Chapter 17 - A Change for Better or Worse
Kim's POV
Waking up on a Friday morning not to a beautiful sunrise, or a peaceful fully rested wake up, but to another run to the toilet. Not me but Asher, once again for the third time. My eyes peeked through to my alarm clock reading a little passed eight. Seriously? It's way too early. I moaned to myself, rolling over when my eyes landed on a blue Post It note sticking to the middle of my headboard. Pealing it off it read:
Gone Black Friday shopping w/dad! Won't be back till noon. Make sure Asher is alright, and don't let Nick burn the house down. ;) love you- Mom.
I slap the note back on the wood with as much force I had in my exhausted body. My mom didn't care much that Asher and I slept in the same bed together. She knew we weren't going to do anything stupid like sex or making out. Mom knew the line between friendship and relationship. She actually trusted me, and not that phony kind of so-called trust, where the parents know you're screwing around but pretend like nothing's happening because you're such a great kid, but that type of trust that once it was broken she wouldn't give me a second chance, and she knew I'd be frightened of that.
But if dad knew at all... Well I wouldn't be living in this state. Let's just put it that way.
Asher fell back into bed with a groan and a huff. He pulled me closer to him blocking out the cold morning air. Then I remember last night. Not that Asher got him and Ivy drunk, not that Spencer was over, but that Asher had kissed me! Well that's what I think anyways. I'm just hoping that he was extremely intoxicated to remember anything. I squirm out of his grip lying on my stomach, face first in the pillow silently praying to myself.
Loud footsteps broke the few seconds of the quiet morning, my door clicking open, "Kim I want breakfast." Mutters Nick. I stay frozen hoping he'll realize that I'm sleeping and don't want to be disturbed, "Kim." His whining voice pleads out again. I groan cuddling with my pillow still not answering him. "Kim." He complains, exaggerating my name, "I'm starving!"
"Nicholas, you're fourteen, you can pour yourself a bowl of cereal." I snapped angrily lifting my head from the pillow and staring at him at my door, "I'm sleeping, Asher is sleeping, we're exhausted, now go away." I grumble.
I laid back down slightly annoyed. If anyone makes me wake up this early, or even gets me to talk this early in the morning had to be freaking dying to dare try. Why do you think I chose to sleep alone on the third floor: Alone, paradise, no noise, quiet, it was heaven in the morning.
"Gees, someone's on their period for sure." He mutters.
I grab a pillow and fling it toward the door nailing him on the head. "Get the heck out!" I yell in a hush tone. He closes the door and leaves me with whatever peace I have left. For a smart fourteen year old, he isn't that smart. Being fully awake now my eyes stayed open. I stretch out my body hitting Ash's leg in accidentally.
He groans moving his face towards me and shifting under the blankets. "Sorry." I mutter looking over his face. His face is flushed and he smells like alcohol and barf, not the most pleasant smell to wake up to.
"My head hurts." He complains squeezing his eyes.
"Here." I say handing him the Advil pills I left on my nightstand for him knowing this would happen. It took him a few minutes to realize and listen before he stretches and sits up with his eyes closed taking the drugs. He whines and groans, again, rubbing his hands over his eyes feeling the pain, the hangover.
"What happened?" He finally speaks after all the ineligible muttering was complete.
"The idiot you are made a fool of yourself, again. The one thing I don't unstated is why did you do it?" I remind him.
"I don't know. I was drunk I can't remember anything." He complains rubbing his hands over his face.
Nothing? Anything? God I hope so. I hope for the life of me he didn't remember anything. I couldn't risk losing our friendship, what we've built all these years; I didn't want to lose that. Even if it was just one stupid, innocent, oblivious, meaningless kiss I didn't want that little thing to ruin it all. What about if it happens again? What if next time I'm not so lucky that he forgets what happened the last night? I didn't want one kiss to make things awkward for us, "What do you remember?" I question in a soft voice.
"The last thing I remember is you walking away with Spencer to the game room laughing and talking and kissing." He said in a disgusted tone.
I narrow my eyes, "That's it? You don't remember saying anything, doing anything?" I question further.
He peeks through his eyes looking up and down at me. "No? Why? Did I do something bad?"
"Question is what didn't you do? You got Ivy drunk, you got your mom a bit upset, fought with me, fought with your mother, acted like an idiot, acted so immature-"
"Oh God, Shh. Stop talking." He hushed rubbing his eyes.
I lean over brushing the hair out of his face smiling at my pathetic, hung over, best friend. What a friend. I don't know how my life would be without him. Would I be one of those girls he picked up? A girl he bothered not to notice or cared about? Or would we still somehow come together to be best friends like now?
He caught me staring at him as he smirked that old fashion grin, "Are you okay?" He asks, "Is everything okay?"
