Big Time Drinking.

We sat in my living room staring at the small envelope with Carlos' name on it. My palms were sweaty and we were both nervous. I could feel Carlos shaking next to me. James sat across the room on the lounge chair. He stared at us with that same confused look from last week. He was more relaxed than we were. He had already opened his envelope and so did I, but it was Carlos I was worried about.

"Just open it already!" James shouted, causing me to jump out of my seat.

Carlos took a deep breath and ripped the envelope open. He unfolded the paper and he stared at it.

"Well?" I asked, impatiently.

"Biology;C, Algebra;C, World History;C, English," he paused.

"What is it? What did you get?"

He looked up and smiled.

"A!"

I felt like my heart was going to explode with joy. I ran to hug him. He threw his arms around me and I felt chills all over my body. I was so happy for him. I was proud. He pulled away and looked at my with teary eyes.

"I owe this all to you, Kendall. You helped me get through this."

I had no words. I just smiled.

"Good job, Carlos," said James, arms open for a hug.

"You guys are great friends."

Carlos' words filled me up with more joy.

"We have to celebrate!"

"What do you wanna do?" I asked.

"I'll be right back."

Carlos ran out the door, leaving me and James confused.

'Well, I wish I could stay here and celebrate with you guys, but I have to go home," said James.

"What? Why?"

"My mom has to work late and I have to get some chores done before she gets home."

"But my mom and Katie are out too. I didn't want to be alone," I whined.

"You won't be. Carlos will be back soon."

"Okay, but if Carlos doesn't come back, I'm coming over."

"Trust me, Carlos will come back."

I was curious to know what James was thinking. Suddenly he was just sure of Carlos.

"Do you know something I don't?" I asked.

He laughed softly.

"I don't know anything, Kendall."

"Mhm. Okay."

"Well, I have to go. I'll talk to you soon."

I walked him to the door, still trying to figure out what he's thinking.

"Bye," he waved.

I shut the door and plopped down on the couch. I took a deep breath and heard a knock on the door.

It was Carlos. James was right.

"You came back!" I said as I opened the door.

"Yeah, why wouldn't I?"

He sounded hurt.

"Umm, nevermind. What do you have there?"

He held two large paper bags.

"We're celebrating. I brought the good stuff. Where's James?"

"He had to go."

"Oh."

He placed the bags on the kitchen counter and stuck his hand in one of the bags. He pulled out a 6-pack of cold beers.

My eyes widened.

"DUDE!"

He jumped.

"What?"

"Wha- but- wha-huh? You brought beer?"

He nodded calmly.

"But we're only fifteen! How did you get this?"

He looked away.

"I know a guy."

"Logan?"

He nodded, opening a can.

I didn't even want to think of how Logan got alcohol either.

"Dude! We can't drink! If my mom walks in she's going to KILL US!"

"Don't worry, let's just go up to your room."

I groaned loudly.

He picked up the bags, handed me one, and he carried on with his open can on the other hand. We got in my room and I locked the door immediately.

My mom and Katie went to Six Flags. She always took her there after the last day of school. It was like their mother/daughter tradition. I used to have a tradition with my dad. The day before school started he would take me to one of his band rehearsals. He would let me play my guitar with them. It was great. That was our thing.

"Dude, drink up."

Carlos interrupted my thoughts by pushing a can against my chest.

"I don't know if I can do this," I admitted.

'It'll be okay."

Twenty minutes went by and I could tell he was already tipsy. I had only had one, when he finished his third. We sat in silence.

"Kendall, I'mph… glad I mets you," he slurred.

"I'm glad I met you too."

He smiled. He sat next to me on the floor and rested his head on my shoulder. I could smell his scent from his hair. It was very nice.

"Kendall?"

"Yeah?"

"Some people think I'm a hero just because I stood up to a bully, but no one actually knows me like you do."

I felt nerves building in my stomach.

"I've always wanted a friend like you."

I took advantage of the moment to ask him more.

"Why do you hang out with Logan?"

"Logan knows something about me, that no one else k-k-knowssss."

"What is it?"

"Shhhhhhh! No one knows! We can't speak of it! It's a secret."

"How did Logan find out?"

"He saw Dak."

"Who's Dak?"

I was really confused, but I had a feeling I was getting somewhere.

"Shhhhh," he put his finger on my lips. "It's a secret! No one knows. No one can ever find out about Dak Zevon!"

"Is this why you hang around Logan so much, even thought he's a total jerk."

"He'll tell everyone. I won't have it! It'll-It'll-It'll ruin me!"

He was starting to freak out.

"Calm down Carlos."

I took the can from his hand and threw it out my window. My window, somehow, was right above the next door neighbor's garbage can so it landed right inside. I took the rest of the evidence and threw it out too.

I turned around and found Carlos staring at me.

"What?" I asked.

"I'm leaving for the summer."

"What? Where are you going?"

"My family always leaves for the summer. We go on vacation."

"..oh."

"It never bothered me before. I've never had a friend, so I wasn't really leaving anything behind before."

I was sitting next to him again and his head rested on my shoulder.

He looked up and our faces were centimeters away. I could feel him breathing on my face. He was warm and hyper.

"You're my best friend and I would do anything to spend my summer here with you instead of going with my family."

I felt like ripping my hair out. I couldn't describe how his words were making me feel.

"Carlos, I-I-I don't know what to say," I confessed.

"You d-d-don't have to say anything. Let's just sit here."

He went back to resting on my shoulder.

We had fallen asleep. I woke up three hours later. Carlos was asleep on my shoulder. I tired to stand up without waking him, but my movements didn't help.

"Kendall?" he said with lazy eyes. "What time is it?"

I looked at my clock.

"Eleven thirty."

"What?" he jumped up and ran downstairs. "I have to go!" he shouted.

"We should hang out again before you leave."

He paused.

"I leave tomorrow. I'm sorry."

"When will you be back?"

"The day before we start school again," he frowned.

"You'll be gone all summer?"

He nodded as he looked away.

"So this is that last time I'll see you for the next three months?"

"Yeah."

We stood there in silence not knowing what else to say.

"Bye, Kendall. I'll see you soon."

"Bye."

He walked out the door and didn't look back.