The group was now spread across the patio, lounging on separate couches. Haley, Alex, Manny, Paige, and I were gathered on arge C-shaped sofa,fortably sunk into the cushions. On a simr couch nearby sat ire, Phil, n, Gloria, and Charlie.


    ire kept sneaking nces toward our group—specifically at Haley and Alex. Her expression was a mix of curiosity, worry, and subtle judgment, the kind only a mother could master.


    The atmosphere was casual now, the air filled with soft music and murmured conversations. Dessert tes bnced onps (or on the table), coffee cups in hand, people were beginning to settle into thete afternoon rhythm of the gathering.


    Manny, sitting across from me, lifted his cup delicately, sipping his coffee with exaggerated care. As he brought it to his lips, his pinky finger extended instinctively. Paige noticed and nudged me lightly with her elbow. I caught it too and smirked.


    "Practicing for a tea party with the Queen?" I asked Manny.


    He nced over, unfazed. "It''s called refinement."


    "Why are you drinking coffee? You''re like ten, right?" Paige questioned, looking at Manny with a puzzled expression.


    Manny raised an eyebrow, setting his cup down on the saucer with care. "It''s a Colombian tradition."


    "I''m pretty sure that tradition doesn''t include seven spoons of sugar in an espresso," I said deadpan.


    "You''re also drinking coffee, Jake. You''re only one year older than me…" said Alex, looking at me strangely.


    Yeah, only Manny and I were drinking coffee on our couch.


    "I love the taste of it," I replied. "Believe me, I don''t need to do something like this to make myself seem like an adult or to try acting cool."


    It was an old habit. I had tried not to drink it at first, but it was hard to resist the smell—and I genuinely liked the vor too. So, my old friendcaffeine, wee back


    "And Manny, stop staring. Or at least decide if you want to stare at Haley or at Paige. Not like the second has much to stare at..."


    Paige bit my shoulder.


    "You can pass because of your age, but girls don''t like that, Manny. They''ll think you''re creepy or a weirdo..." I added, while my eye twitched—watching my dad try very hard not to look at Gloria''s...


    "You two are so weird," Alex muttered, crossing her arms and rolling her eyes.


    "You''re just mad because no one''s staring at yours," Haley teased, shing her a grin.


    Alex turned her head sharply. "Excuse me? I don''t need validation from teenage boys. Unlike you, I actually have goals."


    "Right, and one of those goals is being single your entire life," Haley retorted, sipping her drink like it was a mic drop.


    Manny looked at me and asked, "So, Jake, are you dating anyone right now?", picking Haley interest


    Before I could answer, Paige cut in. "No. He''s behaving like a monk."


    And then my phone rang.


    I pulled it out and answered, "Hey, Tasha, how you doing?"


    Paige just rolled her eyes.


    "Yes, I will. Uhum... that will do. Bye bye, kisses," I said, hanging up.


    I looked at Paige, amused. "Unfortunately, my monastery days are over."


    "What''s the name of the girl this time?" questioned Paige. "So I can pronounce it correctly," she added dryly.


    "Tasha O''Hara Ratajkowski, herplete name. She''s British."


    Haley huffed a bit, frustrated, and sank deeper into the couch.


    Manny, on the other hand, leaned in with genuine curiosity. "How do you court girls? And how do you get them to say yes?"


    "I don''t want to brag, but sometimes they juste to me," I replied


    Paige gave me a long look.


    Without a word, I handed her my phone.


    "Wow," Paige eximed, tapping the screen as she scanned the list and unanswered messages. She tapping slowly, eyebrows rising.


    "Half of them—I don''t even know who they are..." I shrugged.


    Manny looked like the universe had wronged him, his face twisted in existential disbelief—but still, he asked, "But if you need to court?"


    "I want to hear that too," Paige mocked.


    "There''s no form, Manny. Every girl is different," I started. (Not totally true, but I wasn''t about to say that in front of three of them.) "Paige, for example, is just a needy girl. You only have to give her attention."


    "Okay, okay, stop biting me, you little gremlin," I added, pushing Paige''s head away gently.


    "For Paige, you need to show intelligence and be funny. Mentioning science helps, but don''t pretend to know more than you do—very few people can match her in that department, especially in our ages"


    "Haley would be different," I said, catching her attention. She adjusted her posture, inching closer on the couch.


    "She''s the popr type. Being good at singing, sports, or anything that sets you apart from other guys would help catch her eye. Invite her to see a hit movie or take her to a great party. If you know anything about fashion, that''s a bonus. She dresses well—she visibly knows her stuff. That''s why you should also dress well if you''re going out with her."


    Haley gave me a smirk and a wink. "You got me!"


    Alex shook her head.


    "He sure does..." Paige murmured to me.


    "And Alex..." I started.


    "What about me?" said Alex, challenging, clearly not believing I''d have an answer.


    "She''s simr to Paige, but a bit snappier and more reserved. You need something that would pick her interest," I said, then looked directly at Alex. "I''d start by saying she reminds me of Elizabeth Be from Pride and Prejudice, and bring up books by Betty Friedan and Simone de Beauvoir. The Feminine mystique and Le Deuxième Sexe "


    Alex''s eyes widened.


    "Then I''d ask what she wants for her future—she seems to have a n. I''d ask which college she thinks is the best, and talk about how so few people in our generation appear to care about these things anymore, how they''ve be shallow and vain. I''d even try to abstractly interpret some recent hit song, like Timber, and argue how it could be seen as an environmental metaphor—just to show her that someone is paying attention to deeper meanings."


    Alex flushed


    Alex, you are not so special, I know exactly how to pick girls like you. It just so happens I don''t. Too troublesome after the good stuff.


    (With some of them, you seem like you''re always walking on eggshells)


    ------


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