"Wow...cool place," Gregg murmured as they all walked down the road.

"I like the ambience," Angus agreed. They had also asked the pair if they wanted to join and they'd been down, following in their new car.

"Oh! Can we hit that pizza place up before we leave?!" Gregg cried.

"Hell yes!" Mae said. "I have moneys now and I will totally buy pizza!"

Gregg laughed. "Is your porn paying off?"

"It isn't porn!" Mae snapped.

"It...kinda is, Mae," Bea murmured.

"Yeah, it's porn," Trent said.

Mae sighed heavily and adjusted her hoodie in the light drizzle coming down from the dark skies. "Fine. Yeah. It is. It totally is." She grinned suddenly. "I'm a porn star."

"Wow. I never thought I'd be friends with a porn star," Angus said.

"Wicked funny," Gregg replied.

"Okay, there's the place," Mae said as they approached the entrance to the underground club. "Remember to keep an eye out for Bombshell. Don't approach if you see her, just let me know. Understood?"

"Roger that, Captain Mae," Gregg replied. "Operation Get Mae Some is in effect." He giggled.

Mae sighed. "It's not that basic. But, also, you know, enjoy yourselves. Don't go crazy trying to find her."

"Okay...let's go," Bea said.

Trent studied the place as they came to the stairway. It was pretty unassuming, though clearly a much bigger town than Possum Springs or Briddle. A college town. Mostly there were office buildings around, but there was the pizza place, and he also saw a sub shop a little farther on. There were a handful of people hanging out around the top of the stairwell, sharing smokes and checking their phones in the light drizzle, all of them wearing jackets or hoodies.

"Hey Bea, what if those losers are here again?" Mae asked as they walked down the stairs. "What were their names?"

"I only learned one guy's name and it was...ugh, God. Chris," she replied.

Mae laughed. "Oh wow, we have bad luck with guys named Chris apparently...do I gotta play nice with them? They were dicks."

"Nah, fuck them, you were right," Bea replied. "I mean, I guess don't be mean to them, but don't be polite if you don't want to. Calling me fucking materialistic just because I have to worry about fucking bills. Fuck them...hmm, I don't see Bombshell…"

"I do see Jackie, though," Mae murmured.

Trent took a look around the club. It was a strange place, but in a good way. It had an otherworldly feel. There was mist or fog hanging around the floor. Christmas lights were strung up along the walls. A soft blue light suffused everything in a gentle glow. There were a good thirty or so people down there, but they weren't packed in. They were spread out in small clusters along the walls, with a big cluster of people on the dance floor.

He saw Jackie talking with someone to their right, leaning against the wall, both of them drinking from red cups.

"Well...I should do this," Mae said.

"Good luck," Trent replied.

"Yep." She paused, gave him a kiss, then gave Ann a kiss, then walked away.

"I'm gonna go get a drink, you want anything, Claire?" Ann asked.

"I dunno, what have they got?" she replied.

"Let's go see."

The two women headed off towards the bar. Gregg and Angus had already headed deeper into the club, leaving Bea and Trent alone.

"You know, I never really figured you for a party guy," Bea said. "But I'm glad I was wrong about that."

"Yeah?"

"Yes. I like going to parties with you. I think you enjoy going to them, and it's nice to see."

"I kinda felt the same way about you. You seemed kinda too straitlaced to go to parties."

She laughed. "In truth, I kinda was. I mostly just talked with Jackie...ugh, bad memories in this place," she murmured, looking around. They started walking around the club. "But, you know, honestly? Not so bad. It doesn't feel bad to be back here. It kinda feels...freeing. It's like visiting the Pickaxe. You'd think I'd hate visiting that place, but I love it. I love it because I know, at any moment I choose, I can just walk out. I can leave, and no one can stop me. It's not the same feeling, but it's a little close. It's like...I had all these concerns, all these bad, awful feelings I was trying to escape from, but I could still feel, and when it got revealed, it was honestly probably the most humiliating moment of my entire life."

"Jeez, really? It was that bad?" he asked.

She sighed heavily and sat down on a stool that had been put out against one of the walls. Trent leaned against the wall next to her. "It was," she replied. "Mae stumbled over and got all pissed at Chris for, well, being a stuck-up dick. And she went on a tirade about how we ran Possum Springs together...her heart was in the right place. She was sticking up for me, and for the working class, but, you know, I was pretending to be a student. Chris knew Possum Springs is like a two hour drive and, God, I so clearly remember this, he shouted out that I had driven in all the way from Possum Springs just to be here. It was so loud."

"Holy shit, what an asshole," Trent said.

