Here and Now

by T. Renee Fike

  “Guys, I’m not going to explain my friendship to you, it’s weird, we are complete opposites, I get that, but it’s also what makes us work as friends,” I defend.

  “Fine, fine,” Owen says, “So, how do you hang out with Lily and your roommate if she can’t stand Lily?” he asks.

  “I don’t usually hang out with them together,” I admit.

  “Seriously?” Evan asks, looking surprised.

  “Dani can’t stand her and she’s not the biggest fan of Dani either, so they prefer to not be around one another anyway,” I inform them.

  “So which one do you choose to hang out with?” Owen asks.

  “Wait, then how did you all end up here together?” Evan asks with a confused look.

  I take a deep breath, “I had plans with Dani tonight, Lily texted me, I told her my plans, she asked to come along, and here we are,” I say, cutting right to the chase.

  “I’d honestly be surprised if you two make it as friends through this entire first year of school,” Owen says, catching me off guard.

  “Why?” I ask.

  “Because, she’s going to try to control you at some point Bay, and I know you, that’s not going to happen, and it’s going to cost you your friendship. I’m just surprised it hasn’t happened already,” he states matter of fact.

  “Can we talk about something else?” I ask, hoping to change the subject.

  “Sure,” Evan says, “So, how are your classes going?” he asks me.

  “Good so far, homework sucks, but that comes with the territory.”

  “No issues with anyone?” Evan asks.

  “You don’t need me to kick anyone’s ass?” Owen adds.

  I laugh, “No issues with anyone, and no,” I say looking at Owen, “You don’t need to kick anyone ass. I’m good, things are going well.”

  The music starts getting louder and it’s making it harder to hear our conversation. “Do you guys want to head outside to talk?” Evan asks us.

  “Sure,” Owen and I say in unison.

  We follow Evan out and there’s a small fire going on in the backyard. Only a few people are outside, so we grab the lounge chairs and sit by the fire, enjoying the cool breeze.

  I sit there and listen to Evan and Owen going back and forth, talking about absolutely nothing at times, and can’t help but love how easy their conversation goes. My conversations with Lily do not go anywhere like that, and my conversations with Dani aren’t on the same level either. I want a best friend where you can have pointless conversations and memories that last forever.

  We spend the next two hours laughing, joking, and having a great time before I spot Lily walking our way. As soon as the guys see her, the atmosphere completely changes, how did I never notice this before?

  “There you guys are, I’ve been looking all over for you,” she says, as she pulls up a chair and takes a seat.

  “We’ve been out here,” Even states coldly.

  “You must have been having fun with whoever you were with,” Owen says.

  “Yeah, I ran into a few of the sorority girls,” she says.

  “So, why did you leave them then?” Owen asks, not holding back.

  “To look for you guys silly,” she laughs, though no one else does.

  “We were doing well without you,” he says, not stopping. I slap him on the arm, causing him to look at me.

  “Stop being a jerk,” I say, hoping we can get along before I decide to leave.

  “Sorry,” he mumbles to me.

  “Am I interrupting something?” Lily asks, looking completely dumbfounded.

  “No,” I state before anyone else has a chance to say anything.

  “Okay,” she says as she takes a drink.

  “Are you going to be rushing?” Owen asks, though I’m sure he already knows the answer.

  “Absolutely,” she beams, “I’m trying to get Bay to rush with me,” she says, as she looks directly at me.

  “Ha, good luck on that one,” Owen says, “My sister is not the sorority type.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” I ask, as I slap his arm.

  “Bay, you would have people bossing you around, you wouldn’t survive two days before you snap on the bitch and walk out,” he says all serious.

  “He’s right,” Lily says, defending my brother.

  “Well, I have no desire to rush, so it doesn’t matter anyway,” I inform all of them, though I’m sure they already knew that information.

  Looking at Lily, I only now notice that she looks more intoxicated than I realized. I’m surprised she’s able to talk as well as she has been without slurring her words that much.

