You can imagine him as Asher/Ashford. Or anyone's else you want to.
"Cassandra!" Ashford screamed right in my ear. Which, as a matter of fact he's been doing since the past few minutes. We've been trying to search for Cass for a while now but it's like she has vanished into the thin air.
"Could you stop trying to make me deaf?" I snapped because of two reasons. 1) I was super worried about Cass. And 2) Being a doctor, even if I was an unqualified counsellor, the least I knew was that if he continued screaming in my ear, without a doubt, I'll go deaf.
How could I not notice that Cass was missing? Could a best friend be any worse than me?
Probably not.
"No." He said.
"You suck." I muttered.
"Aww, I love you too," he cooed, pinching my cheeks.
I swatted his hand away and glared at him. I hated when someone did that. My face was not something I'll let you pinch.
After looking in every possible crevice, Asher spoke up, "Why can't you just call her?"
"Cause I have her phone." I said in a 'duh' tone. I had taken her phone as it felt too much of a load to her.
"Damn." He muttered.
"Cass!" I screamed as loud as I could.
No reply.
"Cassandra!"
No reply.
"Cass!"
Yet again, no reply.
"Where the fuck are you Cass?" I yelled.
"Over here!" We heard Cass's voice (at least I think so) say.
We moved towards the direction of the voice. After covering some distance, we saw a dark figure sitting on the road but we couldn't make out who exactly that was. Probably Cass or some crazy psychotic murderer. Could be any actually.
I looked at Ashford and silently asked him what should I do. He merely shrugged.
"Cass?" I asked, my voice coming out a little shaky.
Then that figure finally turned towards us.
It was Cass.
A tear stained Cass.
"Cass?" I quickly engulfed her in my arms. She kept on sobbing.
"Are you okay?" Ashford asked. I looked at him with an expression that clearly said, "are you serious?"
"I could complain but I'm not going to." She spoke between her sobs.
"Why are you crying?" I asked.
"You...you people were walking too fast. And I told you that I'll be resting here for a while. Then you guys vanished. And...being alone on a lonely, dark street isn't on my to-do list." She said after she had stopped crying.
"We're so sorry." I apologised, looking at Ashford for a apology. I mean, he too didn't realise that she was missing, did he? So technically, it's both our faults. More of mine, cause she's my best friend, but a teensy bit of his too.
"Meh." He muttered, simply.
"It's alright. Let's just go back. But this time I won't stay at the back." She spoke, after a while.
"Fine. You can lead and I'll follow." I suggested, making a deal. She nodded.
"So, what'd you do, as a job?" Ashford questioned me after a while.
"None of your business."
"Oh come on! You're angry with me? Just because I didn't apologise to Cass?" He spoke, clearly frustrated.
No reply. I glanced at Cass in front to find her sniffling. I decided that she might need some time alone. Who'd even feel like talking after getting lost in the middle of the night anyways?
Honestly, I didn't know why I was so angry with him but if he gives that as a reason, then I'll take it.
"Ok, fine I'll apologise to her. Now, smile." He ordered.
Yeah right, as if I'll obey him.
"What I do with my face isn't any of your business." I said back and I was proud of myself for coming up with that. Giving comebacks to someone you hate gives you a sense of thrill. Trust me, you should try that.
"Spunky." He muttered. I rolled my eyes.
"Hey Jessica?" He asked poking my cheek. At first, I did a wonderful job of ignoring him, but as time progressed, I couldn't bear it anymore. I'm pretty sure no one can.
"What?" I asked, clearly not happy with his actions towards my face.
"Can I call you Jess?"
"Why?" I asked.
"Because Jessica is too long."
I thought about it and decided to make a fair deal.
"Fine. But then you'll have to let me call you something else too." I said, making a deal.
"Deal." He agreed.
"I'll call you Asher." I said. He was silent for a few seconds, probably thinking about it.
Then spoke up,"That's great."
"People! I've reached my destination!" Cass shouted from a little front.
"Which is also my destination. So, bye Asher," I said as I waved.
"Bye. Nice meeting you, A-class bitch," he said as he chuckled and began walking away, probably towards his house which wasn't too far. He had told me his address earlier.
I shook my head at his comment, and for an unknown reason, I smiled.
Who the heck smiles at being called a bitch? That to an A-class one?
"Wait! Should I assume you two are together?" I yelled, hoping that Asher heard it.
"You'll see." He said, sounding pretty mysterious. And then he left without a second glance. So much suspense. I hate suspense. Makes me curious.
