~ Asher's POV ~
"Asher, you made it!" Karlie chimed in excitement as soon as she saw Asher.
Asher walked lamely on the sand with his hands buried in his jeans pockets. He looked up to the group of people sitting and standing around the bonfire on the beach.
"Yeah, hey," Asher forced out a smile and nodded at Karlie.
Karlie immediately got up and made her way over to him. Meanwhile, Zoie, who was grabbing drinks from a nearby cooler, walked past Asher to get to the bonfire.
"Oh, hey!" she looked taken aback. "I thought you weren't coming?"
"Mmyeah, I changed my mind,"
"Why?"
Why do you think?
Asher didn't get a chance to say his response, Karlie was suddenly linking her arms around his neck, pushing herself in between Zoie and Asher.
"It's 'cause you wanna see me, right?" Karlie giggled and fluttered her eyes at him.
Ha-ha. Yeah right.
Again, not giving Asher a chance to respond, Karlie stood on her tippy toes and kissed his cheek. Then she whispered, "Well, I missed you too,"
Wow. This girl just doesn't know when to stop.
Pulling away, Karlie noticed Zoie was standing nearby and she gave her a look. Zoie took the hint and she stepped away. She gave Asher one last smile before turning around. Asher could only watch as Zoie walk back and sit next to Miles by the bonfire. Asher's body moved to follow her instinctively. Karlie was following him too. There wasn't any empty seat around Zoie, so Asher sat next to Miles. There was a gap in between them. Separated by the fire in the middle.
"So, I haven't seen you in a while," Karlie said as she sat next to him. "How you've been?"
"Alright," he replied rather curtly. He didn't even bother looking at Karlie. He kept his eyes on Miles and Zoie, who were now talking and laughing.
Ugh. This is why I didn't wanna come.
Up until an hour ago, Asher was certain he wasn't coming to the bonfire. This kind of social stuff was never his thing. Zoie promised that she won't be home too late because she's got classes early the next day. And since this was a public event with a lot of other people around, Asher thought it would've been safe to let Zoie go on her own. If he chose to go with her, he'd just end up watching her and Miles talk all night. Definitely not how he'd choose to spend a Sunday night.
But after he made that decision and let Zoie go, Asher felt... uneasy. He was sitting at home, all alone, watching the new episode of Drive to Survive, but his mind kept wandering back to her. He knew she'd be fine out here, but... he just gotta see it for himself. And so, here he was.
"How are your classes?" Karlie chimed again. She was too desperate to get his attention. "You know, I was a TA last year. I'm pretty tight with a lot of professors, so if you need any help with-"
"I don't care about 'em," Asher cut her off.
"You don't care about your classes?"
Asher just shrugged.
"You're in Stanford!" Karlie protested, but again, Asher just shrugged.
"Then what do you care about?" she pressed.
Her.
Asher glanced at Zoie and she caught his eyes. She gave him a weak smile. Asher flashed her a quick smile before turning his eyes to the bonfire. The flame was blazing and dancing. One could get lost for hours just staring at it.
"Everything and... nothing," he said finally.
Karlie watched him for a moment. Entranced.
"Gee, that's deep," she said. "You're an interesting guy, aren't you?"
Asher didn't say anything in response. He just kept staring at the fire and Karlie was staring at him. He was like a flame to her. You can't touch him, but you can feel his presence. He was intense. Brooding. Mysterious. And she just can't get enough.
"Guys! Let's play a game!" A loud voice boomed, pulling Asher and Karlie out of their daydreams. It was Jo.
"Ooh, what are we playing?" said another girl.
"Let's do truth or dare!" Jo exclaimed.
The other girls sitting around her giggled and clapped in excitement. Zoie also didn't seem to mind. Asher let out a scoff and rolled his eyes. He can't believe he was part of this silly social activity now.
"Hey, man. You want a drink?" Miles was handing out a can of beer to Asher. A gesture of friendship, maybe?
Asher didn't take it right away. He was too suspicious.
"Let's start with Zoie!" said one of the girls.
"Ok, gimme that," Asher rolled his eyes and took the can of beer.
If I'm gonna have to sit through this, I ain't doing it sober.
Asher cracked the can open and sipped the beer. Meanwhile, Jo stood up in front of everyone and walked over to Zoie. She gave Zoie a little Stanford flag.
"Zoie, truth or dare?"
Zoie took the flag in her hand and muttered, "Umm, truth...?"
"Oh, boo!" some of the people in the group whined and put their thumbs down.
"Alright, alright, so Zoie, tell us..." Jo paused for a beat before saying, "Is Miles a good kisser?"
"Aawww!" the group was now cheering and aawing.
Zoie turned to Miles and her cheeks flared up red. Miles was laughing too. He raked his hair with his hand and shook his head.
"Well... yeah..." she muttered. "He's... a great kisser,"
Fúcking kill me now.