  “Hey Evan, have plans tonight?” Lily asks him, making him look anything but excited.

  “Yeah, hanging out with these two, then heading to bed,” he states.

  “Want some company?” she says, being bolder than her usual self.

  “A drunken Lily, I think I’ll pass,” he says bluntly.

  “I’m still fun when I’m drunk,” she informs him.

  “That would imply you’re fun when you’re not drunk and I’d have to say that’s up in the air,” Owen jabs.

  “Excuse me?” she shouts, looking appalled.

  “Lily, you aren’t that fun and when you’re drunk, you’re worse,” Owen says, not caring if he hurts her feelings or not.

  I slap Owen on the arm again, “Stop it you two, be nice,” I say, hoping to diffuse the situation.

  “Wow, do you feel that way too?” Lily asks as she stands up, looking irate.

  “No, and they are just messing with you,” I point out.

  “Are you guys?” she asks, looking between Owen and Evan.

  Owen looks at me first, “Yes Lily, we are only joking, relax,” he says.

  “Okay. I’m going to go grab a drink, do any of you want anything?” she asks us.

  “No,” we all say in unison before she walks away.

  Owen turns and looks directly at me, “Seriously Bay, you need to be honest with that girl and move on with your life.”

  “It’s not that easy, we’ve been friends forever and she always has my back,” I defend.

  “The only back she has covered is her own, she could care less about you Baylee,” Evan says, surprising me.

  “What?” I ask confused, having no clue what he’s talking about.

  “Lily Jacobs doesn’t care about anyone but herself and unless you can help her with something, that’s the only time you are useful.”

  “Why is this the first time you guys are telling me this?” I ask, calling them both out. “Plus, what is she using me for?”

  Owen looks at me like I have two heads before Evan speaks up. “Bay, you’re friends with everyone, but your brother also happens to be my best friend,” he points out.

  “Yeah, and,” I ask confused.

  “Why would she not want to be friends with you to get closer to me?” he asks.

  “She’s already close to you, she wouldn’t need to get close to me for that,” I say, feeling lost all of a sudden.

  “No, we were never close,” he informs me.

  “Wait, what?” I ask, “You guys are neighbors, she told me you guys are best friends and have been for years.”

  “Neighbors yes, best friends, hell no, she’s annoying as fuck,” he practically shouts.

  “The only reason he’s friends with her, hell the only reason either one of us puts up with her and her shit is because of you,” Owen states.

  I can’t even speak, I feel dumb, and why would she say she’s best friends with Evan when they aren’t at all? Before I can ask, Lily’s back and looking happier than ever.

  “Why the smile?” Evan asks.

  “Bay, there is this guy who has the total hots for you, plus it doesn’t hurt that he’s hot as hell,” she says with the biggest smile.

  “Who?” Owen asks, going all protective brother on me.

  She points to a guy standing on the deck near the corner talking to ano
ther guy. “That guy right there,” she points.

  “Are you talking about Austin?” Evan asks, looking at Lily.

  “Yeah, that’s what he said his name was,” she says, still smiling, “So, what do you think?” she asks with a stare.

  I look between Owen and Evan, waiting for one of them to say something, before I even have the chance.

  “What’s he like?” Owen asks Evan.

  “He’s in my fraternity; he’s laid back and a pretty cool guy,” Evan says.

  “So he’s not the type to try to go through girl after girl at college?” Owen asks, wanting to make sure he knows all about this guy first.

  “No, but I thought he had a girlfriend,” Evan says, surprising us.

  “Oh no, they broke up a few weeks ago,” Lily adds.

  “Why’s he trying to date so quickly then?” Owen asks.

  “Yo Austin, can you come here a minute?” Evan yells, causing people to turn and look at us.

  Austin nods his head before walking towards the stairs, towards us.

  “What’s up man?” Austin says as he does some hand shake with Evan.

