Kids grow up all the time; it’s not exactly something one can stop. And as those kids grow up, they change. Sometimes, despite the changes, they can hold onto a few of the things and friends that had helped them through their younger years. But most of the time, those changes impact those friends and interests. People drift apart as they get older. It’s just natural. There wasn’t anything else behind it, nothing that anyone could have done to change it. It just… happens. That’s all.

  At least, that’s what Alexei always told himself, when he saw Milo around town.

  They lived in the same house, sat at the same dinner table, even shared the same room and bunk bed. None of that had changed since they were little. But other things had. Whatever memory Alexei recalled from his childhood—even just three years ago—whether it was good or bad, happy or sad… Milo was there with him. They did everything together. And then all of a sudden, it was all gone. Milo left the house early, before most of their family was awake; even when prompted about his day at dinner, he just said he was out with friends, if he said anything at all; when he climbed up and lay down in bed, he didn’t say a word, not even the “good night” they’d exchange nearly every night before.

  But it was all just because they were growing older. There was nothing else to it. Nothing that could be changed. Nothing that either of them did. They were just another one of time’s victims. Together one minute, barely interacting the next.

  So, even if a part of him wanted to draw his cousin’s attention, Alexei pretended like he didn’t see him. He was probably busy, anyway, and Alexei had work of his own to do. Errands weren’t going to run themselves.

  Which made him all the more surprised when he heard his name, spoken by a familiar voice it felt like he hadn’t heard in months.

  “Oh, hey! Alexei! Just the person I was hoping to run into!” From across the street, Milo gave an enthusiastic wave—but it wasn’t like when they were younger, there was something sad about it now—and walked over. Alexei was nearly certain he’d been talking to someone else, until it became far too obvious of the truth.

  Now, Alexei usually thought he had more time to prepare for a possible conversation. After all, every other time it might’ve happened, they were certain to be together; at dinner, helping out with chores. But this was out in the open, when he had never expected to interact with Milo. So the only thing Alexei could ever really think of saying was, “Did something happen..?”

  Milo must’ve realized the awkwardness, because he quickly said, “Nothing’s wrong! I was just talking to my friends about you, actually.”

  “You… were..?”

  “Yeah, they wanted to meet you. I told them you’d be the perfect guy for something we want to do, but they don’t believe me. Do you think you could talk to them with me? I’m sure they’ll change their minds once they meet you.”

  “I thought you said your friends wouldn’t want to meet any of us…”

  Well, perhaps that wasn’t exactly what Milo said over dinner one night, but that’s certainly what it felt like. It was always memorable—if ‘memorable’ is what one should call something slightly scary—when it came up, because Alexei’s mom (Milo’s mother was scary at times, but generally didn’t care as long as no one was hurt) would adamantly oppose him interacting with them at any opportunity she had. Kids like that are only trouble, she’d say, then list out about a dozen reasons why she was right. In the end, she’d conclude it with, If they hide in the shadows, then they fear the light. Orestis doesn’t look well on those who try to ignore Him.

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  Milo took a moment, probably because he didn’t remember it. He’d likely heard the whole tirade more than Alexei had and, if there was one thing it was good at, it was avoiding any and all information he didn’t want to hear. “Well, that’s why I need you there. They’re not just going to take my word for it, no matter how much I tell them you’re a person they want to know.”

  Alexei had a couple of questions, but decided that one simple statement summed them all up pretty nicely. “I have a feeling this is a bad idea.”

  “Contrary to what Mom wants to believe, not everything I do is bad,” Milo quickly defended with a hmph of annoyance. “Barely any of it is, if she ever stopped to think about what it was for. But no, everything’s got to be black and white to her. You’re different though, aren’t you? I promise it’s only for a little while. I’ll make sure you stay safe—not that there’s going to be any danger, but in case you need the assurance on the very off chance there is.”

  The better part of Alexei knew that it was no better of an idea just because Milo said it was; even when he didn’t mean any harm, he tended to get himself in trouble, that much was certain from early in their childhood. He was practically a magnet for it. Magnets don’t get to turn themselves on and off—they always brought it with them, whether they wanted to or not.

  “I—”

  “Please? It’ll be just like when we were younger. You might not get it right now, but it’s going to be something we can sit back and laugh about later. What do you say..?”

  This isn’t fair, was what Alexei should’ve been saying. You know what you’re doing. You’re just trying to make sure I go along with you, whether or not I really want to. You know I can’t deny it when you put it all like that… And, deep down, he knew the answer that everyone else would’ve given: Dammit, Milo, you’re not doing that with me. I said I didn’t want to go and I meant it. Now leave me alone.

  But… Alexei couldn’t bring himself to do it. The words were ready to be said aloud, nearly on the tip of his tongue, even. Perhaps if it was any other time, or any other person, they would’ve come out. Instead, however, it was replaced with something else entirely. A deep sigh and, “Alright, I guess I’ll give it a chance.”

  Milo’s face lit up in a way it hadn’t since they were younger, and he patted Alexei on the shoulder. “That’s the spirit! Come on, I’ll show you to them. They’re just around the corner there. Probably listening to the whole thing, honestly.”

  “I’m leaving if anything weird happens,” Alexei said as he followed his cousin. It was just as much to himself as it was for Milo—a boundary he knew he should make, but wouldn’t want to reinforce.

  Something he knew he was going to be breaking, as much as he’d like to hope it wouldn’t be. He knew Milo a little too well to assume anything else would happen.

  “You won’t!” Milo undoubtedly meant it to mean You won’t have to leave, but Alexei still just heard it as a confirmation of his own suspicions.

  Of course the place Milo showed him was an alley that almost looked like it could’ve seen a murder, however unlikely that would’ve been. And of course, Milo’s friends looked about the same—individuals that just screamed like they were there to cause trouble. There were three of them: one with black hair covering most of his face, another with bright hair pulled into pigtails but not at all looking friendly, and the final with barely any hair at all and a copious amount of jewelry. The last thing that didn’t surprise Alexei in the slightest even though he knew it should’ve, was the fact that Milo seemed completely unaware of how all of this looked.

  “Alexei, these are my friends,” he said, gesturing to them. “You guys, this is Alexei. I know he doesn’t look like much, but that’s what the whole point is, right? Just let him introduce himself, then you’ll be able to see why he’s a good fit for the job.”