Even Through the Storm

3. The Necklace

I'm laying in my bed when I get a call from Asher. I look at my clock. It's eight. I click answer. "Hey," I say.

"Hey, I got you something," he says.

"What?"

"Look out your window." I look outside. My window is right above the front door. Asher is standing beside it, carrying a small box. He looks up at me.

"I'll be right down." I end the call and run downstairs to open the door. "Hey." I give him a kiss on the cheek.

"Hey." We walk into the living room and take a seat on the couch. He puts his arm around my shoulder. I snuggle up into his chest. He hands me the box. It's red with a white ribbon tied into a bow. I open it.

"A necklace?" It has a silver chain with two silver hearts intertwined together. In each heart is a jewel and engraved in each heart is a letter. I gasp when I realize that the jewels are our birthstones and the letters are L and A. I smile. "No, Asher, you didn't!" I give him a hug.

"Happy six-monthaversary."

"Ash!" We kiss. My dad walks into the room. I sit back up pretending nothing just happened, Asher's arm still around my shoulder.

"Hey, Ash, how you been? Long time no see!" They fist bump.

"Mr. Stevens, a pleasure as always."

"Of course. Would you like some food? A soda or something?"

"No, sir. I'm good. Thanks, though. I better get going. My mom will be expecting me soon. See you tomorrow, 'kay Lo?"

"'Kay Babe. Love you. Wait." I get up and follow him to the door. I give him a kiss.

"Bye Lo. Love you."

***

"He gave you a necklace?" Dri asks, the next day. We are sitting on my bed, painting our toenails.

"Yep." I hold onto the chain that's around my neck.

"What are those gems?"

"Our birthstones." I put the top back onto the nail polish bottle.

"Eu, fancy. So, what movie are we seeing?"

"Um, I don't know. Most likely we'll figure it out in the ticket line." My phone rings. "Oh, speaking of the devil," I answer my phone. "Hey Ash," I say.

"Hey Baby, I'll be at your place in ten."

"Ten?" I look at the clock. Five-thirty. "Oh, shoot! I lost track of time. Okay. You're still okay with Dri hanging along, right?"

"Yeah, sure, but she's not getting any of my popcorn."

"Deal. Bye, Babe, love you!"

"Love you too, bye."

"Bye." I hang up the phone. "Go get the hair dryer."

"What? Why?" Dri asks.

"Ash will be here in ten. Hurry!" She walks into my bathroom, making sure not to let her toes touch the carpet. I hear the sound of a cupboard opening and closing. Dri walks back in and plugs the cord into the wall. "Put your feet next to mine," I say. "It'll be quicker that way. Shoot! I still need to get dressed!" I turn the hair dryer on high and aim it at our toes. After three minutes I turn it off. "Okay, so, hair, teeth, clothes, shoes, Dri, help!" I rummage through my drawers and grab a lavender crop top and some ripped, high-waisted jean shorts. I take off my t-shirt and sweatpants and put the new clothes on. "Sandals or flip flops?" I ask Dri.

"Sandals," she says tossing me my favorite pair. I put them on, then start brushing my hair. The doorbell rings.

"In a second!" I yell downstairs. I hear the door open as I run to my bathroom and turn on my toothbrush.

"Hello, sir," I hear Asher say.

"Hi. Asher. Lola will be down in a second. Lola!"

"Coming!" I manage to say with my mouth full of foam. I spit and run back into my room. "Dri, ready?"

"Yep." I grab my purse and run downstairs.

"Hey Babe," Asher says when I reach the ground floor.

"Hey." We kiss. "Bye Daddy. See you in an hour or two."

"Bye Lo."