  “Figured I’d introduce you,” he says introducing Owen as my brother, me, and Lily, which Austin obviously already knew from earlier tonight.

  “So, you have the hots for my sister?” Owen calls him out.

  Austin’s face turns a light shade of red, before looking from me back to Owen, “I mean, I don’t really know her, but she’s cute. I wouldn’t mind getting to know her,” he mumbles, looking nervous.

  “They are close so you need to pass his tests before he’d allow you anywhere near his sister,” Evan says, filling Austin in.

  All I can think as I watch my brother interrogate Austin, is “Don’t I get a say?” I mean Austin is definitely hot; he’s as tall as Owen and built too, so I’m assuming he plays some type of sport. He has short brown hair with dark brown eyes, which are hard to see in the dark, but as chocolate as they are, you could see them anywhere.

  The next thing I know, Austin, Evan, and Owen are all laughing and clearly enjoying themselves. I continue to stare, not knowing what the hell I’m watching unfold in front of me.

  “Sound good sis?” Owen says, knocking me out of my reverie.

  “Huh?” I ask confused.

  “Evan says that Austin is a good guy and after a few minutes of talking, if you want to hang out and get to know him, I’m not opposed to it,” Owen says, surprising the hell out of me.

  “What do you say?” Lily asks eagerly.

  “Sure,” I say, unsure of what else to say, as the group all stares at me waiting for an answer.

  “How does Saturday sound?” Austin asks me.

  “That works,” I agree.

  The boys continue to talk while I talk to Lily before Dani makes her way towards us. “There you are, I thought you left,” I say as she approaches.

  “I ran into some friends from high school, so I was just catching up. How are things going out here?” she asks as she looks between Lily and me.

  “Good, Bay even has a date this weekend,” Lily says happily.

  “Who?” Dani asks, with a curious look.

  “Austin,” I say as I nod in his direction.

  Dani’s eyes get big, before she starts shaking her head up and down as saying that’s a good choice, I can’t help but chuckle.

  The girls converse while the boys do, and before long Lily decides to call it a night. I’m not surprised; she had a few more drinks and is beyond drunk.

  “Do you want to walk me home?” she stutters while asking Evan.

  “I live next door, so sorry, not this time,” he says, not caring that he just turned her down.

  “Fine,” she huffs.

  “I’ll head home too,” I say, not wanting her to walk in her drunken state alone.

  “I’ll come too,” Dani says, surprising me. I look at her and she just gives me a shrug.

  “Sounds good, you guys be careful,” Owen says before he gives me a hug.

  “Let me know when you get back to campus tomorrow,” I inform him, wanting to make sure he gets home alright.

  “Will do,” he says as he gives me a salute.

  I give Austin my phone number before we head out of the party and towards home.

  “Austin is hot,” Lily purrs.

  “Then why didn’t you go after him?” Dani asks suspiciously.

  “He approached me to ask me about Bay, plus I only want Evan,” she states.

  “No offense, but it doesn’t seem like he wants you,” Dani says hastily.

  “He will,” she retorts.

  “How do you figure that?” Dani continues.

  “He isn’t sure how I feel about him, but he will soon enough,” she says.

  “What does that mean?” I ask confused.

  “Because I’m going to tell him and then he will make love to me and we will be together through the rest of college then get married and have babies,” she practically sings.

  Dani starts laughing, “You have this all figured out huh?”

  “Sure do,” she says boldly.

  “What happens if he doesn’t feel the same way?” she asks.

  Lily stops suddenly on the side of the road, “Excuse me? Why would he not feel the same way?” she asks with a cold hard stare.

  “Maybe he isn’t interested in you,” Dani says bluntly.

  “Not be interested in me, please. There are guys dying to date me, and Evan Fields would definitely not pass up that opportunity.”

  All I can do is look away. How can she be so positive about her looks, yet not have a clue as to how he really feels? Something doesn’t add up.

