2004

“Yeah, but… rent is $800. Food is $1200. Car insurance and gas are like… $200, probably...” Forest says, scratching notes on the back of an old flyer. “$200 goes to the bus passes for me and Gunnar. And those are just the mast basic things.”

“Man, food is so expensive,” I gripe, sitting back.

Forest just nods, lost in thought. I let him do his thing. I suck at math.

We’re sitting on the couch that doubles as my bed, trying to figure out how we’re going to budget this month. He’s only seventeen, grown tall and dark just like me, but he’s very serious. Unlike me, Forest is about to graduate high school at the top of his class. He’s got a head for numbers, which is why I’ve asked him for help with this.

“What about Gunnar’s class trip?” I ask, leaning over to look at what Forest has written down. “That’s another hundred.”

He writes that down, scrunching his face. “And what are you going to earn?”

“Depends on the tips. I’ll definitely get $400 every week, but tips have been shitty the last month. Maybe… another $50 every shift, six shifts a week.” I think about it for a second. “I can go back to working doubles some days, I guess.”

“No way. That’s how you ended up walking around with pneumonia for two months.” Forest shakes his head. “The doctor said you need to sleep like a normal human being. You should let me get a job.”

“No,” I say, biting off the word. “Your job is to graduate high school. You only have a few more months, and then you’re off to California State for a full ride. No ifs, ands, or buts.”

He rolls his eyes at me. “So you say.”

“I mean it. You’re the smart one, dude. One day this is gonna pay off so big. You’ll thank me for it then.”

Forest gives me a look. “Right, but in the meantime… we’re going to be way short.”

“So I go back to doubles, then.” I don’t want to say it out loud, but I was really hoping that wouldn’t happen. Working a double shift in a restaurant is actual hell. It’s twelve hours of people expecting me to anticipate their every need. “Maybe just two a week. I can do that.”

“I mean… that might work…” Forest says. “That’s what… two hundred more a week?”

“Yeah, give or take.” I sigh. “You’re going to have to pick Gunnar up from school again, though. If the school district finds out that we’re using an old address, they’ll kick you both out.”

“He’s thirteen. He can take the city bus, just like I do.”

I squint. “I don’t trust him like I trusted you at that age. He’s always showing off, tring to impress girls. I don’t think he realizes how serious the school board takes the zoning stuff.”

There’s a knock at the front door, which always makes me paranoid as fuck. In my experience, it’s usually not good news. The door opens though, and it’s just Asher.

He’s growing out his hair into a long blonde mop, and he’s dressed super grungy. It’s actually the way I worry that people see me, except he has no reason to be afraid. He’s Asher Alderisi after all — super rich, going to Stanford, driving a Mercedes.

His grungy look is just for show. A little part of me is so mad about that… but I shrug it off.

“Hey guys,” he says, coming in and closing the door behind him. “What’s up?”

“Nothing,” I say. But Forest responds at the same time, “Making a budget. We’re not sure how we’re going to make it this month. You know, the usual.”

Forest sprawls back on the couch. I feel the tips of my ears redden. Asher knows that we are strapped for money, but I don’t like to talk about it.

“Then it’s a good thing I came by,” Asher says, scrounging in his pocket. He produces a gift card. “I asked for cash for my birthday, and my great aunt thought that I meant cash for the grocery store, or whatever? I don’t know. Anyway, she gave me this gift card, which is like a thousand dollars… but it can only be used at the grocery stores listed on the card.”

“Whoa, really?” Forest says, bouncing up to grab the card. “Asher, this is awesome.”

I’m not as comfortable with it, though. “Are you sure about that? That’s a ton of money.”

“Yeah, but I don’t like… go to the grocery store. I eat on campus, mostly.” Asher comes in and flops down on the folding chair we keep in the living room. “It’s not a big deal, honestly. I mean, you’ll use it, right?”

“Definitely,” Forest says. “Jameson was just complaining that food is so expensive.”

I scratch my stubble on my cheek. “Yeah, thanks.”

This is how it is with Asher. He gets these amazing things, like this gift certificate, or the second hand beater car that is now parked in my driveway. And then, often as not, he just gives them away to me.

I might need it, but it’s still a little uncomfortable. The worst part is that he’s not even really aware of the value of what he gives away. I know that if I corner him and wave the stuff he’s given me under his nose, he will just shrug.

How do I even begin to start repaying what I owe him? I don’t even know how to calculate the cost, honestly.

“Hey, you’re off today, right?” Asher asks.

“I am,” I say slowly.

“Perfect. I want to go see Hellboy.”

“You want what?”

He sighs dramatically. “You work too much, and don’t pay enough attention to what’s playing at the box office. Trust me, you’re gonna love it. You too, Forest, if you’re not busy.”

“Hell yeah!” Forest says. “Let me get my jacket.”

I cast an eye over Asher. He notices me looking.

“What?” he says. “I know you’re not going to turn down a free movie and popcorn.”

And he’s right, I’m not. But I am adding it to the total tally of what I owe Asher, which is growing heavier and heavier the longer we’re friends.