A gold celestial pattern of the sun, moon, and stars painted on a tapestry hung behind the television set. Willie leaned back into the ugly plaid sofa of his parent’s basement, allowing his body to sink. As Willie focused on the tapestry’s pattern, his childhood friend, Richard, sat next to him playing Zelda on his Game Boy.

“If evolution is real and we’ve evolved from monkeys, what is the next stage of evolution?” Willie questioned. “Where do we go from here?”

Richard’s eyes remained glued to his game as he gave it a thought. His face was merely hidden by his Kangol hat.

“I think it would be extra sensory perceptions,” Willie continued. “It would be our sixth sense.”

Richard glanced up at Willie with a shrug of agreement, then quickly returned to his game.

Willie’s attention was suddenly fixated across the room. Danny slowly nodded and sat down in the sole recliner. Danny always found a way to sneak into the room without making any entrance at all. Richard never seemed to notice, but Willie admired Danny’s cool demeanor.

Danny stared dimly at Willie, waiting for the conversation to progress. Willie’s mouth gradually curved into an eerie grin, as it always did when he arrived. Danny nodded back as an ode to welcome. Willie wanted to come off as chill as him. But, Danny didn’t speak often. When he did, it was frequently in tongues, which dripped in poetry. It left Willie perplexed, yet with an overwhelming feeling of envy. 

“You’re doing that thing again,” Richard said after completing a level. The victory music from the Game Boy seized Willie’s attention.

“What do you mean?” Willie asked as he wiggled to sit up and look back at Richard.

“You’re nodding with that creepy smile thing you do.”

Willie adjusted his flannel as he shook off his embarrassment from Richard’s comment. He had a tick of getting lost in his thoughts, which was something Richard liked to remind him of. It was something Willie was working on amongst other insecurities.

Danny’s head bobbed, unbothered, to Nirvana in an MTV music video playing on the TV. Richard looked up from his Game Boy with the same admiration for music, “It’s the age of Kurt Cobain and Microsoft,” he said. “I wonder how long till it dies out.”

“Or evolves,” Willie smirked.

Danny turned his head back to Willie and nodded in agreement. Willie grinned from his approval.

Willie felt a wave of anxiety, which typically happened when Danny was around. He couldn’t explain why his thoughts began to muddle every time he decided to stop over unannounced or uninvited. He didn’t want to bring life to the thoughts. Instead, Willie would suggest things to do, which often ended in mayhem. Trouble seemed to follow Danny, a confusing concept for Willie since he found Danny to be so easygoing. They have only been hanging out for the past few months, but they’ve already been caught in a few incidents.

“Willie!” His mother called from the top of the basement stairs. “The phone is for you!”

“You really need to get your own line,” Richard said, his eyes still fixated on his game. “That would be so embarrassing every time a girl calls.”

Willie shook the comment again. It isn’t like girls called the house anyway, Willie thought. He sat up from the sofa and straightened his jeans and t-shirt before heading up the stairs.

His mom stood at the top of the stairs wearing a warm smile. She had an apron tied around her oversized patterned dress. She pushed her honey-blonde hair behind her ears before handing him the phone.

“It’s a girl,” she beamed. Her excitement proved Willie’s earlier thought.

“I really need my own line,” Willie said as softly as he could as he took the phone from her hand. He walked slowly down a few steps before holding it up to his ear.

“Yeah?” he answered.

“Hey Willie, it’s Lana.”

Willie smiled through his confusion, “What’s up?”

“A bunch of us are having a get-together at my dad’s cottage tonight. I was wondering if you would want to come?”

Willie glanced out the basement window and saw the sun setting. He didn’t realize it was already getting late. Since the last few times he went out and got into trouble, he knew he wasn’t allowed to go out on the weekends anymore. He figured with Danny and Richard’s help, he could sneak out by the time his parents went to bed. His dad would pass out watching the Clinton and Bush debate on TV and his mom would go to bed to read decently early. Of course, he couldn’t take the car though. His license got suspended. They could skateboard or bike, but Richard would complain. It isn’t like he has his own car, Willie thought.

