“Ravina is in my usual seat,” James complained, as he had to be stuffed in the back between Nicki and Lee.

“Ravina is prettier than you.” Theo said.

I smiled shyly.

“Touché,” James sighed.

Theo turned off Sunset Street and started driving toward the park where the bridge was. As we drove by Brook Way, Lee sat up in his chair and pointed out the window.

“Hey isn’t that your house Nicki?” He mumbled. He was clearly drunk.

“How do you know that Lee?” I smirked. “I see you’re fully clothed now.”

Lee sighed dramatically. “Ravina Dobs I had no idea you cared, but since you asked so nicely, yeah newsflash, I am officially an adult.”

I nodded, “But not old enough to drink.”

I heard Theo stifle a crazy laugh and James snickered.

Lee sighed from the backseat. “Man, tomorrow morning’s gonna be a bitch.” He said, rubbing his forehead.

James nodded.

I looked up at Theo curiously. “You don’t drink?” I asked him.

He shrugged, “It’s illegal.”

James and Lee both cracked up. Lee reached over to play with Theo’s hair…

“Hah, listen to you! Acting all mature and innocent in front of your girlfriend!” Lee snorted.

Theo’s ears turned bright red. “I never said I was innocent, but at least I’m not an idiot like you two.”

James whistled, “Sheesh.”

“Get off me-” Theo hit Lee away, who slumped back in his seat with another sigh.

The car moved soundlessly down the street. It was the hour between midnight and morning when you couldn’t really tell if you were still awake or already dreaming. Everything flickered by outside the window in shapeless, shadowy forms. This was the hour when reckless teenagers like my friends and I would go to bridges to smoke or play truth or dare games that ended in someone going to the hospital. I’d never been happier. Maybe there was something wrong with me…

“So no one has a lighter?” Nicki asked from the backseat between James and Lee.

Theo didn’t respond, neither did I. James and Lee both shook their heads.

Nicki frowned.

“Y’all are no fun.” She pouted.

Her glittery eyeliner sparkled in the streetlights from outside. Lee was staring at her with doe eyes. It was kind of cute, and also sad.

“Bridge up ahead!” James called, slapping Theo on the shoulder.

Everyone was already unbuckled and jittering with excitement before Theo had even parked the car.

We jumped out into a gravel parking lot on the side of the road, hearing water running from close by. The bridge was a short walk down the road…

“YOLO bitches!” Lee exclaimed, grabbing Nicki who was giggling and pulling her quickly along.

James just smiled and followed after them.

Theo came over to me and didn’t take my hand or anything, but beckoned me closer with nothing more than his eyes.

“We aren’t allowed out here, are we?” I whispered, walking with Theo down the path.

He just glanced at his shoes, hands in his pockets and smiled. When he shook his head strands of his dark hair fell in his eyes.

I swallowed, looking up at the moon as we walked... listening to the screams and shouts of our friends ahead of us.

Why hadn’t I done something like this before? Well, obvious. I’d never met anyone like Theo before. Someone who made me want to take risks, live my life for the present and fret over decisions later.

The night air was chilly, but not too bad since I’d just been surrounded by warmth and dancing during the party…

As the sound of water grew louder, Theo slipped his arm around mine so that our elbows were locked. I glanced up at him. We were right at the edge of the bridge, the river rushing beneath us.

Theo pursed his lips into a smile and then started skipping. I laughed, following his lead.

Pretty soon we were skipping in time, arms linked, laughing and grinning at each other as we flew across the bridge.

My heart was racing, my skin tingling from the wind.

I started running a little when we reached the end of the bridge and Theo stopped me with a hard pull, spinning me around to face him again.

I was giggling, I couldn’t catch my breath. And in the moonlight and the water-mist coming up from under the bridge, Theo just gazed down at me with pure freedom in his eyes. An emotion so strong, I felt I could almost reach out and touch it.

I blinked... wow.

Then we heard James and Lee yelling at us.

“Stop acting like children!”

“Yeah!” Lee added. “It’s time to act like teenagers!”

James and Lee were both sitting on the bridge railing, their legs dangling over the edge. Nicki was holding onto the back of Lee’s shirt, supposedly trying to make sure he wouldn’t fall in. I didn’t have the heart to tell her that if Lee fell, so would she as long as she was gripping him like that.

