Asher (Completed)

LAYANNE

I sighed as I walked into my home still thinking about the interview I just had with Asher and Alistair.

I had a lot to go over and a long powerful friendship to map out. I smiled as I smelt the brownies from the doorway.

“Hey honey I’m home” I called out to my sister who I knew was in the house. She was the titled baker in the family, it couldn’t be anyone else making brownies at 2:30 pm.

Exactly as I expected, she walked out with a playful frown on her face. Her white apron and chef’s hat immaculate with not a smidge of flour or chocolate anywhere; meticulous as always.

She rolled her eyes at my cheeky smile “Annie I have told you time and time again, stop using me as your “secret” lover for your followers. Most of them only care about your books anyways”.

I snorted “Shut up Mitch and show me the brownies”, I replied walking past her towards something much more interesting.

As I took one step forward, Mitch jumped back to the front of the kitchen doorway to stop me from entering. I raised an eyebrow “Um sweetheart I love you but if you don’t get your ass away from between me and those brownies, we’re going to have a problem”

She sighed “First of all, do I have to remind you again that you’re 5’3 at best and I’m 5’7, also I made those brownies and I can take them away from you permanently if I wish so stow your entitlement and finally you can have as many as you want when you tell me about Alistair and Asher"

I groaned “Seriously? You know that information is supposed to be confidential”
She smiled her best dopey “puppy dog" smile before replying “Yes and you know I’m your only sister, and also the one between you and those brownies”

I gasped “Are you sure you want to study medicine and not business? I’m telling you, cause this is less hippocratic and more wall street. I mean those medical fees are a bitch so if you want to change your mind now…”
She groaned “Whatever, do we have a deal or not?”

I shrugged “Fine, you can listen to the interview recordings while I take my notes after dinner. Now out of my way little girl”

She folded her arms as she moved out of the way “I am a 5’7 14 year old woman; I am in no way little”

I tuned her out, following my nose towards the pan of chocolate sweetness.

It’s good to be home.
 


I sighed rubbing my hands into my shoulders, rotating my head back and forth, shoving what I was sure was the fifth brownie into my mouth while my sister just shook her head at me in amusement.

I shrugged still massaging my shoulders “Oh Shut it, I’ll just run some more miles tomorrow”

She pushed her arms up in submission “Hey I didn’t say nothing, you keep rubbing your shoulders, you want me to give you a hand?”

I smiled at her, “Nah, that’s alright.I’m going to take a shower and rest for a while ,mum’s getting in at 7 today right?”

She nodded in response, listening attentively. Another facet of her personality I greatly appreciated.

“Good. Come get me at 5:30 so we can start up dinner. We’re having pasta bolognese today” I replied standing up to walk out of the kitchen.
I took a step back and looked over to her again “Thank you for the brownies Mitch, they were delicious”

She smiled. She said nothing, but I knew what that smile meant so I walked out of the kitchen.

I continued rubbing at my shoulders but as I walked up the stairs, I couldn’t help but constantly go over that evening in my head.

I was glad I hid it well, but having a full conversation with Asher and Alistair simultaneously was quite overwhelming.

They both have this air around them; Alistair is just a combination of charisma and confidence while Asher just comes off really guarded.
It's dealing with the almost choking presence of an extrovert and trying to balance it with constantly engaging the hidden spirit of an introvert to keep them with you.

I shook my head, realizing my tired feet and drifting thoughts had brought me over to my room.

I pushed open the door, smiling as the large double bed came to view. At that moment I wasn’t sure there was anyone who loved their bed as much as I did.

I groaned as I dropped down, back flat on it; Thank God, I made up this room before leaving for the coffee house instead of procrastinating — “Like I always do”, I muttered quietly to myself.

Maybe, I could just forget about my promise to my mum about being perfectly hygienic and just fall asleep in my filth right here. I mean what mum doesn’t know couldn’t really hurt her.

Then again, she would find out somehow, she’d really take one good look at me and know, — I swear that woman is part witch.

I slammed my hand down on my forehead as I realized I was once again procrastinating and just plain wasting time by having full discussions with myself. — Come on Layanne, get your lazy, dirty ass up and into the shower. You have dinner to make and notes to take. I pushed myself off the bed, stripping off my crop top and shorts.

One reason I’m really grateful about being able to afford things now, is getting a room with a full ensuite shower; I couldn’t help but think as I put on my teal shower cap and walked over to my shower.

Yeah, I still love how that sounds.

I sighed, stepping into the shower and shutting the glass door behind me, then I practically moaned as the warm water ran down my back.

I definitely needed this.
 


“Come on, Ann pleaseee”.

I rolled my eyes at my sister who stood in front of the tv screen, waving her hand back and forth to block my view of Will Smith as much as possible.

“Mitch, I said no”, I replied, folding my arms, with the best straight, matter-of-fact expression I could muster.

She finally stopped, flopping down on the ground directly in front of me. “Come on Layanne, why can’t I listen to the recordings now”

I rubbed my hand into my temples, silently requesting to know why God gave me a fangirl for a sister.

“Because Mitch, we just finished up dinner like ten minutes before, it is currently only ten minutes to 7 which is dinner time and I would like to be relaxed and work free when I eat”

When she paused and huffed in resignation, I was relieved until she opened her mouth and said “Why, you literally slept for over an hour before you came down to make dinner. How much more rest could a person possibly need?”

I was so stunned at the sass in her tone, I burst out laughing “Wow, Alistair would really like you.
Come on Mitch, don’t be rude. Just wait till after dinner, we would both be able to focus more then”.

She nodded bashful. I could tell her response had shocked her too, she was bold but she usually toed the line. Alistair really did have an effect on women.

I felt my cheeks heat up, when I remembered him calling me beautiful earlier today.