Everything is going normal for a week. Blake is being grumpy. Christian and Allisa have become more familiar with the term PDA. Kyle and Elina went on dates. Lilia and I hung out once. Yup, the normal. I smiled as I reached my locker to see Asher standing there impatiently looking at his watch.

Well, I don't know how but even he has been normal. We hadn't fought in a week. We aren't being buddy-buddy either. But eh. He isn't at least ignoring me. The butterflies have intensified into a zoo when I am alone around him. You will see why.

"To what do I owe the pleasant greeting?" I asked opening my locker. "I am leaving for Italy," he said immediately and I stopped dead in my tracks. "How long?" I asked softly. "I don't know." "What about schoolwork?" "It doesn't matter I am ahead in class," he replied.

"Okay," I said sighing and closing my locker. "Will you be sa-" "I don't know that either," He said knowing what I was going to ask. He doesn't know if he is going to be safe. What is he going to do kill someone? "When are you leaving?" I asked. "Now." I sulked even more. "Have a safe flight. Be safe and please try to keep me updated about your survival," I said hugging him.

"I am not going to die," he said hugging me back. "How many times do I have to tell you to stop joking about it? This is the third time this week!" I said pulling away. He rolled his eyes. "You need to be safe. And I want you to text me every morning and every night before you sleep," He said his voice very deep and serious.

I raised my eyebrows. "And why do you want me to do that?" I asked. "You talk too much do as I say. Bye," he started walking away but I pulled at his hand stopping him. He turned around. "Be safe," I said once again. I don't know why but I felt the need to say it. An uneasy feeling was set in my stomach and I didn't know why.

"I will try," he said and kissed my forehead lightly before walking away. I stood there like a statue and waited till he completely disappeared from the hallway. Sighing I went to the library since I had a free period.

*********

To Ash - Good Night.

I sent it. It's been three days and today was a Sunday and I had been sending him messages like he had asked me to. I looked at all the messages.

Thursday

To Ash - Did you reach yet?

To Ash - Please take care

To Ash - Good night!

Friday

To Ash - Good morning! I will get all your schoolwork for you

To Ash - I submitted our English project. Take care.

To Ash - Good night!

Saturday

To Ash - Hey! Good morning.

To Ash - We all met up today. Wish you were there. Even Lilia came.

To Ash - I wish you would text me back. Good night. Take Care.

Sunday

To Ash - Good morning.

Now

To Ash - Good night.

*******

I woke up in the morning and looked at the clock. My eyes widened. "MOM WHY DIDN'T YOU WAKE ME UP?!" I shouted running into the bathroom and taking a quick shower. I changed into black jeans and a white sweater and grabbed my bag running downstairs.

Kyle was nowhere to be found. I looked at the door to see a note.

Early meeting! I and Dad left. Kyle left for practice. - Love Mom.

Great! I walked out and closed the door behind me and rushed to my car. Driving to school I made it just in time for the first class. Sitting in my seat I sighed as the bell rang. "Look who made it," I heard a chuckle behind me. I turned to see Noah. "You okay?" he asked. "I was almost late," I said placing my books on the desk.

"It's fine. The teacher is on leave today!" he said leaning back in his seat. "What?! All this for nothing?!" I asked and he just laughed. I sighed and started doing some schoolwork. Ten minutes into my work I felt a finger tapping my shoulder. I turned around and raised my eyebrows. "Do you have a pencil?" He asked sheepishly.

I smiled and nodded turning around and giving him one. My phone started vibrating and he poked me again. "Paper?" he asked. I rolled my eyes and handed him a paper taking out my phone.

ASH?!

I looked at the screen and answered immediately. "Hello?" I said. "Where the fu*k are you?" he asked angrily. "Um, School?" I said when Noah poked me with his pencil. "Why are you sounding so confused?" He asked his voice less angry. I felt a poke again. "I am not confused! Are you okay?" I asked. "Why didn't you text me?" he asked. Poke.

"WHAT DO YOU WANT NOAH?!" I asked. "Sorry can I borrow a pen?" he asked I slammed one on his desk and went back to the phone. "What do you mean NOAH? What the fu*k are you doing with him?" His voice raised at every word. "He is just sitting behind me in class. You read my texts?" I asked shocked.

