Beginnings (14 page)

“Yeah.”

“Thanks man, I owe you one. These girls are my life.” He held out his hand and Adam shook it. I noticed Jeremy eyeballing him, and I knew he was wondering how Adam was the one to bring us home.

“I'm just glad I was there.” The way he said it made Jeremy glare at me.

His jaw clenched, “Did something happen? Did anyone touch Haley?”

“I just meant so I could bring them home. The party was starting to get wild.”

Jeremy loosened his shoulders back, “Good.”

“I'm going to go. Goodnight.”

I followed Adam as he turned to head back to his car.

“Thank you,” I said from the doorway.

“Next time bring your phone,” and then he stormed down the stairs.

What was that about?

I came in to find Jeremy carrying Haley to her room and I went straight to mine. Picking up my phone off the dresser I checked to see my missed texts.

Seven missed text messages, two missed calls, and one new voice mail. Both missed calls were Jeremy so I waited on the voice mail. Two of the texts were Jeremy and five were Adam. I read Jeremy's first. It was twenty minutes after my text with him on Haley's phone.

I cut the date short. What party r u at?

Then the next one was another twenty minutes later.

PICK UP YOUR PHONE!!!

I decided to see when Jeremy called. Shortly after the first text, then again five minutes later. I listened to the message. “There are a million parties tonight. Which one are you at? Please don't let Haley do anything stupid. You know how she gets when she's upset with me. Call me.” I heard the worry in his voice, and I felt guilty for not thinking I needed to bring my phone. Lastly I read Adam's texts.

What do you think of the party?

I checked the time he sent it and was surprised that is was shortly after we went outside with our first beers.
How did I not see him?
I used to be so in tune to where he was. The next text was a few minutes later.

I'm sorry about last night. Being around

you is overwhelming for me and I don't know why.

If you're mad at me you really don't have to try

and make me jealous with an asshole like Landon.

What's going on? Do you need my help?

He had seen the whole thing. It oddly brought me comfort. I felt like Adam was my guardian angel again, except this time he could help me. The final text was a minute after he left the apartment.

Call me.

Not stopping to think I called him. He picked up on the first ring.

“Hi,” his voice sounded glum.

“Hi,” I repeated softly, unsure of what he was going to say.

“I'm sorry I snapped at you. The whole incident really shook me up. I didn't know I could get that angry.”

Believe me, you can.

“It's okay. Jeremy's mad at me too for not bringing my phone.” I laid down on my bed and kicked my shoes off.

“What was that?”

“My shoes.”

“I thought maybe Haley fell down drunk.”

I snorted, “Nope, Jeremy just brought her to bed.”

“Are they together?”

“No, but they should be. For whatever reason they are both holding back. I think they're scared.”

He let out a deep sigh, “I can understand that one.” My heart skipped a beat before he continued, “You sure you're okay? It would be understandable if you were upset about what happened.”

“I'm positive. Wishing I kicked him a third time, but other than that I'm fine.”

He laughed, and I wanted to reach through the phone and kiss him.

“Good.” He paused, “Good night, Anna.”

It pained my heart every time he called me by my name. It made me aware how badly I missed
my
Adam.

“Good night, Adam.”

Neither one of us hung up. We both remained silent, only our breathing could be heard. Then he hung up. This Adam was so confusing.

Jeremy walked into my room and laid down next to me on the bed, “She's passed out.”

“I'm sorry I didn't bring my phone. I honestly thought tonight would be boring.” I giggled, “Nothing's ever boring when Haley's around.”

He leaned his head back against the wall, “No, it's definitely not.”

I nudged him with my elbow, “What's up?”

“She's pissed at me once again. She tried to kiss me and I turned my head away. Before I could explain that I wasn't going to have our first kiss be when she's drunk she kicked me out of her room.”

I laid my head on his shoulder.

“Why is love so complicated?” I asked, closing my eyes.

