"Okay Otto, it's your turn." Otto, being his usual egocentric self wouldn't back down after Reggie had basically called him out on her last turn. How was he supposed to know that gerbils don't belong in the microwave? He knew he had to get back at her. If for no other reason than to save-face in front of all of their friends.
School was out for the summer. And with their first, and for some their second years of high school now behind them, they were pumped up and ready to party. The gang was all there. Otto, Reggie, Twister, and Sam. All of their extended friends were there for the celebration as well. Clio, Keoni, Leilani, Trish, Sherry, Trent, even Lars was along for the occasion. Having a camp-out on the beach of the 'secret spot' during the first true weekend of summer had long-become a Rocket family tradition. And over the past few years as the kids grew older and started to mature, the animosity between the main four and Lars had seemed to die-off. At times, it was almost like they were all friends.
"Never have I ever made out with someone of the same sex." Otto had a cheshire grin sprawled across his face as he looked directly at his sister. Everyone else looked around at one another and finally Reggie rolled her eyes and said something under her breath as she and Trish both picked up their glasses and downed their shots. "Wait.. you two... no... each other?! Hah hah hah where the hell was I?!" Sherry exclaimed and then busted out laughing. Twister looked confused, Sam was blushing madly, and most of the others seemed unaffected but were snickering anyways. "Damn, and I missed it?" Trent said with a smirk as he nudged Reggie with his elbow. The two had been dating one another for over a year now. "Keep dreaming, Lame-o". Reggie was laughing now as she elbowed him back. "It was like forever ago, when you were sick with the flu Sherry, and for the record, I totally blame Tito's wicki-whacki-pineapple punch." "Doesn't that stuff have enough alcohol in it to melt the paint off of walls?" Sam squinted and questioned. They all stopped and thought about the blender-without-a-lid incident that resulted in having to repaint the entire kitchen of the Shore Shack. None of the kids made a habit out of drinking alcohol regularly. But on special occasions Ray would allow them to have a little, as long as no one was driving or going anywhere. Everyone was cackling and carrying on at this point, except for Lars. He wore a sardonic expression and had been quiet since the beginning of Otto's turn.
Time changes people, or so they say, but more often than not time only allows us the chance to further become our truest form of self. What we do with that chance is completely up to us.
Lars mindlessly toed at a broken shell that was next to his seat. He peered around the circle and saw that everyone seemed to be exuberant with glee and enjoying themselves thoroughly. But he still couldn't shake himself out of the thought that had arose only moments earlier. Otto's statement. Even though it was only teasing and directed at Reggie, it still caught him off-guard. And now he was left with playing a highly vexing game of limbo within the confines of his own head. 'If there was ever a time to tell them, it was now.' He thought to himself. Everyone appeared to be in a carefree state of being, and they were playing a game that involved opening up and being honest...
He looked down at his shot glass. The golden, amber-hued substance glistened in the mid-evening sun. It was calling to him, like a siren to sailors lost at sea. It was beckoning him to partake and free himself. But he couldn't. He shouldn't. Could he? Should he? ...
He was startled out of his own thoughts when Tito banged a large metal spoon against the lid of the grill and called over to the group.
Tito, Ray, and Noelani had been working on preparing dinner and now the air was filled with the sent of smoky barbecue and sweet citrus.
"Little Cuz's, as the ancient Hawaiians once said..."
"Uuugh Tito, Noooo..."
The group groaned in unison as they all rushed over, hoping to get there before Tito got carried away on another 'ancient Hawaiians' tangent.
Otto happened to look back at the fire circle where the group had been gathered. He noticed that Lars was lagging behind and had an inquisitive look on his face.
"Fuck it", Lars finally said to himself as he picked up his glass and poured its contents into his mouth, giving himself a moment to savor the bitter-sweet burn before swallowing it down. "There, I was honest. Not like it matters now, though."
He sat the glass back down in front of where he had been sitting and ran over to join the others.
Otto quickly adverted his gaze as Lars looked up. Still not sure what to make of what he just witnessed. Was Lars just taking the shot for the sake of not wasting alcohol... or was there more to it? Either way, Otto knew that he had to find out.
