~ Zoie's POV ~
It felt horrible. And awkward. And everything in between.
After she took the pill, Zoie had a terrible stomach ache and she felt nauseous. Her body felt weak and tired. She could only lay in bed the whole afternoon. At some point, Asher came in to bring her some food, but she didn't feel like putting anything in her mouth. Moreover, she didn't feel like having him around, so she just told him to go away.
Later that night, Zoie was still lying on her bed, groaning in pain and frustration. She already took some Advils, drank plenty of water, and even had some soup, but she wasn't feeling better. But what was worse than the physical pain was the mental torture. She felt a great deal of resentment towards Asher and the way he handled this situation. He could've been a lot more sensitive about it. More understanding. But instead, he imploded his worst fears on her, and now, she was stuck in her room with the worst stomach ache she's had in years.
Ugh. I'm starting to think that Asher's right. This was a mistake...
Zoie rolled over to her side and covered her head with the pillow. This whole situation just sucked. And who knows what'll happen from here? What will her relationship with Asher look like? Can they go back to being friends like they did before?
And don't even think about having sex with him again because that ship has sailed!
"Ughh!" Zoie groaned aloud and turned over to her side again.
At this time, she heard a soft knock on the door and the door slowly creaked open. Zoie didn't even have to look back to know that it was probably Asher. Sure enough, Asher came in with a cup of hot tea in his hand. He set it down at the bedside table next to her.
"Hey," he said.
Zoie didn't reply. She just rolled over to her other side.
"I brought you some tea and honey. Your favorite," he said again.
"I don't want it," she mumbled.
"It should be good for your stomach,"
"Now you care about what's good for me?" Zoie snapped bitterly.
Asher let out a sigh. He sat on the bed next to her, and Zoie's body stiffened. Slowly, he laid his hand on her shoulder. Zoie froze like a statue as he started rubbing her gently. This act of kindness from him, for some reason, it only made her more upset.
"Hey, I'm really sorry..." he said. "I'd do anything for you if it can take away the pain..."
Yeah, but there's nothing you can do, right?! I'm the only one who was to deal with the consequences while you feel nothing!
Zoie moved her shoulder to avoid Asher's touch. Asher fell silent and pulled his hand away. The room was filled with awkward silence for a long while. Asher probably realized that Zoie wasn't in the mood to talk, so he finally got up and walked to the door. He stopped, though, before he went completely out. He turned back and looked at her, studying her expression.
"Does it still hurt a lot?" he asked cautiously.
"No," she lied.
"Do you want me to stay here toni-"
"Can you leave?" Zoie got up from the bed abruptly, walking over to her desk. "I'm pretty busy, I need to write a paper for Monday,"
"Zoie--"
"Get out," she cut him off sharply. "Please"
Asher took one more look at her. Zoie was glaring at him as she sat on her desk, turning her computer on. She started typing furiously into the computer and Asher let out another sigh. His face looked dejected and sorry.
"Okay. Let me know if you need anything," he said, and with that, he went out the door.
As soon as the door was closed shut, Zoie stopped typing. She wasn't actually doing the paper for class, she was just acting busy so he'd leave her alone.
Zoie's shoulders slumped down as she sat back on the chair. Honestly, there was something else that hurts more than the physical and mental pain, and that was the emotional pain. Zoie was head over heels for Asher. She's been wanting him secretly all this time. And when it finally happened between them, she was over the moon. All the things he made her feel that night, it was spectacular. She never felt anything like it before. So much so that she was gonna tell him that she loves him. But then, his response to that was shoving a Plan B pill down her throat because he was afraid he'd knocked her up.
Huh. Maybe that was just it for him. Sex was just sex and nothing more...
Zoie may be acting cold towards Asher now, but it was because he acted coldly first and broke her heart. She was telling him how amazing that night was, but all he said was that it was a mistake. It wasn't easy for her to be honest in the first place. It took a lot of courage and vulnerability. After what Miles did to her, she didn't think she could trust someone again, but Asher made it so easy. So much so that she was willing to take such a leap, even though she knew how complicated things will be if they start dating. She took the risk anyway.
Now what do I get as a result? Just a stomach ache and a broken heart.
Zoie felt really stupid now. She opened her heart again only for some guy to trample all over it. She felt used. And when all was said and done, it was so easy for him just to say that it was a mistake. Tears were streaming down her face as she stared at the typewriter Asher gifted her. It was sitting on the desk, next to her computer. Unable to control her frustration, Zoie picked up the typewriter and stomped into the closet with it, throwing it deep in the corner of the room so she wouldn't have to see it again. The typewriter fell down with a crash and Zoie slammed the door shut.
You're right, Ash. It really was a mistake. I wish it never happened.
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- - - - - Three Days Later - - - - -
"Zoie, girl! Where have you been!?" Jo exclaimed as she saw Zoie walking down the steps of the campus building. Nicole was next to her and the two girls came running at Zoie.
"Yeah, we haven't seen you since your birthday!" Nicole added.
"Oh, hey, guys," Zoie flashed them a smile. She kept walking as she just wanted to get home, but the two girls kept up with her.
"Where'd you and Ash run off to?" Jo asked. "We were looking for you two,"
"Oh, yeah, I'm sorry, we had a family emergency so Asher and I had to dip," she said quickly, avoiding eye contact with Jo and Nic as she reached for the car door.
Today, Zoie drove herself to school as she was still avoiding Asher. She left early in the morning when Ash was still in the bathroom. And she'd been doing this for the past three days.
"Oh, no!" Nic frowned.
"Is everything okay?" Jo asked.
