At first I was surprised at how long people could talk about sex. I felt like it was going forever but as soon as I wanted it to actually go on forever the conversation quickly died. People started leaving and with in an hour I was down to just Aiden who was protecting me from having to talk about how I was feeling. Any other night and Ashley and I could go for hours talking about how we felt about this and that because with as much time as we spent together if you weren't honest and you didn't talk about everything you would be pretty bored. But that was the whole thing wasn't it tonight I was scared to talk to Ashley because we were going to have a talk not only about the uncomfortable, at least for me topic of sex, but also honesty and where was Ashley's.
I knew that the only reason why Aiden was sticking around after the others had already left was because he wanted his chance with Ashley. He has been trying to get with her even before Ashley and I were friends. Aiden was the first friend I made in high school. In the band he also played trumpet and was the first person I was introduced to. At first I had the biggest crush on him or least I thought I did. He was tall, muscular, jet black hair and greenest eyes. There wasn't much not to like when you saw him, most people assumed he was an athlete but even though god blessed him with the looks of a first string quarter back, he had the coordination of a spastic flea. It was clear from the beginning however that he had no interest in me though and it soon turned into one of those friendship were the boy girl barrier is very clear. When you have a crush on a friend and all they talk to you about is other girls that are more "bangable" than you the crush dies friendship quickly dies with it. The most common girl he talked about besides half of the wood wind section was Ashley. We drifted apart but still remained sort of close because we shared many mutual friends, but as soon as I started talking to Ashley suddenly Aiden was back in my life full force.
I didn't have the heart to ever tell him what Ashley really thought about him, her most popular description of Aiden was of him being a dimwitted jock wannabe, so he never got the message to stop trying. Sometimes I would put his past indiscretion against me in the past and try to help him out but Ashley never took bait. Although with the information that came to light tonight maybe she actually did like him and was contemplating doing dirty things with him if I wasn't there. I know I am over reacting but the feeling of suddenly realizing you know nothing about your best friend is a scary.
Aiden said his few last cheesy lines; of course all of them rejected by Ashley and dejectedly left my house in his pirate costume. Often he blamed me for his failure with Ashley because I was always there to get in the way and he couldn't use his best moves on her, but every time I tried to leave them alone I got scolded by Ashley and like I said best friends always come first. As he left though I had a feeling though that tomorrow at sectionals I would be getting an earful about how if I wasn't there his invite to watch him practice scales would have been a hit.
As soon as I heard the doors latch catch my stomach started doing double back flips, the impressive kind that could win the Olympics. I turned around to find Ashley's concerned face glaring at me.
"What's wrong, and Spencer Carlin don't you dare say nothing other wise I will be forced to tickle you" Normally the threat of being tickled wouldn't be one to cause fright but in my case it definitely was. The mere mention of being tickled set me into a cold sweat.
The idea of playing it off as if nothing was wrong never even crossed my mind. I knew Ashley saw through me as soon as our eyes met in the basement. There were two people who I just couldn't lie to, one was my sister and that was because she frightened me and the other was Ashley. When it came to the subject of me there was better luck winning the lotto than Ashley believing one of my lies, she just instantly knew.
"Your right there is something wrong but do you think we can change out of our costumes first. I don't think I am capable of having a serious conversation with us dressed as Power Rangers" It was a ploy to stall for more time and figure out how I could possible verbalize the mass chaos of thoughts going on in my head, but it was also true. How can I confront my best friend about my inner secrets and thoughts if we are dressed as kid superheroes from the early nineties? Plus the utility belt was giving me blisters.
Ashley's eyes were like daggers trying to get to my thoughts analyzing how much I was stalling and how much I wanted to get out of talking in colored suits, "You're right" she finally said. "Ill meet you in the basement in our pjs in ten okay"
"Sure thing" I said with probably the fakest smile I ever put on my face. Even though she had to change too she did not leave the spot in front of my door until I was all the way upstairs. I'm not sure if she thought I wouldn't come down or if she worried I was going to run away.
I wondered how long I could elongate getting ready for bed before it became weird, and when I was certain I couldn't stall anymore I headed down into the basement that started all the trouble in the first place. Although I had two beds in my basement one that rolled out from the other Ashley and I never used the second bed. In the beginning of our friendship we used two beds but something in my basement always scared me into Ashley's bed or the cold from the unheated basement brought Ashley cuddling up in mine so after awhile we saved ourselves the frustration of rolling out a bed we knew we weren't going to use. However on this already dreadfully horrible suck fest of a night Ashley was waiting for me with both beds out, and I knew it was going to get worse.
