Starting Over (Capri & Asher)

Laughing again, I smiled. Maybe for the first time in months, "Sure, Asher. Let's go to your house. I have no where else to be." I studied his eyes once more, my own amber ones trailing from place to place.

"Hmm, how about late dinner? I'm not much of a breakfast person." I say with a slight smirk. As we walked next to eachother, my hand accidently brushed aganst his. My eyes widened.

I smiled and looked down as he looked over, "Sounds good."

What was that? And why the hell is my stomach all jumpy? As we continued to walk, I pulled his jacket closer around my body. I was such a wimp when it came to the cold.

My face revealed a quick smile as I stepped through the doorway, "Thanks." The house was dark and quiet. As to be expected. I'd noticed Asher's face earlier and wondered why he was so nervous.

Blinking in the sudden light, I smiled and nodded. I slipped off my coat, revealing my dark purple long-sleeved shirt and offered it to him. Looking around, I admired his house. It was nice, a little bit different than the other homes around here. And it smelled like Asher. Comforting.

I gave a quick laugh as I walked next to him, "I'll have whatever you're havin'." I said with a smile.

Hopping up on the kitchen counter next to the fridge, I looked at Asher. "Hmm, I don't know. Grilled cheese?" I asked with a smile. Popping the cap off of the Gatorade bottle, I took a sip.

I hadn't even second guessed coming in here. That wasn't like me. Well, lately. But still.

Smiling, I said, "Wow, a guy who cooks. Rare." I swung my feet lightly in front of me as I looked at him.

"Yeah well. It gets boring here." I said looking up at her. "Gotta take on more than one hobby." I smiled as I prepared her sandwich and then mine. I put hers on a plate and then mine, then I walked over to the booth. I set two settings and then set our plates down. I grabbed coasters and set them out. Then I sat on the tall stool and tapped the seat next to me.

Laughing, I walked over to take a seat next to him. "I know exactly what you mean. Is that all you do for a hobby?" I asked, before taking a bite of my sandwich.

"Oh, I draw," I said with a smile, only to think of something else. Then that smile flat lined at my next words, "And I used to bike also."

Fiddling with the bottle cap in my fingers, I thought of Lena. And then grew silent, trying to hide my sudden drop in emotion.

Absentmindedly I said, "Sure," and offered him my hand. That was when I realized what I was doing. And I mentally kicked myself, catching my mind swirling deep into that dark abyss of depression once more. It was too late to pull back now. You will not cry in front of him. You will not.

I intently stared into Asher's brown eyes, wondering what he would think. I hadn't really wanted to tell him, or anyone else for that matter. But now it was inevitable. And yet, for having only known him for an hour...well, I felt very close to him. It was weird, sudden. Unexpected. Who knew?

Relieved, I let out my breath I didn't even know that I'd been holding. My lips quirked into a half smile, "Maybe." I teased.

I then looked down to my finger, reading the black cursive on the side of it.

Lena.

No R.I.P. Just Lena. She's still alive in my heart, and always will be. No one could ever replace my best friend. Ever.

Standing up, I brush the crumbs off my plate and set it on the counter, then tossed with my empty Gatorade bottle into the recycling bin across the room. I looked up at Asher, my face seeming to lose a little happiness. But I tried to hide it. Yes, I wanted to stay. I'd finally made a new friend. But maybe that was his way of trying to getting rid of me.

Brushing a piece of long, dark eye out of my eyes, I said, "I mean, I can go if you need me to."