“I guess it's so you know if the person's worth it.”

“Adam's worth it.”

“So is Haley.”

Chapter 19

I knew Haley remembered what happened, but the next day she acted as if we had just gone to a party, hung out for a bit, and come home. Jeremy seemed relieved to pretend nothing happened.

“So what's up with you and Adam?” We were browsing her phone trying to pick a movie to reserve on Redbox. One of her sorority sisters had found it in the hallway Landon tried taking me down.“When I found you guys it looked like he was about to kiss you.”

Jeremy turned his phone off after ordering pizza, “You never told me that.”

“That's because I'm not sure if he was. I can't figure out what he wants. One minute he ignores me, and the next he acts like he likes me.”

“He's probably just confused. His parents have controlled everything he's done. He finally has some freedom but is still following the outline his parents gave him. Then you come along and mess it up, causing him to rethink things.” I'd never thought of it like that.
Leave it to Jeremy to be the voice of reason
. “You should invite him over for pizza and a movie tonight.”

“I love it! Great idea, Jeremy!” Haley was bouncing up and down in her seat, “Call him right now!”

I was too chicken to call him in case he rejected me, so I texted him instead.

Haley, Jeremy, and I just ordered a pizza.

You want in?

Then I added:

You have had pizza before right?

We waited around for a bit but he didn't respond so we all went to pick up the pizza and movie. On the car ride home he finally responded:

Yes, I've had pizza before. I think I was seven

and it was a birthday party.

I don't even know how to respond to that

I just pulled in front of your apartment.

OK, we are right behind you.

“He's here,” I whispered to them, growing nervous. Haley clapped her hands with excitement. We got out of the car and Adam was standing at the bottom of the stairs with his hands in his pockets, looking like he wasn't sure if he should be there.

Haley threw her arms around his neck and hugged him, “I'm glad you came. Thanks again for last night. I hope you like everything on your pizza.” Then she skipped up the stairs, leaving Adam staring at us.

“Is she hyper all the time?” Jeremy and I nodded our heads. “I thought it was the alcohol.”

Jeremy walked over and slapped his shoulder, “I'm glad you're here. They usually team up against me.” He followed Haley up to the apartment, leaving Adam and I alone.

“It's best to warn you. We consume a lot of pizza and root beer when we do this. At some point someone starts a burping contest. It's not pretty.”

His face shifted to a smile, “After the day I've had it sounds perfect.”

I smiled widely back at him, linking my arm with his and leading him upstairs. I wanted to ask him about his day but knew he probably wouldn't tell me.

Haley had laid out the pizza on the coffee table along with paper plates. “Root beer, Adam?” She offered.

He nodded his head like an excited eight year old boy which made me rejoice with happiness.

Jeremy dug right in and piled his plate high with pizza, then took over the entire love seat. I took the middle seat of the couch so Adam didn't have to endure Haley. I put three slices on my plate and noticed Adam only took one. Haley handed him his drink then took the seat on my left.

“I hope you like action,” Jeremy said, hitting play on the remote.

“Love it,” Adam replied with a mouth full of pizza.

It was easier watching a movie next to Adam this time. I think it's because we weren't alone. Adam ate four more slices before I even finished my three.

The movie had a lot of suspenseful scenes and Haley was digging her nails into my thigh. I was gripping the edge of the couch on both ends. Adam moved his hand down and his pinky brushed mine. I jumped in my seat.

“Sorry,” he whispered under his breath.
Did he do that on purpose?

The sound of a phone rang and Haley yelped.

“Oops, sorry,” Adam reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. Charlotte's face appeared on his screen. My stomach formed knots, I had let myself forget about her. He frowned, clicked the button to send to voice mail, then shoved it back in his pocket. I tried to hold back a smile.

Jeremy reached for the pizza box, “Hey Adam, let's finish this off.” He handed him two more slices. Adam had it devoured in record time.

