She was pretty. She was always pretty. I didn’t give a shit about some stupid bottle game. Anyone who honestly played those games was pathetic. If I had intentions of making out with someone - or more - I could handle that on my own without the need of rules and chance.

But when I saw Rose sitting there in the circle, I had to make a move.

Now I had her with her back to a tree. Her hands reaching behind her. So unsure and nervous.

“We’re almost there,” I whispered. “Clock doesn’t start until I say so.”

“That’s not fair,” Rose said.

“I don’t play by the rules.”

“Oh, that’s right. You’re a tough guy. You just disappear from school. You get to pick your name. You stand out from the crowd.”

“Exactly. Come on.”

I grabbed her hand and led the way.

I had been in these woods more than I cared to admit. Face it, there wasn’t a part of this town I hadn’t covered by foot or by bicycle. At the edge of the woods was a pond. It had different names, depending on who you asked. Cripp’s Pond. The Jack Hole. Edge Creek Pond. Plus a few more.

When we broke through the trees and Rose saw the pond, she gasped.

“Right,” I said. I pointed to two white chairs right at the edge of the water. In between was a metal ring that made up a fire pit. “Sit down. Let me see what I can pull off here.”

Rose was enamored by the pond as though she had never seen water before. But I had to let her go for a minute. The way the moon reflected off the water, lighting up the area around the edge was actually nice.

Me, I started to gather some sticks and twigs. I tossed it all into the middle of the fire pit and crouched. I took a lighter from my pocket and started to build a fire. My survival skills weren’t taught in the basement of a church with a pack leader and some stupid fucking sewn on badges and shit. It was done through legit surviving. I might have looked cool, maybe romantic, the way I was able to start a fire, but what Rose didn’t know was that there were times when I had to do this to actually survive the night.

The kindling came to life with fire and there was a small pile of wood next to the fire pit. I put a few pieces to the new flames and they caught in no time.

“That’s serious skill,” Rose said.

“And here you thought I was going to be some wild dog mauling you, huh?” I asked.

I winked and she looked away.

I laughed.

“What’s so funny?”

“You.”

“Me?”

“You’re so shy about this stuff.”

“Oh, I’m sorry I have no desire to lose… to… mess around in the woods.”

“To lose, huh?” I asked. “So that means you’ve never…”

“Shut up, Foster,” she said.

“Hey, no worries. Your secret is safe with me.”

“Secret? Why is that a secret? It’s my decision.”

“Of course it is,” I said. “What do you think of the pond?”

“That part is nice,” she said. “And the fire too. Thanks.”

“So I’ve obviously set the scene here,” I said. I stood up and walked to the chair. I put a hand out. “Now I get my six minutes.”

“Foster…”

“Rules are rules.”

“You said a little while ago that you don’t care about rules.”

“I don’t,” I said. “But you do. You always follow the rules. You don’t want me to go back there and say you didn’t fulfill what the bottle wanted. Right?”

I watched her reluctantly give me her hand. I pulled her to her feet. She put a hand to my chest. She was unsure.

“Foster,” she whispered. “I’ve never, okay? I’ve never done that. And there’s other stuff. I didn’t come here tonight for… any of that. Vivian found me and said to come play…”

I lowered down and put my nose to hers. “Rose. Be quiet. I’m not going to do anything.”

“You’re not?”

“No,” I said. “Shit.” I took a step back. “Those games are stupid.”

“Yeah. They are.”

“So, we get to hang out for a few minutes.”

“Then what?”

“Then I’ll go walk back up there and pass by the game,” I said. “I’ll exhale loudly, run my hands through my hair, adjust myself, and give a wink.”

“So everyone will think…”

“Think whatever they want,” I said.

She smiled for a second and broke away from me and sat back down.

I nodded.

I could see the tension float away from her. As though she really thought something was going to happen. That I was going to force her to do something. Did that shit really happen at these parties?

“Hey, Rose,” I said.

“Yeah?” she asked, turning her head.

I saw the light from the fire dance across her face.

“I’m really sorry about your mother,” I said. “I never got a chance to say that to you. I mean, the first time I met you… you were upset on your steps. I should have stopped and talked to you, but I was doing something for someone.”

