Under the Orange Moon by Adrienne Frances

thought.
    Like clockwork, he watched as Michael worked up the nerve to whisper to Dylan, and together they walked out of the room. They disappeared into the kitchen and Ben wanted nothing more than to follow them and listen to every word that Oilie used to seduce her. He stood up and followed them, pretending to use the bathroom so he could hear what they were saying.
    “I like hot cider better than tea,” he heard Michael say.
    He couldn’t help but roll his eyes and mouth the word “pansy” from the other side of the bathroom door.
    “Well, I’ll make both then,” Dylan politely gave in. “I’m sure you want whisky in yours?”
    “Yes please,” Michael agreed. “You know me so well.”
    Ben wanted to gag. He decided he had heard enough and flushed the toilet so that he still appeared to be in the bathroom for reasons other than eavesdropping. He quickly slipped back into the living room and took his seat on the couch.
    Dylan and Michael appeared in the room with thermoses in their hands. They both put their shoes on and headed for the door.
    “Where are you guys going?” Jonah asked.
    “The moon is orange.” Dylan grabbed a blanket and turned to look at all of them. “There’s enough tea and hot cider for everyone. Did you drunks want to join us?”
    Michael shook his head at all of them from behind Dylan, a silent but obvious request to be alone with her. If it had been anyone else, the Mathews boys would have all gone outside and hovered over their sister, guarding and protecting her from the perverse idiot that wanted alone time with her. But this was Michael Olerson and, for whatever reason, only he could successfully ask them to back off.
    “I’m going to bed,” Charlie answered with a drunken grin. “Goodnight.”
    “I’m going to throw up,” Brandon announced as he staggered up the stairs.
    Hugh said nothing as he climbed the steps behind Brandon.
    Jonah leaned back against the couch with a smile. “Thanks for the offer, but Mom will be home soon and I want food before I sleep.”
    “I’ll go,” Ben announced, defying Michael. He stood to his feet and grabbed his sweatshirt. “What are you drinking, Dylan?”
    The disbelief in Michael’s eyes transitioned back and forth between shock and rage. Everyone knew that Ben could be a jerk. Stooping this low was not something out of the norm for him, so he couldn’t understand the look on Michael’s face.
    “Tea,” Dylan replied. “Do you want some?”
    “Yes,” Ben answered with a devilish smile, an air punch into Michael’s gut. Serves him right. Ben knew what he was up to. “I’d love some.”
    Dylan poured the hot tea into a thermos for Ben and smiled with a confused expression that only he could adore. “I didn’t know you liked tea.” She handed it over to him with a puzzled smirk.
    “I like it better than cider,” he replied flirtatiously. He could feel the evil glares from Michael, which only satisfied him that much more. 
    Jonah shook his head and chuckled at Ben’s rude behavior, but he would never dare tell him to stop. Jonah would always agree with Ben. “Have fun watching the moon.”
    The once pair and their third wheel walked through the sliding glass door and headed into the backyard. Dylan sat down on her blanket with a guy on each side. She looked up at the moon and sighed delicately.
    Michael pointed up, and said, “There’s the constellation of Fenix.” His finger guided along, making the shape that Dylan tried to see. “Do you see it?”
    Dylan laughed. “No.” 
    Ben watched in amusement as Michael worked hard to keep Dylan’s attention. He knew better than anyone that constellations were not a way to impress her. This was a definite one-up in his direction, knowing her inside and out with a history that went as far back as he could remember.
    “Hey, did you know that the moon looks orange right now because of the pollution in the atmosphere?” Michael asked stupidly with growing