Charlie knocks on Aubrey's apartment door and leans his head against it for a moment to acquire the few seconds of peace he has left. When the door opens Charlie's jaw is knocked down to the floor. Aubrey's waved and brushed-back hair contains so much hairspray that Charlie can taste it and she's wearing a tight, red dress with thin straps that complement her newly fake-tanned skin. Her face homes so much make up that she's almost orange.

"What the hell is this?" Charlie says.

Aubrey rolls her eyes and turns around. "I told you, my friend's having a party."

Charlie steps into the apartment and tries his hardest not to slam the door. "Do you ever listen to me? I don't want to go to a party, Aubrey."

"I don't get what the big deal is, your friends are going too." Aubrey rushes around her kitchen, adding items into her purse as Charlie drifts over to the table. "It'll be fun, Charlie. Remember what that is? Fun?"

Charlie leans back into the chair and clenches his jaw. He knows if he leaves this time then their relationship won't recover, it'll be over and part of him actually feels glad about it. This is why they fight all the time, because neither of them can compromise.

"I thought we were having a night in together," Charlie says.

"We'll do that next week," she mutters as she stares into a small, flip-up mirror. "The cab will be here in a minute. We've got all day tomorrow anyway; we'll probably need the rest with the hangovers we're about to have."

"I need to be home by ten tomorrow to take my sister shopping. I promised her."

"Fine," Aubrey says. "But don't wake me up if I'm still asleep."

Charlie isn't surprised that she hasn't asked to come with them, Aubrey doesn't have the patience for kids, not even for his sister Jasmine. She's never really made the effort to get to know her and Jaz has noticed. Whenever Aubrey comes around the house Jaz locks herself in her room and pretends to do homework. Charlie doesn't know how to resolve it but it bothers him.

"Cab's here!" Aubrey yelps.

Charlie stands up slowly and watches as Aubrey digs through her purse to make sure she's got everything, probably everything but money. No doubt he'll be paying for the cab. Her logic will be that her money goes on rent and bills and he gets given a monthly allowance that he has no need to spend on anything other than his car. Another great topic of argument that they like to indulge in from time to time.

"Try to be normal," Aubrey tells him as they leave the apartment. "Don't glare at people or do that threatening stance thing that you do."

"What threatening stance?"

"Never mind." She locks the door and then walks right by him. "Just try and be nice."

"If someone's being a dick then I won't be nice," Charlie says.

"I'm not talking about those people; I'm talking about everyone else."

"Oh. Fine."

They walk in silence through the apartment building and they slide into the back of the cab. Aubrey has already booked the cab online so the driver doesn't say a word, not even a greeting. He just types something into his phone and then pulls onto the road.

"I'm so excited," Aubrey says as her legs bump each other. "Aren't you excited?"

Charlie stares at her but she's not even looking. Her attention is on the window and he knows no matter what he says back she'll ignore. This has been the strangest day of his life so far and he can't imagine it could get any better than saving someone's life. He wants to tell someone just to get it off his chest but Molly was right; it's her story, not his. They both need to move on.

After almost twenty minutes of silence, Charlie turns to Aubrey. "I thought you said it wasn't far?"

"Relax, we're still in Sacramento. It's literally just around this corner."

The cab turns the corner and then stops outside a lit-up house with dozens of cars parked on the front lawn.

"Fifteen dollars," the driver says.

Charlie sighs and reaches into his back pocket for his wallet.

"I got it," Aubrey says. "Thanks."

"Have a nice night."

"Unlikely," Charlie mutters as he swings his door open.

Aubrey walks around the car and joins Charlie on the sidewalk as the car speeds off. She takes his hand and their fingers entwine as they walk towards the house. It's a big house, grand and white, with flower baskets hanging above the door. Charlie wonders why people need houses this size, it seems like a waste of land.

Aubrey presses the doorbell and Charlie tries to disguise his scowl as the noise vibrates against the walls. The door opens and a chirpy girl with bright red hair jumps up and down while squealing. Aubrey squeals along and they embrace each other.

"I'm so glad you made it!" the girl shrieks. Her eyes move to Charlie and she looks him up and down. "You must be Charlie. I've heard a lot about you."