Carrying some baggies for my father to give to his friend. In exchange, my father bought me a new bike.

She nodded. “Yeah. It’s okay, I guess. We’re doing okay.”

“That’s good. I just wanted to say that. I never got a chance. I know it’s been a long time. I don’t want you to get upset or anything.”

“I’m fine,” she said. “Hey, can I ask you something?”

I looked at my wrist as though I was wearing a watch. “Ask away. You’ve got about three minutes left here.”

“I know that Foster isn’t your real name.”

“Oh?”

“I mean, I’ve heard it so many times. You chose your name.”

“What if I did?” I asked.

“Why?”

“Because I wanted to.” I shrugged my shoulders. “Didn’t like my actual name.”

“You’ve lived in… foster homes…”

I nodded. “That’s where I got the name. A few times, I had to change schools. That’s why I would disappear from our school. Funny how people love to make shit up in their heads about me. That I was in jail or something. Not really. Just got shipped somewhere else for a little while. I bounced around so much that people started to figure it out. Someone called me foster kid to break my balls.”

“That’s where you got the name? From a bully?”

“Well, I wouldn’t call him a bully,” I said.

“Why not?”

“I beat his ass for calling me that. Right in the cafeteria. And then I told everyone my name was Foster. And it just stuck.”

“Because you beat that kid up.”

“Exactly,” I said. “You make them believe what you want them to, Rose.”

“Kind of like back there with that game?”

“Yup,” I said. “Let them ask anything they want and don’t answer. Just smile and wink. Let them make shit up about what we’re doing right now.”

“You know a lot about people,” she said. “Maybe you should be a psychologist when you grow up.”

“Grow up?” I asked and laughed. “Shit, Rose, I just need to get through this week first.”

“You don’t think about the future?”

I smiled at Rose. She had no idea what my life was like. Which was fine. She and her sister lived at home with their father. Good ol’ Frank.

“I don’t think about the future, Rose,” I said. “Day to day.”

“You play guitar, right?”

I smiled. “Yeah. Why?”

“Just… I don’t know. I’m just talking.”

“Right. Talking. Yes, I play guitar.”

“How many do you have?”

“None.”

“What?”

“I play friends’ guitars,” I said. “When I can.”

“Do you write songs?”

“Yeah. I do.”

“You should play shows then.”

“Who says I haven’t?”

“Oh,” Rose said. “Uh… well… when’s the next one?”

“No idea, Rose.” I slowly stood up. “Any other questions about my life?”

“What’s your real name?”

“Not a chance,” I said.

“What if I kiss you?”

“You kiss me?” I asked.

“I’ll kiss you and you tell me your name.”

“Okay, deal.”

Her eyes went wide. I think I caught her by surprise by agreeing to it.

She put her hands to the arm of the chair and slowly rose up. I saw the way she licked her lips. Nervous again. I couldn’t have been the first guy she’d kissed. Then again, who knows? People were always full of surprises.

The fire crackled next to us.

We faced each other.

“The name?” she asked.

“The kiss,” I said.

“Foster…”

“That’s not my real name,” I said with a wink.

Rose sighed. “Fine.”

I touched her sides. I inched forward. She put her head back to look up at me. I liked being taller than her. I also liked this moment. This exact moment. The pond. The moonlight. The fire. The woods. The quietness. Just talking to Rose was easy. Which was interesting to me. For the first time in way too long, I had my guard down a little.

Seconds ticked by and I was missing my cue.

Our noses touched again, just like before.

Her lips were slightly parted.

If I kissed her… damn.

My lips were a millimeter from hers.

Instead of kissing her, I said, “Kingsley.”

“What?” she asked.

I stepped back and winked.

I pointed to the fire. “Enjoy the fire, Rose.”

I walked away, leaving her hanging by a thin thread.

I couldn’t help myself though.

A girl like Rose didn’t deserve a bribed kiss. Maybe the setting had been right, but not the reason. Plus, that stupid damn game. Six minutes with Rose?

“Nah,” I whispered as I walked through the woods.

I looked back once and saw her standing next to the fire, hugging herself.

I wondered what she was thinking.

Probably thinking she’d dodged a bullet with me. Which was true.

But in my head…

Six minutes with Rose would probably lead to forever.