"Jess! Don't you have work tomorrow?" Cass shouted from somewhere.
"Yeah! Coming!" I yelled back.
"Is he?" I asked Cass once we reached her bedroom and I was comfortably seated on her bed with my legs crossed.
"Is he what?" She asked.
"Interested in you?"
"Honestly, I've got no idea. But I seriously doubt he's my type. I mean he left his date behind and didn't even apologise," she said, shaking her head, as if amused.
"I'm sorry for that. Again," I apologised, getting up from her purple, white-flowered bed. I still felt guilty about leaving her behind. That was such an un-best friend thing to do.
"It's fine, honestly. Besides, didn't I call you at midnight and empty your wallet?" She smiled. "That wasn't fun, was it?"
"Yeah, that sucked." I agreed.
"I think I should get to bed. And you too Jess. You look so exhausted, that I wonder how are you even able to breath right now," she said, honestly looking shocked.
"I have my powers." I replied before covering my mouth with my hand as I yawned.
I felt tired to say the least. All this midnight bill paying has definitely got to me. I need sleep, desperately.
Hopefully, I can meet my chocolate world again.
"Of course you do," She said. "Goodnight Jess. Sleep tight and don't let the godamned bed bugs bite!"
"Don't worry! I won't! And if they do, I'll take my slipper and knock them till they're black and blue!" I yelled back, shaking my head as I did so. I heard her chuckle at my response.
But my mind couldn't stop thinking about the guy I just met.
Correction, the incredibly hot guy I just met.
~*~
"NO! I've been waiting for this the whole damn week! Are you sure you don't have anymore of it?" I asked, desperately hoping the answer would be a yes, they do.
It wasn't.
"No. I'm sorry, but there's nothing left." He said, apologetically.
"But...I love it." I said, my voice breaking. It was the best thing in my boring life, after all. It lights up my life like fire in the dark.
"I know you do, dear. But please, it's over. There's nothing left now." He said, looking down, apologetically.
"How could you? I trusted you. And you broke it." I said, running out. I had asked him to keep it, I always do. Yet, he didn't.
"I'm sorry!" I heard him screaming but I had already gone too far. And now I was sprinting on the streets of Amsterdam.
"My baby. You're gone now, what would I do without you? Who will make me smile now? Who'll give me that sweet and delicate flavour now that you're gone?" I said to myself while I stood on the pavement in front of a not-so-popular boutique. Was I going crazy? Probably.
I probably sound like a maniac right now, but honestly, this is the real me. The one who cries when you don't give her favourite food stuff to them, the one who watches every single episode of Doctor Who and also the one who cherishes sleep like my own pet dog.
"Hey! Jess, is that you?" I heard someone calling out for me. I turned around to look for the person who interrupted my mourning session. He walked at a fast pace and came to a stop when he was standing directly in front of me.
"Hey Asher." I said, looking at him with my probably sad brown eyes. It had been a few weeks since I had seen him that night.
"Hey. What happened?" He asked, sounding something I never imagined him to feel for me...concern.
Wow.
"Is someone concerned for the 'A-class bitch'?" I asked, quoting it.
"Stop changing the subject. Now the truth." He demanded.
I sighed. "It's over."
"What?" He asked.
"Cookie and dough flavoured ice cream was over. I had been waiting for a week for that." I said. He looked at me for a few seconds before he spoke.
"You're a crazy bitch." He said, shaking his head.
"What?" I asked, accusingly.
"Why don't you just get it at some other store?"
"That's a good idea but the other stores are too far away. Will probably take me an hour to reach there."
"Nevermind. So, where are you headed to?" He asked.
"Home. Duh," I said.
"Hey, how was I supposed to know that?"
"Where'd you think I'd be going to at," I checked my watch quickly before continuing "7:08 pm?"
"I dunno. Anyways, I'm coming with you." He stated.
"Why?" I groaned. Great, after losing my ice cream all I needed was him and his stupid 'bitch' remarks, even though I didn't feel too insulted.
"Well, someone's extra cheery." There you go with the sarcasm.
"Just answer my question Ash." I said.
"Ash? I thought you had decided to call me Asher?" He asked.
"Ash, Asher same thing. Now, answer." I waved it off and focused on the main thing.
"Fine. Be prepared. You might faint, you know. Or even get a heart attack. Or possibly just die. Hope that last one's true though," He said. I rolled my eyes at his dramatic behaviour.
"Say it already." I spoke as my patience level decreased by a huge level.
"I'm gonna ask Cass to be my girlfriend."