ASHLEY

36

   What Kenneth wanted to show me is far better than what I could have imagined. I stare at the black album book we spent countless hours putting together. I remember the day like it only happened recently. Kenneth and I were looking through baby photos of each other when Mr. Walker suggested we do something useful with our time and put together and album book. We were immediately stoked at the idea. Especially since prior to looking through old photos we were drowning in boredom.

   It took about an hour for us to drive to the store and finally decide in an album cover we both liked. As soon as we got home we set to work putting out own little album book together. Since then and up until Kenneth moved away we filled it with random pictures of the two of us making ridiculous faces and doing dangerous stunts. I'm sure when Mr. Walker caught sight of the picture of Kenneth and I showing our butts to the camera he instantly regretted ever suggesting such a thing.

   The last photo is a simple one of the two of us and Kayla at the beach. Kenneth had his arm around me and my arm wrapped around Kayla's waist. Big goofy smiles on both our faces. We had some fun times. How could Kayla ever assume he's dangerous?

   I turn to Kenneth as a thought cross my mind. His dark eyes focused on the photos. "You remember when we broke into your father's cigar case and nearly smoked two?"

   He smiles as the events of that day comes flooding back into his memory. "Yeah I remember. We didn't know what we were doing. I almost choked to death and you almost let me."

   "Oh don't be a wuss. You would have been fine. You're here today aren't you?"

   "And I thought Kayla was the cruel one."

   "So dramatic. Does Mr. Walker still smoke those things?"

   "Nah. He quit a while back. Why?"

   "Oh."

   "Why?"

   "Just asking, Kenneth."

   He shoves me playfully. Not believing a word that just came out of my mouth. I watch as he gets up from his bed and head straight for his dresser. He plunders around in it until he finds what he's looking for. He turns back to me keeping whatever he pulled out of his dresser behind his back. "You know if you're looking to catch a buzz you're not going to do it with a little cigar. You want something stronger like this," he pulls the bag from behind his back and I'm shocked to find its a bag packed full of weed.

   I spring up from the bed. "Where did you get all of that from?"

   "I know people." He says it as if it's no big deal. "You want to hit or not?"

   "Okay." I don't see any harm in it. I'm not much of a smoker but we're here to have fun. I can be open to trying new thing.

  
   Twenty minute and more puffs and passes than I care to remember and the two of us are laying on our back on the floor laughing about something I can't remember either. Oh well.

   For some reason I can't stop smiling as I stare up at the ceiling. White is such a pretty color. Its so pure yet so dirty because all the colors are mixed in together.

   "White is such a dirty mother fucker." This cause to Kenenth to burst into a fit of laughter which only makes me smile even more. My cheeks hurt I'm smiling so much but I don't mind it.

   "Are you a virgin?" Something in the weed must have boosted my nerves otherwise I would have never asked that question. Its really none of my business but since my thoughts are just rolling off my tounge-"

   "Hell no. I lost it in like the second grade to a girl named Sarah. She was bad."

   "Eww."

   "You a virgin?"

   "No." He looks at me expectantly. "What?"

   "You know what. When did you lose it?"

   "It was like last summer or maybe two summers ago. I don't know. I met this boy at this camp I went to. It was to help orphans like me deal with the tragedy in their lives. I was so over that program. I didn't want to sit and listen to people telling me it's okay to cry and share my feelings. I wanted to get out of there. So did He. We started hanging out a lot and one night he asked if I would have sex with him. The guys in his form we're teasing him about not getting any action and I had nothing to lose. It hurt like crazy. Neither of us knew what we were doing. I swore I would never have sex again."

   Kenneth taps my shoulder, bringing my attention back to him. "Have you and Isaiah had sex?"

   "Yeah," I admit. I have nothing to hide. I'm sure Kenneth isn't keeping Kianna around just to share his life experiences. Besides, he's my friend. I don't have to lie.

   "Are you happy with him?"

   "He can be a pain sometimes but yeah, I'm happy."

   "What do you mean?"

   "Well he always wants to talk about my future and where I plan on going to college. I haven't figured that part of my life out yet. I know I'm running out of time but..." I pause, forgetting my train of thought. "What were we talking about?"

   "Beats me," Kenneth says. He takes another drag and pass it on to me. Silence settled between us again and this time I welcome it. Too bad it doesn't last long. One of Kenneth's friends come barging in his room nearly spilling his cup of beer everywhere. Kenneth scolds him for this but the boy looks too far gone to even care. He invites us to going the party downstairs and stop being loners. Nothing better to do.

   Downstairs the rest of the crew have engaged themselves in a healthy game of beer pong only the loser not only has to drink from the cup of beer, but take off a piece of clothing. By the time I finish my round my jacket and bra are nowhere to be found. Its a good thing I still have on my shirt.

   I join Kenneth on the couch. He had gotten tired of watching us gourge ourselves in alcohol and decided to chill out in the living room. Talk about loners.

   I throw him a bag of chips which he accepts gratefully. "Don't tell me you're one of those people that get drunk or high and suddenly start contemplating life."

   He lives at my joke. Something about the way he looks at me lights a fire in my core. For some reason I lean into him, puckering my lips and closing my eyes. When I don't feel anything connect to my lips I snap my eyes open to find him still staring at me. He runs his tattoos. Suddenly feeling uncomfortable. "If Aunt Jackie hated me before she's certainly going to hate me now. I should get you home."

   "I guess I am feeling a little tired. Lets go."

   "Here we are," Kenneth says when we pull up to my house. Much smaller in size compared to his.

   "Yep."

   I open my door. "Aren't you going to walk me to my door? Its what a friend would do."

   "You sure? Angela or Aunt Jackie might see me."

   "They're going to run into you eventually. I'm just surprised they haven't already."

   "I keep a low profile."

   I get out the car. Kenneth follows. He walks me to the front door. I thank him. "Goodnight." I kiss his cheek as a parting and watch as he walks to his car and head home. The door is unlocked so Angela is home. I walk in, shocked to find Isaiah sitting on the couch. Arms crossed over his chest, a stern look on his face.

   Are we about to have a problem?