Theo and I joined them. We stood on the bridge, with our legs. Like normal people.

James pretended to push Lee off and Lee cursed at him as he wobbled…

I glanced over at the river, feeling Theo put his arm around me. He hugged me tightly, and I felt my body relax as his warmth battled the cold.

“Let’s play a game,” Nicki said suddenly.

“Game? What kind of game?” Lee asked, clearly interested.

“Do we have to?” James sighed. “Let’s just sit here. It’s nice.”

Lee rolled his eyes. “Boring,”

Nicki snickered, then she looked at me.

“What do you think Ravina, game?”

I shrugged. “Sure, why not.”

Then I looked up at Theo, still staring across at the water.

“What should we play?” I asked him.

Mr. Game expert…

I’m not sure what I expected him to say, so when he turns to everyone and mumbled;

“Everyone gets to dare one person to do something, and they have to do it.” I’m a little shocked.

What did he want to dare someone?

Everyone except James liked the idea…

“Awesome.” Lee smirked. “I dare James to throw his shoes in the river.”

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James didn’t react at first, then he sat up a little and grinned. It was truly terrifying in the darkness.

“I dare Lee to throw himself into the river,”

Lee visibly deflated and Theo and I laughed quietly to ourselves.

James gave Lee a pure fuck you smile, and then kicked off his shoes! They tumbled down into the river with a satisfying and slightly eerie splash.

Lee started complaining-

“But those were shoes!” He cried. “I’m a person! I’m not going in there, I’d die!”

Nicki paused for a second.

“Lee, I dare you to go get James’ shoes.” She said.

Lee glared at her, “I hate you.”

She winked at him and I smiled again.

With a shudder and a deep giving-up sigh, Lee let out a shout as he slid off the edge of the bridge. Every single one of us went to peer over the edge.

Lee splashed just like the shoes, and then came up to the surface. The water wasn’t too deep and the fall wasn’t far. He’s fine, if a little wet and cold. And pissed at us.

We watched him flip off James and Nicki, before he swam over to the bank and climbed out, dripping wet and shivering. A few seconds later, he was running back towards us along the bridge.

Nicki screamed when Lee grabbed her in a big hug and covered her with water.

“Lee Adams, don’t you dare!” She cried, gasping.

He just mumbled brrrrr and then released her…

I bit back my smile and leaned into Theo’s arms. That’s when I realized everyone’s eyes were on us. James was staring at Theo curiously, Lee was grinning and Nicki was smiling shyly.

“You guys are so cute,” Nicki giggled, looking up at Lee fondly.

I frowned. Is she talking about Theo and I? Oh, damn.

Theo just sighed into my hair playfully and then mumbled, “Your turn Ravina. Who do you want to dare?”

I shrugged. “I don’t know...”

Lee rolled his eyes, his teeth chattering. “Come on girl, live a little.”

My eyes narrowed at him and I felt Theo's arms tighten slightly.

“Uh oh,” he whispered so only I could hear. “The beast has been awoken.”

I’m sure he meant my competitive streak, and he’s damn right. I just smiled.

“Lee, you remember Junior year drama class don’t you?” I asked him, my voice pure innocence.

He raised an eyebrow, his arm still around Nicki. James was staring intently now.

“Yeah, so?” Lee scoffed.

I smirked, “I think we’d all like to relive the glory days. Shakespeare’s greatest hits, starring Lee Adams?”

Behind me I heard Theo giggle softly, and the sound made my heart soar.

James sighed suddenly, “I thought you’d come up with something good Ravina. Acting? Boring.” He fake yawned.

“That’s why the guest star will be the legendary James Hamilton!” I grinned at them.

Lee let out a laugh and James glared at me flatly.

Nicki shook her head, “Break a leg boys!” She teased.

Lee sighed. “This can’t be as bad as jumping into a freaking river. Fine. Get over here bro,” he said to James.

We all watched, giddy with childish excitement as James gave in after a few more complaints. He jumped down off the side of the bridge and turned to face Lee.

Suddenly, Lee swept his arms out.

