The night feels different with Evelyn gone, like someone's removed all the guardrails from my life. I'm sitting on the back deck under a canopy of stars, trying not to think about where she might be while Rose's nimble fingers work magic with rolling paper.

"Almost done," Rose mumbles, her tongue darting out to lick along the edge of the blunt. She seals it with practiced precision, then holds it up like a trophy. "Perfect."

The September air carries a hint of autumn, not cold enough for jackets yet, but cool enough to feel nice.

Lilly appears from inside, carefully balancing two glasses. She passes one to me and one to Rose, keeping nothing for herself. The liquid inside is amber and smells strong enough to strip paint.

"You're not drinking?" I ask, eyeing the mysterious concoction with suspicion.

Lilly's lips curl into that controlled smile that always makes my heart skip. "I don't really drink," she says, settling into the chair beside me. "I like to stay in control."

I stare down at my glass, suddenly feeling guilty. "Lilly, I don't have to drink either. I don't want only Rose and me to have fun."

Something shifts in Lilly's expression, her eyes widening slightly as she leans forward. Her fingers brush against mine on the table.

"Seth, I want you to get drunk. I want to see how far I can push your buttons when you're out of it."

My mouth goes dry as heat rushes to my face. Rose snickers beside me, already lighting the blunt.

"Better do what she says," Rose advises, taking a deep drag before passing it to me. "Trust me, it'll be worth it."

I glance toward the house, where the sliding door remains slightly ajar in case Chris needs anything. He's been asleep for about an hour now, completely worn out from the Minecraft marathon Rose initiated. It had been strange watching them play together, Rose's usual intensity softening as she aggressively, but somehow also patiently, taught Chris how to build an underground bunker.

"Don't worry about Chris," Lilly says, reading my thoughts as usual. "I’ll hear him if he wakes up."

I nod, bringing the glass to my lips. The liquor burns a fiery trail down my throat, making me cough. "Jesus, what is this?"

Lilly shrugs, her shoulders rising in that elegant way she has. "The label said whiskey."

Rose takes a small sip from her own glass, her face completely unfazed by the burn that nearly made me cough up a lung. "Yeah, it's definitely whiskey." She swirls it casually, like she's drinking apple juice instead of liquid fire.

Lilly leans forward, placing her hand on my chest. I can feel her warmth through my thin t-shirt, her touch simultaneously comforting and electrifying.

"It's new to you," she says, her voice dropping to that hypnotic tone that makes my brain go fuzzy. "You could take your time..." Her fingers trail up to my collarbone, tracing it slowly. "Or you could try to dig deep, find your inner cunt, and chug it."

I can't help the surprised laugh that escapes me. "Find my what now?"

Rose snorts beside me, taking another drag from the blunt. "Damn, Lilly really wants you drunk tonight."

When I look back at Lilly, her eyes are fixed on me with an intensity that makes my heart race. There's something primal in that gaze, hungry and calculating all at once.

"You don't care, right, Seth?" she asks, her voice soft but somehow commanding.

I stare at her, mesmerized. In this moment, with the stars above us and the twins beside me, I realize I'd do absolutely anything for these girls. I'd commit actual war crimes if they asked. What's a little drunkenness compared to that?

Without breaking eye contact with Lilly, I bring the glass to my lips and throw back the entire contents in one burning gulp. The whiskey blazes down my throat, but I force myself not to cough this time.

Rose claps enthusiastically. "Good job, baby! That was impressive."

I set the empty glass down, expecting to feel something immediately. But aside from the lingering burn in my throat, I don't feel any different.

"I don't think it's working," I say, disappointed that I'm not instantly transformed into whatever Lilly was hoping to see.

"Give it time," Lilly says, standing up with fluid grace. "Let me go get the bottle."

I glance toward the house, suddenly remembering my mom's strict rules about her liquor cabinet. "Wait, I don't want to piss my mom off. She'll notice if too much is gone."

Lilly pauses, looking down at me with an expression that's somehow both amused and deadly serious. "If your mother says anything, I'll deal with it."

