Life After That

by Barbara Kevin

  "Yes, I'd love that!" he replied to Kirstin that was now writing down her numbers on a piece of paper. After handing it to Tom, she said:

  "So, I'll expect your call."

  "Ok. I'll call you for sure. Don't worry."

  "Good. Bye then Tom."

  "Bye, K!"

  Chapter 18

  Kirstin dropped her keys on the kitchen counter and went to take a bath.

  After she had changed into her nightshirt, she got her cordless phone, went upstairs and climbed on her bed, dialing Grace's phone number.

  "Hello?"

  "Hey G, it's me, K!"

  She first told her friend about her work and then the whole thing with Tom. When she finished talking, Grace asked:

  "Friends, huh?"

  "Yes. He's great G! You are gonna love him! I thought we knew Tom, but we didn't. At all! And it's totally fine between us. Sometimes it felt like nothing had ever happened."

  "But something did happen."

  "I know I'm with Ashley now, well, kinda. But I don't know… it's different with Tom. He's so sweet! I miss having a guy friend, you know? I haven't had one since, well, Ashley."

  "And look how you two turned out to be!"

  "Gee, it's different. I'm not in love with Tom!"

  "Not yet anyway."

  "Jesus, why you have to be so negative?"

  "It's not that, it's just that… Never mind…"

  "Oh, c'mon. Tell me."

  "It's nothing. Just be careful though. Especially when you tell Ashley about it, 'cause he may get the wrong impression and you can hurt him… again."

  "I know…" – Kirstin leaned her head on the wall – "I will be careful."

  "Good."

  "So let me call him now before it's too late." – she read the digital clock on her nightstand. It was 10:45 already.

  "Ok hun. We'll talk tomorrow."

  "Yeah, buhbye!"

  Pressing the speed dial, Kirstin got a hold on Ashley.

  "Hello?"

  "Hey you!" – she smiled to the phone.

  "Hey! How is it going?" – Ashley asked all enthusiastic.

  "Good, good… you?"

  "Great… So… how were things with Tom?" – Ashley didn't have the enthusiastic tone in his voice anymore. He was worried about that every since he heard Kirstin say she was with Tom at the coffee shop he worked at.

  "Pretty good, actually. We talked for hours, he's a great guy, Ashley!" – she heard nothing on the other end – "Not as much as you though."

  "Well, I am one of a kind!" – his mood seemed to had got better. That made Kirstin grin.

  "Yeah, yeah…"

  "So, the awkward phase is gone now. You don't have to make up to him again, right?"

  "Right, but…" – she didn't know how to put it. She felt like… betraying Ashley for some reason – "We are gonna hang out again. We exchanged numbers. We are gonna be friends, you know?"

  "Why?"

  "What do you mean why? Why I wanna have a friend?"

  "No, it's… why do you want him as your friend?"

  "Because he is a terrific guy and I miss having a guy friend."

  "But I'm your guy friend."

  "Yeah, but… you're more than my friend."

  "That, thank God, I am!"

  "See? But Tom and I are just gonna be friends, friends…"

  "Really?"

  "Yes! Of course!"

  "Promise?"

  "Promise, Ash!"

  "Ok!" – Ashley wasn't too glad about this situation but he didn't wanna extend that conversation and didn't wanna say something wrong, so he changed the subject, talking about Kirstin's first day at work and more. Approximately 30 minutes later, Kirstin stated:

  "So, ok. I gotta go get some sleep. I have to go to the library tomorrow."

  "But tomorrow is Saturday!"

  "I know, but I have this paper that's due to Monday. I was gonna work on it Thursday, but some band called in asking for an immediate meeting at work and I had no time to work on it. So I have to do this on a weekend."

  "Man, what a mean band!"

  "I know! Tell me about it!" – they giggled – "Baby, I really have to hang up now."

  "Really?"

  "Really…"

  "Really really?"

  "Really really really!"

  "Wow… you REALLY have to go!" – Kirstin giggled again – "Ok, so go. Go have your Beauty Sleep."

  "I don't need that. I'm naturally beautiful!"

  "Yeah, right!"

  "ASHLEY!"

  "Just kidding, girl! You are a true Princess."

  "Thank you!"

  "So, I'll call you tomorrow as soon as we land in Indianapolis."

  "Ok, great. Than talk to you tomorrow."