"Yep. And I was trying to hook up with him. Ugh. I feel gross now. But I also feel free, mostly. It's like...none of that is true anymore. None of the shit that really got to me back then gets to me now. I'm free of the Pickaxe, I have a fucking awesome boyfriend, I live with you, I'm in love with you, I feel really confident in my relationship with you, and my friendships with Mae and Ann and Jackie and Gregg and Angus. I still wanna go to college, but now I feel like I'll actually get there, it doesn't feel like this impossible thing. It'll come in its own time, I don't feel desperate anymore. I have money. I have a car. I have...freedom. And, also, facing down what we faced down, you're right, it does tend to put things into perspective. So it's like, this is the place where the most humiliating thing in my life happened, and it has no power over me anymore. That is freedom."

"Yeah, it is," Trent agreed. "That's so awesome to hear."

"Hmm...I don't see this Bombshell anywhere, and I've been looking. I do see Mae, though. She looks...ooh, unhappy."

He looked around and found her again. "Oh, yeah. She looks...guilty. Aw, man. Apparently she did say something shitty to Jackie in high school. Well, she'll apologize for it, and hopefully Jackie will be receptive."

"She will be...I think. Jackie's cool, but she's got damage. I respect her a lot. You all think I'm hardcore and badass, but she's the real deal. She's made of stone, with titanium inlaid."

"That's sad," he murmured.

"Yeah. She's happier, though. I think. It's hard to tell, to be honest. Oh!" She stood up suddenly. "Would it be shitty of me to go talk to some people I actually recognize and got along with?"

"No, go for it," he replied. "I'll be fine."

"Okay." She gave him a kiss. "I love you."

"I love you too, Bea."

He laughed softly as he saw her hurry off. It was good to see her happy and social. He scanned the crowd again. Gregg was on the dance floor, dancing like he was high on cocaine, while Angus watched with an amused smirk from the side. Mae was still engaged in conversation with Jackie. They both looked...emotional. Mae seemed less guilty. She looked like she was explaining something to Jackie, or maybe telling a story.

Ann was talking with someone, and Claire…

She seemed to have retreated. She had a cup of something and was leaning against a wall, awkwardly watching everyone else. Trent got up and walked over to her. He put his hand on the wall beside her.

"Hey, what's up, cutie?" he asked.

"Oh my God," she said and giggled awkwardly. "Dude, for real?"

"For real," he replied.

"You're hitting on me?"

"I'm so totally hitting on you."

She opened her mouth, then giggled again and shook her head. "You make me feel weird sometimes."

"You drinking?" he asked.

"No, just soda. I don't really drink." She slipped closer and he put an arm around her shoulders. "I've got a question…"

"Ask away."

"It's stupid."

"I ask stupid questions all the time."

She laughed. "Fine. Do you really think I'm hot? I...I don't mean to be a total bitch, but there's a part of me thinking you must be hooking up with me for some ulterior motive. But I don't know what it could be. I just feel like I'm missing something…"

"Well, it can't be because I'm starved for attention, because...I'm not."

She snorted into her cup as she took a drink. "Yeah."

"You could think it's to get back at your brother, but besides the fact that I'm telling you it's not my motivation, I think this whole thing would've played out differently."

"You're right," she said.

"So what could it be?"

"I don't know!"

"You have a hard time trusting people, and I understand that." He pursed his lips, pulling back slightly and staring at her, like he was trying to decide something. She frowned, looking back at him. "Okay," he said, "you want the truth?"

"Uh...yes…?" she replied cautiously.

"It's a secret," he said.

"Tell me."

"Come closer," he replied.

She leaned closer to him and he put his lips to her ear. "I'm sexually attracted to you."

"Oh my God, you absolute loser!" she cried, laughing. "You had me worried! Like you were about to tell me something wicked fucked up."

"Nope, just the truth. I mean, there's more to it than that."

"What more to it?" she asked, immediately suspicious again.

He sighed. "Nothing bad, Claire, God. I want to help you. And while I don't think my dick cures depression, I do think that physical contact, sex, and just, you know, hanging out and talking, can help with it. And I want to make you feel good about yourself. You're a good person, Claire. I'm not just into you because you're hot and you've got a killer ass."

She laughed again. "Is it really that good?"

"The consensus is in: it's killer. Your ass is hot. Bea's a little jealous."

She did an actual spit take, thankfully back into her cup, then coughed a few times. "You're lying," she replied.

"No, I'm for real. She's jealous of your ass."

"But she's, like, she has the body of a goddess. Like damn she's hot."

"I know, but," he shrugged, "it's how she feels. But you're more than your ass and your pretty eyes."

