Hello Stranger

Chapter 12

We both laid on my bed, on our backs looking at the ceiling in comfortable silence. "Did you guys break up?" I whisper.

He let out a soft sigh before saying, "Yes."

I turned onto my side to face him. "Why?"

He turned onto his side and faced me so we were face to face. "I didn't like her how I used to. I don't look at her that way anymore, and it wasn't fair to stay with her when I didn't like her anymore."

"Is she okay?" I ask.

"Yeah, she agreed that things weren't the same with us. She's okay," He answered.

I nod in response, unsure of what to say now. So, we laid there until either of us found something else to say.

"I'm sorry," Joey says breaking the silence. "I was mad at you, and I was a dick. But I never considered how you were feeling."

"Why were you mad, Joey? Did I do something?" I ask.

"No," He says. "I was just being stupid. And then you invited those guys out with us and there was a rumor of you going out with one of them. I was as upset. But I didn't even stop to think of how you might've felt seeing Drew play."

"I'm not mad," I reply. "But they're not bad people. I need you to trust me on that. Please. Give them a chance."

Joey laughs lightly, "If I'm being honest, I feel like they're going to replace us."

"Replace you guys? Sounds impossible," I respond. "Even when we're mad at each other, we always fix things. Don't we?"

"You always fix them. Not us. You're who holds us together." Joey replies lowly.

"Well, I'm not going to stop either," I state. It reminded me of the conversation I had with Asher right before Joey came.

* 

"Hey. Can we talk Joey?"

"About what?" Joey replies on the other line.

"I don't know. Everything. I just need a friend right now." I answer.

Joey hesitated before speaking. "I'm on my way."

"Thank you," I respond. I was smiling but I knew he couldn't see it.

"Yeah," Joey says. And just like that, the call ended.

Finally, I heard the front door open. Asher was just coming inside. I pushed myself off the floor and stood by my door listening to hear if Jackson came in too. I didn't hear anyone though, so I unlocked the door and stepped into the hallway. Asher was just reaching the top of the stairs when I stepped out. "Joey's coming over."

"You talked to him about everything?" Asher asked.

"No. That's why he's coming over. I want to fix it. We've been friends for too long to just give up," I answer.

"You don't think you're forcing the friendship?" Asher questioned.

"No. Not at all. We've all been friends for two years. It's been the five of us for the last two years. It's normal for there to be fights," I state.

Asher sighs, "Then, what were you guys fighting about?" I open my mouth to answer but realized I didn't have an answer. I didn't know why he was mad. I didn't know why I got upset instead of asking. "Exactly. Things happen, people grow apart. Some friendships aren't meant to last, Andy."

"Friendships last as long as you're still trying," I say.

"Okay," Asher said unconvinced. He walks into his room leaving me standing in the hallway thinking about what he just said.