Asher and I end up deciding to go back into the room and stay in there for the time being. We don't move the body, though. We are both sitting on the floor in silence. Neither of us has said a single thing. It wasn't awkward before, but now...
"What's your biggest fear?" I ask, trying to break the silence.
Asher looks at me, confused at the sudden question.
"Um..I don't know," he answers.
"Come on, Asher. You're not making this any easier. I'm trying to make things less awkward here," I try to joke.
He jokingly rubs his chin and squints his eyes. I roll my eyes and hold back a laugh.
"Losing everyone I care about and it being my fault," he finally answers.
My eyebrows raise in surprise.
"Damn. That's..deep."
"I-is that not what you meant?" Asher asks, smiling anxiously.
I snicker.
"No, no, it's fine."
A subtle red tint takes over his face.
"What's yours?" he asks.
"Drowning," I answer.
"Drowning?"
I nod.
"Specifically in the ocean. It scares the living shit out of me."
"But..isn't that more of a phobia?"
"Well, a phobia is still a fear."
"I guess," he gives in.
"What? You wanted me to say something deep and spiritual like you?" I say in a mocking tone.
Asher chuckles and so do I.
"Do you think the others are okay?" I ask suddenly after our laughter dies down.
"I don't know," he answers hesitantly.
"What would you do if you ever lost Penny?"
He tenses up at the thought.
"Never forgive myself," he answers quietly.
"Even if it wasn't your fault?"
"It doesn't matter. My job is to protect her. If she died, it would be my fault."
"That's not true."
"But it is," he says, looking down at me.
I sigh. This guy probably blames himself for everything that happened with Hunter, Rose, and Madelyn too.
"Favorite drink?" Asher asks, trying to break the tension.
I smile fondly. My mind traces back to the day of the party when they convinced me to go. Liam had brought me peach tea. They all know I love peach tea. If I had said no to going, would we be in this situation right now? If we didn't go to that party, we would be okay. We wouldn't be stuck in this hell.
"Peach tea," I answer, coming out of my train of thought.
"Huh. I wouldn't have taken you for a tea kind of girl," Asher says.
I snicker.
"What is that supposed to mean?" I ask through gentle laughter.
He shrugs.
"Well, I'm not. I only like peach tea. Any other flavor just isn't for me."
"Picky much?" he jokes.
I roll my eyes and he chuckles.
YOU ARE READING
TRAPPED
Mystery / ThrillerWhen a night of supposed fun goes wrong, a group of friends is forced to hide in an old, abandoned building to stay safe. They eventually find themselves trapped, with no form of escape. This was not an accident, and their lives are in danger. Freed...