  "Bye… Sweet dreams!"

  "You too! Buhbye!"

  Kirstin was too tired to go back downstairs to put the cordless phone on its proper place, so she just placed it on her night stand, got up to turn off the lights and got to bed.

  ORLANDO, FL

  "Dan, can we talk?" – Ashley knocked and asked outside Dan's room.

  "Yes, come on in. I'm just finishing packing."

  "Too excited to go to bed?" – Ashley leaned on Dan's closet.

  "Yes! It's great coming home! Well, almost home."

  "Yes, it is." – that reminded Ashley of something that made him rub his forehead – "Oh man, I still have to pack my things."

  "What's up Ash? What you wanna talk about?"

  "Oh yeah!" – Ashley got all excited all of a sudden – "Kirstin called!"

  "Really? That's good! And… what happened?" – Dan asked shoving some socks in his bag.

  "Well, I didn't like the part where she said how great that Tom guy is and how cool is gonna be when they hang out again."

  "Ow… I'm sorry."

  "Yeah, they decided they are gonna be friends. And that scares me a bit."

  "Because usually a guy is just friends with a girl when he's after something with her?"

  "Exactly! It scares me especially if he already had something with that particular girl and that girl is my girl. And besides…" – Ashley looked down.

  "Besides…"

  "I know how Kirstin is around guy friends. In high school she didn't have too many guy friends, just me and this guy named Jared. And, how can I put it? She's a "touchy" type of girl. When she's friends with a guy, she touches him too much, like, hugs all the time, and kisses on the cheek, and stroking in the head, and sitting or laying on his lap, you know? And guys do tend to get the wrong impression about girls that do that. Jared did and I know Kirstin totally blew him off, but I worry anyhow."

  "Oh, I see… But what did Kirstin say about it? Them being friends?"

  "She didn't seem to want to talk too much about it, she only said he's a great guy, they are gonna hang out again, as friends, and promised that'd be all."

  "Well, there you have it. Now what's left for you to do now is trust her."

  "Yes, I guess…"

  "And was she excited when you told her you are gonna be there in 3 weeks?"

  "I didn't tell her."

  "You didn't? At practice you couldn't wait to get home and tell her. What made you change your mind?"

  "I thought of surprising her."

  "Nice!"

  "Yeah, I thought so too! I didn't tell her we are going to Europe either. She's not gonna like it that much, I think, so I thought of telling her that in person."

  "It's better that way, yes. Done!" – Dan exclaimed when he zipped up his bag.

  "Oh, I'll go do mine now. Dan, thanks for listening man. Again!"

  "Hey, don't mention!" – they 'male hugged' each other and Ashley left Dan's room.

  It had been 3 weeks since Kirstin had bumped into Tom. And a lot had happened during those weeks. Kirstin and Tom had developed this amazing friendship no one ever thought it could be possible. Every time Tom would have a short shift at the bar, or no shift at all, he would sleep over Kirstin's. On her couch, of
course. Sometimes, Grace and Lexie would sleep over too, but most of the times, especially if it was weekdays, it was just Kirstin and Tom. And they were both fine with that. They felt comfortable around each other. Tom had even got a copy of Kirstin's loft key. Now Grace wasn't the one with a copy. Kirstin felt so safe around Tom, she felt she could tell him anything without being judged. And that Friday, she told him something not so many people knew.

  "A tattoo?"

  "Yes… why are you so shocked?"

  "I don't know… I wouldn't take you as a tattoo type of person."

  "Well, most people don't."

  "But…" – he didn't know how to put it – "How come I didn't see it when… you know?"

  "When what?" – Kirstin knew exactly what he meant by that, but she was trying to make him feel uncomfortable, so she even faked a serious look.

  "When we… you know!"

  "No, I don't! When we what?" – she had now a confused look on.

  "When we almost did it."

  "Oh! That time!" – she smirked and Tom realized she knew all along what he was talking about – "I don't know. It's not that big and it's really covered. It's not everyone that can see it. Just a few selected people." – she winked.

  "Where is it?"

  Kirstin and Tom were sitting on her couch on their sleeping clothes. Tom wore a black Adidas pants and no t-shirt on (despite how cold NY was during the beginning of February, Kirstin's loft was really warm) and Kirstin wore a big and old white t-shirt with the Coca-Cola logo on it. The t-shirt was pretty long and went all the way down her knees. Underneath it, she had a really short, black lycra shorts.

