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all around the room, trying to figure out what my dad wanted to say to Asher. My dad turned and walked away, leaving me nervous.
       “Uh, yeah, I can go but my dad wants to talk to you before we leave.”
       “That's cryptic.”
       “Just get over here.” I heard the line go dead and knew he'd knock on the door soon so I went and changed into some hoop-shooting clothes. When the damn doorbell rang, and rang, and rang, I headed downstairs to find Asher already inside and my dad closing the door behind him.
       “You ring that doorbell every time only because you know how much I hate it.”
       He smiled a big toothy grin. “Not gonna lie, Bit. It's the highlight of my day.”
       “Asher, come with me into my study,” my dad said.
       “Ok,” he replied and started to follow my father. I started following too, but made it only a few steps before my dad stopped me without even looking back.
       “Charlie, wait in the living room.” I stopped in my tracks and watched Asher disappear into the study with my father. I had no idea what he was going to say to him, but I knew it made me nervous. I wandered into the living room and sat on the couch bouncing my knee up and down, trying to distract myself. Ten minutes later I heard the door open and walked towards it. I saw Asher come out first and my dad's hand was on his shoulder. They were both smiling, although Asher's smile looked a little forced.
       “Can we go?” I asked, desperately.
       “Yup. Nine o'clock, Charlie,” my dad said as he raised one eyebrow at me.
       “Got it.” Asher and I walked out of the house and started the mindless walk to our elementary school. A walk I could take blindfolded I'd done it so many times. We were silent for half the walk and finally I couldn't take it anymore.
       “What did my dad say to you?”
       “Not much.”
       “Asher Carmichael, don't you lie to me.”
       He laughed at me. “You sound like my mom,” he said through his laughter.
       “Asher, tell me right now what he said to you!”
       “Ok, jeez, Bit. Take it down a notch.” He took a breath in and let it out loudly. “First he asked me what happened on the first day of school and made me tell him exactly what that guy in the hallway had said to you.”
       “Oh my gosh. How embarrassing.” I dropped my head into my hands.
       “Then he thanked me for sticking up for you and defending you. He followed that up with an anti-violence campaign,” Asher said, laughing again.
       “Then what?”
       “That was it.”
       “No. You were in there with him for ten minutes. What else did you talk about?”
       “Just drop it, Bit.”
       “No! Tell me,” I begged.
       “He just wanted to make sure I knew that you couldn't date until you were sixteen,” he said quickly. My eyebrows scrunched up in confusion.
       “Why would he tell you that?” He didn't answer me. “Asher? Why did he say that to you?”
       “I don't know, Charlie.” He sounded a little angry. “I think he just wants me to remember that you aren't allowed to date anyone.” I shook my head, still not really grasping what was going on.
       “Wait, does my dad think that you want to date me?”
       “I'm not sure,” he said as he bounced his basketball on the pavement as we made our way to the hoops hanging under a large covered area. “It's not a big deal.  Let's drop it.”
       “Ok,” I said quietly. “I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you upset.” He stopped bouncing the ball and looked over at me.
       “I'm not upset, promise. Now, let's play Horse.”
       “Ok,” I tried to smile, but still felt the tension coming off of him. It wasn't until I had lost the first game that I felt like we'd moved passed the awkward moment of the evening. I watched him dribble down the court and then execute a perfect lay-up. He was gifted when it came to sports. I was cursed. But I enjoyed trying to keep up with him,