"Of course I did!" He said irritated. "Oh," I said. "And you are calling me because?" I asked. I felt another poke. "Why didn't you text me this morning? Yesterday also there were no fu*king updates!" He shouted. Poke. "Oh, I forgot this morning because I woke up late," I said into the phone. Poke.

"I swear to god Noah I will break you in half! Stop Poking me!" I said irritated. His eyes widened and he kept quiet. "WHAT THE FU*K IS HAPPENING THERE?!" I heard Asher shout. "Nothing. So I have been texting you for days and you call me now after ghosting me?!" I asked. "I asked what the fu*k is going on there?" he shouted back. "BYE!" I said ending the call.

So I have been texting him and yet he didn't reply. And now I forgot one morning and now he is jealous of Noah? I rolled my eyes and looked back at Noah who was busy doodling on the paper. I felt my phone vibrate again and I took deep breaths before picking it up.

"How dare you hang the call like that?!" He asked shouting. "I am not going to answer all your shouting. Call me when you have calmed the hell down!" I said ready to end the call again but I heard his voice. "Kiara," he warned I sighed and put the phone to my ear again.

"Look I was worried you usually texted me in time, every morning and you didn't text me today. And you didn't text me any stupid updates yesterday," he said his voice going back to normal. I rolled my eyes so all the updates I have been giving him were stupid?

"I woke up late and then I had to rush to school... So umm I forgot," I said. "YOU FORGOT?! I THOUGHT YOU DIED OR SOMETHING!" He shouted. I sighed. What was his problem exactly? "You know what you should track me!" I said annoyed. I heard some incoherent talking. "What?" I asked. "Nothing. Stop disturbing me. Text me every day. Bye," he said hanging up immediately.

I looked at the blank phone screen. What an idiot! I sighed ready to throw the phone on the ground but started taking deep breaths. Soon the bell rang and I walked out of a class where I met Blake. He smiled at me waving me and I just walked to him blankly. "What's got you in a sour mood?" He asked. "Ask your best friend!" I said walking with him.

"Asher? How is he troubling you from Italy?" he asked amused. I rolled my eyes. "I forgot to text him this morning so he called me to give me peace of mind," I said angrily. "Wait, Asher asked you to text him every morning? And he called you himself? What? Please tell me everything," He said shocked.

After explaining everything I looked at him to see his mouth open and gaping at me. "What is wrong with you?" I snapped. "You know what I have to go. I need to talk to Christian," he said and ran away. They are weird.

I finally went to my next class trying to forget the fight we had on the phone.

******

I was laying in bed after dinner. Mom and Dad were really happy today so we ordered in and had an amazing family dinner. Kyle was fast asleep since he was tired of all the practice. I was too but I wasn't sleepy yet. My phone pinged.

Sister-in-law: So I heard Blake and Christian talking...

To Sister-in-law: Eavesdropping you mean?

Sister-in-law: Whatever, So I heard Asher and you have been texting... 😏

To Sister-in-law: More like me texting and him ignoring me. 🙄

Sister-in-law: Don't care... So you guys are going somewhere with this aren't you 😏

To Sister-in-law: Elina Salvatore! If you would have heard the whole conversation you would have understood that I have been texting him and he ignored me. Until today I forgot to text him like every morning and he called to yell at me!

Sister-in-law: He cares about you! That is why! I am telling you, you guys are going to be together! I ship it!

I rolled my eyes! She always did this!

To Sister-in-law: He thought I was dead! That's why he called! He is just being stupid and THERE IS NO SHIP!

Sister-in-law: You guys are so perfect for each other! I mean the bad boy and the nerd/good girl. How cute!

To Sister-in-law: Do you even read what I text?

Sister-in-law: I swear to god! If this ship sails I am going to be the MAID OF HONOR! And the Godmother of your children.

WHAT THE- She is completely crazy! Best-Friend or not she needs help!

To Sister-in-law: The only godmother here is going to be me and that too, to the children of the famous KYLE AND ELINA WILDER!

I smirked when I didn't receive a reply for 2 minutes.