“Willie?” Lana piped.

“Yeah that sounds fun,” Willie said.

“Sweet,” Lana said. “I’m gonna sneak some of my dad’s beers.”

“Is it okay if I bring some friends with?”

“Sure, just not Richard. We…haven’t been getting along lately.”

Willie sat in silence, now thinking of a plot to sneak Richard with or how to convince Lana he wasn’t that terrible of a guy.

“Never mind,” Lana said. Willie didn’t know how long he was silent and thinking. “It’s fine, just bring him. I’ll see you later.”

Willie hung up the phone and went in by Danny and Richard. The two were doing their own thing, as usual. Danny was still watching MTV but acknowledged Willie with a grin. Even with a mouth slanted upwards, Danny’s face read emotionless.

“What’s the word?” Danny asked.

“That was Lana,” Willie said.

“Lana Lotus?” Richard looked up. He set his Game Boy down in his lap, a rare occurrence, as his eyes opened wide. “Lana Lotus just called your house?”

“Yeah,” Willie said. “She’s having something at her cottage tonight.”

“Lana Lotus invited you to her…”

“Yes,” Willie cut him off. Is that so hard to believe, Willie thought.

As the night progressed, Willie anxiously waited for his parents to retreat to their nightly ritual. It wasn’t his first time sneaking out, but it certainly didn’t help his nerves to have Danny along. He knew trouble awaited them. But, he liked Danny along, in fact, he fed off Danny’s charismatic wits. Even when Danny’s mouth was shut, there was an undeniable charm that Willie sought-after, because Danny was everything Willie failed to be. Danny was calm, good-looking, and alluring. Willie instead overthought everything, appeared average, became shy, and had a profound lack of friends. He deemed this to be due to his recent erratic behavior, blunted distress, and mild outbursts.

Richard shoved his Walkman and Game Boy in his backpack. He took his hat off, revealing his messy black hair, and asked Willie if he should go without it for once. Willie reassured him it looked fine, as he went back to his clouded thoughts of what could go wrong tonight. His therapist called this way of thinking a rabbit hole. She said, right now Willie is in the rabbit hole, but his head is still peeking out to breathe. That is why it can get cloudy. She said if he allows himself to sink, it will be incredibly hard to get out. Out of fear, Willie reminded himself to keep his mind hopping every time he felt himself drift.

Danny went upstairs to check if Willie’s dad was asleep on the couch. When they got word it was clear, the three tip-toed up the wooden stairs and slipped through the front door without waking up Willie’s parents.  

The three hopped on their bikes and pedaled out of Willie’s suburban neighborhood into the darkness. Richard pedaled faster to consistently stay leading the group. Willie would speed up just to watch Richard’s immediate reaction to stay ahead. Willie turned to Danny, who was examining the pattern, and the two grinned at each other as they rolled their eyes. 

The number of street lamps began to lessen as they approached the outskirts of town. Complete darkness overtook them as they left the town behind. As the roads became deserted and the homes disappeared, Willie’s anxiety began to creep in. Eventually, music from the woods became distinct.

The boys left their bikes perched against the trees as they approached the lonesome cottage. It wasn’t Lana’s first party out here nor the first one Willie went to, but it was the first time he was personally invited. Usually, he followed Richard and his friends for something to do. He always ended up leaving early with Danny to do something better.

The three entered the tiny, one-story home to find more people than just a “get-together”. The boombox was playing a hip-hop song that Willie couldn’t remember, but the music failed to lighten their arrival. He immediately felt out of place when all the eyes turned to the front door where they stood. He knew what they were thinking of him. As Richard smacked hands with guys that he knew, Willie slowly stepped in behind him. Danny stood by his side posing as the chill outcast who didn’t care to be noticed.

Willie recognized Lana’s face from around the kitchen island as she sipped a beer, laughing with two of her girlfriends. Her bright blonde hair was tied with a scrunchie and her choker seemed tight around her neck. She had on a white T-shirt with a black spaghetti-strap dress over it. She held her beer up and waved with her free hand when she saw Willie. Her cheeks were rosy, Willie assumed from drinking, but her smile seemed genuine.

