Ethan
I headed straight to Reuben’s crib, the night’s events swirling in my mind like a tempest. I replayed the conversation with Caden over and over, trying to make sense of it all. It was like trying to catch smoke with my bare hands—every time I thought I had a hold on something concrete, it slipped away, leaving only confusion. Caden’s presence gnawed at me, this persistent, intangible itch I just couldn’t scratch.
As I pulled up to the crib, the energy of the party hit me like a wave. The bass thumped through the walls, and laughter echoed into the night air, mingling with the faint scent of alcohol. I pushed through the door, squinting against the sharp neon lights flashing around the room, and was instantly swallowed by the crowd. My friends and cousins were deep in celebration, s
