Forgotten

Chapter eight

"Attention is vitality. It connects you with others. It makes you eager. Stay eager."
-Susan Sontag

Asher

Asher woke up to the sun shining on his face and an acrid taste in his mouth. Laying still, he tried to remember the events of the night before that caused tears to dry on his face. As realization crept in, so did the steady pounding of his head.

Groaning, he grudgingly got out of bed to head downstairs, knowing his mom didn't approve of the boys sleeping in, summer or not. Noticing the strong smell of alchohol clinging to him, he concluded that a shower was the first thing in order.

Entering the bathroom, he walked briskly to the shower, or as briskly as a hungover person could walk. He was avoiding his reflection in the mirror, knowing he couldn't face himself. Asher was aware his mother wouldn't approve of him drinking to a stupor. She'd only think he was turning out like his dad.

But I needed to forget, and anyways, I'm legal, he reasoned out in his head as he tried to ease the guilt.

Just as he was getting into the shower, dropping his clothes onto the floor, Rafael burst into the bathroom.

"DUDE! WHAT THE HECK!" Asher exclaimed, trying in vain to cover up.

"Your mom is mad at you," Rafael drawled out, unaffected by the furious look on his cousins face. As well as the fact that he was naked.

Asher quickly put his boxers back on. "And you couldn't wait till I came downstairs because...?"

"Cause I'm going out and couldn't wait for your lazy self to get downstairs. Plus," Raf said, giving Asher his signature smile, "I'm nice like that to give you a heads up."

"Where are you going to?" He asked, not able to control his curiosity although he wanted Rafael to get out.

"One a date," he replied, his smug smile still on his face.

The smirk reminded him of the one from his nightmare. He shivered as he tried to shake off the memory. "You've only been here for two weeks, you can't know anyone to go on a date with."

"That's where you're wrong cuz, and, don't start thinking you know anything about me."

Asher hated the way Rafael spoke; lazily prolonging his vowels. He clenched his jaw in annoyance and faced the shower. "Fine. If you're done talking, please get the hell out."

"Gladly, you smell like a gutter anyways."

Turning round to reply, he found that his cousin was already gone.

I don't understand how we are related. He's such a pain!

~~~~~~~~~~♡~~~~~~~~~

Asher knew he had to get a job. He wasn't a child anymore and understood the need for him to contribute towards the household. His mom worked two jobs and it was starting to take a physical toll on her. He wanted to relieve her of some of that stress. Rafael was starting at the town's community college in August so Asher didn't expect him to help much. That was his personal decision.

Ignoring the blow to his manhood for not wanting to leave the house incase he ran into Abby or anyone relating to her, he pulled out his laptop for a job search. He decided to make a list of all the possible jobs he could get without a College degree and came eventually settled with four.