Brian was supposed to be studying for tomorrow's Biology test, but instead he was sitting in front of his phone waiting for any one of four specific people to call. His father was working late, his mother was out for the night, and his sister was asleep, so he was on the honor system to have all his homework done. He'd finished it earlier and he'd been studying all weekend, so he felt he deserved a night on the phone with his friends. Just as long as the ring didn't wake his sister. She would tell on him for sur. Hopefully neither of his parents would come home early, either. Doubts started to fill Brian's head up to the brim and over, bouncing around his skull. Maybe he should just go up to his room, study, and ignore the phone if it rang. There was too much at risk. What if he failed the test tomorrow because he went one night without studying? What if the school called his parents and he got grounded? Was one group phone call worth two months without seeing them?

Suddenly the phone rang and Brian was forced to make his choice. Ignore the call and study? Or take the call and risk getting grounded? Brian took a slow, shaky breath in, then grabbed for the phone, fumbling with it before finally answering.

"Hello, Johnson house, Brian speaking," He recited the greeting his mother taught him, voice shaking.

"What is this, a hotel?" John Bender's snarky voice came from the other end.

"Well, I don't have your numbers memorized, and my mom always calls to check on me when I'm home alone, a-and since I didn't know who was calling-" Brian stammered.

"Relax, dipshit. I was worried you weren't gonna pick up, you took so long." Bender spoke through clenched teeth, probably lighting a cigarette.

The pit of Brian's nervous stomach filled up with jealousy. He wished he could be with Bender, so he could smoke, too. His hands were still trembling from worry it would be his mother on the other line. He had gone all weekend in need of a smoke to ease his nerves. Maybe he'd head out early tomorrow, meet Bender by the bleachers, get some cannabis in his lungs before the test.

"Sorry." He said finally. "Any idea when the others will call?"

"Cherry should be on in a minute. Sporto, too."

"And Allison?"

"Nobody knows with Klepto. She'll sneak her way into one of our houses for all I know."

Brian smiled. Good thing Andy wasn't on the line yet. He hated when Bender called Allison "Klepto". She didn't mind it, though. She thought it was funny. The phone beeped, alerting both Briand and Bender of a new caller. Brian pressed the accept button and Claire's cheerful voice came over the phone.

"Hey guys!" She said.

"Cherry," Bender coughed.

"Hi, Claire."

"How're two of my favorite boys doing tonight?"

Brian's cheeks flushed and he grinned into the receiver. He was glad they were just talking on the phone and not hanging out in person, so the others couldn't see his face. Bender scoffed.

"Oh, everything's just great, Princess." He said. "Just another stupendous day at the old Bender house."

Claire's grip on her phone tightened ever-so-slightly. She chewed on her lip. He was using that Sarcastic Cheerful voice he used when his father hit him. He used that voice as an attempt to bring a bit of light to his situation, but unconsciously he really wanted comfort. Claire could tell. She cleared her throat softly.

"Are you okay?" She asked timidly.

"Don't fucking patronize me, Cherry." Bender snorted. "Unless you feel like getting the shit kicked out of you I'd suggest staying in your room with your silk blankets"

"Yeah, that doesn't sound very logical. I think it's best we leave Bender to take care of himself." Brian spoke quietly.

The line was silent for a minute, save for Bender's soft laughter. Oh sure, he thought. I'll take care of myself, Bri, as soon as you learn to do the same.

The silence was broken by another beep and suddenly Allison was on the line.

"Hey, losers." She greeted.

Claire, Brian, and Bender seemed to let out sighs, grateful for the distraction Allison brought.

"How's shit, Klepto?" Bender asked.

Allison made a shrugging noise. Her teeth chattered softly behind her lips and she zipped up her parka.

"Where's Andy?" Claire asked.

"Oh, he's with me! We're out in my dad's van with his rotary phone, driving around town. Say hi, Andy!" Allison passed the phone to the shivering wrestler. He had on a hoodie and was wrapped in an old blanket they'd found in the back, but he was still cold.

"Hey guys."

"Oh, I'm wounded!" Bender cried, grabbing his chest dramatically. "You're together without us! Sex was supposed to be a group thing, you two!"

Brian gagged.

"Well, I mean we're already out driving around. We could come get you guys." Andy suggested, glancing at Allison. She nodded enthusiastically.

"Wait, really?" Claire was shocked.

Allison took the phone back. "Yeah, that sounds pretty nice to me."

"Brian? What do you think?" Claire asked.

Brian was silent. The doubts had flooded his head again. They bounced and rattled, filling his ears with noise. His breathing started to speed up a bit and his stomach turned backflips. What if his sister woke up while he was leaving? What if one of his parents pulled into the driveway and caught him? Were they going to sleep in the van? What if they overslept and he missed his Biology test? What if they all caught pneumonia and died?