“Wherefore art thou Romeo?!” He screeched in a high pitched voice.

Nicki hurried to stand beside Theo and I, and I watched her start recording the performance with her phone…

James grimaced, “Romeo is dead.” He muttered.

Lee collapsed dramatically to the ground and wept into his hands.

“No! My sweet shining knight!”

I laughed with Nicki at his fake girl voice…

Lee reached up to James as if begging.

“Pray tell, what became of my love!”

I heard Theo laugh again-

James even started to smile a little.

“He flew too close to the sun and burned to death.”

“That’s Icarus you buffoon!” Lee said in the same crazy voice, hitting James over and over.

James lept away and ran to hide behind Nicki. Lee stumbled forward, still soaking wet but now, immersed in his role.

“If Romeo is Icarus, flying too close to the sun, then I am Darth Vader! A helmet over my eyes, I shall never see the sun again!” He cried.

James was with us watching the show now. Theo was shaking with laughter, and Nicki and I were grinning wildly. Who knew Lee was so funny?

“But what about true love!?” Theo shouted suddenly.

Lee’s head shot up.

“Who speaketh!?” He screeched in our direction, as if he couldn’t see.

Theo giggled, “Me you idiot! Shouldn’t you keep searching for your love? Does death really mean it’s over?”

“Jesus, Theo.” Nicki shook her head.

Theo kept on going. “If you truly loved Romeo, you’d brave a thousand suns! You would battle death itself to find your way back to him! Come on Lee, I mean... Juliet. Take off your helmet!”

I smiled and we watched as Lee blinked his eyes. At last! Sight!

He fixed his gaze on James and sighed dramatically. James looked terrified.

Suddenly, Lee was running. At James. At full speed.

We all jumped out of the way and then Lee was grabbing James as his friend tried to hit him away. It was insanity-

Theo’s hugging me to him, laughing like I’d never heard. Nicki was still filming, a wide grin on her face. And now Lee was wrestling James into a hug. James was laughing but was also seriously trying to get away, unfortunately Lee was stronger.

“Finally,” Lee screamed in his girl voice. “Darth Vader can see!”

Then Lee somehow dipped James like they were doing a waltz, and kissed him right on the lips!

We all screamed and clapped and Theo made a gagging sound. Thank god Nicki is filming this, I thought. Julie would never believe me.

James screamed and jumped away.

“Crazy bitch!” James cried.

Lee just sighed. And then bowed. And we clapped, because that was the best goddamn Shakespeare we’ve ever seen.

* * *

It’s five in the morning by the time we’re all ready to go home. I drop Nicky off at her house first, and then Lee at his. I’m on my way to take James and Ravina to their houses too, when the gas meter on the car catches my attention.

“Hey, gotta stop for a second.” I tell them.

Ravina just shrugs and turns the radio on again. James hits his head on the back of my seat repeatedly…

I see Rav smile to herself when what sounds like a totally 2001 emo song comes on the radio.

James laughs, “Go figures. You do seem like the kind of girl who would like MCR.”

Ravina just nods. “The answers are in the classics,”

“Answers to what?” I ask her.

Ravina raises her hands, as if gesturing to the universe itself.

I got out of the car to pay at the gas station, which only takes about 5 minutes but feels longer because of how cold it is outside without a jacket, and when I get back in the car the music is off and Ravina has her arms crossed over her chest in annoyance.

“Everything okay?” I ask her.

She blinks, almost out of a daydream, and then nods at me.

“Yep.”

I narrow my eyes at James in the back and he shrugs, like he too is concerned about Ravina.

Hmm… she’ll tell me if she wants to.

I finally get James home and he hops out with a sigh. Ravina is still quiet.

“Hey,” I say, and she quickly looks over at me. “Seriously, are you good?” I ask.

Ravina smiles, uncrossing her arms.

“Yeah,”

“Regret coming to the party now?”

She shakes her head.

“Not at all. I learned a lot about your friends,” She laughs, but it sounds strange.

I pause…

We get to her street.

“You’ll tell me if something’s wrong, right?” I ask her.

She opens the door. “Of course. I’m fine though,”

“Mmkay, get some sleep tonight Ravina.” I say.

She nods, “Goodnight.”