"Yeah, yeah, everything's fine now, don't worry," Zoie whipped her hand back and forth before throwing her bookbag in the passenger seat.
"But dang girl, your birthday was really fun, wasn't it?!" Nic said as she nodded her head approvingly.
"Man, I had so much champagne, I still smelled like one the next day!" Jo agreed.
"Yeah, it was really fun," Zoie forced out a smile.
It was really fun... until Ash happened.
"What happened to that guy you were dancing with?" Nic asked.
"Nothing happened, he's not really my type,"
"Ha. Yeah. I figured," Jo scoffed. "He was kinda short, wasn't he?"
"And he kept flaunting his wallet full of cash in front of everyone!" Nic added.
"I know, that was lame," Zoie shrugged. "I only danced with him 'cause I felt sorry, I guess,"
"Ugh, yeah, he was so lame," Nic agreed.
"Totally the kind of guy who'd put 5' 10' in his hinge bio, only to be a 5' 7'!" Jo laughed and Nic laughed with her. Zoie forced out a laugh too.
Okay, it's not that she didn't want to laugh for real and chit-chat with her friends, but she just wasn't in the mood. For the past three days, all she did was cry and avoid talking to everyone. She couldn't talk to Asher and she couldn't talk to her girlfriends about Asher too. It was a lose-lose situation for her.
"Anyway, since you're back on the single market again, what do you say we do a little triple date party next weekend?" Jo said suddenly.
"A what?" Zoie gaped.
"My boyfriend's cousins are coming to town. There's Adam who studies law at Berkeley, and there's Jason who plays football for UCSD," Nic explained.
"I got dibs on Jason, by the way," Jo interjected.
"Adam's a great guy. He's really funny and he looks like Timothee Chalamet!" Nic continued. "And who knows, maybe you two'll hit it off?"
Zoie's friends stared at her with excitement, but Zoie really wasn't feeling it. The last thing she needs right now is another boy drama.
"Oh, I don't know, Nic..." she sighed. "I'm kinda over guys for now,"
"Still?"
"Babe, at some point in time, you need to get over Miles and move on," Jo said as she put a hand on Zoie's shoulder.
Oh, I am over Miles. I'm just not over someone else.
"Yeah, I know, you're right," Zoie sighed again.
"Just think about it and let us know," Nicole said. "No pressure,"
"Okay, I'll think about it," Zoie nodded finally.
"Good, that's all we wanna hear!" Jo clapped her hand in excitement.
"Alright, I gotta go home and do this paper," Zoie said as she turned the car's engine on. "See ya guys,"
"Bye, Zoie!" Jo waved her hand enthusiastically.
"Call me!" Nic said as Zoie pulled away.
Zoie forced out one last smile as she waved goodbye and drove off.
Yeah. No. Sorry, guys. I doubt that's gonna happen.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Zoie went straight home and she was eager to be back in her room to do this paper for journalism class. After crying over Asher for the past three days, she decided that something's gotta change. And so, she buried herself in her schoolwork and avoided Asher at all costs. They no longer watch racing games or even talk. Asher would try to talk to her, but she always said she was busy and completely ghosted him.
Okay, I'm not really ghosting him. It's just being professional. He's only the bodyguard and that's all.
Zoie walked down the hall of the apartment with confident steps. She knew Asher was probably home and she'll have to face him soon. Putting her game face on, she opened the door and went inside. Sure enough, Asher was standing in the kitchen, making them dinner.
"Hey," he greeted her.
"Hey," she replied curtly, putting the car key on the kitchen table.
"How are you feeling?" he asked.
"Good,"
"That's good," he looked relieved. "I'm making us Salmon and broccoli for dinner-"
"No, thanks, I already ate," she cut him off curtly, walking over to the bedroom.
"Do you need me to drive you tomorrow?"
"Nope,"
"Zoie, wait-" Zoie was ignoring him as she went to her bedroom, so Asher had no choice but to go over to her, pulling her hand.
"Don't touch me!" she hissed. Asher's hand was on her arm.
"Zoie-"
"I said don't touch me!"
Zoie was glaring daggers at him. Asher looked lost. Slowly, he loosened his grip on her arm. Zoie pulled her hand away angrily. She then shoved past him to get to her bedroom door, but Asher stopped her again. He put his hand on the doorway just before Zoie closed the door shut. Zoie tried forcing the door close, but Asher was stronger. The door wouldn't budge.
"Hey..." he said. "...I really am sorry. For everything. Can we just... go back to the way things were?"
"Isn't that what we're doing here? I'm being cordial and you're being annoying. We're back to how we used to be,"
"Zoie-"
"Goodnight, Asher,"
And with that, Zoie slammed the door shut on him. On the outside, it may look like she was strong, but once that door was closed, Zoie broke down. She slumped down to the floor as tears began rolling down her cheeks.
See? This is what happens when you play with fire, Zoie. You get burned!
Zoie's chest was aching in pain. Sure, she and Asher never even dated, but the heart hurts just the same. Her whole body shook uncontrollably as she buried her face in between her knees. Her hands were grabbing onto her chest, as if that would help ease the pain somehow.
And how dare he..? How dare he makes me feel all these feelings and then just ask for things to go back to how it was? How convenient and easy. Must be nice to be him!
In her anger and frustration, Zoie reached for her phone in her pocket. Her eyes were still blurry as she dialed a phone number. She pressed the phone to her ear and waited for the other person to pick up.
"Hello?" Nic answered on the third ring.
"Hey, I'm in,"
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- - - - - - To Be Continued - - - - - -