Apollo shut his phone off only to turn it on again for the fourth time that night. In exactly two days, he and Alec would present to the class. After that, Apollo was sure that everything would return to normal and Alec would forget about him. Apollo jumped when he realized. I probably made him lose all his friends yesterday. Is he even alive?
     He searched for Alec's contact, hovering over the call button. He shouldn't feel bad; after all, Alec was the one who'd mistreated him all of this time. Unfortunately, his heart often betrayed him.
     The phone rang three times before Alec picked up, and Apollo heard rustling sounds as if Alec was still in bed.
      "Hey." Apollo's chest prickled at Alec's voice against his ear.
      "Did you do it?" Apollo whispered into the phone. Alec scoffed in response.
      "Uhuh. No more ratpack. You coming over?" Apollo could tell that Alec hadn't slept the previous night.
      "Yes!" Apollo agreed almost too quickly. "But don't hate me." Alec laughed hollowly. "Tall order," Apollo heard his laugh raise in spirit. "What is it?" Apollo sighed and spoke.
      "I have one more condition," Apollo smiled crookedly. "You're gonna hang out with my friends and me."

....

      They stood at the house next to Apollo's, watching their breath puff out into the cold air around them. Apollo fumbled with a key and unlocked the door. Alec raised an eyebrow at him.
      "You break in frequently?" Apollo punched Alec's arm but was secretly relieved that yesterday's events hadn't decreased Alec's ability to make jokes.
      "How do you think I get it to watch you sleep every night?" Alec gasped.
      "You really know how to get a guy excited." Apollo shook his head and walked into the house, motioning for Alec to follow.
      The house was minuscule and dark due to a lack of windows. Miscellaneous items were strewn across the floor, and there was a pungent smoke smell. Apollo led Alec to a door covered in colorful posters. He smiled gently at Alec before turning the knob.
      "Don't give him a hard time," Apollo whispered. The room was lit only by LED lights strung across a wall and a lighter in the hands of a boy Alec didn't recognize. Had he ever even seen him at school?
      "Hey, I know this kid!" The guy that had to be Cash laughed and exhaled the smoke from his cigarette. He had overgrown hair and a ripped-up shirt that exposed his chest. He also had a frightening array of piercings. This was who they pranked as kids. Seeing the state of the house and remembering Apollo's warning, he nearly felt guilty. Alec's head whipped toward Apollo.
     "I knew you were part of a drug clan. What are you on right now?" Apollo rolled his eyes and glanced at Cash. There was a friendliness in his eyes that Alec hadn't seen in a while. A strange feeling crossed Alec's stomach. Familiarity.
     "It's just Cash. I'm not gonna tell him what to do." Cash nodded in agreement and sat up from the beanbag he was perched in.
     "You," he pointed to Alec. "Used to throw eggs at my house," Alec smirked. Cash's voice was raspy from years of smoking but also had a soft edge he hadn't expected.
     "I'd be happy to do it again." Cash coughed out a laugh and displayed his silver-filling-crowded teeth.
      "I like him, Apollo. And I like your shoes." His gaze trained on Alec's galaxy Converse that featured pink accents. He'd put them on after Konner had texted him to "be gay to his heart's content." 
      "Me too." Alec looked down at Apollo's crooked grin. He wasn't sure what part Apollo was agreeing with. Regardless, Alec began to comprehend the foreign feeling of no judgment. Cash took another drag.
      "C'mon, I can tell you wanna ask." Alec became sheepish.
      "Do you even show up to school? I mean, I think I'd remember someone who looks as cool as you do." Cash shook his head. Apollo's clammy hand flattened against Alec's lower back. Alec restrained himself from excreting into his pants. He must have said the right thing.
     "Don't flatter me. And nah, can't sell to everyone with adults up my ass," Cash watched Alec's eyes widen in bewilderment. "Apollo told me you were one of those popular kids. Why do you look so surprised?" Apollo glared at Cash suddenly and stuck his tongue out. Alec teetered on the idea of Apollo talking about him to his friends. And getting embarrassed about it. And the fact that he was in the house of a drug dealer.
       "I'm not exactly passionate about health complications. Be yourself, though." Alec smiled, and Cash smiled back.
       "You know a Dennis?" Alec's mouth fell open.
       "Denny?"
       "The one he's referring to is blond," Apollo added helpfully. Cash nodded.
       "That's him. He's damn near addicted to showing up here around three AM for supply." Alec's head reeled.
       "It's gotta be guilt, then!" He exclaimed, giggling to himself. Apollo removed his hand from Alec's back.
       "What are you on about?" Apollo gave him a worried look.
       "All that shit he said about me. It has to be because he's got his own problems." Alec felt a wave of relief wash over himself.
       "You just realized that no one actually gives a shit about your appearance? You picked a super slow one, Apollo." Contrary to when Alec would speak to his old friends, he could tell Cash was joking. The feeling was delightful. Then Alec's smile dropped. Is that why Apollo has put up with me all this time?
       Alec's brooding was cut off quickly when a feminine humming started carrying through the house. Pigtails then appeared in the doorway, just as Alec expected. She looked Alec up and down.
      "Is your bestie pranking me? Tell me the truth!" Alec raised his hands immediately.
      "Nah. No! Konner's serious about you." Cassandra took a strand of hair into her hands and began twirling it.
      "I'll have to get used to you." She stated honestly, then turned to wave energetically at Cash.
      "Queenie's still alive." He said, offering her a smoke, which she accepted. Alec was surprised for about the sixth time that night.
      "Hey Alec, you've got ear piercings?" Alec started shaking his head. Apollo gasped.
       "Your ears are pierced!" Alec gave him a look.
        "And my mom would really prefer not to know that."
        "Unless you only wear them to school..." Cassandra let the suggestion hang in the air while she energetically pulled open a drawer of earrings inside a desk near the door. It only made sense, looking at the amount of metal that decorated Cash's face. Alec's mind was suddenly filled with what Jordie had told him the day before. All Apollo wants is for you to be yourself. Alec didn't have anything to lose, either.
       "...I'll try it." He agreed slowly. Cassandra studied him and dug around the drawer feverishly. She didn't stop until she'd rifled through the entirety of the box at least three times. Then she finally settled on a pair.
      "These are the ones!"

....

       In the quickest hours Alec had experienced in a while, the former social leader became friends with Apollo's fellow outcast buddies.
      They sat at a table in Cash's rundown dining room, playing with stained cards. Alec had already won twice. Cash leaned back in his chair as he picked up another card to add to his massive hand.
      "Alright, if big-man wins one more time, I'll  make a bet about your stupid presentation." Apollo laughed and took his turn.
      "Please don't describe your drug trips to Alec under the guise of a bet," Alec smirked in Apollo's direction and played his last two cards.
      "Now I'm interested." Alec looked at Cash expectantly as Cassandra collected everyone's cards. Cash cackled and threw a coin toward Alec.         
      "Tails means you guys shit yourselves on sight, and the school burns down. Heads will mean you survive and have gross gay sex." Apollo groaned, and Alec grabbed the coin and stared at it for a few seconds before he flicked at it with his nail. It clamored on the table before coming to a stop. Tails.