I knew what he meant Gaby was going off to college, and I’d started to realize that every breakfast we shared, and every night we stayed up watching Friends reruns, were going to be coming to an end soon.
“Yeah, it’s going to be weird not having them around all the time anymore,” I replied, knowing that it would also affect the time that Craig and I got to spend together. Usually, anytime our siblings and their friends got together, we were included because we lived with them, but now that they were older, and moving on with their lives, we were bound to be left out.
“Hey, when’s your first game?” I asked, changing the subject to something that I knew would cheer Craig up. Baseball.
“Next Friday,” he responded with the smile I’d been hoping for. He’d been picked up for the middle school team, just like I knew he would be, and was about to start the first season. “You’ll be there, right?”
“Of course, I said I would,” I replied. “I’ll be the one taking tons of pictures of the star pitcher!”
“Where will you sit? I’d like to be able to pick you out in the crowd,” Craig said, his voice sounding almost shy.
“How about all the way to the right. Top bleacher next to the railing?”
“Perfect,” he responded, then pulled me in closer so my head could rest on his chest. When he spoke again, I felt the rough timbre of his words. “Will you come to all my games?”
“Yes,” I responded, smiling happily to myself. “I promise.”
As the lights twinkled magically, and the steady beat of Craig’s heart thudded beneath my ear, I closed my eyes and enjoyed the moment, listening to the sounds of our friends and family talking and laughing, surrounding us like a happy bubble.
Chapter Seven ~ Craig
Present Day (20 years old)
I was parked outside Gwen’s apartment, the car running as I waited for her to come out. I usually went to the door to get her, but since she seemed so hell-bent on proving we had no friendship left, I figured she could find her way on her own. She knew what time I’d be there.
The back door opened and she threw her backpack in, then I heard the door shut. When the passenger door didn’t open seconds later, I stopped fiddling with the radio and turned in my seat. Gwen was sitting in the backseat looking out the window.
“This isn’t a taxi service, get up front please,” I said, my jaw tight with frustration.
Gwen turned her piercing green eyes toward me and countered, “Oh, really? Don’t taxis usually idle at the curb while waiting for their passenger to arrive? You can see why I was confused.”
“Haha,” I replied sarcastically. “You made your point, now get up front.”
She gave me one last smirk before opening the door and getting out of the backseat. When she was seated up front, seatbelt on, I pulled away from the curb and began the two-hour drive back home.
“So… how are your classes?” I asked after ten minutes of no talking.
“Fine.”
“How’s your exhibit for Photography coming?” I tried again, referring to the junior year showcase.
“How do you know about that?” she asked suspiciously, finally turning to look at me.
“I saw your name on the poster in front of the art building,” I replied. She didn’t need to know that I purposefully walked by that building every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday on my way to my accounting class, in hopes that I’d catch a glimpse of her.
Satisfied with my answer, she turned her attention back to the windshield and answered, “It’s coming along fine.”
Not willing to give up, but trying to conceal my frustration, I asked, “How’s the apartment with Aliyah?”
I turned my head briefly and caught her small smile before it was gone.
“It’s great, actually,” she said, finally giving me a real answer. “So much better than living in the dorms. We’ve had fun fixing it up and decorating it, and it’s nice to have our own space. How about you? With Liam?”
The knots in my stomach loosened as I realized we were entering the neutral area of our relationship, where we were allowed to be civil to each other. I lived for these moments, even though they were only a glimpse of the relationship we used to share.
“Yeah, much better than dorm life,” I agreed with a grin. “Liam’s the perfect roommate. He cleans up after himself, can cook more than just a frozen burrito, and is serious about baseball and his studies. I’m really glad we decided to get a place together, rather than move in to the frat house. That would have been way too much chaos for me. I like having my down time.”
Gwen nodded. “Aliyah is an awesome cook, which is nice, since my specialty is the frozen burrito. She takes care of the cooking, and I’m in charge of kitchen cleanup. It works out. And it’s nice that we can hang out together, but that we have our own separate bedrooms, so we can be alone when we want. Plus, I don’t have the revolving door of guys that I had when I shared a dorm with Shawnte. It’s a relief not to have to hide under my covers, or leave my bed in the middle of the night to get some peace.”