Willie began approaching Lana when one of her friends turned her back and leaned in closer to Lana.

“Hey,” Lana’s friend said softer, but not trying too hard to whisper. “Isn’t that the guy who drove his car straight into the music store…. just to steal a guitar?”

Lana’s eyes looked down for a moment, then back up at Willie. She turned to her friend and shrugged, “Yeah, I think so.”

Willie looked at Danny who wore an eerie grin and crossed arms. Danny motioned for Willie to go ahead.

“I just wanted to play Where Did You Sleep Last Night,” Willie approached. One hand was in his pocket and the other he put on the island. He kept his eyes on Lana.

Lana laughed, “You drove your car into a building and stole a guitar, just to play a…”

“You’re a psycho,” the friend snarled. She spun around to completely face Willie.

“Not a bad boy,” she continued. “A psycho.”

Richard appeared behind Willie, pushing both his arms on Willie’s shoulders. Three of the guys he was talking to followed to the kitchen.

“What’s up, ladies?” Richard said.

Lana’s face read disgusted, but her friends greeted Richard which thankfully broke the tension that Willie felt growing. Even with Richard to the rescue, Willie couldn’t understand how he was popular in this crowd. Danny only put up with Richard, because he was Willie’s childhood friend.

The music began to muffle around the small group of people standing by the island. One of the guys pulled out a joint and asked who wanted to smoke. All the eyes in the circle lit up as the guy sparked the joint. It made its way around the circle until it landed in Richard’s hands. Willie watched as Richard held it to his lips, took a deep inhale, and blew the smoke into Lana’s face with a grin. Willie assumed it was meant to be sexy, but he thought it looked dumb. Lana folded her arms once again as she wrinkled her nose.

Willie couldn’t figure out why Lana was so annoyed with Richard. He overheard guys talking at school that Richard took Lana out on a date last weekend. Richard would brag to me if he actually took Lana Lotus on a date, Willie thought.

Richard held out the joint to pass, and even though Willie was next in rotation, Richard extended his arm past him and Danny to skip them. Willie took it from his hand anyway.

“Hey man,” Richard said. “Should you even be smoking on your new medication?”

Willie’s hand froze and the eyes in the circle, once lit up with excitement, were now stunned, shaken, and locked on him. Willie felt his body temperature warm up. He began straightening his shirt and flannel. Why, his mind kept echoing, why, why, why?

“C’mon man,” Danny said with a scuff. “You gotta be kidding me.”

Besides Willie’s parents and Danny, Richard was one of the few people who knew about his new diagnosis. Now, the whole school would quickly find out what he was trying so hard to conceal.

Willie slowly turned his head to Richard. Richard’s eyes were glossed over and red. His three friends were holding back laughter as they quickly glanced back and forth between Willie and Richard, waiting for a scene. Richard was struggling to keep a straight face as he held back his laugh.

“I don’t get what is so funny,” Danny said, standing behind Willie.

“You’re right,” Willie breathed. He held the joint out to Lana whose eyes were staring into the wooden floor. Her arms were locked behind her back. “Take it,” Willie said to her.

Lana looked up innocently, her hands stayed glued to her side, “It’s okay.”

“No,” Willie shook his head.

Richard snatched the joint from Willie’s hand and passed it to the girl standing next to Danny. He looked back at Willie and shrugged, “I’m just looking out for you.” He then held back another laugh and snuck a few glances at his other friends.

Willie wanted to just say screw you, hop on his bike, and go home, but he knew Danny wanted to stay. Danny didn’t want Richard to get off so easy.

“Willie,” Lana said, trying to diffuse the growing situation. “It’s not a big deal.”

But it is, Willie thought. She’s looking at you different now, his mind echoed. They all are. Why are they looking at me like this? Willie continued to straighten out his t-shirt and flannel.

“Willie,” Richard said.

