The Angel Next Door

Chapter 4

"I'm so happy we could have you guys over finally." Asher's mom is so nice and has no idea what she's getting herself into.

"Yeah. I've been waiting to meet Mason's new bestie."

"Mom!"

"What? It's my right to embarrass you."

"Lord." I'm ready to get up and run already.

"Hey. Not to your mother." And of course, Dave has to jump in.

"So what exactly is it that you do Dave?" Oh my god, I can't believe Asher's dad has asked that. He'll never stop talking now.

I look over to Asher and he's giving me the "calm down and breathe" look. Roll my eyes and give him the "I want to stab myself in the neck with the knife currently being used to cut my chicken" look.

For the next 30 or so minutes Dave is able to talk about himself with very little breathing. But eventually, the eating portion of dinner is done. Asher's siblings wander off to their respective rooms, leaving Asher and me alone with the adults.

"Hey, so Mason and I are going to go out for a while." Asher and I slowly stand up, ready to run off.

"Okay. Have fun, you guys. Don't be out too late." As always, Asher's mom is the sweetest.

"Yeah watch out for him, Asher. Don't let him get you into trouble." And of course, Dave jumps in. "You've got a bright future ahead, don't let him ruin it."

I look to Asher and he just puts on a smile as he pushes me out of the room. We walk out of the house and it is taking everything in me to not scream at the top of my lungs.

"I'm gonna kill him one day. I really am."

"Calm down. Don't let him get to you."

"But does he really have to jump on me about everything? About the same shit from a year ago?" We get into the car.

"What exactly did happen last year?"

"Well I just kinda got into a bad crowd and did some not-so-great things... and it sorta ended up with me in jail." I look at Asher, prepared for the judgemental look everyone gives me when they learn.

"Okay." He seems slightly shocked, but handling it well, or so he's letting me think so.

"I just spent one night there, but then got 100 hours of community service. I worked hard and finished it quickly."

"Good."

"Okay." It feels weird, but I think he's completely fine with it.

"So what do you have planned for us tonight?"

"Something fun."

"That's it."

"Yep. That's it. Take the next right."

"If I wake up with a tattoo or something I'm gonna be pissed."

"It's fine. It'll just be small and hidden away. And I was thinking my initials on a skull."

"Damn. I was always hoping my first tattoo would be so romantic."

"Then your wish is my command."

We eventually make it to my chosen destination.

"Really?" Asher looks at me.

"Yeah."

"Mini golf?"

"Yeah."

"You sure. Golf is kinda my thing."

"Oh, but mini golf is my thing."

"So this is a challenge?"

"It's exactly a challenge."

"Game on."

We walk in, get our clubs, and get started. The first hole is easy. We each get a hole in one. The next few are just as easy and we keep getting the same scores of 1 or 2. But halfway through it starts to get more challenging.

"Damn!" Asher shouts as he misses the hole for the third time.

"Wow! I've never met angry Asher before." I hit my ball in. "Or loser Asher."

"Oh shut it. The game is far from over."

We eventually reach the last hole, currently tied somehow.

"So there's no pressure... but if you mess up you could lose this game." I whisper into Asher's ear as he tries focusing on his ball.

"This is so unprofessional."

"This is so mini golf." Asher starts laughing.

"Lord." He takes a deep breath and hits the ball. "Shit." the ball bounces around and ends up coming almost all the way back to the start.

"Oooh... bummer."

"Oh come on. Your turn."

"Gladly." I step up and place my ball down. "Watch how a real pro does this."

"Oh I'd love to see." He gets very close to me. "No pressure."

"Oh I thrive on pressure." I hit the ball and by some miracle I get a hole in one. "Holy shit!" I jump up in excitement.

"Shit!" I can see Asher is impressed, but trying to hide it.

"That's what I call skill."

"That's what I call luck."

"You just don't like losing."

"That is true. But I guess you deserved it. Congrats."

"Oh I love when my enemies concede."

"I'm your enemy now?"

"Fine. My competition?"

"I'm good with that."

"Good. Now how 'bout we get so fro-yo and then head back before Dave convinces your parents that I'm out getting you pierced up and in a gang."

"A gang with leather jackets? Like the T-Birds?"

"Sure."

"Then I'd be happy with it."

"Lord, you're a loser."

"This was fun man." Asher parks the car.

"Yeah. Much better than dinner."

"Yeah. I definitely get it now that I've met Dave."

"Eww don't mention his name."

"Fine. then let's come up with a codeword."

"Oooh good idea. How's the Devil? Or maybe Dipshit? Asshole?"

"Well those are some interesting ideas, but I was thinking more of blowfish, or maybe cucumber."

"Um... so... maybe we had some different ideas." We both just laugh.

"I'll Snap you some ideas."

"I don't have Snapchat."

"What?" He grabs my phone, somehow already knows my password, and installs Snapchat. "Now we're friends online as well."

"Great. Now we're online official. I feel honored."

"Oh lord you're getting weird. Time for some sleep."

"Sleep? What's that?"

"Just try. For me?"

"Sure. Goodnight."

"Goodnight." We walk off to our separate homes.