-Brooke
980 Words
“Brooke, isn't it?”
I draw myself up so I’m sitting up straight. If you can’t feel confident, at least look it, I tell myself.
“Yeah, have we met?” I look down my nose at him, even though he is standing above me. It’s a trick I learned from watching my mother.
He looks surprised for a second, but then he laughs. “Ryan’s party? Maybe you don’t remember me, you were pretty-”
“Busy,” I cut him off before he can say the rest. Drunk. “I remember you.” I turn away, spearing my fork into my mushy spaghetti. I look up and he’s still looking at me, an odd expression on his face.
He quickly looks away, turning to sit across from Delilah. She turns to smile at him.
“How was your first day?” she asks.
Asher shrugs. “Same as every other first day. You?”
“Same. Hey, I wanted to ask you something.”
I look up to catch Asher’s cocky grin. “Yeah?” he asks, leaning forward.
“So, Brooke, Ryan and I have this band, and I was wondering if you wanted to join.”
My eyes widen, and I stare at her in surprise. “You what?!” He cannot be in our band. That’s my space, it’s where I get to really spend time with Delilah. I can’t believe she invited him, especially without asking me, I mean us, first. Doesn’t she realize how much I dislike him?
Delilah gives me her brightest smile. “We need someone on the electric guitar since Josh moved, and Asher plays really well.”
Asher looks surprised. “Where did you see me play?”
“I found your socials,” she rolls her eyes like duh. “So are you in?”
I can’t believe this is happening. “But we barely know him! Shouldn’t we make him audition or something?”
Delilah gives me a look, I know I’m being a little weird about this, but I seriously don’t want Asher Cowen in our band.
“I can audition.” says Asher, “I’d love to be in your band if it means I get to hang out with you beautiful ladies.”
Is he for real? I roll my eyes, but Delilah seems charmed. They agree on a time for the “audition”, and soon are deep into conversation. I tune them out, trying to ignore Asher’s jokes and Delilah’s bright laugh.
I strike up a conversation with Julie, and soon the bell rings. I get up, picking up my tray. Delilah follows me.
“Hey Brooke, hey!”
I turn, realizing I’ve been walking pretty fast. “Yes?”
“Are you mad at me?”
“Why would I be?”
She gulps. “Well because I asked Asher to be in our band before asking your opinion on it. And I’m really sorry about that, I hadn’t realized how much you disliked him, and I really liked him and I thought he was really nice-”
She’s ranting now, and I cut her off. “It’s okay. You didn’t know.”
She takes a breath. “Oh thank god, I can’t bear you being mad with me. So why don’t you like him anyway?”
I wince. I’d been hoping to avoid that question. “Um, his ego.”
Delilah raises an eyebrow. “Since when has that stopped you?”
Good question, but what else can I say? Oh, he took advantage of me when I was drunk? He has a bunch of inappropriate pictures of me on his phone, and he could send them out whenever?
That was the first time and last time I'll ever be drunk. I don’t even know why I had, except that Clara had-
I shake my head, trying to dislodge the memories, but my anger surges up again. The shame I felt the next morning makes me mad. What did I have to be ashamed of? Asher was the one who had kissed me, who had encouraged me to take my shirt off, who took the pictures. Everytime I close my eyes I remember his lips on mine, the cold metal of his lip ring pressing into my skin.
“Brooke?” I snap out of my thoughts, realizing Delilah has been saying something.
“Sorry, I got distracted. You were saying?”
She sighs. “Just that I understand if you don’t like Asher, but we really need someone on the guitar. Homecoming is coming up, and if we want to play we need to start practicing. I saw his videos, and he’s really good, even better than Josh was.”
I wince at the name. “Exactly. It feels like replacing Josh.” He and I were really close, I thought Delilah knew that.
Delilah’s eyes widen. “Ohh I’m so sorry, I should have thought of that.”
I suppress a sigh. “It’s okay.” I feel like I’m saying that a lot these days. “Let’s see how he does in a band.” I can’t think of a better argument without telling the truth.
Delilah gives me a sideways glance. “I’m sure once you get to know him you’ll like him.”
I put on my best fake smile. “Maybe I will.”
As if.
- Writer
