Next to Me by Emily Walker Page A

for me. You’re being mean.”
    “At least your dad built you something, even if it is really stupid. I will not play in this with you ever.” With those words she went down the ladder and huffed past Dustin into the house. He knew she’d gone home. Her parents were going to separate; she’d been telling him for months now that they’d been threatening divorce with every horrible fight. If she was upset about it, that was fine, but she wasn’t going to rain on his parade.
    “This is great, Dad, thank you so much!” Dustin beamed at him from the porch, and he played the rest of the afternoon.
    The weekend passed without incident. Zane didn’t hear from Whitney, and he didn’t really want to. He rested, played video games, mowed the lawn, and helped his dad rearrange his closet. When Wednesday rolled around she texted him as usual with her movie picks for the day, and as usual they were all horrible. He vetoed all but one and told her he would pick out the movies and meet at her house around three.
    He was looking forward to some normal time with his best friend. Everything had been off-kilter and she didn’t get high on movie day or drink. It was their one rule, and it was his favorite day. As far as he knew, she had never broken their rule, and he really loved sober Whitney. She was funny, considerate, and even though she was a little on edge, it was like having his best friend back for the day.
    When he showed up a little before three she looked nervous. He couldn’t figure out what was going on with her, and thought he smelled vodka on her breath. He hoped it was just mouthwash and decided to let it go. They were only fifteen minutes into the first movie when he heard the sound of a motorcycle pull into the driveway and cut off right outside the door. He looked at Whitney in complete shock.
    “I invited him, Zane. I want you two to meet again and start over. Please do this for me.” Zane was not happy, but he was stuck, and she knew it. No wonder she had been drinking, she was about to pull one over on him.
    “You didn’t really give me a choice, did you?” She gave him a nervous smile and jumped up to let Walter in. They kissed for entirely too long and then she brought him in by the hand.
    “Walter, this is my best friend in the whole world, Zane.” Whitney expected Zane to get up and shake his hand, but he didn’t budge.
    “What’s up?” That was Walter’s contribution to the conversation before he sat down in the chair and focused on the TV. It was beyond an awkward situation. Whitney started the movie again, and they settled in to watch a classic horror movie, and one of Zane’s favorites.
    “That doesn’t even look like real blood. That person is breathing. That is the stupidest thing I’ve ever seen. Like that would really happen.” Walter had something to say about everything, and he was ruining the only good thing about the day for Zane.
    “Not a fan of horror, are you?” Zane said, looking over at Walter as he played with a knife and bounced his leg up and down.
    “I’m not a fan of poorly written, acted, and filmed horror, Zane.” The way he said his name rubbed Zane the wrong way. It dripped with sarcasm and disrespect.
    “This is a classic.” Zane would defend his movies.
    “Whatever, man.” Walter stood up from his chair and put the knife back in his pocket. “Babe, sorry, but this isn’t my scene. I’m gonna jet.” Zane was pleased that he was leaving until Whitney stood up too.
    “I’ll go with you, just give me a sec to grab some stuff.” Walter nodded and went outside to wait for her. “Look, I know I’m ditching you, Zane, but I never like anyone, and I really like him, so we can take a rain check right?”
    Zane didn’t say anything and as usual she didn’t care. She took his silence as annoyed agreement and left him sitting in her apartment by himself.
    It was then and there that Zane made a decision. She didn’t care about him, and it was time for him