I nod, feeling a strange mix of fear and anticipation at Lilly's words. Before I can dwell on it, Rose leans toward me, the blunt pinched between her fingers.

"Seth, give me a kiss," she says, her eyes gleaming in the starlight.

I lean in, meeting her lips with mine. She tastes like whiskey. When we break apart, she puts the blunt between her lips and flicks her lighter, the small flame illuminating her face in the darkness.

"Yeah," she says after taking a deep drag, "this is the life." She exhales a cloud of smoke that drifts lazily upward into the night sky. "My boyfriend, my best friend, a blunt, and some whiskey."

I watch, fascinated, as she takes another hit, her eyes closing in what looks like pure bliss. When she exhales, it's with such a deep, satisfied sigh you'd think she'd just finished building a house with her bare hands.

"It doesn't get any better than this, Seth," she murmurs, her voice soft and relaxed now.

Behind me, I hear the clink of glass as Lilly returns and starts refilling my empty tumbler. The amber liquid catches the faint porch light as it rises in my glass.

Rose extends her arm, offering me the blunt. I take it carefully, holding it between my fingers like it might explode.

"How do I do it?" I ask, feeling embarrassingly inexperienced.

"Just inhale gently," Rose explains, scooting closer. "Don't try to be a hero your first time. Small puff, hold it for a second or two, then exhale."

I bring it to my lips, feeling ridiculously nervous. Following her instructions, I take a small pull, immediately fighting the urge to cough as the smoke fills my lungs. I manage to hold it for about half a second before exhaling in a sputtering cough.

"That's normal," Lilly says, her hand appearing on my back, rubbing gentle circles. "Try again, but slower this time."

My second attempt goes better. The smoke still burns, but in a way that's not entirely unpleasant. By the third hit, I'm starting to feel something, a lightness spreading through my limbs, my thoughts becoming fuzzy around the edges.

"There you go," Rose praises, watching me with obvious delight. "Look at you, becoming a proper smoker."

"How are you feeling?" Lilly asks.

"Weird," I admit, handing the blunt back to Rose. "But good weird. Like my body's sinking into the chair."

I take another sip of whiskey, feeling the warmth spread through my chest as the combined effects of the alcohol and weed start to really hit me. My body feels like it's melting into the chair, everything around me taking on a dreamlike quality.

Rose shifts in her seat, her eyes suddenly serious as she leans toward me. "I was really worried about you today, Seth. You looked like a complete wreck when we found you."

"We knew we could help ease your tension, though," Lilly adds, her fingers trailing along the nape of my neck in a way that sends pleasant shivers down my spine. "That's what we're here for."

"I really am so thankful," I whisper, suddenly overwhelmed with gratitude for their presence. My gaze drifts down to my hands resting on the table, and I find myself oddly fascinated by my fingernails. "Huh, my nails look kind of cool," I say, turning my hands over to examine them from different angles.

The light from the porch catches them just right, making them look almost translucent at the edges. My mind wanders as I stare at them, imagination taking flight. "You know what would be awesome? If I had claws like Wolverine. Just…" I make a fist and mimic the sound of claws extending "Schking! That would be so badass."

Before I can continue this train of thought, Lilly's hand slides around to cup my jaw. She turns my face toward hers and captures my lips in a deeply passionate kiss that steals my breath away. Her fingers thread through my hair, pulling me closer as her mouth moves against mine with deliberate intensity. I'm vaguely aware of Rose watching us, her eyes hooded and dark with desire.

When Lilly finally pulls away, her lips still hovering just inches from mine, she whispers, "Don't forget your drink."

My face flushes hot as I reach for my glass. "Thanks," I mumble, suddenly shy under her intense gaze.

The whiskey goes down easier now, barely burning at all as I take another long swallow. The world around me seems to pulse gently, colors more vibrant, sensations heightened. Rose's hand finds my thigh, her touch sending electricity through my body even through the fabric of my jeans.

Lilly immediately fills my glass back up again.

