When I am Done with You

                                                                           Chapter 3

It continued; Asher and Sarah putting on a show as if they were the only lovers left alive in this world and as if they don't care about anything else around them. I had to witness it; every damn evening. Though it was unbearable, I never brought up that subject again -leaving for home after school without waiting for Tina

'Ignore them, he is a jerk and she is a perfect match for him,' Tina consoled me on the way back home on one Friday evening.

'Don't worry about me. I no longer care about them or what they do, ' I lied to Tina. 'I don't want to waste our time talking about them. We have plenty of exciting things to talk about, other than them,' I pointed out, trying to divert the subject, 'like your birthday party this Sunday.'

'It is not a party. It is just the family and you,' she paused. 'Are you sure you want to come?' she asked, dubious. 'I don't want you to feel obliged. If you decided to skip it, I totally understand your reasons better than anyone else. We can celebrate it on another day, just the two of us.'

'I am okay dear. It is your birthday. I will be there. Nothing else matters,' I said, firmly.

'I don't know if he brings Sarah with him,' said Tina, contributing to my fears.

I kept my face straight. 'It is okay,' I stressed. 'Don't worry about me. I will be okay,' I assured her while standing in front of her house.

'I will see you tomorrow,' she waved at me

'See you tomorrow,' I said, walking away.

Though the thought of facing Asher and Sarah in his home was intimidating, I didn't express my real feelings to my best friend. I couldn't forget how excited Tina was during my birthday two months ago and how she spent all day with me, arranging everything and making the day a memorable one. I should do the same for her. It is not her fault Asher is her stepbrother. She hates him more than anyone else for hurting my feelings. Neither is she going to forgive him. She would happily celebrate her birthday without him or his girlfriend around, but it is not up to her. His father, her stepfather, wants him there. Moreover, it is the weekend he is supposed to be with his father. He spends every other weekend with his father and the rest with his mother. Tina has no say in that, whatsoever, though it is her birthday. I always avoided going to her home while Asher was there. She used to come to my house on those weekends. However, this weekend is an exemption.

It was Sunday before I knew it. After my breakfast around 11 am I headed to Tina's home. When I saw the bicycle laid on the lawn in their garden, I knew Asher was home. I took a deep breath while standing in front of the largest house in our street and knocked on the door. Tina opened the door and invited me inside. 'I have something to tell you.' She whispered in my ears as she gave me a tight hug. Asher was sitting there in front of the Television, watching me. His father who sat beside him – no wonder Tina's mother fell for him; he looked like Asher's eldest brother- said hello to me, but Asher remained silent all the while staring at me. Sarah was nowhere around. I was very familiar with Tina's house and everyone there, but, on that day, I felt completely out of place. And uncomfortable.

'Well, Sarah is not here?' I asked Tina once we were settled in her bed.

'She is coming this afternoon,' Tina paused. 'For dinner and cake cutting. Don't worry. She is not going to stay long.'

'Is Asher leaving after the dinner?' I asked out of curiosity.

She made a face. 'Sorry Emy, he is going to stay here tonight.'

'It makes sense. It is his weekend to stay here!'

'Yeah! His mother is out of town for a few days. So, he will be here for a few days.'

'That will be fun!' I said, sarcastically.

'It will be fun!' Tina rolled her eyes. 'He asked me if you are invited to the dinner tonight and if you are coming in.'

'Did he?'

'I think he has a soft corner for you.'

'Is this what you wanted to tell me?' I asked her, annoyed.

'No,' she paused. 'Mom told me not to tell anyone.' She prefaced.

'You can tell me anything. You know it? I will keep it a secret. You can trust me.'

'I know that, Emy. It is just that I don't know if you want to hear about it. It is about Asher,' she looked at me with uncertainty.

My face darkened. I didn't reply. She took my silence as a sign that I want to hear about it. 'I overheard mom telling dad that she found a photo of you while making Asher's bed. I asked mom about it. Mom admitted getting a photo of yours from his room, but refused to give details. Listen Emy, he has a photo of you under his pillow, not Sarah's. He is in love with you Emy! He is in love with you!'

'He has a photo of you under his pillow, not Sarah's. He is in love with you, Emy. He is in love with you!' Tina's words echoed in my head. I didn't know what to make of it.