  "C'mon, where is it?"

  Kirstin got up, pulled her shirt up, pulled her shorts down a little and revealed her tattoo. As Kirstin had told before, it wasn't too big. The tattoo was about 1 and a half inches and it was a heart with a chain around it with a lock. It was on the right side on her lower back.

  "It's cute."

  "I like it." – she stated rubbing her thumb on her tattoo and sitting back on her couch.

  "Is it suppose to be your own heart?" – Kirstin just nodded - "But why is it locked?"

  "Because if no one can get to it, no one can play with it." – she answered glancing down. "I gotta go to the bathroom. Be right back."

  Tom knew Kirstin had been hurt, but he wanted so bad to know who would do such a thing to a girl like Kirstin. He wanted to know the whole story, but couldn't and wouldn't ask her to tell him. Not yet, anyway. He then went to grab the remote control to turn on the TV but was stopped by the doorbell ring.

  "The pizza's here!" – he yelled to inform Kirstin that their dinner had arrived. He got his wallet from the kitchen counter and went to get the door – "Hey, how much is it again?" he was going through his wallet and when no one answered, he looked up and saw that the figure standing there didn't have a pizza with him.

  "Oh, I'm sorry, I thought it was… Hey! I know you!"

  "You should! Because I sure know you!"

  "Ashley?" – Kirstin puzzled, asked from over Tom's shoulder.

  Chapter 19

  Ashley looked Kirstin up and down. Seeing her wearing just a shirt and Tom just pants, wasn't exactly a pretty picture for him.

  "I'm outta here!" - he threw his hands up in the air and headed toward the elevator.

  "No, no, no, no! Wait, wait, wait!" - Kirstin followed him. She then grabbed his arm - "What's going on?"

  Ashley released himself from her grip kind of rudely. - "I don't know Kirstin. You tell me! I don't see my girlfri… I mean, this girl I'm seeing, you, in 3 weeks and when I finally get to your house I'm greeted by a half naked guy, not just any guy, but that guy" - he pointed to Tom that was standing by the apartment's open door - "and you, dressed in… that" - he pointed to Kirstin's shirt - "So Kirstin, YOU tell ME what's going on!" - Ashley raised his voice.

  "Ashley, calm down. There's no need to yell. Especially here in the hallway. Let's go inside so we can talk."

  "No, I'm leaving." - he opened the elevator door but Kirstin stopped him before getting in it.

  "Please, let's talk."

  "I'm not coming in with that guy in there!"

  "Oh, come on Ashley! Stop being such a baby and get in already!" - she was practically dragging him to her loft. Ashley let her drag him, 'cause he did want to talk to her, but he fought back a little so he'd make clear to her that he was, indeed, mad at her.

  The thing with Kirstin's loft was that it had no walls in it, it was all wide open. She didn't exactly wanted Tom to hear their conversation, but she didn't want to kick him out either. She decided the best thing to do was to go upstairs in her room. It wouldn't exactly prive Tom from hearing their conversation, but they at least would be 'alone' upstairs.

  "We're going upstairs." - Kirstin informed pushing Ashley from his back. Ashley had his eyes locked on Tom's every move.

  "Is he gonna stay here?"

  Kirstin looked at Tom:

  "Yes, he's gonna stay here."

  "But K…"

  "What's the problem Ashley?" - Tom suddenly spoke" – "Are you afraid a guy like me is gonna steal your girlfriend? Oh, pardon me, she's not your girlfriend!"

  "Tom, please, don't…"

  "Oh, so the waiter wants to get into trouble now, does he?" - Ashley pushed Tom and made him almost fall down when he tripped over a coffee table.

  "Oh, you shouldn't have messed with me, pretty boy!" - Tom pushed Ashley, but Tom was taller and much stronger than Ashley, and his push made Ashley fall on the couch.

  "Stop it you too!" - Kirstin shouted going into Ashley's direction. He was now with his fist closed and going straight to Tom's stomach, but Kirstin was able to catch his wrist before he'd do anything.

  "Let me hit him, Kirstin."

  "Oh, so the pretty boy can't get away from a girl's grip?"

  "Oh, let me go Kirstin. He's asking for it!"

