CHAPTER - 8

"Hey. What are you-"

"I texted you that you forgot something? Did you remember it?"

"I guess I wouldn't be here if I didn't, right?"

"You have no right not to answer me straight."

He thought he sounded scary, but I found it funny. I didn't tell him that, though. The end goal was to spite him still. I'd already made him mad. I wasn't going to do that again.

"We were supposed to be at that damning comic book store for you. And I had to cancel movie night for that. And guess what? You didn't show up."

"Oh, boy. Dude, I'm sorry. Really. I just, I don't know, my mind was completely distracted."

I wasn't ultimately telling the truth there. I did remember it sometime in the middle, but when I remembered it, there was still time. I still had no right to use that as my defense.

"I knew that." He looked like he would bury me alive.

"Honestly. Let me make it up to you."

"Oh-ho. So, you're at my disposal."

That's the most dangerous thing I'd ever done. It is being at anyone's disposal. I was always at Ira's, though.

"Well, not exactly. But, let's think that for a while."

"You're going to get off my back for a few weeks."

He sneered.

"That was not what I was expecting. And do what?"

"Find someone new."

"Oh, no, no, no, no, no. I'd rather be alone."

He knew that better than anyone.

"Want to make up to me? Do this. Otherwise, you really would be alone."

"Fine. I'll find someone."

I was reluctant to drive him crazy, given he was already on that ride, because of me.

"Let me make it easier for you."

That was as impossible as the idea of me making new friends.

"You came prepared."

"Of course. It's you I'm talking to."

"You better not tempt me to kill you."

I was being serious this time. I could afford to lose my temper by then.

"That's going to happen anyway. Andy."

"Ah, who?"

"Andy. The girl who was in our house this morning?"

"No. That is not going to happen. We started on the worst foot possible."

That wasn't true. I believe it was- "Perfect," he interjected, echoing my thought.

"Not perfect. Exactly the opposite of perfect. It's going to be a disaster."

I had to tell him that because I didn't want him to know that I'd purposely been harsh-not entirely towards her.

"That's why, Ash. That's exactly why."

He was supremely enjoying this.

"Why her?"

God. Why her? Something was off with her—the kind I wasn't used to and didn't want to be either.

"I don't know. She seems free. Easy to talk to. And it just felt like you guys would make friends. Or more than if you gave her the chance."

"Dude."

I made a face.

"Just a possibility," he said, supporting his statement.

"I'll try," I said, too exhausted to argue.

"You better. I'll head back home."

"Cool, man."

He gave me a back-slapping hug and left me there suddenly with a heavy feeling. I just sat back on the bean bag, thinking. At least, I was trying to. It was a big thing, and I assured him about doing it. I didn't know what I was doing. Agreeing to him looked like the only way. I tried to wrap my head around the fact that I let him talk me into it.

"You know something, buddy? What he asked you to do makes sense."

I turned back to see Dad leaning against the couch.

"Dad, you know I don't do good with new people. Letting anyone else come close to me is just too hard."

And the pain increased. It changed to a burning inside.

"That's not what she would've wanted."

"That's not fair, Dad. You can't know that."

He sighed.

"Ash, you know in your heart and bones that she never wanted you to be alone. She always wanted you to meet new people, explore, experience, and leave your comfort zone, kid. Trying to do new and crazy things. It would come with new friends, buddy. Trust me. Do that. For her. Maybe that's how you'd ever repay her."

That was hard to believe. There was no way I could repay her in any way in this lifetime.

"I'll do it, Dad. For Ira."

"That's like my kid."

He started to get up and go into his room.

"Dad?"

"Yeah?"

"Thanks. It helped."

"Don't thank me, bud. Good night."

"Yeah," I muttered back.

So, trying to talk to Andy wasn't a bad idea. I'd already had a long day, and the more I thought about it, the more I was likely to get reasons not to do it. I gave up on that. Dad made it clear now. I was making a new friend. I was also ready to hit the sack, and I did.