To Sister-in-law: If you are done blushing, Go to sleep. Or I will have to tell Kyle that you are dreaming about your babies. 😏

Sister-in-law: Good night! Don't forget to text your Asher!

I rolled my eyes at her childish antics. I didn't bother replying or correcting her. She is being stupid if she thinks that I am going to marry Asher or have his... Okay, we aren't talking about that! I mean he just wants to be friends and I am going to keep it that way. He doesn't do love. My phone pinged and I looked at it.

Ash: Thinking about me?

What the I looked around and sighed in relief.

To Ash: You wish.

Ash: Go to sleep.

To Ash: You texted me to tell me that?

I didn't get a reply for a few minutes and I almost put my phone down.

Ash: I don't have time for this. Sleep.

Always so bossy. I rolled my eyes and grabbed my comforter pulling it over me.

To Ash: Good night. Take Care. I hope to see you soon. 💕

Ash: Good night.

I smiled at his reply. I knew he had time for this or he wouldn't have texted me at all. I dozed off with a smile on my face.

********

It's been a week since he left and I haven't received a text since Monday. I would be lying if I said that I wasn't missing him or that I wasn't worried about him. He was the kind of person who would end up in the hospital every two days and that just made me worry more.

I sighed as I paid attention to the teacher when the door opened with a thud. "So you are finally okay Mr King? Good to have you back. Please take your seat," the teacher asked. My head snapped to the person I have been waiting for, for so long.

He looked at me and I a smile made its way to my face but fell when I saw a huge cut on his forehead. He walked and sat down in his seat beside me. My eyes never left him. The teacher continued talking.

"What happened?" I asked softly. "Not now," he muttered angrily. I sighed ready to place my hand on his but he glared at me harshly. "I said not fu*king now," he snapped. "Can we help you, Mr King?" the teacher asked.

He just ignored her. I just looked in front and listened to her paying no attention to him. If he wants that then FINE!

After the bell rang I looked at him to see him busy packing and getting up to leave. "So what about the date I asked you about?" I heard a voice. I turned around to see Noah. He has been asking me to go out with him for a long time now. And I have been politely declining him.

"Noah I-" I started but Asher stood in front of me. "How many times do I have to tell you that she is not going to go on a fu*king date with you!" he snapped at him. "I don't know what you are talking about. She is single and she doesn't love anyone. So I think that makes her available," he said shrugging.

"You don't have to speak for me," I told Asher and pulled him aside. "Noah, I appreciate you trying to be honest about your feelings. But now is not a good time," I explained. "I will wait for you," He said smiling and nodding before he left.

I smiled. He was so nice and I hated that I had done that to him and that for a grumpy person like Asher! But now I like him. Grumpy or not. I finally looked at Asher to find him already looking at me. "You are not going on a fu*king date with him," he shouted. I rolled my eyes and started walking out of the class.

I heard him follow but I just smiled to myself. "I am talking to you. Don't you dare fu*king to walk away from me!" he said catching up to me. "See I told you to find Kiara and we will find Ash," Blake said walking to us with Kyle and Christian.

"What do you want?" Asher snapped. "What got you in a bad mood? You just arrived!" Blake asked. "Kyle you should know that Noah is trying to get into your sister's pants," Asher said. I looked at him wide-eyed. "What the fu*k are you talking about?" Kyle asked angrily and looked at me.

"What no! Asher stop talking!" I snapped looking at him. "He asked her out on a date and was poking her three days ago," Asher continued. "I said stop talking!" I screeched as I saw Kyle glaring at me.

"I will fu*king rearrange his face!" Kyle started to storm out when I stopped him. "He asked me out on a date and when I declined he said he will wait for me to be ready, like a gentleman," I said glaring at Asher. "He better not be seen around you," Kyle snapped and walked away to god knows where.

"What is wrong with you?!" I asked. Asher just glared at me in return. "You are completely insane!" I snapped at him. "Kiara, how about we go to eat?" Blake asked. "Stop saving him! I politely asked him what happened because I have been concerned for the past week and when I finally see him all he says is Not Now," I snapped. "Kiara, he is not in a good mood," Christian explained.

