My Best Friend's Locket {The 2017 Awards}

Chapter Eight

**I'm skipping around a bit. If I didn't, this story would be extremely long. I hope you guys understand. More about this after the chapter.**

I stood in front of a store, hesitating to enter it. Me being my awkward self, I started stopping traffic while trying to make a decision. In the end I decided that I would go in. 

I didn't really have a choice, I had to pick out the gift for Asher, since his birthday was tomorrow. I'd procrastinated long enough, not knowing what to get him. I wanted to get him something memorable and something that he actually wanted. So far, anything he's already received has been clothes, sports jerseys, or some useless cologne. Believe me, he did not need any more cologne. He would always put on a fake smile, as if that wasn't what he really wanted. Of course everyone thought that he loved those things, so they didn't have a doubt about his poor reaction.

After thinking long and hard about what to get him, I ended up in an arts and crafts store. As much as you may disagree with my choice, Asher had a great passion for drawing and anything that had to do with the arts. He could sing surprisingly well, and could even play the piano. He had told me once that drawing was his favorite thing in this world, that it was his escape. 

His escape from the hardships of this world, of the image people had of him, and his escape from being the person he wasn't meant to be. 

Asher's drawings expressed a side buried deep inside of him, a side he didn't let most people see. 

After getting help from one of the store workers, I bought the items and left, confident in my choice.  

It was late now, since I had taken so long. I called my dad to come pick me up, and since the shop wasn't that far from our house, he was there quickly. It was almost winter, so I was pretty lucky I did not freeze. Chicago weather was very crazy.

My dad ended up making small talk with me, not really anything significant. 

When I got home, I went upstairs, taking the gifts with me. I got the wrapping paper and bag I had gotten in advance out of the closet. 

After wrapping the gifts, I went to have dinner, and soon after that I started getting ready for bed. Just as I was about to doze off however, my phone buzzed.

I can't wait for tomorrow. Get some sleep, you'll be celebrating with me all day:) xx 

Me neither! Goodnight Ashy xx

Goodnight babygirl.

Hopefully, tomorrow would go just as we planned.

Asher's POV

I had promised her. I had promised myself. I'd promised a day together, celebrating my birthday. Today I turned sixteen, and I wanted it to be special. Not that being with Safiya wouldn't make it special, she's the only reason why I want to live sometimes.

I wanted to surprise her with something. So by the time it was morning, I was headed to my friend Hayden's house, which was in a nearby neighborhood.

We headed out early, since we would be going to downtown, which was almost an hour and a half away. Hayden could drive, so the whole ride we basically enjoyed ourselves. We'd been friends since we both joined the football team at the park district for little boys. We were now both on the varsity team at our high school. 

That douche still didn't get me a present though.

Not long after we left, I started getting a call. Checking my phone, I saw that it was Safiya calling. I ignored her, not knowing what to do. She called me again and I ignored her again. Feeling bad, I texted her.