Aubrey's sweet sixteen came and went, and the next thing she knew, her best friend was away at college. Their phone calls became more sporadic and his visits home became shorter and further between. Her worst fears were coming true, and it was tearing a hole in her heart. During one particular phone call, John seemed to sense something was wrong with his friend.
"Sweetie, what's wrong?"
"Nothing. I'm fine," Aubrey twirled the phone cord around her fingers, staring blankly at the wall, "Everything's fine, really."
"Bullshit. What's wrong Aubrey? Did someone hurt you?"
Aubrey bit her lip to keep from saying what was swimming in her head, that she had been hurt and it was by him. Instead she sighed, "John, it's nothing. I'm just tired. I've got two tests tomorrow, I have to do lighting and sound for a play for the next three days in a row, and everything's a mess at home."
"Why? What's wrong at home? You fighting with your parents?"
Aubrey forced a laugh, "Yeah, right. Tommy got his girlfriend pregnant. Now he wants to marry her and move out."
"WHAT?"
Now she laughed for real, "I'm playing dude. Everything's cool at home."
"Then tell me what's wrong."
"There's nothing to tell."
John sighed knowing that arguing with her wasn't worth the effort. If something was bothering Aubrey, and he knew it was, she'd come around when she was ready. That was the way she'd always been.
"John?" Her voice suddenly sounded distant.
"Yeah Rudolph?" He hoped that using his old baby name would get her to talk.
""When are you coming home? I miss you."
So THAT was it. Ever since he'd gone off to college, Aubrey had been depressed about never seeing him anymore. John looked at the calendar; it was May and he only had two weeks left before he would be finished with his second year of college, "I'll be home in about two weeks, for the summer. You're graduating in a month, right? You know I wouldn't miss that for the world."
"Good. I think I'd have to drag you back by your ear if you told me you weren't going to be there."
John smiled at the difference in her tone; she was happy again, "I hate to cut this short, but I have some finals to study for. I'll talk to you tomorrow sweet-pea."
The two said their goodbyes and hung up their extensions. John's roommate looked at him expectantly from his bunk bed, "Well?"
"Well what?" John gave his buddy an inquisitive look, honestly having no idea what he was getting at.
"Who was that? A girlfriend from back home?"
"Something like that," he pulled a textbook out from under a pile of dirty laundry on the floor and opened it on his desk.
"You got a little action going on back home and you're holding out on me?"
"Please man. You have no idea what you're talking about."
"Well I would if you'd talk to me. We've been roommates for almost two years and you never once told me anything about any of the girls you know back home."
"Did you ever think it's because I didn't talk to any of the girls back home? I mean, I talked to them and dated a few but they never meant enough to me to stay in touch."
"So what makes that one so different? I hear you on the phone with her every night, saying how much you miss her and shit. Don't lie to me man, I know that's not a sister or something on the other end."
"She may as well be," John smiled to himself, thinking of Aubrey, "We've known each other since we were kids, she's three years younger than me."
His roommate rolled his eyes, "You should fuck her and get it over with John. Do you both of you a favor."
"That's sick man."
"When was the last time you saw her?"
John thought for a moment, "Christmas."
"And how old was she?"
"Seventeen."
"And how did she look?"
"Same as always. Curly brown hair, big hazel eyes, naturally pretty. I don't think she's ever worn make-up in her life. She has these cute dimples in her cheeks when she smiles. She's a little taller too, but I still have a good six inches on her..." he drifted off, picturing how Aubrey had looked at Christmas. What he'd left out was that he spent much of Christmas dinner gawking at her now C-Cup breasts, which he'd referred to as mosquito bites when they were growing up.
"John, you do realize you're totally in lust with this girl, right? Go home, get laid, move on."
"Knock it off man, I could never. I'm telling you, she's like a sister to me and that's all there is to it," as if to prove the conversation was finished, John walked out of the room with his book so he could study.