"I've heard nothing about you," Charlie says.

Aubrey pushes into his side gently and glares at him. "Charlie, this is Ella, my roommate from college. I told you about her, remember?"

"Oh, right," Charlie says. "You're that friend."

"Anyway," Ella says. "Come in! We've got so much to catch up on."

Charlie becomes left behind as Aubrey and Ella take off towards a crowded room. He shuts the door and he looks around slowly. To his right he catches a glimpse of Camilla and her circle of high school vultures standing at the bottom of a staircase, so he walks in the opposite direction. There are people everywhere; standing, sitting, kissing, dancing, rolling around on the floor. He walks through into a quieter room and he spots the table with beers hidden at the back. He picks one up and cracks the lid off with his teeth. As he drinks he drifts into another room, a smaller room that stinks of cannabis. He sits on a chair and listens to a group telling stories.

"I swear to god it was like the entire crash was in slow motion," a boy is telling the group as they listen intently. "I remember time just slowing down and having all these thoughts, these sort of flashes. I thought I was going to die and when the rescue team pulled me from under my car, I actually did. My heart stopped for two whole minutes."

"Do you remember what that was like?" a girl asks him. "What did you feel?"

"I felt dead," the boy chuckles. "It wasn't like sleep because you know you're sleeping, you know? In a way. This was different. It was like being hit unconscious, it was sudden and quick. I saw this huge, bright light and I started to get pulled into another place."

Charlie rolls his eyes. It amazes him that people actually buy this bullshit.

"Really?" the girl says.

"Yeah, I swear. I couldn't see the place but I could sense it. I could sense that it was important, that it was where I needed to go. These sort of. . . angel hands reached out to take me there but they brought me back just before I could touch them."

"That's such a load of crap," another boy says, an older boy with thick muscles and deeply tanned skin. "You didn't die, you're only dead when you're dead. When there's no coming back."

Charlie looks at him, he has a point. He hasn't given much thought to death before, he always found it morbid and useless. Thinking about death doesn't help you survive; it doesn't prepare you for threats or bills or career choices. Death is for the dead, not the living. That's what he always believed until last night, until this morning. Until he held her as she broke down against his chest. He shakes his head and leaves the room. The image follows him no matter where he goes, it haunts him like a scorned ghost. He finds a quiet corner to battle his demons alone then a voice appears to his right.

"What happened to you?" Camilla studies his arm in concern.

"I had an accident," Charlie says.

"What did you do? Punch through a window?" she says as she stares at his hand. "Wait, are they scratch marks?"

"You're more observant than your sister, I'll give you that." Charlie takes a drink of his beer and starts to look for her. "Where is she?"

"She's out back, they're playing some quirky drinking games. Is that why you didn't come last night? Because you got injured?"

"I didn't come because I didn't want to," Charlie hisses. "My life doesn't revolve around Aubrey you know. She just has this really special talent of getting what she wants."

"Yeah, I hate that," Camilla says. "When she dropped out of college my parents didn't speak to her for a month. They blamed you."

"I know."

"But that's just who she is. She's unpredictable and selfish. She'll never settle, you might be her boyfriend in name but on paper her history will speak for itself."

"Is that your subtle way of warning me?" Charlie grins. "I know who she is."

Camilla raises an eyebrow. "Then why are you with her?"

"Why don't you mind your own business?"

"I'm single, I can get into whatever business I like." She drums her fingers against Charlie's arm.

"Camilla, we dated in junior high for two weeks," Charlie says. "And it was the longest two weeks of my life. Whatever fantasy you've got going about the two of us just let it go and stop embarrassing yourself."

She blinks in shock and pulls her hand back. "She's going to break your heart and when that happens you're going to wish you listened to me."

Charlie smiles to himself. "She's got to find one first. Excuse me."

Charlie walks away and heads towards James and Perry, two of his pals that he met through Aubrey and probably two of the only few people he can stand to be around. He feels more at ease with them and they greet each other like long-lost brothers.

"How's it going?" James asks Charlie. "We just saw Aubrey; she didn't mention that you were here."

"Yeah, I think she's avoiding me," Charlie says.

"Wouldn't be the first time," Perry chuckles.