"Oh shut up, I don't have pretty eyes," she muttered.

"You so totally do. I love looking into them when we fuck."

"Trent!" she hissed, looking around.

"Sorry."

"No you aren't."

He shrugged. "Maybe."

"Whatever, I can't with this. I'm gonna go get more soda and try to mingle. Practice some of those atrophied social skills, unless you wanted me to hang around some more?"

"No, go mingle. Be happy, have fun, enjoy yourself. You deserve it."

She sighed. "I can't handle all this kindness." Claire paused before leaving, turning and kissing him on the mouth. "But thank you. I appreciate it."

He just grinned foolishly at her, rendered very happy by the sudden kiss. She laughed and headed off to the drinks area. He saw Ann looking at him from across the club. She was alone now. She nodded her head, indicating he should come over. He moved through the crowd, joining her.

"What's up?" he asked.

"Not much, just missed you. Ran into an old friend of mine, someone I knew in Briddle. They started going to college out here since I was, well, since all the shit went down. Was catching up. I was thinking we should take a smoke break outside, see if Mae's Bombshell is out there, maybe. Because I haven't seen her, and I feel like I would, because that drawing...she's gotta be a serious bombshell in real life. Like damn she must be hot."

"Agreed," he replied, "and that's fine with me."

"Cool."

They headed for the stairs. He did a quick check on the others. Mae and Jackie were still talking. Jackie was actually wiping at her eyes, but she was smiling. He understood that, the cathartic feeling of happy crying when you got something sorted out. Mae's own eyes were wet, and she had her own tentative smile.

Bea was chatting happily with someone, a bluejay in goth clothes.

Claire was chatting up a few women, who seemed interested in whatever it was she was saying.

Gregg and Angus were now talking with a crowd of people beside the dance floor, Gregg telling some kind of story. He seemed happy to be at the center of attention, and Angus seemed happy watching him.

They came back up to street level and Trent took a deep breath, inhaling the fresh night air. The rain had stopped for now, but it still saturated everything. The city felt strange and surreal, but in a good way, like a dream. A pleasant one.

"Trent…" Ann said as she pulled out a weed pipe and lit it up. "You saw that guy Bea was talking with."

"Yeah?"

"You're really not jealous?"

He looked at her, raising an eyebrow. "Where is this coming from?"

"I'm sorry, it's not a loaded question. It's just-Dennis was jealous. And in truth, it seems like the default of a lot of dudes." She took a puff, then another, then passed it to him.

"Just a little," he murmured, "take the edge off."

"Your leg hurting?" she asked.

"Just a little," he repeated. "Also a little anxious, being around so many people." He took a few puffs, then passed it back to her. "But, to answer your question, I'm not jealous. I thought I might be, but no. That didn't cross my mind."

"Hot," she murmured.

"Really?"

She laughed. "It ain't bullshit what they say: confidence is hot."

"I guess so." He looked around them, up and down the sidewalk, across the street. The place wasn't abandoned, but it had cleared out. "I don't see Bombshell."

"Same. Gonna have to break out the drawing."

They stood together for a bit, just enjoying each other's company as Ann toked up. Something that had been on his mind recently suddenly came to the forefront, and he knew now was the time to address it. He turned and faced her. "Ann...there's something I wanted to say to you."

"Okay," she replied, "I'm listening."

"We've said this obliquely a number of times at this point, but we've never really, like, fully said it. Like directly. And I want to: I love you, Selma Ann Forrester."

She stared at him for a moment, and seemed a little lost. It was extremely rare to see her lost or rattled. Ann was, among them all, best at keeping her cool. He just began to wonder if he'd fucked up somehow when a smile began to spread slowly across her face.

She took his hand. "I love you too, Trent Sinclair," she said. "And...thank you for telling me. You're right, we've danced around it enough. I think...partially because I wasn't sure I'd fall in love again. I thought…" she hesitated, then sighed, looking away. "I thought maybe that part of me was broken, if I'm being honest. I wasn't sure I was going to love again. You know, in that way. I love you three as friends, but...I do love you, and I do love Mae." She looked a little remorseful. "I'm sorry I didn't say it outright. I remember that we discussed it awhile ago, but...I have difficulty with that. The last person I said that to cheated on me, and it just...got away from me."

He hugged her and she hugged him back tightly. "It's not a problem, Ann. I want you to be comfortable in the relationship. I don't want you doing anything you aren't okay with."

"I know, and I appreciate that so much, but…" She pulled back and put her hands on his shoulders, fixing him with a stare. "I want to be clear: you should speak up if you're having a problem or concern. Your comfort matters, too. Though...as far as I can tell, you're actually pretty decent about communicating your problems. Unless I'm missing something and you're actually unhappy."