What do I do? What would Danny do? Do something, Danny. Why would Richard do this? I thought he was my friend. Stop looking at me.

“Willie,” Richard said again.

Willie suddenly looked up at Richard who had a blank expression. The music was suddenly absent and the party was paused. Everyone around the island watched Willie who was holding tightly to the ends of his t-shirt. Willie’s eyes darted around the cottage. It wasn’t just the people in the kitchen whose attention he’s possessed, it was now the entire party. How? How did this progress?

Though Richard’s face read empty, he appeared cold through his red eyes.

“You’re doing that thing again,” Richard said in a monotone voice. “You’re staring off into space, nodding your head.”

All at once, Danny stormed out of the house cursing and speaking in tongues which Willie couldn’t understand. Willie, ignoring everything else, quickly ran after Danny. He fled down the front steps of the home and into the darkness. The leaves crunched under his sneakers as he fled the scene after Danny. The cold autumn breeze hit his face, failing to cool his rising body temperature.

“Danny, wait!” Willie shouted as he continued to run. The two already passed their bikes and were running deeper into the woods. The lighting from the cabin was beginning to deteriorate as the darkness consumed them.

Danny suddenly stopped and turned around, continuing to speak in tongues. Willie’s head spun as he tried to understand what Danny was even talking about. As Willie tried to take in Danny’s words, he wiped his sweat and paced back and forth. Willie’s anxiety wasn’t lessening and his anger towards Richard remained boiled. His mind raced and the thoughts became more muddled. Danny continued to stare at Willie and speak in what seemed to be a made-up language.

Willie put his hands over his ears and went down on his knees on the wet, cold ground. In an attempt to block out Danny’s overwhelming rant, Willie allowed his own thoughts to get louder. Almost instantly, Danny was quiet and standing over him. Willie looked up and slowly took his hands off his ears.

“What is going on?” Willie exhaustively asked.

“He set this whole night up to embarrass you,” Danny suddenly said. Willie’s eyes grew wide as he felt his anger grow. What is going on, he repeated in his head.

“He planned it at school with Lana,” Danny continued. “She would pretend to like you, but she’s actually with Richard. They set you up to let everyone know what a freak you are.”

Willie’s mind felt at capacity with what he could handle for the night. He stood up and put his hand on Danny’s shoulder, “How do you know all this, Danny?”

Danny’s head nodded slowly in response, “I overheard them in class, I came with to protect you.”

Willie felt the same nausea as he did on carnival rides. His mind continued to echo, and his body felt twisted. He always accepted and acknowledged that Richard was a jerk, but now he felt Richard was beyond that. Maybe even evil. No, that is exactly what he is, Willie thought, evil. As he paced, he went back and forth between running his hands through his buzzed blonde hair and adjusting his shirt. Danny stood next to him, watching his movements.

Just a few feet away, a branch snapped making Willie jump and spin around. Richard emerged from the darkness, closer into Willie’s view. Danny stood behind Willie, waiting for the scene to unravel.

“You set me up!” Willie shouted at Richard.

“Willie, calm down,” Richard said as he slowly inched towards him. He held his hands in front of him.

“Are you dating her?” Willie repeated, his voice louder and angrier.

“I’m sorry about before,” Richard said. “You’re really worked up right now. You need to just…What I said back there was uncalled for, I was… I don’t care if…”

Before Willie could wrap his mind around Richard’s apology, his anger had already taken over in full force. Richard began to retreat with his hands in front of him. He started to inch backward, spewing reassuring words that Willie could no longer comprehend. Willie marched towards Richard, knocking him to the ground with a single swing to his face.

“How could you do this to me? How could you plan this whole night?” Willie shouted as his fists continuously met Richard’s face.

Richard kneed Willie in the groin and tossed him off him, “What the hell are you talking about, Willie?” he shouted as he spit up blood and grabbed his mouth. “I didn’t plan anything!”

Willie winced at the pain but quickly got up from the ground. He lunged towards Richard with a swing and missed. Richard drove his shoulder into Willie’s chest, slamming Willie back to the ground. Before Richard could lock Willie down, Willie swung a hard punch into Richard’s gut.

