Even Through the Storm

26. Best Freinds

 It's the next day, and Ash, Ms. Reynolds and I are at Linda's house for dinner. I'm sitting in between Nicole and Ash. We're having pasta. "Can you pass the peas, please?" I ask Jake.

"Sure." He gives the bowl to Nicole, who then gives it to me.

"Thanks." I take a spoonful and put it on my plate.

"So, how is everything going?" Linda asks.

"Alright," Ms. Reynold's replies. It is clear she's only here for Asher's benefit. "We just moved into an apartment a few blocks from our house."

"Oh, that's nice. Ash, Lola, you both go to Westbrook?"

"Yeah," Asher says. "We're both starting our junior year in the fall."

"Oh, really? Maybe one of you will be in the same class as Nicky! Although she does take a few advanced courses so there's not many to choose from." I see Ms. Reynold's knuckles turn white. She jolts up from the table,

"Linda, may I use your bathroom?" She asks, with a hint of annoyance in her voice.

"Of course! It's just over there." She points to a door in the corner.

"So," Asher says after a moment of silence. "What grades are you starting?" He asks his siblings.

"We're starting fifth grade," Lucas says. "Lia's starting preschool."

"Ooh, middle school," I say.

"Yeah." Ms. Reynold's comes out of the bathroom and sits back at the table.

"Well, Linda, I think we should be going. Thank you for the dinner."

"You're welcome, anytime. Goodbye! Have a good night!" Linda says, obviously confused, as we just got there.

"Same to you. Goodbye." Ms. Reynolds, Asher, and I go to the car. Ash and I get into the backseat.

"What was that?" Ash yells as Ms. Reynolds starts the car.

"I couldn't stand her any longer, Ash."

"Then why'd you come?" Ms. Reynolds pulls into a parking lot and stops the car. She turns around to face us.

"Asher, I really don't want to talk about this right now."

"Mom."

"Asher, maybe another time, but not..."

"Mom!"

"Okay! Fine." Ms. Reynolds looks at me before continuing. She sighs. "Linda and I used to be best friends in high school, and we even shared a dorm in college, which, as you know, was when your father and I met. A year after we graduated, I had you. And around the same time..."

"Linda had Nicole."

"Yes. Asher, she used to be my best friend. She betrayed me, and she knows that, but yet, whenever I see her, it's all smiles and sunshine, like nothing's happened." Her back is facing us now, but I can still see a tear running down her cheek. "Anyway," she says, starting up the car.