"This is her thing, not mine. But I'm the one that will have to carry her home and hold her hair back as she pukes all over herself."

"Been there," James says.

"Though you're the one that's mostly puking on yourself," Perry says, nudging his shoulder.

"Vodka isn't my friend."

"You still with Jess?" Charlie asks him.

"With her, bound to her, somehow marrying her."

Charlie narrows his eyes and James averts his gaze to the floor as Perry nods. "What happened to 'I'm going to keep ignoring her hints until she eventually asks me and I'll say no and have to move to France'?"

"I still might move to France," James says. "Depends when we set the date. Ten years from now, ideal. Next month? Where's my passport?"

Charlie laughs. "Well, congratulations. I hope it works out for you. Mainly because I want you to remain in the country."

"We're having a game night next Friday at my place," Perry says. "You want to join?"

"Depends. This is males only, right?"

"Absolutely," James says with wide eyes. "Will the sling be off by then?"

"What did you do?" Perry enquires.

Charlie sighs. He's sick of people asking him that but he knows he'll have to get used to it, especially when school starts again tomorrow.

"Torn a muscle in my shoulder," Charlie says. "It should be off by Friday, yeah."

"Great because we're having a competitive pool race," Perry says. "And I want you at your best when I beat you."

"Perry, I'd beat you even with my arm in the sling," Charlie says. "But. . . I can't do anything to strain it. I've got to 'rest it' for a few weeks. It can get pretty serious if I don't."

"Fine, you can watch from your boring, injury corner," Perry says. "What's that noise?"

Charlie turns his head towards a door and the three of them follow the bickering into a bright yard. The fairy lights dazzle Charlie as he tries to find Aubrey among the dozens of faces that are crowding around an argument. The argument is between two guys, one is quite small and fairly thin, and the other is taller with a violent tone to his voice.

"I'm not scared of you," the smaller one yells.

"Get the fuck out of my face before I break it!" the other yells back.

"High school kids," James sighs. "I told Ella not to let them come."

"You invite one you invite them all," Perry mutters.

Charlie watches as the smaller one takes a swing at the bigger guy. He recognises the big-built football player from school, his name is Roy. Anyone in Roy's position with a shred of decency would take the hit and walk away. Charlie could tell that punch wasn't even strong enough to leave a mark. But Roy likes dominance and he hits the boy back so hard that he flies across the yard and bangs into a group of onlookers. The boy rubs his bleeding nose and charges at Roy. Roy smacks his chest and pelts him to the ground, as the boy struggles to breathe Roy stands above him and kicks his side.

"Enough now," Charlie hears someone say.

"Leave him alone."

"Stop!"

"Don't do it, man this isn't the night for putting someone in hospital," James says as he notices Charlie's anger.

"If only it would be that easy," Charlie says.

As several people attempt to pull Roy away, and fail, Charlie decides to intervene. He's too cocky when it comes to fights and he knows it will one day be his downfall. Charlie grabs the back of Roy's jacket and yanks him backwards. Roy turns sharply, his dark eyes growling with fury and he swings his fist towards Charlie's face. Charlie turns too fast for the punch to land and he hits Roy in the nose. Roy cowers backwards with his face in his hands as the blood begins to pour.

"You're going to regret that," Roy says. "Big time."

"That's fine," Charlie says. "Even with one arm I can beat you so you really don't want to be there when I have two."

"What you got to get involved for? This has nothing to do with you!"

"It's got something to do with me when you're beating up a defenceless kid," Charlie says.

"He's not a kid, he's a rat that hits on everything that moves."

"Ah," Charlie says. "He hit on your girl. If I beat up every guy that hit on my girlfriend then I'd be in prison. Have some decency and walk away."

"This isn't over, Park."

"It never is."

Roy walks towards the door while cradling his nose. Charlie waits until he's gone before he walks over to the boy on the floor. He puts his hand out and the boy takes it, Charlie pulls him to his feet.

"Thanks," the boy says.

"Try not to start a fight again, alright? Especially not with a guy that's four times your size."

"I could have taken him," the boy mutters.

