Chapter 16: Pacifico Garage.

~*Perse*~

I've never been the 'shy' type. I'd avoid crowded places, and people in general, but that was because I valued my alone time more than I did gossiping with my classmates. My only friend back then was Josh, but he was always so focused on football and engrossed in his social life, that we hardly had time to talk. We'd only see each other during PE and at the end of the day. My guess is back then, it wouldn't have been good for his reputation to be seen with a bookworm. Now that I'm co-captain of the squad, he'd proudly parade me in front of his friends. A bit hypocritical of him if I'm being honest __ but I don't blame him. It's human nature.

I do hate it however when he acts angrily jealous like he did during chemistry, at the party, and on Friday after the dodgeball match. I was avoiding him, for probable reasons. I honestly can't deal with him acting all temperamental. I don't think I have the patience for it. After chemistry ended, I've pretty much been avoiding everyone, all they've been doing is whispering about what happened at the party, what happened in class, and how I'm building a reputation of being caught in between their 'squabbles'. This is why I spent my free period, and why I'm spending my lunch break right now, at the furthest neglected corner of the library.

"I had a feeling I'd find you here," a familiar voice rang out from behind me. A voice I've gotten extremely familiar with of late. My heart beat a bit faster when he sat down opposite me, but I kept my entire attention on my novel.

"If I didn't know any better, I'd say you're the one getting obsessed,"

"Unlike you, I'm not going to deny it. I am getting a bit obsessed," He said it so casually, that I had to stop myself from choking. I also may or may not have swallowed too hard. I could see him from the corner of my eye leaning forward, resting his head in his hands as he attentively stared at me. I could feel his gaze burning into me, and I had to resist the urge to look at him, even though it was what I wanted to do.

"Ha ha Asher. Very funny," I rolled my eyes, turning the page of my novel even though I wasn't quite done reading it. Anything so he could see that I was busy.

"I'm not kidding cheer squad. You're starting to grow on me__ like a leach I don't want to get rid of,"

"Uhm okay__ thank you I guess?"

"My pleasure," he nodded. "So, what are you reading?"

"I never thought you were one to engage in... small talks," I bookmarked the page before putting the book aside, and turned to look at Asher, who seemed satisfied with himself that I had finally given him the attention he seemed to have come for.

"I don't usually 'engage' in a lot of things, but I seem to be making a lot of exceptions lately,"

"Really?" I said, a smile on my face as I leaned forward towards him, resting my head on my arms. "Like what?"

He smirked, maybe proud of himself for managing to catch my attention.

"For beginners, I'm reading more," he counted down with his hand. "I engaged in party games__ after attending a party. I attended Chemistry class and understood something from it. Dare I say I enjoyed it. And the most surprising of all... I'm skipping lunch to come hang out with you,"

I couldn't help the grin that spread across my face, despite how much I tried to hide it. Despite how much the entire school avoided and feared Asher, I actually found him quite amusing, and his ego quite charming. He was fun to hang out with. Maybe it wasn't all completely bad.

"Are you hungry?" I asked, and he seemed slightly taken aback by the change in topic. But he quickly covered it up with a nonchalant smile.

"Sure cheer squad," he sat up straight and focused on me. "What do you have in mind?"

"Nothing out of the ordinary really," I shrugged. "I just thought we could have lunch at the cafeteria__ if you're up for it,"

A smirk spread on his face at my question.

"What?" I asked, and his smirk only widened.

"Nothing cheer squad... nothing at all," he shook his head, looking amused. "Since it's evident you can't survive without my obvious charming presence, I shall do you the honor of granting you my company this amazing afternoon,"

I couldn't help but roll my eyes. If I didn't find his ego slightly charming and funny, he'd be intolerable.

I packed up my books under his careful scrutinizing gaze before the two of us walked side by side to my locker to keep my books.

"So Asher, where are we meeting up today? And at what time?" I asked, opening my locker and arranging the books orderly- each in its own place. Asher kept his gaze on my locker, seemingly focused on something that seemed way more important. For a second, I thought he hadn't heard me. But then he abruptly turned to face me, his usual impartial look on his face as he gave me a slight shrug.

"As long as it's not earlier than 7, I'm okay with anything,"

I shut my locker and turned to face him. He did the same, as he casually leaned against the locker next to us, crossing his arms over his chest. The confidence radiating off him in waves.

"Why? What do you have planned before 7?" Maybe I was being nosy, or imposing too much, but I couldn't help my curiosity. I just had to ask. Asher's brow raised in amusement as he looked down at me with a smirk on his face.

"Do__"

"Don't Asher. I know whatever it is that's going to come out of your mouth right now is going to either be a dumb question or an egotistical statement. Just make it easy for both of us and answer the question,"

He chuckled to himself and shook his head.

"I was only going to ask if you wanted to join me,"

"As I said… a dumb question," I repeated. He didn't take offense to my words, he just chuckled to himself, staring off over my head before his eyes settled back to me.

"I have work," he finally replied, peering into my face as if waiting for some kind of reaction.

"Really? Where?" I said, and the grin on his face got even wider. "I'm just__ asking for a friend,"

"Uh-huh," he clearly didn't believe me, but he didn't have any proof to state otherwise so he didn't push it further. And I wasn't going to give it up. I can be very persistent. Asher rolled his eyes with a sigh before speaking again. "At a garage,"

"Which one? What do you do?"

"Jeez cheer squad__ what is this, 800 questions?" he began walking away so abruptly, that I had to jog to catch up to him.

"Can you blame me for wanting to know more about you?" I said, walking beside him.

"I am pretty intriguing," he thoughtfully stroked his chin with a self-assured smirk on his face. I resisted the urge to roll my eyes, which I have to admit, took a lot more effort than it should have. "But fine cheer squad, but only because you seem to want to know everything about me desperately,"

I wanted to correct him. I wasn't desperate to know everything about him. I just thought since we were practically friendly at this point, why not take the opportunity to get to know each other better? Sure I know his mom and his little brother, but I know close to nothing about him. He doesn't seem to like to talk about himself… At least not deeply.

But saying anything at that point would have deterred him from confiding in me. So I withheld any comments.

"Pacifico Garage," he finally replied.

"Pacifico Garage__ mmh. I don't think I've ever heard of it,"

"Of course, you haven't," he chuckled to himself.

"Where is it?"

"Why tell you when I can show you?"

"Seriously?" I asked, my voice betraying my excitement. How could I not be excited? Asher was offering me a glimpse of his life, something I bet he doesn't do very often. I'd be an idiot to turn down the offer. "When? After school or___?"

"Don't make me change my mind,"

"No no of course not," I was quick to answer, too quick. Asher laughed at my excitement and mumbled something under his breath that I didn't quite catch. "What was that?" I asked, and we both stopped outside the cafeteria doors.

"I said save your enthusiasm__ you're definitely going to need it," he said with a smirk, and my eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

"What do you mean?" I asked, but his smirk only got wider, and he didn't bother to give me as much as a response. "Asher__"

"I hope you love attention cheer squad," he said, grabbing the door handle, and cast me a sideways glance. "Because you're about to get a hell of a lot of it,"

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