The Space Between Us(41)

She shrugged her shoulders at me. “I just think he hasn’t realized that there’s a whole campus filled with girls who’d like to show him what he’s missing.”

“Hey, back off Tracy,” I heard Reeve’s voice strong and firm. “Asher isn’t missing anything. But you’re gonna miss the way your face looks with a straight nose if you don’t back off of Charlie and leave, like, now.” Tracy looked at Reeve and I like we were insignificant, but she did wander towards the door. She gave us a wicked smile and a little finger wave before she left. I huffed out an irritated breath.

“I'm gonna get something to drink. Do you guys want anything?” Lizzy asked us, obviously wanting to give us some time alone. I shook my head and Reeve said a quiet “No, thank you.” After Lizzy walked away, Reeve turned so that she was facing me directly.

“Thank you for helping me with Tracy.” I exhaled loudly. “She’s becoming a huge pain in my ass.”

“No problem,” Reeve said quietly. She fiddled with her fingers in her lap for a moment, seemingly trying to get up enough nerve to say something else.

“I don't really know what to say to you right now, Charlie.” She started playing with the hem of her pajama shirt. “I know I haven't been the best friend lately,” she heaved out a loud breath. “I am just having a hard time moving on from everything.” I put my hand on her knee and lowered my head so I could look in her eyes.

“Reeve, you are my best friend and I just want to make sure you're going to be ok. You don't have to put on an act for me. I understand if you're still hurt, or sad, or upset. I probably would be too. I'm just worried about you and I don't want to see you hurt yourself by going into isolation.” I paused and looked down at my hands, not wanting to say too much. “I can see you drifting farther and farther away, and it scares me. I don't ever want to lose you, Reeve. I don't know what I would do if we weren't friends anymore.” I felt a tear slide down my face, but this one wasn't from laughter. Letting myself think about how my life would be without Reeve tore a piece of my heart open. She was the sister I never had and I loved her tremendously. If she wasn't in my life, all the laughter and fun I shared with her would leave and so would a piece of my soul. I peeked up at her, trying to gauge her reaction. She wiped tears from her face as well.

“I'm so sorry, Charlie. I don't want you to feel that way. I love you and I'm going to try to snap out of this. I just need a little time and understanding. But never question our friendship. You mean everything to me.” She wrapped her arms around me and pulled me into an embrace. I never needed a hug like I needed this one from her. I could actually feel some of the anxiety ooze out of me. “And thank you for planning this party. I didn't realize how much I needed this.” I pulled away wiping my face and smiling.

“I didn't plan this. Asher did.” Reeve looked sincerely surprised by this information.

“Why?” She asked, sounding mystified.

“He loves you just as much as I do, Reeve. He has been really torn apart by all of this. He just wants you to be happy again.” She looked pensive as she took in all the news I had given her.

“I guess I just always figured he put up with me because he loved you.”

I smiled at her.

“Well, sometimes he puts up with you because he loves me,” I giggled. “But truly, you are one of his best friends. He would do anything for you.” I waved my hand out to display the pink slumber party. “Hence this display of affection for you.” I patted her on the knee again. “All the brothers here are really trying to make it up to you, Reeve. They all want you to be ok and to be comfortable here. You're important to Asher, so you're important to them. Let them make it up to you.”

She smiled at me again. “I really am lucky to have you guys.”

I shrugged my shoulders. “I know.”




After the perfectly pink slumber party, we all tried very hard to get things back to normal. I saw Reeve try, every day, to get herself out there a little more. I was so proud of her and I tried to tell her every chance I got. When winter break came around, all three of us went home and I was happy Reeve only packed a suitcase to take with her, and not everything she owned. It thrilled me to know that she would be returning for the next semester. It felt like things were getting back to normal.

I rode home with Reeve, silently smiling to myself as she jabbered the entire way home. I hadn't heard her say so many words in weeks and I was more than happy to sit and listen to whatever she wanted to say to me.

When we pulled up to the street Asher and I both lived on, she looked over at me.

“So, what are you and Asher going to do now that you're home?”

I gave her a puzzled look. “What do you mean?”

“Well, there's barely a night when you guys have been apart since school started. Are you going to have a hard time sleeping apart from him?” Odd. I hadn't even thought of that. I spent nearly every night with him and we alternated between his house and my dorm. Most of the time, ok half of the time, there wasn't even anything sexual about it. We just knew that we would sleep together. Wherever he was, I was. We never even really spoke about it. It was just the way things were. Reeve was right; I did think I would have a hard time sleeping without him. Impossible? No. Undesirable? Definitely.