As his friends sat around his living room, Asher couldn't help but notice how often Jane looked at him. Her expression was hard to read, almost completely blank. Every time Asher looked back, she turned away.
Asher frowned to himself as he drank his beer. He looked around the room; no one else seemed to notice. He pushed himself up off the couch to move to the kitchen. On his way out of the room, he tapped Rachel on the shoulder and nodded for her to follow him. He led the way into the other room, and jumped to sit on the counter as Rachel entered after him.
Rachel raised her eyebrows. "What's up?" she asked quietly, looking over her shoulder at the living room.
He frowned. "I think something's up with Jane. She keeps making this weird face at me."
Rachel folded her arms. "What kind of face?"
Asher did his best impression, dropping his expression and widening his eyes.
Rachel's hands clapped over her mouth to stifle laughter. "Jesus, that's awful," she laughed quietly. "She keeps looking at you like that?"
He nodded and shrugged. "Did I do something?"
Rachel's expression softened. "Asher, I can't even remember the last time you offended someone." She paused. "Well, it was probably when you beat the shit out of that asshole. But I digress." She stepped closer to him and patted him on the arm. "She's probably just having a bad day or something. Don't worry about it."
Asif entered the kitchen behind Rachel, waving at the two. "Everything okay in here?" he asked as he opened the fridge, pulling out a new can of beer.
Asher paused for a moment. "Is Jane okay?"
Asif hesitated in the middle of opening his can, just for a moment. "Yeah, she's fine," he responded quickly. The can in his hand popped and he took a long sip, easily downing half the liquid.
Rachel's eyes flicked between Asher and Asif. Her eyebrows popped up and she dropped her hand from Asher's arm, making a soft noise to herself. Asher looked at her inquisitively, but was waved away. She shuffled backwards towards the living room, making a strange and awkward exit. "I'm gonna go sit down again. You two stay here, talk or something." She smiled at Asif as she passed.
Asif watched her go, eyebrows pinched together. He adjusted his glasses on his straight nose, and turned back to Asher. "She's weird," he said, laughing softly.
Asher jumped off the counter and moved to the fridge next to Asif. "I don't think I even notice anymore, I've been around her for too long." He opened the door and grabbed a new bottle of beer, popping the lid with a smack on the counter.
Asif grinned. "Neat trick."
Asher smiled back as he took a sip of the beer. "I'll teach you sometime." He noticed Asif's face flushed lightly as he said that. Asher relaxed back against the counter. "How's the band?"
Asif groaned and leaned a shoulder against the fridge to face Asher. "Such a pain in the ass."
Asher laughed. "Hey, you picked Kenny. I warned you he's a space cadet." He took another drink of his beer, watching Asif. At this distance he could see the tortoise shell detailing in his glasses, the intricate lines of his few tattoos, the way his eyes crinkled when he smiled.
"I just want him to show up on time once, just once." Asif rolled his eyes.
Asher shook his head. "No way, that's never going to happen." He laughed, nudging Asif in the shoulder with his bottle. "You have a better chance of seeing Lauren in pink."
Asif snorted, laughing with Asher.
Asher glanced out the doorway into the living room, watching Goose and Rachel try to destroy each other at their racing game as Jane watched.
"Who's winning?" Asif asked.
"Probably Rachel," Asher laughed. "She used to school me at that game when we were dating."
Asif laughed. "I just can't picture you two together, even if it was fake."
"We really sold it, too. Dances, making out at parties, the works." Asher grimaced.
"You made out with Rachel?" Asif asked in disbelief.
Asher laughed just thinking about it. "Yeah, I was not a fan." He chuckled. "Have you ever made out with a guy? It's like that. Just... weird."
Asif blushed, sipping his beer again. "Oh, uh..." He laughed nervously. "I have, but I'm bi, so it isn't really the same thing."
Asher hesitated. How had this never come up before? "Oh, sorry," Asher said quickly, feeling like an idiot.
Asif's face dropped. "No, it's fine! I've never mentioned it before, you didn't know."
They looked at each other for a few moments quietly. It felt like the noise of the video game tournament in the other room faded into white noise. He had so many things he wanted to ask. They had known each other for three years now. How had that never come up? Why did Asif hold his hand during movie night? Asher brought the bottle to his lips, but paused. "Why didn't you tell me before?" he asked quietly.
Jane appeared in the entryway to the kitchen, Asif's jacket in hand. "We're leaving."
Asher set his bottle down on the counter, surprised at her tone. "Everything okay?"
She didn't look at Asher, but continued to stare daggers at Asif. "We're leaving," she repeated more firmly.
Asif gave Asher an apologetic look. "Sorry, we'll catch up later."
"Yeah, no problem." Asher waved at the couple, who left the apartment quickly.
Asher started busying himself in the kitchen, collecting the empty bottles and cans that had been strewn about on the counters.
Rachel popped her head through the doorway. "Everything okay?"
He glanced over his shoulder as he grabbed a few bottles from the sink. "Yeah, what was up with Jane?"
Rachel looked guilty. She grabbed a few bottles, trying to help.
"Rachel, what did you do?"
She sighed, putting the bottles in the trash can. "I made a joke about you and Asif making out in here, she didn't think it was very funny."
Asher turned to her, arms folded. "Why would you say that?"
She shrugged, busying herself with bottles and cans again. "It was just a joke."
Asher frowned. Why would that make Jane so upset? She had never been overly fond of Asher, but she didn't hate him. Something was going on with her, he just wished he knew what it was. He would have to ask about that next time he saw her.