"No, you don't really miss anything. You're pretty perceptive," he replied. "And also pretty, too."

She laughed and shook her head. "Shut up."

"None of you know how to take compliments."

"Oh, and you do?"

"Point."

She hugged him again suddenly, squeezing him more tightly. "I love you, and I love saying that. I was kind of scared I might not love again, or be loved."

"You're a really awesome person, Ann," he replied.

Someone nearby laughed. "Wow, get a room, you two!"

The voice was familiar and as they came apart to look at whoever it was, Trent couldn't help but laugh at the extremely surprised expression that came over Jen's face.

"What are you-this is like two hours from Possum Springs, how did you get here?!" she demanded.

"Hi, Jen," he replied. "We drove."

"Well duh, I just mean-did you know I was coming to this party?"

"No, no idea. It's a Jackie party, we're here for a, uh, specific reason."

"Oh? What's that?" Jen replied, cocking her head a little in curiosity.

"We're looking for someone. Well, Mae is specifically, and we're helping her."

Jen giggled. "Yeah, you're doing a great job, I can tell. Maybe I can help, what's their name?"

"No idea, all we've got is Mae's memory and a drawing," Ann replied.

"Ooh. Damn. Not much to go on."

"Her memory might not be great, but her drawing is. I'll show if you wanna help."

"Yeah, I could help. Didn't come here to do anything but get a little stoned and chill...speaking of which…" She looked at the pipe still in Ann's hand.

"Trent? It's yours," she replied.

"Yeah, totally," he said.

"Thanks! I'll totally suck your dick for this," she said, giggling as she took it. He noticed a few people hanging around the entrance look their way. She took a pull on it and breathed out a cloud of smoke. "Ah, God, that's better. Got hit with a bunch of work as soon as I got back from P Springs. Nothing but work, work, work. I've got a job now, too. Sucks. It's not all bad, but it's a lot." She took another pull and sighed in relief. "Yeah, so better. I don't smoke on campus. Never mix pleasure and business. Ever."

"Unless you're a writer," Ann murmured, grinning and nudging Trent.

He chuckled awkwardly and Jen raised an eyebrow. "What, you fucking while you're writing?" she asked.

"I know at least I've blown him once while he was writing," Ann replied.

"Oh you slut," Jen whispered, a wide grin on her face. "How do you write with your dick in her mouth?" she asked.

"Uh, not very effectively, so you're right about the mixing."

Jen giggled wildly. "Fuck, you guys are so much fun! I kept wondering if I really had as much fun hanging out with you all as I did once I got back, because I actually missed everybody a lot." She took another puff and then passed the pipe back to him. "Hey, I've got a fun idea! You wanna walk back down there with two hot girls all up on you?"

"Uh, well, I certainly wouldn't say no," he replied, looking at Ann.

"We'd need to go find another hot girl," she said.

Jen rolled her eyes. "Please, girl, you're hot as fuck. Come on."

Ann laughed. "Thanks, Jen, and sure."

She stepped up to his right and Jen stepped up to his left. He slipped an arm around each of them, Jen pressed herself against him as they started walking.

"This feels weird," he muttered.

"Certainly not in a bad way, I imagine," Jen replied.

"Nope, not bad at all."

Definitely some looks from the people gathered around the top of the stairs, smoking or talking or checking their phones. There were more now. Trent thought back to explaining to Bea why Chris was suddenly acting like such an asshole, the jealousy thing. Bea had asked him if he was into that, and he'd admitted that he was, that it was nice to finally be on the other end of that encounter. This felt a lot like that.

As they reached the bottom of the stairs, he saw a few more people glance over, Bea included. She was talking with Claire now. Claire smirked awkwardly and Bea rolled her eyes when they saw Jen, who leaned heavily into Trent.

"Jen!"

They looked over as Mae and Jackie approached them. They both looked calmer, and happier.

"Good lord, you all are such hedonists," Jackie said, though she seemed less annoyed and more like she was just teasing them. "I can smell the weed."

"Good to see you too, Jackie," Trent replied.

"Don't you have enough girlfriends?" she asked.

"Jen has made it abundantly clear that she dates no one."

"Yep! Single until I'm done with college," Jen said. "Hi, Mae!"

"You look like a girlfriend," Jackie replied.

"I said no dating, I didn't say no fun," Jen said. She let go of him. "Though, uh, I feel like we've never really met. I've heard your name a lot and I know we were in high school together, but I never actually put together until just now that you are the Jackie of the…" She raised her hands, encompassing the area around them, "the Jackie parties."

