Turn To You

Turn To You: Chapter Ten

Asha

"So," I said, trying to break the ice, "a movie, then?"

"Sure," Todd said. "There's that freaky new horror movie - the sequel to the one with the knife-fingered guy. What's that called?"

"Nightmare On Elm Street?" I said. "You know I'll have nightmares. Plus I've heard the sequel kind of sucked."

"You're scared of everything," he said. "C'mon. It'll be fun. You can even bury your face in my shoulder if things get too scary."

I sighed and tried to smile. He was trying to be nice at least.

"Sure, why not?" I said, shrugging. "I don't need to sleep right away, anyhow. I can probably watch something lame on television until I'm too tired to care about Freddy What's-His-Name coming to get me."

"That's my girl," he said, putting one hand on my knee while keeping the other on the steering wheel. I almost flinched but once I realized what he was doing, it seemed a nice enough gesture. I let him hold my hand until we pulled up to the theater.

Betsy

I was at the table with Todd, staring awkwardly down into my water. It wasn't like I wasn't curious about Asha's financial need or her family issues - I'd guessed that one had to do with the other, but that's all I could figure out on my own. But I felt like Asha should be able to tell me herself and I didn't want to know until she trusted me with the information. Rhonda was right on the money when she called Todd an asshole. I didn't think much of him, either, but I could be very friendly as long as it allowed me to continue my friendship with Asha.

"Sorry about that," he said. "Guess I was out of line."

I shrugged and smiled, all the while thinking no kidding, douche bag. He had a charming smile when he grinned back at me, though. I decided that I should try to steer the conversation away from Asha.

"Don't worry about it," I said. "So...what do you plan to do after high school, Todd?"

"You sound like Ash's dad," he said with a smirk. I balked.

"Sorry," I said. "I was just --"

"No, no. It's okay. That's a good question. My dad makes really good money and he's promised me that I can pretty much go to any college I choose. But I'm still set on State. They have a decent basketball team if I decide to take the sports route, but they have engineering classes. I'd like to do that, or if I want to do something more creative, maybe advertising. My uncle does that and it seems like a good future."

"That's cool," I said. "What about if Asha is going to New York, though? You don't wanna go with her?"

"Are you kidding? Asha's great and all, but I'm not getting tied to any chick while I'm still young. Know what I mean? Of course you do, right? We're practically both men here. I just can't see myself being with any one girl at a time right now. Sure, someday I'll settle but not until I'm at least...what? Like forty-something?"

"Oh. You guys seemed...I dunno," I looked in the direction Asha had gone. "I thought you were serious."

"Not serious. We're just having fun, Asha and me. I mean, we're not exclusive. I see other girls, she's welcome to see other guys."

I had my doubts that Asha was aware of the lack of exclusivity and absence of monogamy in their relationship. At least, she'd never mentioned it. I wasn't planning to blow the whistle on the guy right away.  What reason would she have to believe me, anyway?

Right about then, Shelby came by on her way to another table. I saw her slip a piece of paper to Todd. He unfolded it, read it and then, smiling, placed it in his coat pocket.