The Space Between Us(39)
Later that night I sat nervously in my dorm room, pretending to study, but really just staring at my psychology textbook. At seven on the dot, the dorm phone rang. I didn't know if I was supposed to answer it or not, so I pretended to be so wrapped up in my homework that it forced her to get out of bed and answer it.
“Hello?” Her voice sounded strained. I knew it was because she didn't use the phone very much anymore. I watched her face as she listened to the person on the other line who I assumed was Asher. I saw her eyes dart at me and I quickly looked back down at my book. I had no idea what was going on, but I didn't want to ruin it. She was out of bed and had said a word – vast improvements over yesterday already.
“I don't think so,” she said quietly. She opened her mouth to say something else but was obviously cut off by the person on the other line. She rolled her eyes slightly and even seeing her do that made me smile. “Fine,” she answered and hung up. She turned towards me with apprehension.
“What's up?” I asked, trying really hard not to look like I knew something was up.
“Uh, that was one of Asher's frat brothers. He said that something happened to Asher and that we should get over there ASAP.”
“What?” I shrieked. This was not discussed as part of the plan. Had something really happened to him? Or was this just the ploy to get her to his house? I was up and off of my bed instantly, grabbing my shoes and jacket. Reeve took a seat on her bed and began to pull her covers up over her lap. “What are you doing? You've got to come with me!”
“Charlie, I don't feel like leaving. Text me when you find out what happened.” That was it. The straw that broke the proverbial camel's back.
“Are you kidding me? After everything Asher has done for you through this whole mess, after all the years of friendship, after everything, you're just going to wait for a text to see if he's ok? Who are you?” I breathed quickly, my harsh breaths making my chest heave up and down. “Get your f*cking shoes on and come to the frat with me. Now.”
“Holy shit, Charlie. Calm down.” She got up and I let out a loud breath when I saw her start to get ready to go. We walked to the frat but I was a good ten feet in front of her the whole time, too pissed to be next to her. The anger helped to ease the fear that something was really wrong with Asher. I tried telling myself that it was all part of the set-up, but I needed to see him just to make sure.
When we came to the frat house it looked dark and abandoned. It was rare to see a house forty college guys lived in with all the lights off, with no one on the lawn playing football, or passed out on the couch on the front porch. Something was off. We entered through the two sliding doors on the side of the house that led directly into the dining room.
“Asher?” I called out, hoping to hear his voice answer me. I didn't hear anything. “Reeve, who called you?”
“I don't know, just some guy.”
I tried to make my way into what I thought was the TV room, but with no lights it was hard to tell if I was going to walk into a wall or not. As soon as we came around the corner and through the doorway, lights flashed on and I heard a large group of people shout “Surprise!” Once my eyes adjusted to the unexpected light I was completely shocked at what I saw.
The room looked like someone had shaken a bottle of Pepto all over it. There were pink streamers hanging from the ceiling, pink pillows and blankets were all over the floor. An abundance of pink cotton candy was everywhere, big jugs of pink lemonade, and a big pink banner hanging above the large fireplace that read “We Love You, Reeve”. There must have been forty girls in the room, all dressed in pink. Some were from our sorority and surprisingly some were girls Reeve and I were friends with from high school. The swarm of girl came towards Reeve and started enveloping her in hugs. I felt the tears building in my eyes as I saw her smile. She was actually smiling. The grip that had been squeezing my heart for the last six weeks eased at seeing her enjoying the company of all of her friends.
“Hey you,” I heard from behind me. I knew instantly it was Asher, but turned around just needing to see his face. I ran right into his arms.
“You're ok,” I breathed into his ear.
“Yeah, sorry. I had to come up with something that would make her come too. I was hoping if you had an emergency she'd come out of her funk enough to at least come over here with you.” He nodded towards her. “Looks like it worked.”
“You did all of this?”
“Well, it was my idea, but all the brothers helped out. One of them even drove back home to pick up a few girls who couldn't get rides down here. We all feel really bad about what happened, and the house owes her this. We need to make it right for her.” In that moment, I was so honored to even know Asher, let alone be his girlfriend. What eighteen-year-old guy says something like that? Or even comprehends the complexity of this situation like he did? And how was I so lucky that he wanted to be with me? I shook my head as all those thoughts raced around my brain.
“What is it?” He asked, looking in my eyes with his slate gray ones blinking back at me.
“Who are you, Asher? What kind of heart is beating in your chest that makes you the most compassionate and thoughtful man I've ever met?” I don't think I've ever referred to Asher as a man before. He had always been a boy, or a guy. But never a man. This was exactly what it was to be manly – to stand up for someone you cared about, to recognize a need they had, and do everything in your power to make a situation right. I never considered myself a woman either. I was a girl. But standing here in Asher's arms, knowing what he had done for our friend, made the woman in me want to be enough for this man. His answer was simply to lean down and kiss me. He pulled away and reached down to a table behind the couch. He turned back to me and handed me a bullhorn. I looked down at it with confusion.