Jackie laughed. "Yeah, that's me."

"I wanted to thank you. I've come to a few of these parties and they're just great. They're fun, they're safe, they don't get insane, but they're not super straitlaced. They're always really cool. So, uh, thanks."

"You're welcome. That's mostly why I work so hard to put them together," Jackie replied. "It sucked shit growing up in Possum Springs, so I wanted to create places with great, fun, safe atmospheres. And no fucking Nazis," she growled.

"H...has that been a problem?" Jen asked.

"You'd be surprised how many fascists try to show up at parties. I've had to kick out more than a few." She looked around. "Uh, I have a few people I should be catching up with. I'll let you know if I see your lady."

She walked away quickly, leaving Mae with them.

"Well, um, I should probably make my own rounds," Jen said. "I'll be back around to talk, don't leave on me. Oh! Wait, uh, lemme see this mystery girl."

"Oh...yeah, Trent's got the pic," Mae replied, looking distractedly after Jackie. He had the impression that hadn't gone the way she'd hoped. Or maybe it had and it was something else. She didn't seem happy.

"Here," Trent said, pulling out his phone and showing her the pic of the drawing.

"Ooh, she looks so pretty...and kinda familiar? I don't think I've seen her around college, but yeah, maybe around a party or something. Probably here, if this is where you're looking. Well, I'll let you know, and if I see her, I'll point her your way. Unless that'd be weird," Jen said.

"No, she was super chill," Mae said, coming back to the conversation. "From what I remember."

"Well all right then, later pretty people!" She headed off into the crowd.

"Hey...you okay, Mae?" Ann asked.

"Yeah, I'm-uh, you know, mostly," she replied.

"How'd it go?" Trent asked.

"I don't really wanna talk about it."

"Okay. What do you wanna do?" he asked.

"Firstly, can I have a few hits off the pipe? I've got a headache coming on," she replied. "Actually, I'll just take it outside."

He passed it and the lighter to her. "You want company?"

"Don't take this wrong, but I wanna be alone, just for a few minutes," she replied.

"All right. Whatever you need, Mae," he said.

She smiled and gave each of them a firm hug. "I really appreciate you two."

"We appreciate you too, Mae," Ann replied, and Trent nodded.

She just nodded back and then walked away.

"Guess that didn't go how she'd hoped it would," Trent murmured.

"I think I know what happened," Ann said.

"What?"

"I think Jackie reminded her of something shitty she said in high school, something that she's having a hard time believing she said."

"You think so?"

"Yeah. I do. I know it's hard to believe Mae would say something fucked up, even in passing...well, maybe not, given she has no real filter, but...let's just say that I believe in...hmm…" She paused for a long moment. "You know how people go back and dig up a decade-old tweet or thing said in an interview from a famous person, usually a fucked-up joke? And they use that to try and ruin them or fuck them over?" she asked.

"Yeah."

She sighed. "I don't really know how to feel about that. I mean, on the surface, I don't agree with it. People can, and do, change. Not always, but they do. Who I am now is not the person I was at eighteen. God, think of who you were ten years ago."

He laughed. "A dumbass middle-schooler, saying and doing dumbass things that, thankfully, there doesn't exist a record of because I didn't really see the point in social media. I mean, I wasn't a raging racist or transphobe or anything, but I'm positive stupid, insensitive shit came out of my mouth in a super cringe attempt to be 'edgy'."

"Yeah, exactly. Last year, I came across an old journal I'd kept when I was like fifteen or something, and...let's just say there was some shit in there that I feel so embarrassed for ever having written down."

"...hate to ask, but I'm really curious…" he murmured.

She sighed. "Mostly it was a case of 'I'm not like other girls'. Which, you know, is bad. It was just a way to make myself feel better. Like, 'yeah I may not be hot but at least I can throw a punch' kind of mentality. It's misogynist. And mean. There were other things, but I don't wanna talk about them. My point is, we barely even believed that shit back when we said it, it was just...stupid shit. And I don't want to really excuse teens or younger people from saying and doing stupid things, but I also do believe people change. But that's the problem. The other half of me is going 'you aren't sorry, you're just sorry you got caught' in those scenarios, you know what I mean? There's clearly a lot of people out there who are still super racist, or homophobic, or whatever, they just got better at hiding it, and they aren't sorry. They're only saying the words they think they need to say to make people stop talking about it. And how can you tell? How do you know? Yeah, sometimes it's easy, but mostly it's not...ugh, this isn't really party conversation."

"I mean it can be," he replied. "It's more interesting than talking about the weather or sports."

She laughed. "Yeah...come on, let's go mingle."