"Charlie!" Charlie cringes as he hears Aubrey's voice calling him from across the yard. She's drunk and she stumbles over several times as she charges at him. The crowd disperses and goes back to their business but Charlie feels like they're all still watching him. "What the hell? Is it true? Did you just punch Roy?"

Aubrey becomes breathless and falls into him as she tries to stand straight. She looks dizzy and he holds her arm as she sways.

"Yeah, I did," Charlie says. "How much have you had?"

"You can't just punch people!" she says while trying to be angry, but she just bursts out into laughter. "Woah, the spinning is the room."

"Do you need to sit down?" Charlie says.

The moment he says it she does more than sit, she collapses. He catches her before she hits the floor and he clenches his teeth as his shoulder stings when he picks her up. He shakes his head at James and Perry as he carries her towards them.

"I think I'm going to go," Charlie says.

"Yeah, good luck with that," James says. "Let us know about Friday?"

"Sure. Nice seeing you again, sorry it's short."

"Take care of her, she'll need it," Perry says.

"Yeah, bye."

Charlie calls for a cab after placing Aubrey on the sidewalk. She's in such a deep sleep that she's snoring and he knows she isn't going to wake up for a while. He rolls her over on her side and she whispers incoherent nonsense as she dreams. They haven't even been at the party two hours yet and she's already practically comatose. This is the only reason she wanted him there, just to make sure she got home safe.

"Can I come with you? My ride left without me." Camilla stands right behind him, her voice is quiet and fragile, almost like she's scared. "Please? I don't have any money."

"Fine," Charlie says. "But only because she'd kill me if I said no."

"Thanks. God look at her, how does she even get into these states?"

"Because she's thoughtless," Charlie hisses. "It must run in the family."

"Hm. She's going to have one hell of a headache tomorrow."

"How about I pay for your ride home and we don't say another word?" Charlie proposes.

"Fine, no talking."

To Charlie's surprise she keeps to it, mainly because she's almost dropping to sleep herself. The cab turns up a few minutes later and Charlie is given a strange look from the driver as he lifts Aubrey into the backseat. Camilla sits against the other side of the car with her head leaning into the edge of the window frame and her eyes are closed. Charlie tries not to scream in frustration as he gives the driver the directions.

"Fun night?" the driver says with a grin.

"Short night," Charlie says. "I might as well have drove myself."

"I hear that a lot," the driver chuckles. "That girl okay?"

The driver adjusts his mirror and Charlie notices that he's done it to deliberately look at Aubrey's legs.

"She's fine," Charlie says. "Put your mirror back."

The driver pulls it back up and doesn't say a word. Charlie bites on his lip as he stares out the window. The rest of the journey is in silence and in that silence Molly once again haunts him. What is wrong with him? Why can't he stop thinking about her? He's wondering if she's okay, if she's asleep or awake, if she's watching the same night sky. He even checks his phone to make sure he hasn't had any missed calls. He remembers her laughter; how light and natural it was. Not forced or fake, it was unsuspected and sweet. He remembers the pained look on her face when she talked about her family and how relieved she looked when she finally got it out. He remembers so much about her that it's as though she's taking over. The car stops outside Camilla's house and Charlie leans over Aubrey and opens the car door, startling Camilla awake.

"You're home, goodbye," Charlie says.

"I thought you were taking me back to Aubrey's?" she says tiredly.

"Nope. Goodnight."

Camilla flips him off and exits the car. Charlie smiles to himself. He knows what she was trying to do, it'll be a new low for her but he doesn't doubt that she'd sink to it. A few minutes later and they're outside the apartment building. Charlie pays the driver, regretfully, and then carries Aubrey up four stairwells as her purse dangles from her fingertips as though she's got a death grip on it. When he reaches the door, she finally starts to wake up.

"Why am I home?" she mumbles.

"Because you passed out," Charlie says. "I need the key. I'm going to go through your purse, don't attack me."

"As if."

She falls back to sleep again and Charlie roots through her purse until he hears a jingle. He opens the door and he carries her into her bedroom. He places her on the covers and takes her heels off and then turns her sideways. He sighs as he looks at her before he rubs his head and enters the bathroom. He turns the shower on and he stares at the falling water, catching some of it in his hand.

And once again without warning Molly comes to him.