Point of Retreat

says.
     
    I put my arm around her and kiss her on top of the head. "Yeah, sorry about that. You're really hard to manipulate, though. I had to rally the forces."
     
    She looks up at me and I take the opportunity to give her a quick kiss on the mouth. I can't help it. Every time her lips come within a certain proximity to mine, it's impossible not to kiss them.
     
    "I liked it better when you two weren't speaking," Caulder says.
     
    "Same here," Kel says. "I forgot how gross it was."
     
    "I think I'm gonna be sick," Eddie says.
     
    I laugh because I think Eddie’s making a joke about our public display of affection. She's not. She covers her mouth with her hand and her eyes get big. Lake shoves against me and I hop out of the booth, followed by Lake and Kiersten. Eddie scoots out of the booth with her hand still over her mouth and she makes a mad dash for the bathroom. Lake runs after her.
     
    "What's wrong with her?" Kiersten asks. "Is she having nausea?"
     
    "Yep," Gavin says flatly. "Constantly."
     
    "Well you don't look very worried about her," Kiersten says.
     
    Gavin rolls his eyes and doesn't respond. We sit quietly through another performance when I notice Gavin watching the hallway with a concerned look on his face. "Will, hop up. I need to go check on her," he says. Kiersten and I get back out of the booth and Gavin exits. I grab Lake's purse and my satchel and we all follow.
     
    "Kiersten go inside and see if she needs me," Gavin says. Kiersten opens the door to the women's restroom. A minute later, she returns.
     
    "She said she'll be fine. Layken said for all you boys to go on and head home and us three will follow you in a few minutes. Layken needs her purse, though."
     
    I hand Kiersten the purse. I'm a little bummed that Lake isn't riding with me, but I guess she did bring her own car. I'm anxious to get back to Ypsilanti. Back to our houses. I'm definitely sneaking into her room tonight.
     
    We head outside to my car. I crank it and wipe the snow from the windows then walk over to Lake's car and wipe the snow off of her windows as well. When I get back to my car, the three of them are making their way outside.
     
    "You okay?" I ask Eddie. She just nods.
     
    I walk over to Lake and give her a quick peck on the cheek as she unlocks her door. "I'll follow you guys in case she gets sick again and you have to pull over."
     
    "Thanks, Babe," she says, unlocking the doors for everyone else. She turns around and gives me a hug before climbing into her car.
     
    "The boys are staying at my house tonight," I whisper in her ear. "After they fall asleep, I'm coming over. Wear your ugly shirt, okay?"
     
    She smiles. "I can't. You stole it, remember?"
     
    "Oh yeah," I whisper. "In that case…I guess you just shouldn't wear one at all." I wink at her and walk back to my car.
     
    "She okay?" Gavin asks when I get back inside the car.
     
    "I guess so," I say. "You want to go ride with them?"
     
    Gavin shakes his head and sighs. "She doesn't want me to. She's still mad at me."
     
    I feel bad. I hate that Lake and I just made up right in front of them. "She'll come around," I say as I pull out of the parking lot.
     
    "Why do you two even bother with girls?" Kel asks. "Both of you have been miserable for days. It's pathetic."
     
    "Someday you'll see, Kel," Gavin says. "You'll see."
     
    He's right. Making up with Lake later tonight will make this entire week of hell worth every second. Deep down I know it'll happen tonight. We're both way beyond the point of retreat. I suddenly become nervous at the thought.
     
    "Kel, you want to stay at my house tonight?" I try to act casual with my plan to corral the boys at my place. I feel like Kel can see right through me, even though I know he can't.
     
    "Sure," he says. "But it's a school night and Lake takes us to school on Fridays. Why doesn't Caulder just stay with me?"
     
    I didn't think about that. I guess Lake could just sneak over to my house after they fall asleep at her house. "Whichever," I say. "Doesn't really matter where."
     
    Gavin laughs. "I see what you're up to," he whispers.
     
    I just smile.
     
    ***
     
    We're about half-way home when the snow begins to fall pretty heavily. Luckily, Lake is a pretty cautious driver. I'm still following behind her even though I would normally drive about ten miles an hour faster than this. It's a good thing Eddie isn't driving though; we'd all be in trouble.
     
    "Gavin, you awake?" He's staring