Andrew rubbed his face and, seeing Paradise''s smile, couldn''t help but grin too. “Paradise, you look amazing when you smile. You should do it more often."


    She hadn''t been much of a smiler before, but ever since her voice got better, she''d opened up a lot. These days, smiles came much easier.


    Justin had said something like that once told her she looked pretty when she smiled.


    Now Justin nced over at Paradise, nodded, and agreed, "You really do."


    Back when he first met her, she gave off a chill, almost forbidding vibe like a frosty autumn leaf, cold and distant.


    But now, Paradise was a totally different person.


    "Hey, Stoneface, we''re about the same age, right? Why don''t we be sworn brothers?" Andrew tugged Justin''s sleeve. "Let''s get two sodas, do a blood pact. You in? I''ll be big bro, you''re second."


    Paradise cut in, "Hey, no alcohol for minors."


    "Soda, soda! Of course!" Andrew backtracked in a sh-pretty clear he''d be the type to listen to his girlfriend in the future.


    Justin shrugged, “Sure. But I''ll be the big brother. You''re number two."


    He was, after all, a little older.


    Andrew made a face, thought it over, then shrugged. "Alright, fine, I''ll be second. You''re the smart one anyway. At least now my dad can''t bug me about my grades- I''ve got the genius Herman as my sworn bro!" He cracked up.


    Justin just gave him a look.


    Andrew waved a waiter over for two sodas, and asked for a pin. If it''s a blood pact, well-you need a little blood.


    Carter, watching from across the room, started to get suspicious. "What''s that boy up to now? I better check it out."


    Andrew dragged Justin into a side room that opened into the garden. If you''re going to swear brotherhood, you needed the sky as your witness.


    Paradise followed, and soon a bunch of other kids tagged along, eager for the action.


    Kids that age were all about loyalty and big gestures, ready to go to the mat for their friends. Stuff like swearing brotherhood felt epic—had to be done with proper ceremony.


    On a little table, two sses of Dr. Pepper waited, next to two pins. Andrew rolled up his sleeve. "I''ll go first."


    Without hesitating, he pricked his finger, winced as a bead of blood welled up, then squeezed a few drops into his soda.


    "Your turn, Stoneface."


    Justin stepped up, cool as ever, pricked his finger, and let a few drops fall into his ss didn''t even bat an eye.


    Andrew grinned. "Not bad. You don''t faint at the sight of blood, do you?"


    Some kids totally did.


    "Not at all," Justin said, smooth as ever. "Let''s do this your way."


    Carter, who''d followed them over, looked about ready to storm in and scold. This kid-Swearing brotherhood everywhere, always poking holes in his fingers!


    "Hey-" Carter started, but Jonah held him back. "It''s fine. Let the


    do their thing. They''ve got theids


    World


    content belongs to


    own


    Jonah and Herman hade over too, curious about themotion.


    Herman, seeing the finger-pricking, was just d they hadn''t tried to rope Paradise into it.


    The ritual began. Andrew dropped to his knees and pulled Justin down with him.


    Justin had only ever knelt to his parents. Guys didn''t kneel for just anything. He hesitated. "Why are we kneeling?"


    "It''s for the vow!" Andrew insisted. "Gotta kneel to the sky, so it counts."


    Justin paused, then knelt next to him. If Andrew could do it, so could he.


    Andrew signaled for Justin to lift the Dr. Pepper. “Hold it up like this.”


    Justin copied him, finding the whole thing kind of fun.


    There they were, kneeling in the garden, holding sodas high-looking ridiculous, but somehow totally sincere.


    Andrew announced, loud and clear, "I, Andrew-" He nudged Justin.


    “I, Justin—” Justin echoed.


    Andrew dered, "Today, I, Andrew, and Justin be sworn brothers. We don''t ask to be born the same day, but hope to die the same day Well share fortune and hardship together."


    Justin stared—wasn''t this a bit much? Same day, same year, same month to die?


    Andrew shot him a look. "Come on, say it!"


    Justin repeated, "I be sworn brothers with Andrew-not asking to be born the same day, but hoping to die the same day..."


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!