Chapter 37: Asher Is Moody

ADDY

I stride up to my locker, punching in the code and yanking it open with a bit more force than necessary.

Two weeks.

No explanation, no nothing.

I’d spent my school break moping around like a lovesick teenager, with a million thoughts swirling in my head.

Could he know?

Did he figure out that I was the one who kissed him at the party that night?

But the only other person who knew about that was Kaylee.

So, I’m left with nothing. No idea what I did wrong.

“Addy?”

I turn around to see Gabe, his smile fading when he catches sight of my serious expression.

“You okay?”

I nod, brushing past him, not really in the mood for small talk.

“Hey!” He grabs my arm.

“Not today, Gabe. I need to get to class.”

“Is this about Asher?”

I stop in my tracks, spinning around to face him.

“He’s been acting weird lately, hasn’t mentioned you at all, and he’s been hanging out with me and Blake non-stop.”

He releases my arm and I take a step back.

“I don’t know. He’s ~your~ best friend.”

“This is how Asher was before he started spending time with you. Actually, this is different. He’s grumpy all the time now, so I wanted to ask you if you knew—”

“I thought you knew?”

“Is that why you were so cold to me earlier?”

I give him a sheepish grin.

“We haven’t talked properly for nearly two weeks now. He won’t tell me why and I really have no clue what I did.”

“Of course he won’t tell. Asher has always struggled to express his feelings when something’s wrong.”

“But that doesn’t help anyone!”

“I know, Addy. Find a way to ask him. Make him tell you. How long can he resist anyway? He’s smitten with you!” Gabe says.

I just stand there.

“I don’t really think that ‘smitten’ is the right word. Anyway, I’m going to ask him later!” I give Gabe a thumbs up.

“Do that!” he gives me an encouraging smile.

“Yeah.”

“See ya later then, gotta get to class!”

I wave as Gabe ruffles my hair before disappearing into the crowd.

I tuck the stray strand back into place, heading to my math class.

I slide into the seat next to Kaylee, trying my best not to look like I’ve been sucker-punched.

“Cheer up,” she whispers to me.

“I didn’t see him on the way to school, nor at school this morning.”

“We’ll figure this out, boo. Don’t overthink it. By the way, I can’t meet you guys for lunch. I have a dentist appointment.”

I nod in her direction before my gaze drifts out the window.

~Don’t overthink it.~

That’s all I can think about right now.

I don’t tell her that, though, quietly opening up my book.

~Just an hour and a half more and you’ll see him.~

~You can do this!~

***

My mind is a mess as I carry the tray, my hands trembling, toward the all-too-familiar table in the cafeteria.

Gabe, Blake, and Asher are there just as expected, and I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding, making my way over to them.

I slide into the seat next to Asher.

Gabe and Blake greet me but all I manage to do is nod at them, my attention solely on their best friend.

“We need to get some apple juice,” Blake announces as he stands up, nodding at Gabe, who immediately starts complaining.

“I hate apple juice.”

“We’re getting apple juice!”

Blake gives him a look, and Gabe immediately jumps up, getting the message.

I lean over to face Asher the moment they’re out of sight.

“Asher.”

“Yes?” he says, finally looking up at me.

“I saw you at the movie theater last week.”

His eyes meet mine. There’s a flicker of surprise in them, but it’s gone in a second, replaced by a hardened gaze.

The warm, affectionate look he used to give me is gone, as if it never existed in the first place.

I manage a small smile anyway.

“You could have just told me you wanted to go with Gabe,” I suggest.

He looks away.

“Plans changed last minute, but you’re right... I should have told you.”

~Progress!~

I silently cheer in my mind, scooting a bit closer just as I see Gabe and Blake returning in the corner of my eye.

I gently touch Asher’s arm, trying to get his attention again.

“Get your hands off me.” His hand pushes mine away, and I frown, my smile fading.

~What the hell?~

“What’s going on, Asher? Please tell me what I did wrong! You have to tell me. You can’t just pretend we were never friends!”

He stares at his tray on the table.

“Did the kiss mean nothing to you?” My voice wavers.

“No.”

~No.~

~The kiss meant nothing... of course it meant nothing...~

~He wants me to stop looking because he doesn’t want to be around me anymore...~

~Should I tell him?~

“I need to tell you something. Can I come over today?” I try again.

~I’m going to tell him about the first kiss.~

“You don’t need to tell me anything. I’m busy today.”

Blake and Gabe sit down next to us, glancing back and forth between me and Asher.

I sigh. “I get it.”

I stand up, walking away from the table I’ve been sitting at for months now.

I’m done with this shit.

“Asher, what the hell?” I hear Blake’s voice behind me. I slow down my steps to hear his reply only to flinch.

“I don’t want her to sit with us anymore.” His voice is cold. I don’t stick around to hear the rest as I quickly leave the room.

I feel numb as I make my way out of the cafeteria.

I'm in a foul mood, gnawing on my lip to keep the tears at bay.

All I want to know is why.

Why has he been nothing but a jerk for the past two weeks?

~How can he be so cold without giving me a reason?~

I give myself a pinch before muttering to myself.

“You're not a crybaby, stop the waterworks.”

~God, I sound like a lunatic.~

ASHER

“If you don’t chase after her—” Blake’s voice is stern, and I grunt in response, turning my head away.

I don’t need his damn advice.

And I certainly don’t need her.

“You need to quit being a damn coward and show her you like her.”

“More than you're already showing.” Gabe decides to chime in, earning a laugh from Blake and a glare from me.

“I don’t like anyone!” I snap.

Blake rolls his eyes again. “So?”

My fists tighten. “What?”

“Have you told her you like her?” he asks nonchalantly.

I pick up a slice of cucumber and pop it in my mouth.

Gabe groans, throwing his hands in the air.

“What the hell is your problem? She didn’t reject you. Why are you so cold to her?”

“We kissed.” I look up at my friends to see their jaws drop.

“Damn, about time!”

“So what about the girl you've been searching for all this time?”

I grit my teeth, my jaw tightening as I fight the urge to explode.

“It was a mistake,” I say.

~The kiss was a mistake.~

“What was a mistake?” Gabe pushes.

“Everything.” I glance at the spot Addalynn had occupied just a few minutes ago.

Cold.

I feel a chill run through me.

“Can you quit talking in riddles?” Blake gives me a pointed look.

“She was a damn mistake!” I bellow, ignoring the heads that swivel our way.

Meeting her was a mistake.

Falling for her was a mistake.

Kissing her was a mistake.

And most of all, trusting her was a mistake.

I stand up, shoving my food tray away.

“Asher! Hey!”

I brush off my friends as I storm off.

I'm done with Addalynn Reina.