Under the Bridge

Grad night is supposed to be a night of carefree celebration before growing up and leaving childhood behind, but after graduation Chris is spending his night wandering streets alone with a black eye and a split lip. Beat up yet again for being out and proud, he is contemplating how glad he'll be to leave his childhood, and this town, behind, when he stumbles across the town's other outcast, his childhood best friend, Nick. Chris hasn't spoken to Nick in years. When Nick was thirteen his family moved away, and when they came back to town a year later, Nick had a new stepfather, a new set of bruises, and no interest in being friends with Chris or anyone else. He's spent high school getting into trouble and breaking hearts while Chris has been getting ready for college. On the surface they couldn't be more different, but it isn't long before Chris starts to see that Nick is just as scared and lonely as he is, and just as used to pain.

They only have the one night, Nick is leaving town in the morning and Chris is heading off to school, and Chris knows before he accepts the drink that Nick offers that Nick will break his heart too. The knowledge is as terrifying as his approaching adulthood, but not nearly as terrifying--and intoxicating--as the realization that he can break Nick's heart in return. They both know that accepting that it will hurt never makes it hurt any less, but being together might make the pain--and the future--easier to face.