sigh of relief escaped my lips. The tension I'd been feeling was finally melting away.

Jacqueline, our class president, popped up in the group chat and suggested we have a gathering. After all, we would be going our own separate ways after graduation. It would likely be impossible to meet up due to our conflicting schedules.

Halfway through the gathering, the class clown ordered two six-packs. "Hey, we can drink a little. It's a gathering staple."

Johnny was right beside me, and I could feel the light in his eyes blinding everything in this room. "We should get used to this, Seamus. Someday we'll have to handle alcohol."

Zoe snickered and pushed Johnny's hand down with her fork.

She retorted, "Hey, you were blackout drunk at the hotel and nearly tore down the whole place. I had to bring you back myself. God, you weighed as much as a pig. I was nearly crushed. I swear you stank enough to knock out a whole town!"

Johnny went as red as a tomato. "It's not my fault you're fragile and have a good nose!"

The conversation made me pause, and I put my glass down on the table. "I never knew you two went out drinking alone. When did that happen?"

"It was during the school blackout—" Johnny's answer ground to a halt.

That reminded me.

I ran a fever of nearly 104 degrees that night, and it nearly robbed me of my voice. By God's grace, Jacqueline noticed how ill I had been and gave me a piggyback as she sprinted all the way to the infirmary.

The first thing I did after waking up was call Zoe. I called her more than 20 times, and she didn't pick up any of them. Jacqueline had to prop me up and helped me get back home.

So, this was why she didn't answer my calls. She was out drinking with Johnny. When I asked her, she told me her father was on a business trip, and her mother had sprained her ankle. She claimed that she had to take the day off and care for her mom.

The lies had begun way before the SATs.

Johnny realized too late he'd let the secret slip, and he was looking at me nervously. "It's not her fault. She only did it for you. You'd be worried if I got into trouble, and she didn't want that."

Zoe nodded immediately, finally finding an excuse. "I'd have left him by the road otherwise!"

I grinned. "Sounds like you're asking for a thank you."

That told Zoe I was mad, and she glared at Johnny. "This is your fault!" Then, she turned back to me. "Calm down, Seamus. I swear I'll ignore him from now on!"

Johnny was turning red with worry, and he wanted to swear they were innocent. "I was just testing her, man. If she never cared about you, she'd never care for your buddy!"

I was going to say something, but the bottle was already done spinning, and it was pointing at Zoe.

The class had already started Truth or Dare when we were still talking.

"Truth or Dare, Zoe." That was the class clown. Everyone knew he was a great prankster when it came to Dare. Zoe went for Truth right away.

"Who's the last guy you kissed?"

Jacqueline clicked her tongue and scolded him, "Are you stupid? She's dating Seamus. Obviously, he's the one she kissed! Do you even know how to play this game? Let me do it!"

I looked at Zoe again, only to notice her eyes drifting to Johnny for a quick moment.