"Right... He is not in a good mood. Now is not a great time. He is angry. He is this. He is that! You are right. But I am not here to deal with his mood swings all the time! I mean I get it it's his business. But you know what, if it's so much personal don't talk to me!" I said calmly ad walked to the library.

I sat down and took a deep breath opening a book to read. I was really glad he was okay. I mean the uneasy feeling made me think that something really bad was going to happen to him. But I can't understand his mood swings. I mean one minute he cares and the next he doesn't give a - Okay he is rubbing off on me.

I felt someone sit in the chair beside me and I looked up only to be met with familiar green eyes. I turned around continuing to read my book. "I don't know what magic you have done on Blake and Christian but they seem to love you," he said. Making my eyes wide. Magic? "I am fine. This injury is nothing in front of the result I got for my work," he said nonchalantly. I looked at him to see the satisfaction on his face.

"Good for you," I said glancing at the book in my hand.

I wanted so badly to lie down next to her on the couch, to wrap my arms around her and sleep. Not fuck, like in those movies. Not even have sex. Just sleep together in the most innocent sense of the phrase. But I lacked the courage and she had a boyfriend and I was gawky and she was gorgeous and I was hopelessly boring and she was endlessly fascinating. So I walked back to my room and collapsed on the bottom bunk, thinking that if people were rain, I was drizzle and she was a hurricane.

Great, I pulled out Looking for Alaska. I smiled at the text in front of me. Sometimes a book is all you need. "You believe in this?" I heard him say but his voice was close to me. I turned my head to see him centimeters away from mine. I looked into his eyes and he stared into mine. Just like in the novels all I could see was him and everything else disappeared. I felt those butterflies. I felt at peace.

It felt like this is all I wanted. I could stay here for eternity, looking into his beautiful eyes. His eyes flickered down to my lips and I was pulled out of our moment. I coughed before answering him, "I don't know if these books are imagination or reality but what I do know is that perfect love doesn't exist in this world. Maybe a few decades ago, yes. But now it is impossible to have that pure feeling with someone.

All everyone wants is a physical relationship. I mean I am not against it. But maybe before doing it with each other if someone would get to know me would be nice. I mean I don't expect anything. Like I said it's really hard to.

But I do have my fantasy and fairy tale about all this. Not that it is going to be true," I said finally looking at him. "You deserve it," he said. "I wish I did," I gave him a small smile. "The prettiest smiles have indeed felt the most pain," he said. I laughed. "The saying is is The prettiest smile hides the deepest secrets, the prettiest eyes have cried the most tears and the kindest heart have felt the most pain," I said looking at him. He looked at me with an unknown expression.

"And you already knew that," I said giving him a small smile and he nodded. "So you aren't mad at me anymore?" he asked. "You need to fix your attitude," I said closing the book. "Damn you don't hide things," he said smirking. I shrugged getting up.

"Don't you have class?" I asked placing the book on the shelf. He shrugged. I rolled my eyes. "So what are you doing here?" I asked. "Like I said Blake and Christian sent me here to make things right," he said rolling his eyes, making me laugh. "So you don't feel bad. You are here because they sent you?" I asked.

"No, it's not like that..." he trailed off. I stopped and turned around. "Then it's like what?" I asked. "It's like..." he started but couldn't complete it. I laughed. "You are enjoying this," he said looking at me. "Of course, I am it's not every day you see the Asher King speechless..." I said smiling. "Whatever... They said we are going out tomorrow... A carnival or some sh*t," he said.

And that made me squeal loudly. "A carnival! I haven't been to one in 10 years! Oh My gosh! This is the best news ever!" I said launching myself at him. He caught me and hugged me. "Thank you!" I said sheepishly getting down. "You need to stop doing that," he said helping me stand steadily. "Don't be stupid. It's not like you don't like my hugs," I said walking ahead. I expected him to retort or call me stupid and when he doesn't but when I looked around he stood there looking at the ground.

"Oh My Gosh! You like my hugs!" I smiled. "Shut up," he said embarrassed. I immediately walked to him ready to pinch his cheek "Oh you are so cute! I lov-" I stopped my hand midway. My eyes were wide and so were his when he looked up at me. "I have to go," I said softly before turning around and bolting out.

What the fuck!