"Brian?" Claire asked again. "Brian, hon, are you okay?"

"Nope!" He cried suddenly. "Sorry, fellas, I'm going to have to pass on this one!"

"Oh, Brian, come on!" Allison coaxed. "It won't be as fun without you!"

"Look, I love you guys, but I'll get in so much trouble if I do this. I'm already risking so much just being on the phone with you."

Allison sat for a minute, trying to figure out what she could say so Brian would join them. Before she could figure anything out, though, Bender started talking.

"You've gotta rebel some time, dweeb. Might as well start now."

Allison handed the phone back to Andy and started driving in the direction of Bender's house.

"Well, I have test tomorrow and-" Brian started.

"Oh, a test! Of course! What for?"

"...Biology."

"Fuck Biology. Come freeze your balls off with us."

"I-I'm already failing one class... I can't fail another."

"How long have you studied for this test?"

"Like, collectively, or...?"

"How fucking long, Brian?"

"An hour each night since Monday."

"You're not going to fail. Even if you do, one lousy test won't make you fail the whole damn class. Your precious grade-point average will be fine."

Brian sat for a minute. Claire chewed her lip, waiting anxiously for his answer.

"This is your last chance, Brian." Andy coaxed. "You can come with us, or hang up and go to bed. It's your choice."

Brian held the phone away from his face. The other could hear him mumbling to himself. In the meantime. Allison pulled up at the curb in front of Bender's house and honked. He was standing in the doorway, the cord of a phone stretched through the house, smoking. He hung up when he saw the van, though, and climbed in. The back seats had been pulled out, so he sat on the floor. Andy climbed from his seat and sat beside him.

"Hey." He said.

Andy wrapped half the blanket over Bender's shoulders, despite the disdainful look he was shot.

"What? Do you want to freeze your ass off?" Andy asked, starting to pull the blanket back.

Bender huffed and accepted the blanket, scooting slightly closer to Andy. In the driver's seat, Allison made a U-turn and Andy dug his palms into the floor to keep himself from flying across the back of the van. Bender grabbed onto his arm for the same reason. As allison swerved down the street Bender fell directly into the other boy's arms. A second later Allison got back to driving straight. Andy and Bender were left holding tightly onto each other. They slowly made eye contact. Andy smirked, and Bender shoved away from him. Andy started laughing.

"Shut up, fag." Bender huffed, crossing his arms and turning away.

"None of us are straight, John." Allison called from the front. "Nobody's gonna judge you."

"All of us are fags." Bender scratched at his forearm angrily.

Andy studied him nervously before taking his arm and gently pushing his sleeve up. Bender flinched, but didn't protest. Dotted about his forearms were bruised cigarette burns and scratches crusted with dried blood.

"Dude," He said. "We need to clean these."

"Whatever. That's what you get when your dad finds out you're a queer."

Andy looked around the van for the rotary phone, only to find that Allison had it.

"How long's he been off the line?" She was asking.

"I think he hung up around five minutes ago." Claire sighed. "I don't think he's going to come with us."

"I'll go by his house anyway, just in case."

"Ally, tell Claire to grab a first aid kid on her way out." Andy said.

Allison relayed the message and Claire agreed. They continued to talk until the van pulled up in front of Claire's house. She came out around the back door with an armful of blankets as well as a first aid kid. She climbed into the van, stopping immediately when she saw the injuries on Bender's arms. She ran and dropped to her knees beside him and Andy and threw open the first aid kid.

"Oh, John..." She murmured. "What happened?"

"His dad found out," Allison had approached so softly nobody had noticed until she spoke. She took Bender's arms from Andy.

Claire dipped a white rag in iodine while Allison gently kissed every wound on Bender's arms. Andy wrapped the blanket around his shoulders. There was a scowl permanently etched onto his face, but secretly he was grateful. No one had ever shown him such care before, and now he had three people caring for him all at the same time.

They'd finished dressing Bender's wounds in time, and Allison was back on the road to Brian's house. Brian didn't live too far from Claire, so it didn't take them to long to get there. Allison parked in front of the house and honked. Bender snorted.

"Green, perfectly cut lawn... pristine white fence... even the mailbox is spotless... Yep. Just how I pictured it." He remarked.

Inside, Brian sat with his head in his hands. He heard Allison honking. The whole neighborhood probably could. C'mon, idiot. They're waiting for you. He thought. Are you going to be a puppet for your parents all your life? He smacked himself and got to his feet. He walked slowly to the coat rack and pulled on his coat. He opened the door, stepped outside into the night, and closed it behind him. He took a deep breath. In... and out. He made a break for the van without looking back.

No. He thought. I'm not.