Page 3 of Our Moon
“I went to three proms?” Wasn’t I just the social butterfly?
Alex nods, seeming uncomfortable that I’m still asking about this. “You went to your junior prom, and Blake’s junior and senior proms.”
“We were together that long?” I had a relationship spanning at least a year and they never mentioned it? How could they have left out such a big chunk of my life in high school? They shared so much other stuff.
“You guys dated your sophomore and junior years.” He seemed to consider his next statement before speaking it, which is also very not Alex. “You were pretty messed up when he left you. That’s why we didn’t tell you about it. Didn’t want to open up old wounds.”
“How’d you know I was wondering about that?”
He taps his head and grins, “twintuition.”
I smile and roll my eyes. “You’re such a goof.” I take one last look at the picture, and proceed up the stairs behind him.
“That’s yours, second one on the right. It’s smaller than the rest, but it’s got the biggest closet. Apparently, that was essential.” Now it’s his turn to roll his eyes, and I smile in return. From what I’ve been told, I’m beginning to realize I was a tad bit spoiled, both by my brothers and my parents.
I step past him into the room. The carpet is shaggy and a deep purple in color, and the walls are painted a much lighter shade of the same color. There’s a full-sized bed with a bookcase, headboard, a matching nightstand, wide dresser with a round mirror, and a narrow dresser with a hutch. All have a shiny black finish. Band posters are hanging on the walls, along with a corkboard with miscellaneous things attached, including more photos. I make a beeline for it. Pictures are worth a thousand words and all that. Looks like there are some mementos tacked up there, too.
There are photos here of me, Alex, and Trevor. There are also pictures of my parents, a few of Alex and Trevor with a couple good-looking guys I know must be their bandmates, and some of me and a girl I vaguely recall my brothers pointing out in my yearbook. A few ticket stubs are scattered, some from sporting events but most fromconcerts. I startle when I feel Alex’s presence behind me.
“Sorry,” he says.
“It’s okay,” I tell him. “Who is that?” I point to the girl.
“That’s Lucy; she was your best friend. I think I pointed her out in our yearbook.” There’s that “was” again. He says it so nonchalantly that I wonder whether or not there’s a story there.
“Was?”
“Well, she kind of bailed on you. Not sure if you could call her a best friend anymore.” He shrugged. Again, so nonchalant. I wonder, do I have anyone left? Besides Alex and Trevor? My boyfriend dumped me, my parents died, and my best friend bailed.
“Did she bail before or after the accident?” I wonder out loud.
“Not really sure. You hadn’t been spending much time with her before, at least that I noticed. You spent most of your time with us. Lucy came to the hospital after the accident and she visited with us a few times while you were in ICU. But then the doctors said ‘coma’ and a couple weeks went by…she just stopped coming. She never visited you when you were at the long-term care facility.”
“Oh.” How sad. Here I am, fresh out of a coma, no memories and apparently no friends. Thank God I have my brothers.
“She went away to college, California, I think,” he continues. “So that could be why she disappeared. And then we were on our tour so I don’t know if she ever came back to North Carolina. Haven’t seen her around. That’s the band,” he points to the picture of him and Trevor with the two guys.
“Chase and Joey,” I say, remembering their names from Alex and Trevor’s ridiculous and hilarious stories. They must be some group when they are all together.
“Yep,” Alex smiles. “That one’s Joey,” he points to the shortest of the four, the one with the beard. “And that’s Chase,” he points at the blue-eyed blond, between Trevor and Alex in height. Both are attractive, but Chase… Chase is gorgeous. Those eyes. I half expect to see the sun shining in them; they are the perfect color of sky.
“Will I meet them?” I hope I will meethim.
“Heck, yeah,” Alex grins and nods.
“In due time,” Trevor says from the doorway. I spin quickly to look at him, I didn’t realize he was standing there. He had brought up the last of my bags from the car and they were sitting by his feet in the doorway. “We don’t want to overwhelm you, and, well, they can be overwhelming.”
“Joeycan be overwhelming,” Alex corrects. “Chase doesn’t do anything.”
“He doesn’t do anything?” I question, beginning to feel like a parrot.
“Chase is the strong, silent type,” Trevor says. “Joey has the energy of a toddler. Bet you can guess who was friends with who first?” I laugh, the descriptions of Joey and Chase are just as I’ve described Alex and Trevor in my head.
“You’ll probably see Chase around here sooner rather than later, though,” Trevor informs me. “He lives in the apartment over the garage.”
I nod; I won’t exactly mind seeing him around. At least, I don’t think I would mind. Can’t tell them that though.
“They know to give you some time,” Alex adds. “But I also know they’re just dying to see you, so don’t be surprised if we’re ambushed. They’ve missed you, too. Joey’s wife, Evie, is really looking forward to having another chick around.”
