"It's not your fault," Eric proclaimed standing over Asia.

      Asia really didn't feel like being bothered. She rolled out of bed that morning without a smile on her face, brushed her teeth, used her hands to smooth down her frizzy edges and left the house in jeans and a t-shirt. She ignored all of her acquaintances in the hallway and didn't meet her friends at Ethan's locker. She beelined to her first-period class, stalked to the back and rested her head on the desk. 

    She couldn't skip out on practice. She knew Coach didn't care about the relationship drama that went on in his athlete's life. So, she went. Asia didn't put on a smile. She wasn't happy. She didn't talk; there were no words she wanted to say. She just ran...ran around the track until the only thing running through her mind was the steadiness of her breaths and not the memories of Zackary Jefferson. After Coach blew the whistle and practice was over she dropped to her knees, rolled over on her back and took up residence in lane nine.

     Eric exhaled while looking ahead. The Dowling Wolves were doing two-a-days while Ethan and Denver vigorously threw the ball back and forth; Oliver was stalking around the field taking candid pictures for the yearbook. Eric let his backpack drop from his shoulder. He went to lane eight, pulled his sunglasses down onto his eyes and lied next to Asia. 

He focused his eyes on the sky as his glasses dimmed and repeated, "It's not your fault." His Adam's apple bobbed up and down slowly as he took a measured swallow. "Zack left because he's a jackass."

     "He didn't say bye." Asia bit her lip tasting her apple lip-gloss. "Nothing. His room was packed up...like he never lived there." She sniffed trying to push away tears that refused to be stored in a reservoir. "His parents' said he went to stay with his Uncle."

     "Forget him," Eric instructed like it was an easy feat.

   Forget him, Asia repeated his statement to herself. He told her that before but back then he spoke it with sincerity. She reflected on the moment that played out in her backyard a year ago and those old wounds caused tears to roll down the side of her bronze face. "I miss him." A flood of more tears poured from her eyes. "I love him. I still love him."

     Eric turned toward her and the sight of her tears made anger swarm his body. "Fuck him." He rolled over to his side and tried to look her in the eyes but they were shut. "He's a fuckboy that screwed you over."

    "Not him." Asia wiped the side of her face. "Cole. I miss my brother." The confession made her chest quake with sorrow. "He left me too."

     "He didn't leave you." Eric took her hand in his. "He lost his way."

      "He died." Asia clarified. "He left me."

      "Not because he wanted, too. And he's not dead...he's missing." Eric squeezed her hand. "But I'll tell you this..." Asia opened her eyes and shifted them toward him. "You're stuck with me...with us. Sorry, you're stuck with us." He winked at her.

     Asia pulled her hand away from him and sat up. "Did he tell you to come over here?" She glanced over at Ethan.

     "Yep," Eric answered lying back flat. "He's the big brother of the group remember." He said before letting out a short laugh.

    Asia slapped the side of Eric's thigh with her backhand, "I'm the oldest."

    "By five minutes." Eric's laugh gave way to a smile.

     Asia stood up, "Isn't it strange that we're all born on the same day." She held out her hand.

      Eric took her hand and rose to his feet, "Not when five very pregnant women become friends during a Lamaze class."

     "It's still strange." Asia shrugged.

****

     Asia shook her mind out of the moment from the past. She didn't care what Keller had to say. There was nothing in this world that would make her leave Denver, not now...not ever. She swiped the card through the reader

     "You're making a mistake," Keller shouted to Asia's back as the metal door slid open.

       Asia knew Keller was telling the truth. It wasn't because of the words he strung together or the desperation in how he spoke them. It was the man with the aviator glasses standing in front of her that made her realize she'd made a mistake.

     "Asia Knight." A sly grin grew on the man's angular face. "I've been looking for you." 

Keller was telling the truth. How is Asia going to get out of this one?