Phantoms of Fourteenth Avenue

Chapter 12

MASON

I rolled around in bed as I struggled to find a comfortable position to sleep in. Maybe it was just the fact that I wasn't comfortable with who Ali had gone out with tonight.

The clock teasingly reminded me that it had been after midnight and Ali still had not come back.

Not being able to force myself into slumber, I got out of bed and stomped to the kitchen to grab a soda. I entered the living room that still had the fresh stench of wet paint and removed the plastic that covered the television.

Seeing as I wouldn't be able to sleep until Ali got back, I could just as well enjoy the rest of my night watching some TV.

While sipping my soda, I flipped through the channels bored. I knew I wasn't going to find what I was looking for but the idea of being in my room moping was not the alternative I was looking for.

I felt myself starting to doze off and was awakened by the sound of a key turning in the front door. Ali was home.

I sat up and moved my head to see her tip toe in the foyer on her way to her room, clutching her heels in her arms.

“Did you have fun?” I deadpanned.

Ali spun around and gripped her chest, breathing heavily. Obviously surprised to see me.

“Oh hi. I didn't realize you were still up.”she said embarrassed as she approached me.

She rubbed the back of her neck as she sat down on the sofa next to me.

An awkward silence washed over the room as she just sat there staring at the TV. Rolling my eyes, I looked at her. “So how was it?”

She looked surprised by my question but it quickly changed to a look of annoyance. “It was fine!” she spat.

Sighing, I turned my body in her direction. “You know, you don't have to be embarrassed to tell me how your date was. I'm a big boy. I can handle it.”

She seemed surprised at my statement but quickly recovered. “Yeah, I mean, seeing that we are friends now.”

That statement hit me harder than I thought. Friends. We are only friends.

I thought about it and given that I really couldn't stand her referring to me as her friend, I couldn't imagine not having her in my life. So if being her friend meant that I could stay close to her, then it would be something that I could accept. Or at least I hoped I could.

I gave her a half smile and stood up stretching. “Wow, I'm beat. I'm going to bed now. I'll see you in the morning.”

I left the room without giving her a chance to answer as I really just needed the space right now. Being her friend had hit me hard and I couldn't stand to hear how her date went with Ryan.

I shuffled into my room and got into bed, closing my eyes so that I could just fall asleep and forget this day ever happened.

I heard footsteps approach my door and immediately perked up. It was quickly followed by a knock at the door and the door opening.

I saw Ali standing in the doorway and instead of asking her what she wanted now, I just stared at her.

Had it not been enough for her to rub her date in my face? She had to follow me to my room, just to keep reminding me of the fact that she wasn't mine. All she did at this point was piss me off.

She stood there looking extremely uncomfortable as she was already dressed in her shorty shorts pj's, looking as beautiful as ever before asking. “Can I sleep in here for tonight?”