“Danny told me everything!” he screamed. Willie looked over at Danny, standing a few feet away, watching the fight with an unreadable expression.

Richard moaned on the ground, his face scrunched in agony, “What?” he groaned.

Willie continued to watch Danny who was now fingering a blade. Willie’s mouth slanted into an eerie grin, as it always did when Danny suggested that things should go just a little further. He idolized the fear factor. Richard won’t embarrass me anymore after this good scare, Willie thought.

Richard was now on his knees, forcing Willie to jump to his feet. He began running towards him, but Richard lashed out and his knuckles whooshed into Willie’s nose. The branches and leaves beneath Willie crunched as he landed on his back. Richard staggered before jumping on top of Willie, pinning his shoulders into the dirt.

“Willie, listen to me,” Richard started, but Danny stepped in and grabbed Richard’s shoulders from behind and off Willie. Danny threw Richard onto his own back and slammed his fists against his face.

Danny, now straddling Richard, drove the blade through Richard’s leather jacket, under the rib, straight into the gut. The knife deeply lodged into his intestines. For a moment, Richard remained still, face-to-face with Danny. Richard’s brown eyes glossed over as his disbelief pulsated. He stared at Danny in the eyes, his mouth quivering. He looked down at his stomach and softly put his hand on the handle of the knife. He ogled with confusion as his breathing amplified.

Willie pushed Danny to the side, hovering over Richard, “Danny, no!” he screamed as he fell to his knees. “I…I thought we were just going to scare him! Not kill him!” he began to cry. He brushed Richard’s black hair back and put his other hand to his face. Richard’s eyes were wide as he went into shock. Willie put his hand on the knife, “I’m going to pull it out,” he quickly panicked.

Richard’s shock magnified, and he shook his head no, but Willie had already yanked the knife out. The knife, once acting as a plug to the blood vessels, was detached and worsened the bleeding. Richard’s stomach began to bleed out, soaking his t-shirt and jacket. Willie started cursing to himself as he became hysterical. He took off his flannel and held it to Richard’s stomach.

“Danny! Go get help!” He yelled. Willie turned around to rush him, but Danny was gone. Willie, never even noticing he ran off, frantically looked around the woods, shouting past the trees for him, but no one responded. Willie looked down at Richard as he continued to bleed out, his face horrified and soaked in tears. Willie switched between apologizing to Richard and cursing under his breath.

“Willie!” A voice screeched from the trees.

Willie sat in the leaves, crying. Danny, is that you? His mangled t-shirt was now soaked in his best friend’s blood. Lana appeared out of the darkness. She immediately began to cry when she noticed Richard had been stabbed. Willie didn’t know if he should have felt relieved for someone to find them or be terrified of the consequences that awaited Danny. He knew how this looked.

“Willie, what did you do?” Lana bawled as she rushed to Richard’s body. She began grabbing Richard’s face and shoulders in a hysterical state. Richard’s eyes began to flutter shut and his body stopped quivering.

“It was Danny,” Willie said through his tears. He crawled away from Richard’s body. Lana instantly held one hand out in front of her to warn Willie of getting close. She eyed the bloody knife in the leaves and all the blood on Willie. She painfully looked away, horrified.

“No Lana, it was Danny. It was Danny,” Willie repeated as he cried. “It was Danny!”

Lana began to shake, but her crying paused, “Who is Danny?” She uttered.

Willie stood up, “Danny. It was Danny. He came with me to your cottage. He ran off into the woods after…”

Lana looked appalled and immensely confused. She stood up from the ground, her legs seemed to be locked as the rest of her body trembled. She watched Willie pace and continue to ramble about Danny and how the scene unfolded. She clenched her fists tight, trying to circumvent Richard’s now stiff, bloody body lying in the leaves. She didn’t know whether to run from Willie, hoping he wouldn’t chase her, or attempt to calm him down.

“Willie,” Lana interrupted. “Except for Richard, you never brought a friend with you to my cottage tonight.”