ASHLEY

25

   "You know you have this glow in your eyes when you talk about them. I can tell you really loved them. I don't know what I would do if I ever lost my mom. Probably go crazy."

   "Well hopefully you won't have to go through that any time soon," I say. Everyone does eventually. Its just a part of life. We all have to face it some time.

   "I'm hungry," I admit randomly when I hear my stomach rumbling. Isaiah complains about how I'm always hungry and that I just ate. That feels like hours ago. "Please can we get something to eat. A bacon burger and fries sound nice doesn't it?"

   "Ugh. I guess so."

   "You know I'm right." I grab his hand and pull him along in the direction of my favorite burger restaurant. They litteraly have the best everything. I love it. The place is packed, as usual. Everyone loves it here. On top of the food being amazing, the decòr has a nice home feeling to it. We wait in line for a good ten minutes before we get to the register to order our food. I get a bacon burger with cheese fries on the side. Isaiah order the same and two large drinks. At first he wanted to get one so we can share but I won't drink anyone's back wash. No thank you. I pay for the food this time since he just paid for the Chinese.

   I pick out a seat next to the window.

   As we're in the middle of a conversation about how good the food is I feel a tap on my shoulder. I turn around, ready to swing, only to find Kenneth staring back at me. Confusion, mixed with a little bit of disgust, is evident in my face. Kenneth looks bored out of his mind and a little buzzed. As far as I can remember Kenneth is good at holding his liquor. I just hope that is still true.

   I clear my suddenly parched throat before speaking. "This is Isaiah, my boyfriend. And Isaiah this is Kianna and Kenneth. They're friends of mine." Not sure I would consider Kenneth or Kianna for that matter but it's easier to say than explaining a whole life story to Isaiah.

   Isaiah stands and gives Kenneth a firm hand shake. Kianna gives him a friendly hug, mouthing how cute she thinks he is in the process. She gives a thumbs up. "What are you guys doing here?"

   "Well we were at a party but..." She shrugs, leaving the rest of her sentence for me to finish. The party was either lame or something happened. I trust she will tell me later. Kianna is not one for holding her tounge. Especially with something juicy like whatever she might have in mind.

   "You guys want to join us? We only just got here and the food is amazing," Isaiah offers. I know he's just trying to be nice but I really wish he wasn't. The only thing I want now is for Kianna and Kenneth to get out of here.

   Of course Kenneth accepts his offer and sits down. "Yeah the food here is amazing. Bria and I use to come here all the time when we were kids."

   "So you guys have been friends for a long time?"

   "Yeah. Bria like my best friend. Before I moved we use to be inseparable. Everywhere I went Bria went. She's like a sister to me," he says with a smirk, looking me square in the eyes. His comment was actually meant to be threatening to Isaiah. To make him jealous. I don't know why he's doing that. There's nothing going on between us, he has a girl. I don't see the point of him acting like there is.

   I shrug. "We're not that close anymore."

   Right about now I just want to get out of here but it would be so rude and look like I have something to hide when I don't. I'm just so done with Kenneth thinking he can just slither his way back into my life.

   "Really? What changed?"

   "It's a long story Kianna."

   "You know you're really secretive about everything."

   "Well my personal life isn't for everyone," I manage a smile.

   The shrug she gives in return tells me she doesn't care to have me elaborate. Good, or else I would have to stop sugar coating it and I might not sound too nice when I do it. "I'm bored again. I know a bar not far from here. We should head over there and play a couple of drinking games. It should be fun."

   A couple of drinking games with Kianna, the town gossip girl? I'm not sure I like the sound of that. I'm not heavy on the drinking and Isaiah told me he's only had a drink once, being an athlete and all. On the plus side a little alcohol could ease the tension. "Sure. I'm for it. Isaiah you don't have to if you don't want to-"

   "Yeah Isaiah, we wouldn't want you ruining your perfect record." I'm so close to planting my fist in his nose right now.

   "Isaiah-"

   "I'm in. A little isn't going to hurt."

   "Alright then. Let's go."

   Oh boy, I can only pray that this doesn't blow up in my face. Its quite obvious Kenneth is challenging Isaiah. I want to ask him why but I know I'm going to have to wait to ask him that. If it's to prove he's worthy of my friendship it's not going to work. He doesn't really care about me and he proved that years ago when he skipped town. I just want to be done with him. He's only ever caused me trouble and I don't want to go down that path.

   Besides, Kayla and Angela would hate me for it. They completely despise him for what he did and they would hate me even more for "falling into his trap" again.

   Rolling my eyes, I get up from the table and follow Kianna and Kenneth to the door.

   "I don't want you to do this if you don't want to," I reassure Isaiah once we make it safely inside the car.

   He shrugs. "Its just one time and the alcohol will be out of my system by the time Monday rolls around. Don't worry about me Bria. I got this."