"How are you feeling now?" she asks, her voice sounding somehow distant and incredibly close at the same time.

"Like I'm floating," I admit, setting the glass down with exaggerated care. "Everything feels... softer. Better." I turn to look at her, suddenly struck by how beautiful she is in the dim light. "You're so pretty, Rose."

She laughs, the sound like music to my ears. "You’re too kind."

Rose scoots her chair closer, her knee bumping against mine. The contact sends pleasant waves through my body, intensifying the floating sensation from the weed and whiskey.

"Hey. You never told us who your first kiss was."

My stomach does a strange flip that has nothing to do with the substances in my system. I take another sip of whiskey to buy time, suddenly feeling hot despite the cool evening air.

"Well, it's not an interesting story," I mumble, staring into my glass.

Lilly's posture shifts beside me. Even in my altered state, I notice how she leans forward, her shoulders tensing slightly. Her expression is controlled but intense, almost manic, though still somehow put together.

"Who was it?" she asks, each word precise and deliberate.

I sigh deeply, knowing there's no way to avoid this conversation. The alcohol and weed have loosened my tongue too much to come up with a convincing lie.

"It was Evelyn," I admit, the name hanging in the night air between us.

The twins go completely still, like predators that have just spotted prey.

"She said I needed to be ready someday," I continue, the words tumbling out now. "And honestly, I was thankful. She taught me step by step how to kiss over months. We were always practicing."

The temperature seems to drop several degrees around us. Rose's fingers tighten on my thigh, her nails digging in slightly through my jeans. Lilly's face remains eerily composed, but her eyes have darkened dangerously.

"Practicing," Lilly repeats, the word sounding venomous on her tongue.

"Yeah. Evelyn said that's what friends are for. She told me it's okay to practice kissing with your friends to be ready for your future partner."

The twins exchange one of their silent communications, a glance loaded with meaning I'm too intoxicated to fully comprehend.

"Did Evelyn teach you anything else?" Lilly asks, her voice deceptively soft.

The whiskey has completely demolished my filter. I lean back in my chair, feeling suddenly warm at the memory.

"Well, she offered to teach me more," I confess, "but I was just too embarrassed to do that." I take another drink, liquid courage burning down my throat. "She used to rub my pants until I'd cum. Said I needed to learn how to not finish so fast from a woman's touch."

A heavy silence falls over the deck. The pleasant buzz from the whiskey and weed suddenly feels like it's trapping me in slow motion as I register the twins' expressions. They're both staring at me with such intensity that I feel pinned to my chair like a butterfly in a collection.

Rose's face contorts with rage, her knuckles white as she grips her glass. "That fucking bitch," she hisses through clenched teeth.

Lilly shoots her a sharp glare, her hand coming down firmly on Rose's wrist. "Not tonight, Rose," she says, her voice quiet but commanding. "Save it."

I shrink back in my chair, suddenly aware I've said something very, very wrong. The pleasant floating feeling from before is rapidly being replaced by anxiety. Rose takes a deep, aggressive hit from the blunt, holding the smoke in her lungs for what seems like forever before reluctantly passing it to me.

"Let's drop this topic, okay?" Lilly suggests, though her tone makes it clear it's not really a suggestion.

I take the blunt with trembling fingers. "Okay," I mumble, bringing it to my lips and inhaling shakily. The smoke burns my throat, but I barely notice, too focused on the tension crackling between us.

"You're not in trouble, Seth," Lilly says, her voice softening slightly as she reaches out to stroke my cheek.

"Okay," I repeat, not knowing what else to say. My brain feels sluggish, unable to process why they're so upset about Evelyn teaching me to kiss.

Rose opens her mouth, clearly about to say something else, but Lilly cuts her off before she can start.

"Not. Tonight." Each word drops from Lilly's lips like ice, slow and deliberate.

Rose closes her mouth, jaw working as she swallows whatever she was about to say. She grabs her glass instead and downs the rest of her whiskey in one angry gulp.

“Fine!”