Bitter

"You must have things to share with me if you are asking to tag along. That's unusual of you. But oh well! Who am I to refuse some company?" Oliver chuckled, his mischievous smile widening as he fell into step beside me. "Ah, you know me, Shawn. Always up for some company and conversation. And you'd be correct; I do have a little something to chat about." He replied, his tone playful and cryptic. "Oh yeah? Shoot it." I said. Oliver gave me a mischievous grin, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Well, you know that upcoming party this weekend, right? The one everyone's been talking about?" He asked, excitement evident in his voice. "I've been planning a little surprise for it, and I could really use your help with something." He said, looking at me expectantly, as we continued our walk towards the grocery store. "I didnt even know there was a party. Well, not like anyone would invite me anyway." Oliver chuckled, nudging me playfully as we walked. "Now, now, don't underestimate yourself, Shawn. People may surprise you, you know? But in any case, you're invited now! And trust me, this party is going to be epic." He smirked, his eyes sparkling with anticipation. "Now, as for the favor I mentioned..." I sigh and reply. "Man, say it already. The unneeded suspense is killing me." Oliver couldn't help but chuckle at my impatience. He grinned and continued, "All right, all right. I need your help with something a bit unconventional. You see, I have this plan to sneak in some, let's say, 'special refreshments' to make the party extra fun." He said with a wink. "I know it's a tad bit mischievous, but where's the fun in doing things by the book, right? Are you in?" He asked, looking at me with a mix of excitement and challenge in his eyes. "And what 'special refreshments' are specifically?" I asked with a raised eyebrow. Oliver raised an eyebrow, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Now, now, can't reveal all my secrets just yet. Let's just say it's something to get the party going, you know? A little something to keep the energy high and the crowd entertained. But I promise, it'll be worth it." He replied, his tone playful. "So, what do you say? Are you in, or are you going to be a stick in the mud? This could be the start of something legendary. You in?" He repeated, his eyes locked on mine, awaiting my answer. "You are literally so bad at acting. You are trying to sneak in alcohol since we aren't over 18." I facepalmed right afterwards. Oliver chuckled, his mischievous grin never leaving his face. "Caught me red-handed, huh? Alright, I must be getting rusty. But since you figured it out, I won't deny it. I want to sneak in a bit of the good stuff for the party. It's all in good fun, you know?" He admitted, a glint of excitement still in his eyes. "So, what's the verdict? In or out? Are you down for a little rule-breaking adventure?" I think to myself for a bit and respond, "If I get invited by someone that is not you, I'll consider it. Besides that, I am out." Oliver chuckled, his smile not wavering. "Fair enough, Shawn. I can respect that. But don't be too quick to dismiss the idea. Sometimes, a little rule-breaking adventure can lead to some unforgettable moments. And who knows, maybe you'll get a proper invitation to the party and change your mind. Just keep an open mind, yeah?" He said, giving me a friendly nudge. "Man, shut your dumb ass up before I shove this shopping list down your throat. You know what happened the last time your father caught us drinking." Oliver laughed, holding up his hands in surrender. "Alright, alright. I get it, no need to get violent with the grocery list, Shawn." He said lightheartedly. "You've got a point about getting caught last time, though. Let's just say, my dad wasn't exactly happy when he found out. But come on, where's your sense of youthful rebellion, my friend? Lighten up a bit!" I sighed and slightly pushed him with my shoulder. "I am running off of 3 hours of sleep. I am very lightened up right now" I said while pointing at my eyebags. Oliver chuckled and gave me a playful pat on the shoulder. "Fine, I can see you're just too sleep-deprived for any antics right now. Maybe we can save the partying and rule-breaking for another day when you've gotten a proper rest." He said, his tone teasing but understanding. "Go get your shopping done and catch some Z's soon, all right? Can't have my pal looking like a zombie." " Yeah I know. I'll see what I can do-" Oliver grinned, looking at the grocery store in front of us. "Ah, finally! I was starting to think you had taken us on an unplanned hike to the edge of the world." He joked. "All right, Shawn, I know you've got a grocery list a mile long to take care of. I'll let you get to it. Just don't forget about our little conversation, okay? Keep the weekend open." He said with a sly wink, giving me a friendly pat on the back before heading off in a different direction.I chuckled, shaking my head as I watched Oliver saunter away with his carefree attitude. Despite his mischievous nature and knack for trouble, there was something about him that was undeniably charming. I sighed, realizing that he had a way of getting under my skin and making it impossible to stay mad at him. "Crazy alright," I thought to myself, "but one hell of a friend." With a nod, I took a deep breath and turned towards the grocery store, ready to tackle the shopping list my mom had given me. I eventually got done with grocery shopping and made my way home with my bags of groceries, the weight of the items a reminder of the task I had just completed. The walk was peaceful, with a soft breeze rustling through the trees and the gentle sounds of the night settling in around me. As I rounded the final corner onto my street, I could see my home just a few steps away. I took a moment to appreciate the small, quiet moments that made life worth living - even the mundane task of grocery shopping. I rang the doorbell and waited for a few moments until I heard the sound of footsteps approaching the door from within. My mom appeared, smiling warmly at me. "Well, there you are, Shawn. How was your little grocery run?" She asked, her tone full of affection. Other people's moms asks "How was school?" as first question and then here, we have you asking how groceries were." I smiled cheekily afterwards. My mom smiled at my lighthearted response, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "Well, I guess I'm just a bit different. Besides, I know how much you enjoy the independence of going on these errands. So, I always want to hear about it." She said, a playful glint in her eyes. "Did you manage to grab everything on the list?" At that moment, I remembered that I was unable to buy one item. "Everything except for canola oil. They were out of stock. I could still go buy it from elsewhere if you wanted." My mom chuckled lightly, nodding in understanding. "No worries, I understand that sometimes things are out of stock. It happens. And no, don't trouble yourself by going to another store just for canola oil. We can make do without it for now." She said, giving me a reassuring smile. Right afterwards, I headed inside and settled the bags on the kitchen countertop. I asked afterwards, "How was your day?" She sighed softly before responding, her expression a mix of worry and exhaustion. "Well, my day was alright, I suppose. But your father..." She trailed off, her voice tinged with a hint of concern. "What happened?" I asked knowing something went wrong. Your mom's expression grew even more somber, her eyes meeting your own with a mix of anxiety and frustration. "He came home in a bad mood again today, Shawn. He's been like this for the last few days, and I'm really starting to worry. His work pressure seems to be getting the best of him, and it's affecting his demeanor at home." She explained, her words heavy with emotion. I noticed the underlying tone in her voice. And I got visibly angry. "Did he hit you again?"