Page 51 of SnowBound

13

ANDERSON

“Okay, enough. You gotta get out of here. And I’m not taking no for an answer. The semester is over, and you’re going back to Tennessee soon for two weeks. No way am I letting you miss out on college opportunities anymore. Since we came back from winter break, I’ve been patient, but this man’s patience is over.”

My attention drifted away from my laptop and rested on my best friend. Joe pointed at his chest with his thumb, his annoyed frown fully in place. “I don’t feel like partying,” I said, hoping I was convincing enough. “I prefer staying in and writing music.”

“No. Lie. You prefer moping on your own. I checked your browser history. It’s pathetic, Andy. For the last ninety days, all you’ve searched for are Abbis, Abis, Abbys, Abbies, Abigails, Abbeys, and any other names beginning with an A and a B. I’m pretty sure that’s what you’re doing right now.”

If looks could kill, Joe would have been dead. Turned into a pile of ashes. Instead of giving myself away, I rolled my eyes and pretended to be unaffected by his—rightful—accusations.

“Not your problem,” I said when his gaze fixed on me without a word.

“That’s where you’re wrong. I miss my best friend. My wingman. Even when I bring girls over, I’m scared it will affect your romantic predispositions and you’ll go back to isolating yourself from the rest of the world. The only times you get out are when you have a show or go to class.” He tipped a brow as if to dare me to disagree. I couldn’t. Joe spoke the truth. I barely even got out anymore, busy trying to find the girl I still couldn’t get over even after months apart. I was lame. My friend was right. But I’d never tell him that, though.

“So?” I tapped the floor with my right foot. I was so ready for him to run off and attend whatever end-of-semester party he had planned to go to and leave me to my own devices.

“So? This is over. No more being on your own and reminiscing about a night that will never happen again. And a girl you should have forgotten by now. Sure, she made an impact on you. Good. I understand. But it’s over, Andy. She’s gone. Rearview mirror. You gotta put yourself back on the market. Start living again.”

Anger rose inside me. “What if I don’t want to? She was the best thing that happened to me. And I let her go. I didn’t fucking fight for her. The memories of that night are still fresh in my mind. Even my brain refuses to forget all about it.”

He stood, turned on his heels, and disappeared into the kitchen only to return a second later with a bottle of whiskey.

“What for?” I asked when he handed it to me after uncapping it and taking a long gulp.

“Musician’s bitter poison. Drink it.”

I shook my head and made no motion to grab the bottle. “Thanks, but I’m fine.”

“Take the liquor, Andy. Or I’ll make you.”

I sighed. “What is it? Threat two-o-one?”

“Nah. More like Let’s get you drunk tonight and fix the loose screw in your head kinda intervention.”

“Not interested.”

Joe pushed the bottle into my chest, so I had no other choice than to take it. “No isn’t an option. Drink. Believe me, it’ll heal your sensitive heart. And bring my best friend back at the same time.”

“Geez, I’m not dead, man.”

“Maybe not, but the result is the same. You abandoned me, Andy. You prefer your solitude to my company. You are lucky I’m not easily offended.”

What if he was right? What if I was wasting all this time chasing a shadow? It had been months, and I had looked everywhere I could. And so far, no trace of Abby anywhere. I was tired. For a moment, last month, when I felt desperate, I thought about camping on the front lawn of the SSB campus in case she would walk by at some point. The risk of being arrested for being a creep stopped me from doing something stupid.

One afternoon, I even called their administration office and pretended to be a long-lost relative who had some bad news to announce, but they didn’t fall for the lie. I tried again, weeks later, going for the truth this time, but they refused to disclose their students’ names. A classmate of mine suggested I hire a hacker to go through SSB’s database, but I wasn’t willing to risk getting caught if it backfired. It could damage my career if it ever came out sometime in the future. I wasn’t seasoned enough in the clandestine internet world to feel assured nobody would find out.

Joe’s eyes pleaded with me to trust him.

Would a night out without obsessing about things I had no control over do me good?

I brought the bottle to my lips and took a hefty swallow. “Happy now?”

My best friend’s wide grin reached both ears. He inched closer and clapped my shoulder. “Yep. Finally. Now change and let’s get the hell out of here. We’ll grab a bite with the guys and go to the party close to our campus afterward. A sorority house. Bethany will be there. Who knows? The timing could be right for you two this time.”

“Not interested.”

Joe drew me into a hug. “Keep telling yourself that, man. Trust your best friend. I have your back. Always will.”