Liberation [completed]

Showcases and Diamonds- Mia

I hold my stomach as I laugh hysterically at Michael's story about Asher in college. Apparently Asher and him had gotten really wasted one summer night and it was too hot that when Asher got back to their apartment he went into the guest bathroom and filled the tub up. But he was so drunk that he must have switched on the shower and it fell into the tub and started spraying it everywhere. Asher got so freaked out that he ran out yelling that there was an octopus in the tub and he was literally close to tears. Michael acts out how scared Asher was and I continue laughing at the idea of that even happening. Asher being scared of something was surprising to me but being almost close to tears scared of a shower, was hilarious. Leah was chuckling next to me and Hunter was laughing almost as hard as I was.

Both men had taken turns to rat out Asher's non-finest moments throughout the night and I was close to tears from laughing so hard. My stomach hurt and my face was sore from all the laughing. In a way it was a good thing that Michael was here, he seemed like a decent guy who just wanted to have fun. He welcomed me into the group easily and eased my nervousness instantly. Even when Asher was on stage presenting and I began to feel my nervousness creep in, Michael would find something to say that was funny about Asher and I would laugh. I didn't know if he knew when I was feeling nervous but it all seemed to come in at perfect timing.

Michael had also taken it upon himself to keep me company throughout the night. Leah had introduced me as Asher's friend and nothing more. When I tried to stop her, she merely looked at me knowingly "He needs a little push anyway" She had said.

I look at her horrified, realising she had no clue how close Asher and I already were. However, I didn't have the chance to clarify things with Michael cause I wanted to focus on Asher tonight. Also, I didn't know that I'd say to make him see that I wasn't just Asher's friend but more. If I said more he may think I was just like the other girls Asher's been with. I didn't want to be considered that, now that I think about it, I really hope Asher saw me as more. I couldn't say girlfriend cause that sounded too much of a leap and what if Asher didn't consider me his girlfriend? Then he might get mad. I didn't want to define us before talking to Asher about it.

The night was going well, I was nervous at first but I was relaxed now. I felt good in the cream sleeveless dress Asher had gotten for me. It was sort of puffed out at the top till my waist and then hugged my body from there and fell to my ankles. I was fully covered in this like I had asked from Asher. He had also given me a diamond necklace that was really pretty. Leah had admired it the minute she saw it. It touched my heart that Asher still wanted to take care of me if I ever left him. He had said that I could pawn this to hold me over for a couple of months or years if I left. If only he knew that I never wanted to leave him but I couldn't muster up enough courage to tell him that.

"Oh dude!" Hunter says suddenly grabbing Michael's shoulder and looking at him, "Do you remember the time Asher thought he lost his phone in a girl's afro!" Hunter says buckling over in laughter.

Michael remembers the incident and breaks out in laughter. I smile at the two men and giggle at the little I knew about the incident.

"So, we were at a club after we graduated and Asher was completely wasted. He met this girl and she had this huge Afro. We had all said we'd stay away from her when we first saw her. Asher didn't stick by it and he started flirting with her and they hung out for the night. When we were about to leave, he couldn't find his phone. And while we were all searching for it, he goes: 'guys, I might have dropped it in her hair'" Michael says imitating a very bad drunk version of Asher's voice.

I bend over in fits of uncontrolled laughter. It was so funny to imagine Asher doing those things. It was so uncontrolled and unlike him. Just as I begin to recover, I feel a familiar pair of arms wrap around my waist and pull me back into his chest. I sigh in contentment of finally being next to Asher again. I loved being in his embrace.