I was about to say something, about to repeat what he did last night, but I closed my mouth grinning back, "Nothing. Nothing at all." I grin, trying to look happy as I lightly kiss his forehead, "I'll go make some coffee. Be right back." And with that I crawled out of bed and head down stairs making a pot of coffee. Nick sat around the island, eating a bowl of Apple Jax, giving me a sour look.
"I'm your sister, not Wolfgang Puck here to make you a five star, gourmet breakfast." I told him, reading his mind.
"Didn't know you and Asher sleep together." He mentions with a scowl, shoving a spoonful of cereal in his mouth. I didn't respond to that, just stare at the coffee pot, tapping my fingers on the counter. "Just freaking date already, what the heck is stopping you?"
"Friendship, Nick. It's what friends do, they're there for each other when they need it the most." I explain to him, grabbing two mugs from the cabinet.
Nick scoffs, shaking his head, "That's called a relationship. Friends don't sleep together unless you're, like, sex buddies, but that's so not you."
"First of all, don't say things like that. Second of all, stay out of my business." I order, pouring some sugar in both mugs and taking out the cream from the fridge.
"I'm just saying, the guy spends almost twenty-four hours a day here, with you, sleeps in your bed, and he's got a reputation. If that doesn't scream boyfriend, then boyfriend must be the new husband." Nick continues to explain even though I told him, blatantly to but out. My attempt to ignore him almost worked, but it had me thinking. "I find it weird because you're dating that Spencer guy, and I'm sure if he knew all this he'd think you're dating two guys or something."
"Nick shut up." I tell him sternly. What if Nick is right? This, this friendship that Asher and I've built is too...romantic. Things that couples do, yes, and me being in a relationship I didn't want to ruin that. Asher could go right ahead and make a mess with all his relationship flings, but that wouldn't be me. I let it go on for too long because for so long I wanted to imagine that Asher was my boyfriend, I wanted to feel like I was his, but I wasn't. I let go of that hope, or at least I thought I did.
I did. I stopped thinking like that. I lost that hope because Asher is never going to be that one girl kind of guy. I moved on. I want a relationship with Spencer, I wanted that just as much. It feels horrible to think or say things need to change between Asher and I, because it kills me to just think about it, but I wasn't going to be like Asher. Have two guys and mess it all up. I won't do that to Spencer, just like I wouldn't want him to do that to me.
"Don't forget to put the milk away." I tell Nick in a soft tone, pouring the coffee into the mugs and giving it a quick stir. He nods his head, as I pass him. I take a deep breath, walking up the stairs. Monday. Everything will be different.
Asher's POV
Three classes late and ditching school early, all in the matter for three days. All thanks to the asshole she calls a boyfriend. It's very unusual for Kimmy to do all these things, school was literally her life and she worked extremely hard for her success. I didn't want to see Spencer ruin that for her. She's so blindly in love with him that she doesn't see what was going on.
She's different. It has to do something with Spencer; I know it has to because ever since Thanksgiving holiday, she's been somewhat distant. For example, when I stopped by her house after practice on Monday she wondered why I had come over. Um, well you see, I've been coming over all the time unannounced ever since I had a car, so it was no surprise. When I made my way to go upstairs to her room she told me she would get her stuff to study down stairs.
Now you may think that's no big deal, well it is when you know Kimmy as well as I do. Kimmy hates doing her homework downstairs because of how distracting and loud it can get with her brother and parents around. So she normally we just studied in her room, on her desk, with the peace and quiet while I got to lay on her bed and chill and sometimes help her with physics.
The night too, when I was too exhausted to go back to my place, she told me that she'd make me a coffee so I could be awake to drive home. Kimmy never allows me to drive when I'm tired; hell she's usually the one to ask me every night if I was sleeping over. But that night it was like she was trying to get rid of me. And the night after, and last night as well. At first I thought maybe Spencer was sneaking over at night, but when I asked Nick he said Spencer's car was never there, or if he was he always saw him leaving. It's bothering the hell out of me. What the fuck is Spencer doing to my Kimmy?
We were in the lunch room now on a chilly Thursday afternoon, I was staring at Kimmy three tables away from my right as she leaned against Spencer; wearing his sweater as his arm wrapped around her shoulder. The whole table was talking and laughing with their other friends. I so badly just wanted to invite myself over, but the only people I knew at that table are Kimmy, Kate and unfortunately Spencer.
"Dude. What's up with Spencer?" I mutter to Tyler who's sitting on my left.
He looked around the cafe finding him next to Kimmy. He smirks, chuckling lightly, and looking back at me. "Jealous dude?"
I rolled my eyes. Obviously I'm jealous. She's spending more time with him than me! "She ignored my call last night. I was sitting in her driveway, and I knew she was there because Spencer's car was in the driveway, and the phone rang twice and went straight to voice mail. I know she did that on purpose."
"I hear you bro. A phone call usually has eight rings before it hits voice mail." He smirks and snickers, not taking me seriously. "So what, go hang out with another girl. Get some booty elsewhere."
