oxygen (e.d.)

chapter four

<ethan>

"so you stopped to talk to her?" i ask, bewildered.

"yes, ethan," grayson rolls his eyes, cutting an avocado.

i shift uncomfortably and ask; "how's she doing?"

"she seemed to be doing fine. a little shyer than i remember."

"she always was around a lot of people," i say quietly and to myself.

he looks at me with an expression of pity, and i want to smack it off his face.

"i mean, everyone knows that." i scoff, grabbing an apple from the bowl on the counter and tossing it up.

"she's not dating anyone," grayson says, snatching the apple mid air, "if that's what you're dying to know."

"it wasn't," i lie.

"mhm,"

"look, bro," i roll my eyes, "i'm over it. i'm over her. i'm over that part of my life. i'm back to myself and single and happy as can be."

"love like the kind you had doesn't just fade away in five months, ethan." he says, spreading the avocado onto his toast like it's the most important thing in the world right now.

i hate that he's right.

but, i really can't dwell on riley and the past.

"nah," i deny, "pretty sure it does."

he shakes his head slightly and bites his bottom lip.

"well, what about you gray?" i ask, changing the subject, "why don't you have a girlfriend?"

"lacrosse took up to much of my time during school. but now, it'll happily let someone come along in my life."

"that's your problem! you don't go for them, you wait. like a loser."

"the right person will take awhile to come around," he shrugs, "i mean, take you for example; your relationship failed and many would argue that you rushed it."

i roll my eyes, not having a good comeback.

"whatever. i'm going to the store to grab more drinks for tomorrow."

"new id?" he asks, annoyed.

"yeah. other one almost got me busted. thankfully, i knew how i could... repay her?" i smirk.

"oh my god," grayson exclaims, "i cant believe you just said that."

"i only speak facts," i say, backing towards the door and pointing at him with a devilish smile on my face.

"i don't know how you don't have any STDs yet!" he yells as i slam the door.

i shake the keys in my hand and stick them in the ignition of my jeep.

i glance at the passenger seat and remember the time riley and i went to the river. our first weekend of college.

flashback;

riley sticks her head out the window and laughs as he hair gets tangled in her sunglasses.

i smile at her being happy.

"want to take the doors off?" i ask

"seriously?" she asks, excitement sprinkled in her voice.

i nod my head and pull over to the side of the road.

i hate taking the doors off my jeep, but today i feel like making an exception.

it takes awhile, but i stack them carefully in the back.

when i get back into my seat, she looks giddy and about 5 years old, the way she's bouncing in her seat.

i smile, hitting the gas and watching as she whoops and giggles with the wind.

end of flashback.

i shake my head, hoping the thought falls out in the process.

tightening my grip on the steering wheel, i force myself to get her out of my head.

she's over and done with.