The frozen lake cracked beneath his feet.


In that moment, he guessed it was true, what Dad had told him so many times:


“Son, some friends just ain’t worth havin’.”


To his parents’ credit, they had never told him whom he could and couldn’t be friends with, they’d only ever told him that phrase.


In retrospect, as his life - short life of 18 years - was flashing before his eyes in what he assumed were his last moments, he recognized that they’d really only spoken those words surrounding times when one, specific friend was around. And as we was out here on what was supposed to be a frozen lake, in the middle of the night due to a dare from that one, specific friend, it dawned on him that his folks were probably right.


Definitely right.


Earlier That Day:


“Bro! Guess What?!”


Reilly groaned inwardly. Darrin had that look in his eyes, and that too-toothy smile that meant he had an idea. Most likely a bad idea at best, and a colossally bad idea at worst. Worse still, Darrin was most likely going to try to talk Reilly into joining him. But Reilly was determined. So far, he’d made it three months into senior year without landing in the police station, detention, or even in the “let’s talk about what happened” position at home. Three months!


And today was early release for Thanksgiving Break. His grades were up, he wasn’t grounded, and he was planning to spend some quality time with Ranelle, his girlfriend. He did NOT have any room for Darrin’s hare-brained shenanigans. Not two days before Thanksgiving, not for the rest of the school year if he could help it. 


“C’mon, man! Guess!” Darrin nudged.


Reilly didn’t want to guess. It’s not that he didn’t like his friend; heck, they’d been getting into trouble together since they were in diapers. It’s just that as they’d gotten older, Darrin’s “Guess what’s” had grown more intense, and Reilly had grown more sense. He didn’t enjoy them as much as he used to. Didn’t like always being in trouble, and it seemed like he was always the one to get hurt, especially in the last couple of years.


He didn’t want to cut Darrin out of his life completely; this was their last year together. But, at this point, he’d be much happier going to the movies or on a hike with Darrin, instead of on a ride so graciously provided by local law enforcement.


Reilly was eighteen, today actually, and had no interest in being tried as an adult for something, anything, ever.


“K, fine! If you won’t guess, I won’t tell you!” Darrin huffed with mild annoyance.


Good, Reilly thought, but outwardly said, “You got me a switch for my birthday today? Or a new battery charger? I’ve been needing one.”


Darrin, appeased, gave Reily a mock surprise look.


“Oh, right! It’s your birthday!”


“That’s a no to the charger then,” said Reilly nonchalantly.


“Nah, Dude! I got you somethin’ better! Way better!”


Darrin did a little hop-step and jumped in front of Reilly, facing him. Reilly stopped, knowing from experience that Darrin would just keep jumping around in front of him to block the way forward until he got to reveal all.


So, in spite of his better judgement, Reilly listened.