Asher took another big gulp of the beer. Meanwhile, the rest of the group was cheering and chanting, clapping their hands at Zoie and Miles - Stanford's newest it couple.
"Alright, Miles, you're next," Jo said as she took the flag from Zoie and gave it to Miles. "Truth or dare?"
"Do the dare!" yelled one of the guys.
"Yeah, you gotta do the dare!"
Miles just laughed and shrugged.
"Alright, I'll do the dare," he said.
"We dare you to make out with Zoie!" one girl yelled.
"Thirty seconds at least!" another one said.
Miles turned to Zoie and she was, again, blushing bright red. Asher gripped the can tighter in his hand as he took another big gulp. The big can of Budweiser suddenly felt light.
"Wooo!" everyone yelled and cheered as Miles leaned closer.
Miles took Zoie's face in his hand as he tilted her chin to him. Asher watched as Miles pressed his lips on Zoie's. Zoie kissed him back too. Their lips danced as they went back and forth. The people's cheers grew louder and louder. Karlie was ecstatic too, clapping and whistling in excitement. Asher swallowed hard and looked away. There was a bitter taste in his mouth. And no, that wasn't from the beer.
"3... 2... 1... alright you guys can stop now!" Jo exclaimed, but Miles wasn't stopping. He purposefully put his hands on Zoie's cheek so he could continue kissing her. Zoie was laughing at this, but she finally pulled away.
That was the fúcking worst 30 seconds of my life.
Asher finished the can of beer and threw it to the nearby trash. But just when he thought his misery was over, he found Jo standing in front of him.
"Asher, you're up!" she beamed, handing him the flag. "Truth or dare?"
Everyone's eyes were on him now. Including Zoie. Asher knew he couldn't escape this. Letting out a sigh, he took the flag and mumbled, "Uh... dare,"
Jo returned to the group of girls and they whispered to each other. Seconds later, Jo stood up again and exclaimed, "We dare you to make out with the person next to you!"
Everyone else laughed and cheered in response. Karlie, who was sitting on his right, was now blushing.
This fúcking game.
Asher glanced at Zoie, who seemed rather uncomfortable. She looked down, avoiding eye contact with him.
"Do it! Do it! Do it!" Everyone started chanting loudly.
"Alright, alright," Asher said with a groan.
Asher braced himself. Karlie was licking her lips, looking eager and excited. At first, it seemed like Asher was about to kiss Karlie, but all of a sudden, he changed direction and went to his left. Miles was sitting on his left.
"Woah, woah, woah!" Miles was taken aback, but it was too late. Asher grabbed his face and tried putting his mouth on his. Miles was squirming incessantly. Asher only got the side of his mouth. Mostly his cheek.
"Aaaaawwww! Woaaahh!!" Everyone else was taken aback too, screaming, yelling, and jumping on their seats.
After he felt like he gave them enough show, Asher pulled away and released Miles's face. Miles was absolutely shocked. He didn't even know how to react. Meanwhile, Zoie couldn't stop laughing.
"Well, well, we didn't see that one coming," one of the girls said.
"You said a person next to me," Asher shrugged.
"Ha-ha, Karlie, you're next!" Jo said as she moved the flag from Asher's lap to Karlie.
Trying her best to hide her disappointment, Karlie exclaimed, "Dare me!"
Jo looked back to confer with her friends, and suddenly, one of the guys yelled, "We dare you to skinny dip in the ocean!"
"Aw, please! Is that all you got?" Karlie scoffed.
Without being told twice, Karlie stood up and started undressing herself. Everyone was cheering and clapping again. Karlie purposefully stood in front of Asher to give him the best view. She took off her blouse and shorts, and now she was only wearing her bikini. Karlie gave him a wink before she sashayed her way to the ocean.
Asher didn't feel like looking at her, so his eyes glanced elsewhere. Everyone was cheering and clapping for Karlie, including Miles. He looked hella excited. Asher could only roll his eyes.
Karlie was standing far away now, her body was halfway in the water. People were still watching, and she gave them a good show. She took off her bikini top, followed by her bikini bottom, and she threw them in the direction of the people. Everyone was cheering at this, but Asher wasn't interested. He got up from his seat and went to the cooler, reaching for another can of beer.
The rest of that night went by pretty slowly for Asher. He filled his time with free beer and lame surface-level conversation with whoever was around him. All the while, he was trying his best to get away from Karlie.
The bonfire party started with around twenty people, but as the night went on, people started leaving. Only about half of them were left, including Zoie, Miles, Asher, Karlie, and Jo.
"So, Zoie, truth or dare?" Jo asked.
They had gone a few rounds and it was back to Zoie's turn again.
"Truth," Zoie said firmly.
"Again?" Karlie scoffed.
"You're trynna play it safe, huh?" Jo said.
Zoie just shrugged.
"Well, fine, answer this then: what was the best sex of your life?" Karlie exclaimed.
