and i fled the fire like a spinning spark

Clearly it’s because he thinks I might be around, and he’s far too intimidated to meet me.  As your bestie and all.  I mean, I can understand that.  I’m pretty intimidating, appearance-wise.

You look like a gopher, that's not very intimidating at all. Who gave you that bat?

If that’s the worst, let’s go for it. He deserves pure humiliation, but I mean, he’ll experience that when we’re a hundred times better than him too.

He's a super sore loser, too. He can go sit on the sidelines with Tucker.

Wow, you don’t look your age at all. Are you drinking some fountain of youth water?

I steal people's youths by kissing them. I'm actually 267. Don't tell anyone.

Yeah, are you crazy? Definitely not a date.

That’s surprising. You don’t look a day over 15.

I just turned twenty three, friend. I'm up there in my years.

Cam, c’mon. He’s here for you and besides, I can definitely cancel on him. It’s not like— it’s not a date. He’ll be there for your graduation and he really did talk about coming out with all of us, you know? That’s for you. He wants to see you. I’m— god, this is weird. I’m sorry.

Don't cancel on him. God, it better not be a date he's like ten years older than you. And my brother. It's cool Reed don't get all apologetic. You're not the one avoiding me, you dig? So, he's going to come to karaoke with us?

Woah, you’re a senior? Or…were a senior?

Was a senior. Guess I'm sorta a grad student now.

Older brother or younger brother?

Older brother. He came for my graduation.

That ‘Oh, I see how it is’ tone. You sound like Tucker, stop. I’ll just cancel on him. 

Don't cancel on him. Don't do that. You have fun with my brother, just make sure he comes to my graduation. 

Yeah, it is nice. I don’t know what I’m gonna do when I leave. It’ll be the first time in my life I don’t have some form of family at school with me. It’s going to be interesting, that’s for sure.  Is Cruz your brother?

When are you leaving? Yeah, Cruz is my brother.

I didn’t know that he hadn’t even come to see you yet, I swear. I just ran into him and we were talking. Don’t give me that tone, Camilla. I know that tone.

What tone?

Yeah, but it’s just dumb stuff, you know? I’m giving him a drawing lesson and we’re getting tacos.

Well-- that's really really nice. It sounds like a fun time.

Yeah, he’s not a brother but he might as well be. He’s a pain in the ass but I love him and I know he’s always looking out. 

Sounds like me and Cruz, really. Must be nice to have him around so close.

He’s around. I saw him yesterday, so I don’t think he’s ignoring you. I think we’re supposed to like hang out later? If you want me to ask? You’ll definitely see him at karaoke.

Um-- you're hanging out with him?

Don’t stress on it Cam, I’ve managed this far, it’ll be fine. Thank you though. 

Don't mention it. My sister and I-- well I don't know, Alma's cool I guess but she's kind of uptight and sometimes we fight. You've got Carson though, right?

Hypothetically speaking, if I did, how mad would you be?

I'm not gonna get mad just tell me what you know? Is he ignoring me? Did I do something wrong? Is he mad about the gummy bears on his car?

I tried that Cam, I tried that for months. I wouldn’t talk about my parents, I wouldn’t talk about myself I would just try and talk about things people would talk about casually yet it always ended in a fight or she just pushed my efforts away. I can’t keep trying, it’s just fucking me over. 

I-- I'm sorry, Nat. I really am. I wish there was something I could do to help you guys. That really-- that really stinks.