Asher hated his birthday. He suspected he always would. The older he got, the more aware he became of how fleeting his youth was becoming. But more important than that, his birthday marked the day he lost Levi. Asher still had dreams about that park. Some of them weren't so bad. Those were like visiting Levi again. But some of them were worse. The park covered in blood, his body by the swings, his glasses broken.
The waitress set his beer down in front of him and he snapped back to the present. He was sitting in a booth at the back of Friar's, waiting for his friends. He downed most of the beer in a few minutes, keen to be drunk before anyone showed up. He arrived early for this exact purpose.
Asif was the first to arrive. He waved at Asher when he walked in the door, smiling as he crossed the bar. "Happy birthday!" he said as he approached, sliding into the booth next to Asher.
Asher smiled and raised his glass a little. "Thanks, man."
"This is a big one, right?" Asif asked.
Asher winced. "Thirty."
The waitress reappeared to take Asif's order for a beer, as well as Asher's refill.
Asif turned to Asher as the waitress left. "You okay? You seem, I don't know, off."
Asher gave him an apologetic look. "Ah shit, sorry. I just don't love my birthday."
Asif nodded understandingly. "You don't have to apologize."
The men were quiet for just a moment. Asher found himself feeling compelled to tell Asif everything. He was so easy to talk to, so empathetic. He was an excellent listener, and Asher loved that about him.
"There was this kid when I was younger. Levi." Asher smiled as he thought of Levi. "We were..." he paused. "I don't know. He was my best friend, but it was more than that." He sighed. "I really loved him, you know?"
Asif nodded silently, watching Asher.
"Something happened to him on my birthday. Police thought he was murdered, but they never caught the guy."
"Oh my god, Asher, I'm so sorry." Asif reached out and put a hand on Asher's arm.
He shrugged, and gave Asif a wry smile. "Shit happens." He took a long drink of his beer, and they were quiet again for a minute.
"Oh!" Asif tapped the table sharply, reached down for his bag, and dug around in one of the pockets for a second. "Sorry it isn't wrapped," he said apologetically before handing a CD in a clear case to Asher. It had "Birthday Mix" written on the disc in tight, meticulous handwriting. "It's a few bands I've told you about. My band is on there too, but we're at the end so you can skip it if you don't like it."
Asher grinned. "This is awesome, thank you."
Asif smiled back. He adjusted his glasses and turned back to his beer. The cell phone he had set on the table vibrated, making a loud buzz. Asif flipped the phone open and frowned. "Jane isn't coming."
Asher couldn't help but feel relieved. There was nothing wrong with Jane, but she didn't seem to like him or any of his friends. Asher wished they could be closer, if for no other reason than he liked being around Asif. "Damn," he replied blandly.
Asif rolled his eyes. "She says she has a migraine." His tone was suspicious, like perhaps he thought she wasn't telling the truth.
The front door of the bar opened and Rachel walked in with Goose and his new girlfriend Jess. Rachel scanned the bar, finding Asher's face quickly. She beelined for the booth, leaving Goose and Jess behind at the door. She threw her bag into the booth first and then scooted in on Asher's other side, looking exasperated. "They won't stop calling each other pet names." She mimed gagging. Jess and Goose approached the table slower, swinging their held hands as they walked. Rachel rolled her eyes hard.
