When You Least Expect It

21

The next morning my phone rings, I grumble before I roll over to check it. Squinting with one eye I see it's Jason. "Dude, do you know what time it is?"

He sounds like he's out of breath. "Yes, do you know how early my family gets up?"

"So you left before you even said bye to them? What a dick."

"Don't judge me. You don't know my family." He pants before he continues, "When I told them I was leaving today they flipped. My mom threatened to take my car keys! I had to get out of here early or I would never make it home to see my girl for New Year's Eve."

"I don't know if Ash has talked to her much. Have you?"

He clicks his tongue, "No. Dammit I haven't. I can't wait to have her in my arms again."

"Gag. I'm sure it's your arms you want her in."

I hear him chuckle. "That too. But I'm going to need your help when I get there to get my shit back in the house."

"When you think you'll be back?"

"Oh, I don't know early eveningish I suppose."

"Ok then I'm going back to bed."

With that I end the call and bury my face back in my pillow.

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It's nearly dark, Ashley and I are cleaning up our dinner mess while Corey showers. She's starting to heal physically and mentally. Her personality comes back stronger every day. I love hearing her laugh, that night when I opened the door and saw her sitting there looking so frail, it was awful. I've never seen such a strong person crumble that way. I don't think we'll ever get the whole story but maybe it's for the best. It would probably be better for her too, the less time she has to spend thinking about it the better.

I decide to give the lovebirds a little privacy after Corey comes back down. I make my way upstairs and flop down on my bed. It's been such a strange holiday season, between all the chaos and just having a place to be for the holidays... I don't even know how to feel about it. I'm sure it's about to get much more interesting when Jason gets back. He's always a character but I couldn't have asked for a better friend. Yeah, he's nuts but he always has my back. Between him and Ash they helped me break out of my shell, learn to enjoy life.

Lying in bed half asleep I hear a crash downstairs. "What the fuck?!" I hear Corey yell.

Yanking my shirt back on I run down the stairs. I stop a few steps from the bottom and lean against the rail. There it is, that big shit-eating grin. Jason is back.

He throws his arms up, "Hey Pretty Boy! Miss me?"

I shake my head, "You're a mess dude. Did you bust down the front door or what?"

Corey is standing in the doorway with his arms around Ash. "He's lucky Corey realized who it was before he got ahold of him." She giggles.

Jason nods, wide eyed. "I thought I was a goner." He turns to Corey, "You're a big ass dude you know that?

Corey just shrugs.

Corey and I help Jason lug all his stuff up to our room. It's unbelievable how much stuff this numbskull brought back with him. After we've all settled, we hear all about his family and even though I'd love to have a big loving family I have to admit I probably would've gotten a little tired of it too. His mom sounds just a touch overbearing, makes me wonder how Jason isn't just some big old Mama's boy.

Ashley falls asleep laying across Corey's lap. I catch him just staring at her, running his fingers through her hair. He really does love her. When he sees me looking he clears his throat and Ashley stirs. She stretches her arms out pulling his face down to kiss him. Jason gags and Ash flips him off. "Well ladies I think we're going to retire for the night. See you girls in the morning."

She stands holding out her hand for Corey, he takes it and they disappear around the corner. Thankfully Jason had enough sense to wait but as soon as he is sure they're out of ear shot he asks what happened to Ash. I retell the story and he shakes his head. None of us can wrap our head around it. He sighs, even he is at a loss for words. His phone rings and his eyes light up. I laugh at him which makes him throw his water bottle at me.

That conversation definitely doesn't need an audience so I take the stairs two at a time back to my room. When I open the door I find my own phone buzzing on the bed. Huh, it's Whitney. I roll my eyes and decide not to answer it. It buzzes again, this time a text. Not a text, a picture. A very Whitney message. I text back asking where her "boyfriend" is and she replies, "sleeping beside me". I toss my phone back onto the bed and decide to take a cold shower.

Afterwards I sit on my bed drying my hair with my towel, I pick my phone back up and there are twelve texts from Whitney. Unlocking it I read through them shaking my head. I just don't get why she thinks she needs a man so bad, especially that man. I guess her Christmas has been pretty much what I expected it to be with that sorry excuse she's with. He hasn't done anything but embarrass her and run around on her. I listen to the voicemail she left and I hate to admit it hurts me a little to hear her cry.

It takes me a minute to figure out what to say but eventually I text her to tell her it will all be better once she's back. She can finally end things with him, get on with her life. She doesn't respond so I toss my phone on the nightstand lying back on the bed.

Half an hour later Jason saunters into the room, I actually did miss having him around. He's such a goofball that he can lighten up any situation and it's fun to tease him about his love life. "So, how was she?"

"Having the time of her life unfortunately," He sighs before flopping down onto his bed facing me.

I chuckle, "Why is that a bed thing? Shouldn't she be having a good time spending the holidays with her family?"

"Yeah, I mean, I guess. It's just that she is having such a good time she doesn't want to come back early. I wanted to spend some extra time with her. I guess she's just going to come back on the 30th."

I laugh watching him pout and he rolls his eyes.

"You'd understand if you had a girl."

That stung more than I care to admit. It's awkward silence before either of us speak again. I decide to cut the tension by changing the subject. "So, how are you feeling about your new classes this semester?"

We talk about nothing for a while until we're both yawning. He jumps up to take a quick shower and I decide to crawl under my blankets. Between Whitney's texts and his comments I've got a lot swimming around in my thoughts, might as well just call it a night.