~ Zoie's POV ~
Okay. I just have to say it. College life is... amazing!
Zoie couldn't lie. Several weeks had passed since her first day of college and life was treating her well. Every day felt like a new adventure. If she wasn't busy with her classes, she'd spent her time hanging out with Miles or her new friends. All her hours were spent intentionally and with purpose. There was something very fulfilling about having a routine like that.
Zoie's days usually go like this: in the morning, she'd wake up, shower, have breakfast with Asher, and get to school. In the afternoon, she'd spend time in the library or she'd have lunch with Jo and Karlie. After classes were over, she'd hang out with Miles. Sometimes they'd go watch a movie or have dinner, and other times, she'd just be chilling with him while he practices on the baseball field.
Okay... That might not seem like a lot of excitement, but this kind of normalcy was all Zoie ever wanted. Good friends, good hair days, and a good boyfriend.
Ehem. Boyfriend.
Zoie couldn't help but smile every time she thought about that word. While Miles hadn't technically asked her to be his girlfriend yet, everyone at Stanford was already calling them the cutest couple on campus. And how could they not? Zoie was walking around campus with Miles's baseball jacket. It had his name written on it and everything. According to Jo, Miles had never given up his jacket to another girl before. It was only a matter of time before he made things official.
Hmm... Zoie Rose Serrano. That does have a nice ring to it.
Zoie bit her lip to stop herself from smiling too much. She was walking out of the library, on her way to the parking lot, and she can't be looking like a smiling weirdo who was just thinking about taking her almost-boyfriend's last name.
Yeah, come on, Zoe. Don't get ahead of yourself!
Zoie noticed that people were looking at her, and she quickly adjusted her face. People were smiling and nodding at her. People she didn't really know. This kind of thing started when Miles and her became more public. Miles was a popular guy, so she became popular too by association.
"Hey, Zoie," said a group of freshman girls chilling by the staircase.
"Hey, girls," Zoie smiled politely back at them.
"Zoie! I love that short story you wrote for class!" said one guy who was passing her by.
"Aw, thanks!" she replied as she kept walking.
"Zoie! Babe!" Karlie squealed as she suddenly appeared.
"Oh, Karlie, hey,"
"Where are ya goin, babe?"
"I'm meeting Miles, we're gonna catch a movie. You wanna come?"
"And be a third wheel?" Karlie scoffed. "No thanks,"
Zoie just shrugged and kept walking. Karlie continued to follow her.
"So, how are things with you and Miles?" she chirped.
"It's been good," Zoie said. "Like I said, we're taking things slow,"
"Girl, it's been a month!" Karlie rolled her eyes. "What are ya two waiting for? Some freakin' blessing from the full moon?"
Zoie couldn't help but laugh.
"No, I just want things to be special... and I think he does too,"
"Ugh, that's so cute, makes me wanna barf," Karlie shook her head and whipped her hair. "So, anyway, listen, I wanna ask you for a favor,"
"A favor...?"
"Yeah, it'll mean so much for our friendship if you can make this happen for me," Karlie said as she linked her arm around Zoie. Then her eyes fluttered wide as she pleaded, "Pretty please...?"
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~ Asher's POV ~
"A double date?!"
Asher almost spat out his drink. It was eight in the morning and he was enjoying his cold brew coffee when Zoie proposed the idea that he go on a double date with her, Miles, and Karlie this weekend.
"What the hell even is that?" he cringed.
"It's just a normal date but between two couples," Zoie said in that sweet, cutesy tone. Clearly, she wanted him to say yes.
"I don't do dates," Asher said as he jumped off the kitchen counter. Carrying the mug of coffee with him, he walked away into the living room.
"But Asher--" Zoie tried to follow him, but Asher turned around and cut her off.
"Give me one good reason why I should waste a perfectly good Friday night to hang out with you and your boyfriend and that chick Karla?"
"It's Karlie,"
"There's no fúcking way," Asher scoffed and laughed mockingly. He went on to sit on the couch and sipped his coffee.
Zoie sulked and pouted. She crossed her arms in front of her chest and sat down next to him. She didn't say anything for a while, but the disappointment on her face said it all.
"...You know, Karlie's not so bad once you got to know her..." she muttered lowly under her breath.
"And your point is?"
"She just wants to get to know you better. And I think you can benefit from getting to know her better too..."
