“Until?” I quirk a brow. “That’s awfully presumptuous of you.”
“Ave. I’m not going down without a fight. I’m in this for the long haul.”
“And who are you fighting against here?”
“The version of me in your head. The one who let you go. He didn’t deserve you. But maybe I can.”
Pressure builds against the back of my eyes. I think I believe him. Not just that he means it, but that he might be able to do it.
“What are we for now?” I’m almost too scared to ask.
“You told your mechanic last night I was your best friend. Is that still on the table? Or was that a heat of the moment thing? Car tires are serious business, so I understand if that’s changed.” The smile that meets his lips is sheepish as he scuffs a foot on the floor.
Did I really say that? I kind of blacked out for a moment, but if it slipped out, maybe it’s worth trusting the part of me that holds it to be true.
“I guess I can accept that. On a probationary basis.”
He thrusts out his hand.
“Are you trying to get me to shake on it like some gentleman’s agreement?” A laugh rockets out of my lungs.
“No. My first official act as your probationary best friend is taking that bag from you.”
I don’t fight it. I slip the weight from my shoulder and give it to him.
We walk out. Together.
But I shouldn’t be surprised. We’ve always had a knack for finding each other again, no matter what.
Track Ten
With their upbeat songs, Fool’s Gambit is the ultimate guilty pleasure that will have you humming along for days. Still, after attending their live concert in Philly, the front man, Wesley Hart leaves much to be desired. More than once, he seemed to stumble with the lyrics or forget stage directions, it’s a credit to the rest of the band for how they kept it together. Still, they’re a young band to keep your eye on. (Segment courtesy of Compress Magazine.)
Jared:With the start of the tour, we were supposed to be having the time of our life, but it felt wrong to celebrate. It was the first time we’d been hit with any type of loss, and it felt like fumbling in the dark with our hands tied behind our backs. And it wasn’t like we could reach Avery after her number was disconnected.
Wesley:I was in constant motion, going from city to city with barely any time to sleep. And I didn’t want to stop moving, because in the silent moments I had time to think. About how the first time I tried to call Avery, I was met with a robotic voice telling me the number was out of service. How Mom was home alone. How I felt the same way I did at fourteen—powerless.
Wesley:On the few days we had off I’d head home to check on Mom. She was holding it together, but only barely. Her eyes were constantly puffy from crying, and she slept in late.
Garrett:Before Wesley took his trip to Connecticut, he was a mess, showing up late to rehearsals and missing entrances in front of thousands of people. When he came back, he had a shit-eating grin and a black eye. The shows went fine after that.
Wesley
Winter 2008
Istayed longer than I should have over Thanksgiving and needed to get on the road back to Nashville. But Hudson and Avery’s absence was even more pronounced than usual over the holiday, and I hated leaving knowing the house would be empty.
“Are you sure you don’t need anything from the store? I could run out real quick,” I offered as I stuck my head into the turkey and mashed potato stuffed fridge. Mom had made her regular amount of food, and I’d set the table for four instead of two. After five years with them, it was a habit. “I know you have leftovers, but you’ll get sick of them.”
The night before, I’d come downstairs to see her looking absently out the window. I knew she was thinking about Hudson. Things would never be the same. Part of her was buried in the cold earth with him.
She shooed me from the fridge and closed the door. “I can take care of myself just fine. You’re letting the cold air out.”
“I’m here. Let me help with what you need,” I insisted. I just wanted someone to tell me how to fix things. Last time, I hadAvery and music. This time, music only made me think about how Avery was gone, and I had no idea how to find her.
Mom sighed and shuffled out of the kitchen. Moments later, she returned with a faded slip of notebook paper in her hand.
“What you can do is call and make sure our girl is okay. I don’t know if it still works. Freshman year, Hudson gave me his home number.” Her voice cracked. “If the family hasn’t moved, it might be the same.”
