Asher's Heart

Chapter 15

I slid the door open and Asher turned at waist to look back at me. I expected him to make a sassy remark or something but he just looked up at the night sky instead.

I walked forward and stood beside him, leaning on the railing like him. I could still hear the faint music blaring from the speakers downstairs.

"Since when do you smoke?" I asked eyeing the cigarette he was holding. It was the first time I had seen him smoke.

He took a drag.

"Since when do you care?" he drawled, letting the smoke out.

I gave him a 'not bad' look.

I wondered what he was doing here alone. Why wasn't he downstairs at the party with everyone? It was his party after all.

"What are doing here?" I asked.

"You have to be more specific Anderson. Do you mean what I am doing here in this world or here in the balcony?" he said. He seemed weary.

I rolled my eyes.

"Will you ever stop being such a smartass?" I asked.

"Nah, that's what makes talking to you interesting," he smirked.

"Hey!" I said offended.

"That and my awesomeness," he added.

"Get over yourself. Too much sass is injurious to health," I said.

"Aren't you a lot concerned about my wellbeing," he said sarcastically.

I rolled my eyes. What did I expect? That we would do a heart to heart?

"Why aren't you at the party?" I asked finally.

"Why aren't you?" he retorted.

I sighed, defeated. One could never expect a straight answer from him.

"Stop answering my questions with questions," I said narrowing my eyes at him. Just talking to him made me frustrated. He made me frustrated.

He shrugged and played with the cigarette between his fingers.

There was something off about him today. He seemed...lost. I don't know why but it made me uneasy. Normal Asher was annoying but he was the one I was comfortable with. I didn't like this brooding Asher one bit.

"How's your leg?" I asked.

His eyes narrowed into incandescent blue slits. They seemed to glow in the nightlight.

"It's fine," he said gruffly.

We stood there in silence.

He smoked his cigarette and I looked at the cloudless night sky, trying to find different constellations amidst thousands of twinkling stars.

I didn't mind this silence. It was comfortable. And seeing he hadn't thrown me out yet meant he didn't mind it either.

It was hard to remember the last time we were together and weren't fighting or arguing constantly until one of us was done with it. It wasn't normal for us to go on without fighting at least once every few hours. It wasn't normal for him to be so quiet. I still remember he was that kind of kid who had the attention of the whole room he was in. And as he grew up he had the attention of the whole world.

"What's wrong Asher?" I asked almost inaudibly.

I was going to repeat myself, thinking he didn't hear me but by looking at him I knew he did.

"Why are you being so caring today?" he said with a hint of irritation.

I was taken aback by his rude reply. Sure he was arrogant and sassy and a lot of other things, but he wasn't downright rude.