  "Tom, shut up! And Ashley, stop it! Go upstairs!" - Kirstin pointed to the stairs.

  "But…"

  "But nothing! Go! Now!"

  "Yeah! Go to the room, pretty boy!"

  "TOM!" - Kirstin shouted and had to stop Ashley again from hitting Tom - "Ashley, go upstairs now! And Tom, you sit there!" - she pointed to her couch.

  "But…" - Tom and Ashley said at the same time, looking at Kirstin.

  "Shush, you too! Now you go upstairs and you sit there!" - she watched as both guys did as they were told. Then Kirstin sat beside Tom.

  "I can't believe you did that Tommy. Starting a fight like that, it's… so not you."

  "He wasn't any different, Kirstin!"

  "Yeah, I know, but I expected more from you." - she shook her head and left him there. Tom watched her go upstairs and spotted Ashley with a big smile staring at him, like mocking him. He wanted to get up and punch him in his face, but the disappointed tone on Kirstin's voice that he had just heard made him mentally count up to 10, so he'd calm down.

  When Kirstin got upstairs, she sat on her bed. She was not worried at all. She knew she had done nothing wrong. Ashley, on the other hand, was now all agitated and pacing around Kirstin's king-size bed.

  "Ok Ashley. Ask me whatever you want."

  "First off, why is he here?" - he pointed downstairs. Tom didn't look up.

  "He's always here!"

  "Oh, since you put it that way, I'm actually relieved!" - Ashley just shook his head and continued - "Why is he always here Kirstin? And why is he shirtless?"

  "Ash, you don't have to worry about Tom. He's always here because he's my friend and I invite him over. And why is he shirtless? Good question." - she frowned and shouted - "Hey Tom! Why are you shirtless?"

  "Because I have a nice body and I wanna show it off!" - Tom shouted back from downstairs, holding back a laughter.

  "See? - Kirstin was still mad at Tom but couldn't help but giggle at that answer - "He does have a nice body. Can you blame him for wanting to show it off?"

  "Oh Kirstin, it's great to know t
his whole thing feels like a big joke to you and 'Tommy' downstairs. Just… great!" - he rubbed his forehead.

  "Ashley, I don't see why it isn't a joke to you! I know it's not a pretty picture to see a shirtless guy in your girl's apartment, but it's not what it looks like and it sure isn't a motive to start a fight!"

  "He was asking for it. You heard him! And you didn't help either! You, wearing just that shirt and…"

  "No, look, look, look! Voilá! Shorts!" - she smiled as she showed him her shorts and saw a smile on Ashley's face - "You're smiling! You forgive me!"

  "No, I'm not! I'm still mad at you!" - Ashley crossed his arms. He didn't want to forget the whole situation but he was unable to get mad at Kirstin.

  "Yes, you are! Come here Ashley!" - she patted the mattress so Ashley would sit. It took a while for him to actually sit. When he finally did, she started - "Ash, when you promised me that thing you did in your car that day in Orlando, I also made a promise to myself that I would never hurt you as long as you kept that promise. I know I've hurt you a lot before and I don't wanna do that again. You don't deserve it, so don't you worry! You are a great guy, a great friend, a great kisser…" - she saw a smile appear on Ashley's face again – "And you should always smile. Your smile is the best."

  "Actually, it's the second best. Yours wins."

  "Well, you got that right, Angel!" - she said all serious.

  "And you're also very modest."

  "I am, aren't I?" - she smiled and he did the same - "So, are you gonna greet me the right way or what?"

  Ashley got up, reached his hand out for her. When she was up, he wrapped his arms around her waist and looking deeply in her eyes, he said, grinning:

  "Hi."

  "Hi." - Kirstin had her arms wrapped around his neck. He then leaned in and kissed her passionately. When they finally pulled back, Kirstin spoke:

  "Promise me you won't argue or fight with Tom again? He's a big friend of mine and I don't wanna be torn between you two."

  "Ok." - Ashley responded, but looking away.

  "Ash, look at me and promise me that. Seriously."

  "Ok, ok! I promise!"

  "Good, now…" - she frowned - "How did you know where I live?"

  "Oh, remember, like, 2 weeks ago, I called you asking for your home address?"

  "Yeah, you said you wanted it so you could send me postcards from all the states you'd be in and… Hey! I never got any postcard!"