Asher almost spat his drink out. Everyone else responded with "ooohs" and "oh snap"s. Zoie's cheeks turned beet red. Miles was staring at her too, waiting expectantly.
"W-what?" Zoie stammered, looking absolutely uncomfortable.
"Yeah, you know, give us the details," Karlie pressed. "What was it like, when was it, who was it with?"
"Geez, Kar, that's personal," Miles tried defending her.
"She chose truth!" Karlie argued back. "That's the game, ain't it?"
Zoie glanced at Asher. Asher gave her a reassuring look.
"Well... I... it was last summer..." she started. "...With this guy I met at a bar,"
"Ooooh! Saucy!" Karlie giggled.
"What was he like?" Jo asked.
"He was really hot. He kinda looks like if Harry Styles and Shawn Mendes have a baby,"
Who the hell are those guys?!
"Ohh!!!" The girls in the group responded with high-pitch screaming. That seemed like a good thing.
"Yeah, anyway, we went back to his place, and that's it," Zoie said.
"Where is he now?" Karlie asked.
"Guys, that's too many question already!" Miles rolled his eyes. This didn't seem like his favorite topic of the night.
"I don't know, we never saw each other again," Zoie said as she threw the flag away. "There, I've answered it, I'm done!"
"Alright, alright, let's move on," Jo said as she picked up the flag.
Zoie's cheeks were blushing again, but this time, it was redder than ever. Even redder than when Miles kissed her. The group continued playing the game, but Asher's attention was stuck on Zoie. He kept looking at her even though she was avoiding eye contact with him.
Well, damn... She thinks I'm hot.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Asher stood by the water with a new can of beer in his hand. After a few more rounds of truth or dare, he finally got tired of it and decided to step away. He was standing alone at a distance from the bonfire. Karlie was somewhere passed out back there, too much beer or something.
"I'm assuming you're not having fun?" a voice suddenly broke through his daydreaming.
Asher turned around and found Zoie. She also had a can of beer in her hand, stepping closer until she stood next to him.
"Meh," he shrugged. "But there's free beer, so I guess it's alright,"
Zoie threw her gaze to the water and Asher followed it. The dawn was breaking so the sky was turning purple and blue. The colors that reminded him of her eyes.
"If you're not having fun, why are you staying?" she asked.
It was about 5 in the morning and another half of the group had left already. There were only a couple of people that stayed behind, and it seemed like they were about to leave too. In his periphery, Asher saw Jo and another girl pulling Karlie and hauling her into their car.
Turning back, Asher didn't reply to Zoie in words, but his eyes spoke volumes. He looked at her as if to say: I'm staying to make sure you're alright. I don't want you to end up like that.
Zoie looked at him as if she understood what he was saying. None of them said anything for a while, but their eyes spoke to each other knowingly.
"Ash... I... I gotta tell you something," she said finally.
"Shoot,"
"I just wanna say... thank you for giving me my freedom. Thanks for letting me go out and do stuff like this. This really means a lot to me. And I know you're just trying to do your job by being here. So, yeah, thank you, I really appreciate it,"
Asher's lips curved up a smile.
"Of course," he said. "We have a deal, right?"
"Right," she nodded and smiled back.
Ah. That smile.
Asher could look at that smile all day. The wind was softly blowing in their faces and the sun was slowly rising. There was this warm orange hue that colored her face and it took Asher's breath away. She was just so mesmerizing. He couldn't stop staring at her, and she was staring right at him too. Those purple blue eyes against his hazel eyes. None of them were blinking. None of them moved an inch.
Damn. I really wanna kiss you right now.
"Hey, Zoie!"
Suddenly, a loud voice was heard, causing Zoie to flinch and turn around. Miles was waving his hand and jogging over to them.
"So, the guys are heading back, some of them are going home 'cause they got classes in a few hours. Do you wanna head back too?" he asked.
"Yeah, I think I'm gonna go, I'm pretty tired," she said.
"Alright, I'll take you home,"
Asher took a step back and finished the rest of his beer. He didn't feel like looking at Miles and Zoie right now.
"Actually, I think I'll just go home with Ash," Zoie said suddenly, causing Asher to look up. "You can hang out with the others if you want. I know you don't have class tomorrow,"
"Are you sure?" Miles asked.
"Uh-huh,"
"Then I guess I'll see you tomorrow?"
"See you tomorrow,"
"Good night, baby," he beamed, leaning down to kiss her lips.
"Good morning," she corrected him, kissing him back.
Baby my ass.
After the kiss, Miles pulled back and nodded at Asher. Asher gave him a curt smile in return. He had to act cordial somehow.
Yeah, yeah, kiss her all you want. But I'm the one she's going home with, alright?
"Come on, let's go home," Zoie said as she pulled Asher toward the parking lot.
"Yeah. Let's go home,"
*
*
*
- - - - - - To Be Continued - - - - - -