  Deciding it’s best to ignore the subject; we change topic and make the rest of the walk home in record time.

  Chapter Five

  A few weeks fly by and my friendship with Lily has changed. We don’t talk nearly as much as we used to and I’m not completely upset. Once she joined the sorority, she became a completely different person, one I don’t recognize and I’m not the biggest fan of. She is full of herself now more than she’s ever been.

  Dani and I are even closer as friends and I couldn’t be more excited. Owen is also excited because he couldn’t stand Lily, no surprise there.

  In about two weeks, Evan and I are heading to visit Owen, and I’m hoping like hell that Lily doesn’t appear out of nowhere to go along. Sine we don’t talk, I’m thinking things should be good to go, but you never know with Lily.

  Owen and I talk a few times each week, checking in and making sure everything is going well. He’s truly my best friend and the best brother a girl could ask for.

  “What are you doing tomorrow night?” Dani asks from her bed.

  “Not sure, I’m thinking I may stay in,” I answer honestly.

  “What?” she asks shocked.

  “I’m thinking of doing homework and then Sunday having a movie marathon day,” I say truthfully. I need a break and I’m tired of partying and drinking. I don’t usually get drunk, but sometimes you just need a break.

  “You aren’t seeing Austin tonight?” she asks, looking surprised.

  “No, he has a fraternity meeting tonight.”

  “They usually party afterwards,” she adds.

  “I know, but I don’t feel like going,” I say honestly.

  “So a night in,” she says, saying it slower so it sinks in.

  “Yes, a night in, sometimes we all need one of those,” I point out.

  “Care if I join you? I could use a break too,” she says with a smile.

  “Sure, it’s your room too.”

  “Well, let me ask this, is there any chance Austin is going to be showing up here tonight?” she asks with a look.

  “No, I doubt it.”

  “Okay, then I’ll stay in too.”

  “Sounds good, we can order pizza and hang out,” I say happily. It’s nice to catch up and relax with Dani.

  “So, you and Austin seem to be pretty serio
us,” she points out.

  “It’s only been a few weeks, but things are going well,” I state.

  “Things seem to be pretty serious with you two,” she says with a look.

  “He’s great and I guess you could say somewhat serious.”

  “Any sex?” she asks, calling me out.

  “No, not ready for that yet,” I say.

  “How long are you going to make him wait? We are at college after all.”

  “If that’s what he’s after, then he can go elsewhere. I’m not that type of person, never have been.”

  “Good for you, don’t let him try to change you on that.”

  “He won’t, I don’t give into that crap, but he seems to understand, because we’ve talked about it,” I tell her.

  “That’s good. He seems to really like you, at least it appears that way,” she says.

  “I’m going to agree, if not he’s an extremely good actor.”

  Austin ends up texting me a few times before his meeting, telling me to enjoy my night in with Dani and if I need him, he’s only a text away.

  Austin and I have been getting along great and I couldn’t be happier with that progress. We have quite a bit in common, which is helpful, and also he and Evan are friends. I know Evan would never let someone intentionally set out to screw me over, so that’s refreshing to know as well.

  “Awe, someone’s in love,” Dani jokes.

  “No, I’m not,” I defend.

  “Then why are you blushing?” she asks, calling me out.

  “I like him, he’s different than the jerks I’ve dated before,” I admit.

  “He seems really into you, and he’s known to be in long relationships, so I think you got a good guy,” she says.

  “It’s nice and hard to explain.”

  “You are definitely in love with him, poor Evan,” she mocks.

  I bust out laughing, “Poor Evan?” I ask with an inquisitive look.

  “He had his chance and now he’s shit out of luck. You never know, Austin could be your husband one day,” she says all serious.

  “I’m only a freshman in college, marriage is not even on my radar right now,” I point out.

  “I’m just saying,” she says, as she holds her arms up in surrender.

  “Dating, I’m good with dating. I am noticing that maybe I wasn’t as interested in Evan as I thought I was,” I add.