Asher frowned his brows. Cocking his head to the side, he turned to her and asked, "You really want me to go on a date with this chick?"
"I just want you to hang out with us more," she said. "Be a part of our lives,"
Asher let out a scoff.
"Am I not already a part of your life?"
Zoie swallowed hard.
"It's just a favor," she said. "It'll mean a lot to me, Ash..."
"Why?"
"Because!" Zoie sighed and groaned in frustration. "I wanna make friends, alright? I wanna experience a normal life. I've never had these things before... and now I do..."
Asher watched how Zoie's eyes were glistening. He realized that this wasn't about the double date for her. It wasn't like she wanted him to go out with someone else, it was just that she wanted to have friends. And in her mind, he was her friend too. If only she knew the kinds of thoughts that go through his mind and how he feels about her, she probably wouldn't ask him to do this. But alas, she didn't know any better.
"Do it for me, will you?" she asked again, turning those purple blue eyes over to him. "Pretty please...?"
Asher looked at her face and let out a long sigh.
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And so, that was how Asher ended up here on the next Friday night, sitting in the booth of an Olive Garden with Karlie, Miles, and Zoie. He was stuffing his face with breadsticks because that was probably the highlight of this double date. Asher couldn't care less about whatever conversation Karlie and Miles were having. Something about Stanford and internships and study abroad - none of the things that Asher cared about in a million years.
Meanwhile, as Karlie and Miles were busy talking, Zoie would sometimes steal glances at Asher. Whenever their eyes met, Zoie would smile at him. It was more of a sorry smile than anything. Zoie probably realized that he wasn't having a good time. And how could she not? He was huffing and sighing most of the night, contributing nothing to their conversations.
Asher sat it out for a few minutes longer, but finally, he couldn't take it anymore. He was looking at how Miles put his arm around Zoie. Zoie would then lean her head against his shoulder. As time went on, his hand would then travel down her arm. Until finally, he rested his hand on her thigh. Asher was uncomfortable looking at it, but then the worst part came when Karlie started putting her hand on his lap. Without a care in the world, she started stroking his manhood under the table!
"Ehem! Excuse me for a sec," Asher got up quickly, removing himself from the situation.
"Where are you going?" Karlie asked.
"Cigarette break,"
And with that, he dashed out of the restaurant as soon as he could. Asher stood outside on the front patio overlooking the parking lot. He could see his car parked out there, and if it was up to him, he'd jump in that car right now and go home.
But no. I can't do that.
Letting out a sigh, Asher took out his pack of cigarettes. He put one of the cigarettes in his mouth and he was just about to light it up when he heard a voice.
"Hey,"
Asher turned around and found Zoie coming out of the restaurant. The night air was cool and she pulled her jacket tighter around her body. Oh wait. Not her jacket. Miles's jacket.
"Hey," Asher nodded back.
"You're not cold out here?" she asked.
"Why, you gonna give me your jacket?" he scoffed.
Zoie couldn't respond, so she just stayed quiet. Asher shook his head and lit up that cigarette in his mouth. But then he remembered she was standing close to him. Out of courtesy, he took the cigarette out of his mouth and held it further away from her.
"Listen, I'm sorry you're not having a good time with us. But thanks for being a good sport and sticking it out anyway," she said.
Ah. The things I do for the people I care about.
"Whatever. Let's just finish your dinner and go home," he said.
"About that..." Zoie trailed and she gave him a sheepish smile. "So, Ash, I was thinking..."
Asher narrowed his eyes suspiciously at her, waiting.
"...Maybe tonight you can take Karlie home and I'll let Miles take me home?"
"What?!"
"We haven't really got a chance to talk just the two of us the whole night, and I think there's something he wants to say to me," she explained, gauging his reaction carefully. "That's okay, right? I mean, we'll go home right away,"
No. No fúcking way!
Asher opened his mouth like he was about to protest, but before he could say anything, Zoie already stood on her tippy toes and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
"Thanks, Ash! You're the best!" she squeaked.
With a big smile playing on her face, Zoie turned to her heels and headed back inside. Meanwhile, Asher was so taken aback, that he couldn't even respond.
I mean, what do I say to that?!
It felt like a black hole was forming in his stomach. Like someone had kicked him in the gut. Asher felt sick. He knew sooner or later this day would come, but he didn't think it would come this fast.
Is she really gonna...?
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- - - - - - To Be Continued - - - - - -