I shook my head, ignoring him, "I wonder what Katie thinks. She must notice a change in Kimmy too. Maybe she can talk to her, after all Kimmy will probably listen to her and not me." Katie and I were friends. We only got to know each other when she and Kimmy became best friends in middle school. We didn't hang out unless Kimmy was around let alone talk unless it was important, or about Kimmy. I guess we're just friends of a friend. But we were still nice and friendly towards one another.
"Go for it bro, but hey, if you ever need some help kicking ass this weekend I'll be more than welcomed to help." He offers.
"Thanks. See ya later." I say getting up and walking over to the table. Katie was sitting right across from Kimmy giggling. As I stood at the head of the table I looked at everyone with a greeting smile, "Hey guys."
"Hi Asher." Kimmy greets politely, then looks back down at her apple slices.
I grin back at her, "I was wondering if I can steal Kate away from you for a few minutes?" I ask the table, leaning on my arms with my hands on the table.
Kate's blue eyes widened in surprise. I smile seductively her way, seeing from the corner of my eyes Kimmy shifting in her seat. I kind of hoped that was a sign that Kimmy was just slightly as jealous as I am. Her best guy friend asking to talk to her best girl friend in private, without her. She was probably thinking I was flirting with her best friend, maybe she wouldn't keep me out completely.
"So. Can I talk to you, Kate?" I ask again tilting my head smiling.
"Sure. I guess." Katie babbles, getting up from the table with her things.
"Why do you need to talk to Katie?" Kimmy can't help but ask. I knew she was curious, I could read her like a book.
"Important business." I say vaguely, guiding Kate to the direction away from everyone. I brought her out of the cafeteria and under the stairs blocking the view. As I looked around this actually wouldn't be half bad place to go sneak off and make out with a chick. Perfect hid-n-seek spot too.
"You didn't drag me out here to rape me did you?" Chuckles Katie as she adjusts the strap on her bag nervously.
I laugh, is being known as The Player that bad? Like come on I'm not all bad, I have feelings and good intentions you know, "No, that's not it."
"Then... what?" She asks in a soft caring tone. I sigh and sit down on the ledge hanging from the wall. She took a seat next to me nodding her head with a light grin, "It's Kimmy, huh." She states, with a sigh putting her bag down and leaning her head back against the wall.
"It's like you're a mind reader." I grin, rubbing the back of my neck.
"Asher it may seem like I don't know you but I do. I know you love her, and I know you'd do anything for her, especially if it's to make her happy. And I know that you don't like seeing her with Spencer, but honestly what do you want me to do? She's happy, she's in love, and I don't want to be the friend that ruins that."
"I can see it too Kate, I do, I really do. Have you noticed a change? I feel like she's pushing me away." I confess to her, and it hurt to even say that allowed to her, like I was admitting that I was losing my best friend.
"You've got to talk to her yourself. I know what's going on, but it's not my place to tell you." Kate mentions, quietly, second guessing herself that she shouldn't have said anything in the first place.
"Kate you know things I don't and you're not willing to tell me!" I shout, both of us looking around to see if anyone had heard.
"Well she told me a few things and I told her it only made sense and... oh you just have to talk to her yourself!" She grumbles, covering her mouth with her hand. The lunch bell rang dismissing us for our next class. We got up and walked together through the crowed halls.
"How bad is it? Just tell me what I'm getting into?" I beg.
"Asher. She has a boyfriend now, and you're her friend. Not... her boyfriend." She mumbles, biting her lower lip as if she were afraid to say.
"I know that. Why are you telling me that?" I say, shrugging my shoulders knowing the obvious.
"Talk to her, and then I'll explain. I'll decode the girl language for you this once, but I'm not going to be the one to tell you." She offers, stopping at her locker, "Just ask her straight up what's going on and be open minded."
"Fine, I guess I can do that." I say leaning against the other lockers near. Tyler walks by, a big goofy smile on his face as he looks between Katie and I. He nods his head, as if giving me approval, and fist pumps the air. I narrow my eyes at him, shaking my head and going further as to flipping him the bird.
Kate closes her locker and turns to face me, a weird expression on her face, "Who are you talking to?" She asks, looking across the hall. Tyler is already turned and walking away.
"Nobody. Anyways, thanks Katie." I say civilly, taking a deep, relaxing breath. "You're a huge help and a good friend." I smile genuinely.
"Well, yeah I know." She teases waving it away as if it was nothing.
I laugh standing up looking down at her, "Want me to walk you to class? It's the least I could do." I offer.
"Nah, I'm good I'm just down the hall anyways." She smiles looking over her head as I caught a glimpse of Kimmy far back coming this way, alone for once in her life.
I smile back at her, grasping her shoulder in a comforting way, like an awkward, but not a hug, "Thanks again, Katie." I say again, with a wink.
"No problem." She utters softly. Passing by she touches my arm heading off to her next class. I look back to see if Kimmy was close by, and she was, right next to me and then passes right on by, like she didn't even see me.
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