When You Least Expect It

11

The rest of the week passes by without any more trouble. I spend my time actually studying and hanging out at the house. It's been nice, Katie has even hung out with me a couple times. She's a super sweet girl and funny too. Lacie is starting to come around, I mean if Katie isn't mad at me Lacie can't be too mad, right? I'm still trying to convince them to come hang out with me and Ashley tomorrow. We're going down to this little shithole place, a student hangout that is a lot more relaxed than some of the others, to have a little string therapy. It's been a little while since I have gotten a chance to play and I'm missing it.

If there is one good thing that came from never wanting to go "home" as a kid, it was learning to play the guitar. There was a sketchy dive bar on my way home. The owner would let me hang out until sundown before he opened for the night, he was a good guy. He showed me a few chords one night and I picked it up like it was just second nature to me. It kept my mind busy and focused on something other than how shitty things were in my life. All I had back then was school and that old guitar. The hum it made, at least temporarily, filled my soul and carried me to another place.

Ash surprised me one of the few times I've talked about myself, she showed me some videos of her playing. Man can she play, I can't wait to play with her. When I found out about this place, I knew we had to go down there. I've been bugging her all week making sure she isn't going to blow me off. I barely even see her since she got with Corey, but she's so happy I can't even be mad at her. I'm hoping she brings him with her, I'd love to meet him.

It's a quarter after three when I finally give in and text her, I just can't wait any longer.

>"Hey, what time are you and Corey meeting me tonight?"

Ash: "Ha ha D. I don't know if he's coming for sure or not yet. But I will meet you around 7:00 if that's cool?"

>"Yeah that works. I'll just sit on my hands til then lol. Do you care if Katie and Lacie come?"

Ash: "Nope. Lacie finally cool with you?"

>"Pretty much. I just think she's keeping an eye on me. I'm being good though I promise."

Ash: "It's not even been a week yet D. You better keep being good! I'll see you in a little while okay?"

I laugh and lock my phone putting it back in my pocket. Now what am I gonna do for the next three hours? I've already finished up my laundry, got all my notes together and put all my stuff in my new backpack. Sighing, I stand and stretch. I decide to head downstairs and look for Jason. He's made himself scarce lately. Maybe it's me, I haven't seen much of any of the guys this week. Just trying to keep my head down I suppose. It's been a wild few weeks to say the least.

Taylor and Ben are sitting outside at one of the concrete picnic tables when I find them. They must've just come back from a run, Taylor doesn't have a shirt on and Ben's tank top is soaked. "Hey, what are you two knuckleheads up to?"

"Not much, what's up with you?" Taylor chugs his water, the bottle crinkles as he sucks the sides in.

"Just gearing up for the weekend. Trying to keep this sexy bod I got going on." Ben shows me his muscles and Taylor shoves him.

I walk over and sit on the table putting my feet on the bench. "What's the plan tonight?"

"Jason said something about going back over to the house with the pool, you coming? Oh wait, didn't you do that last time? Maybe they don't even want you in the pool." Ben doubles over laughing and Taylor shakes his head.

"Man fuck you. Are you jealous? When's the last time you had any Ben?"

He grins, "If you must know, it was last night."

"Anyway, no. I'm not coming out tonight. I'm gonna hang out with Ashley. I'm trying to meet her new boo."

Ben stands up and pulls his shirt off, "Oh yeah? I didn't even know she was dating someone. You know who it is?"

"Not really, she won't tell me too much. I know he's a Senior though."

Taylor throws his bottle at Ben and laughs when he ducks too late, "Well damn. He's a lucky guy ain't he. She's a catch. For a minute there I thought you two were a thing."

I shake my head, "Nah, just good friends. But yes, she is a catch. Any guy would be lucky to have her. I don't know that I want to be tied down to anyone right now."

Ben grins at Taylor, "Taylor is, aren't you bud? Meg already has his ass whipped."

Taylor flips him off. "If that's what you want to call it I guess." He shrugs, "I just don't need to try out every girl on campus like the two of you shit heads. We aren't serious, just casual. She's cool though."

"Hey, I'm not Jason you dick. I've only been with two, they just happened to be in the same week." I grunt and they both laugh.

Taylor sighs, "I guess."

We sit and chat for a little while, Ben tells me about what happened with Lacie the night that I hooked up with Katie. Apparently, that dude she went to find didn't satisfy her needs. Then he had the nerve to blame her for his inability to preform. Poor girl, I would've been pissed too.

 Then Taylor tells me all about Whitney's little performance with Travis that night. Travis was all hands and apparently more talk than anything. He said they didn't stay upstairs for more than five minutes before they came back down. I couldn't help but to feel a little satisfaction.

As we're trying to decide what we want for dinner before everybody heads out Jason walks up. He's got that famous shit eating grin plastered on his mug and I don't even have to ask where he's been. I am a little curious as to who he's been with though and I'm sure he will be more than happy to share. He high fives Ben and sighs, I know he's just itching to tell us so I just go ahead and ask. "Whose bed you just crawling out of bro?"

"Oh you know. Just sorority sister number three. The redhead with the long legs. She's a flexible woman."

Taylor shakes his head, "You mean the head of the itty-bitty titty committee?"

Jason shrugs, "Hey, she might not have much going on up top but she knows how to work what she's got." His grin widens, "and so did her friend."

Ben's mouth drops open, "Are you kidding me right now?"

I laugh, "Well alright then."

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After chili dogs with the guys, I figured I'd try one last time to convince Katie to come with me. She refused of course, but I'm betting it had more to do with Lacie than her. Oh well, I'm looking forward to some time with Ash. On second thought, I almost hope she doesn't bring Corey with her now, I'll just be the third wheel. I shoot her a text letting her know I'm headed down. Taylor offers to drive me since he's going to pick up Megan to get some things for the party later.

It's been almost fifteen minutes when Ash walks in. She looks around scanning the crowd for me and I wave her over. She hugs me when she makes it to the table, "Sorry I'm a little late."

"No big deal, did your Mr. Wonderful decide not to come?" She raises her eyebrows in warning and I laugh. "Sorry, I'll stop teasing you. But seriously is he not coming?"

"Not tonight. I texted Lacie to see if they were coming with you and she said no so I figured it could just be us tonight. But if you really want to meet Corey he said we could do dinner tomorrow night at his place."

"Oh ok, yeah I'd be down for that." She smiles and walks over to the guitars on the stage.

She picks one up and strums it, adjusting the strings she starts to play. She gestures to the other guitar and smiles. I pick up a dark blue one and pluck the strings. Suddenly I feel more at home than I ever have, my soul is soothed by the deep vibration of the music. Ashley's eyes close as she gets lost in the song. She really is good; this is exactly what I needed tonight.