Loving You

XIX. Embarrassed

Thursday, February 11th, 2016

Dripping wet, and just out of the shower, I found my phone ringing on my bed with twenty-six missed call notifications from Kelsey Kline. As I unlocked my phone to call her back, her name popped up on my screen for a 27th time. 

"Hello?" I instantly thought something bad had happened. "Kelsey? What's wrong?" 

"Jesus, Aspen. I've called you a hundred times." I almost corrected her. "I have a bone to pick with you. How could you let me hear about your collaboration with Isla Moon from her? What the hell? I'm supposed to manage you." 

Feeling a little flustered, I sat down on my bed still dripping water, and wearing only a thin towel. "What? You're managing Cloak Spire. Not me. I read through the contract you sent thoroughly. It said nothing about managing other parts of our careers, nor does it forbid working on any other project, as long as it doesn't interfere." 

Kelsey sighed loudly. "You're just like Casper. Annoying. Well maybe you're right, but it's just common courtesy to inform me so I'll know where you are when it's time to start our media tour, marketing this new album." 

"Okay. You're right. I'm sorry I didn't inform you right away. I wasn't intending to be disrespectful." 

Kelsey was silent for several seconds, which was a little surprising because she always seemed to have a comment or two up her sleeve. "Huh. Thank you. No one ever apologizes in this industry. At least not to me." Her voice had a softer tone to it that I'd never heard before. 

"I'll do better next time. If there is a next time." 

"I appreciate that. Listen, I have a meeting to get to. Have a good day, Aspen." She hung up quickly, and I stared at my phone for a few seconds before tossing it on my bed and getting dressed. I'd thought she was going to be a lot more difficult. 

The next time I spoke to Kelsey, about a week later, she was actually really sweet to me. She started talking to me like we were old friends. At first, I was a little bit guarded and weary of her, but after a couple more weeks, I started to really like her. She was tenacious and hard working, and a genuinely nice person. Some of the time.

"Was that the princess again?" Casper pulled off his headphones and scowled. 

"She just wanted to know if I booked my plane tickets already. She was helping me get a discount." I tossed my phone onto the couch and pulled on another pair of headphones to listen along with him. 

Casper rolled his eyes. "Not super happy that the two of you are becoming friends." 

I laughed, slipping the headphones around my neck when he paused the music. "Why? She's nice enough. Maybe a little intense." 

"Intense is probably the nicest way to describe her. Trust me. She has a cruel and vindictive side." 

"Oh, I believe it." I could tell just by the way she acted and talked that she could make someone's life a living hell if they wronged her. What was that saying? Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Not that she was an enemy or anything. 

"As long as you're careful, I guess." Casper turned back to the computer. "Ready to listen to the whole album?" 

"Bexley and Duke are sufficiently occupied. So, yes." I glanced over to where they were lounging in their corner watching bootlegged episodes of Rugrats. Soren was kind of a genius when it came to TV, movie, and music piracy. When I first met him, it made me uncomfortable, but I couldn't say I hadn't benefited from it. 

Casper and I listened to the entire album from start to finish. He had spent almost three full weeks back in Arkhan City recording vocals at his fancy recording studio. It was my first time hearing the full thing all together. Cas, Benny, and Ari had all hung out together a few nights back to listen, but I hadn't been able to make it. 

By the third song, I was struggling to hold back tears and by the ninth song, I was full on ugly crying. I figured it was probably making him extremely uncomfortable, but he barely acknowledged me. His song writing was just so familiar and poetic. Ever since we were elementary schoolers, his lyrics had always given me goosebumps. There were Casper-made tingles crawling up and down my spine with every song. 

I'd heard the music for each song over a hundred times. But adding the lyrics, brought new meaning and magic. By the end of the twelfth song, I half-expected there to be another one. That was it, though. 

"So...? What'd you think?" he asked after we were bathed in a few moments of silence. 

"It's incredible. It's fun and relatable and interesting. But also heartbreaking." That last bit I said much quieter, almost hoping he hadn't heard me. 

He had. "Heartbreaking?" 

"You're just a boy who wants to remember," I quoted one of the songs. "I'm sorry you can't." I reached up and brushed loose strands of hair out of his face. 

"It's not your fault. I've seen loads of doctors and the consensus seems to be that if anyone's at fault, it's me. Somewhere deep inside, maybe I don't want to remember. At least that's what they keep telling me." 

Glancing over, I saw Bee and Duke passed out in their corner covered in (healthy) snacks. So, I kissed him. Soft and slowly at first, until the passion took over. 

I jumped back when I heard the door open and footsteps on the stairs. Even before he came into view, I knew it was Soren. I'd know his footsteps anywhere. 

"Aspy, don't forget, tomorrow is your going away party." 

"Oh, right. Thanks, So." I'd absolutely wanted to forget. 

Soren grinned menacingly. "And the whole family is looking forward to getting to know Casper. So, you have to come too, man." 

Cas nodded absently, while Soren turned and jogged back up the stairs. "Wait. What?" 

I laughed at the stricken look on his face. "He likes to throw parties for everything. Once, I made the mistake of telling him I'd never had a birthday party. He says he's making up for lost time." I rolled my eyes, but really, I loved it. "Don't worry, though. He usually just invites his family and a few friends. And it's Soren Grimes, so don't expect a rager." 

Casper's eyebrows furrowed. "My parents never threw you a birthday party?" The concern in his eyes instantly made me feel bad for even bringing it up. 

"No. I mean, we always celebrated just us. We always had cake, and they got me small presents every year. I liked it. I never asked for a party." 

"I had birthday parties." 

"I know. They were fun." I could tell the topic was starting to irritate him, so I tried to change the subject. "Anyway, tomorrow will be great. And weird. Soren has weird shit at his parties." 

Casper nodded a little, still staring at me quizzically. "When is your birthday?" 

I was slightly caught off guard, but I answered anyway. "February 1st." Saying it out loud made me a little embarrassed. My face felt like it was on fire and I'm sure I was redder than a tomato. I'd forgotten all about my own birthday this year. 

Normally, Soren or Mia reminded me and tried to get a small surprise together with Bexley. But we were all busy. I wasn't even disappointed or upset. Just embarrassed. 

"Aspen... I'm sorry. I should've..." 

"You didn't know. I usually remember and make plans. It's no big deal. Please don't say anything about it to anyone. It's been over a month." 

Casper's eyes dimmed. "Fine. Oh, and by the way, don't worry about getting to the airport. I bought plane tickets for you, Bexley, Duke, and I, so we're just going to get a first class forty-five minute flight straight there." 

"Cas, that's way too expensive." 

He smirked at me and slipped his headphones back on.