When the movie was over I expected Adam to rush off, but he remained seated. Haley moved her body to better view Adam.

“So Adam, how did you and Anna become friends?”

“We study together at the library.” He had no idea his casual statement set a spark off in Haley. I even noticed Jeremy sit up straighter.

Haley shot me an evil look, “Oh, really? Anna never mentioned it.” I knew later I would never hear the end of it.

“We both like the same table and we both refused to find another.” He smiled at me, “At first I was annoyed because she was so distracting, but now I'm used to her fidgeting.”

“I don't fidget,” I said.

“Yes, you do,” all three replied back, causing us all to laugh.

“Mostly when you're nervous,” Jeremy added.
Gee, thanks for pointing that out.

“Did you come to the party last night to see Anna?” I kicked Haley's foot. I didn't want him getting uncomfortable and leaving.

He blushed, “I didn't know she would be there.”

“Oh,” Haley looked disappointed. I decided to change the subject.

“What did you think of the pizza?”

“Considering I ate eight slices, I'd say it was good.”

“I would too if I'd never had pizza.”

“You've never had pizza?” Haley asked shocked.
Good one, Anna.

“I've had pizza, it's just been awhile.” I was relieved to see it didn't bother him. “I had an accident a while back. I have to eat as healthy as I can everyday to keep me strong. My organs aren't as strong as most people's my age.”

Haley was about to ask more when Jeremy cut her off, “Who wants ice cream?” I loved how Jeremy always knew when to step in. We couldn't get to the kitchen fast enough to make our bowls. When we sat back down Adam started asking the questions.

“You three have been friends since High School?”

Haley, of course, spoke up first, “As you know Anna's my cousin, so I've known her my whole life, but Jeremy became our friend in the tenth grade.”

“That must be nice to be best friends with your cousin your whole life.” Haley and I busted up. “What's so funny?”

“I hated her until sophomore year. I thought she was a vain, self-centered brat.” Adam's eyes opened wide at my bluntness.

“That's okay,” Haley responded, “I resented her for coming to live with us after her parents died. She never tried to make any friends and had a weird habit of talking to herself. I thought she was a freak that thought she was better than everyone because she kept to herself.”

Adam's face got serious, “Your parents died?” His voice sounded pained for me.

“Yeah, when I was seven.” Normally I hated talking to people about it, but I wanted this Adam to know everything about me.

“I'm sorry,” he put his hand on mine and an electric current seared up my arm, straight to my pounding heart.

“It happened a long time ago. I had a friend who helped me through it.” I looked him straight in the eye. “A best friend.”

“Why is she not here?”

“He, and trust me he'd be here if he could,” I replied.

“Why isn't he?”

I got up and gathered our empty bowls.

“It's complicated,” I said, giving him the same answer he always gave me.

Once again Jeremy stepped in to lighten the mood and told us a funny story that had happened at the gas station. Adam stayed for another hour as we told him stories about the three of us. When he left I walked him to his car.

Sadness crossed over his eyes, “You're lucky you have each other.”

For the first time I realized how lonely the past four years must have been for him and I ached to comfort him.

“Good night, Anna.”

“Good night.”

I stood and watched his car drive off.

When I came back in Jeremy and Haley were doing the dishes together being overly flirtatious. I snuck past them straight to my room. I wanted to give them privacy.

Adam had stayed the whole evening and I was ecstatic. I didn't think I would ever be able to fall asleep but the sound of my phone woke me up. I was surprised someone would text me this late at night; it was past midnight.

Will I see you at the library

tomorrow?

I work on Mondays now.

OK.

You woke me up just to ask me that?

I couldn't sleep and wondered if you

were awake. I guess you weren't. Sorry.

Why aren't you asleep?

Thinking too hard.

About what?

Stuff.

You really need to learn not to share so

much about yourself.

I've told you more than most.

I want more.

He never responded and it was my turn to lay awake thinking too much.