Intertwined

You Coming?

Matt continued walking down the halls. He was to run into another familiar face very soon...

That face would be none other than Asher's. "What up, Matt?"

Matt stopped walking again, getting nervous by the second. "Asher"

"How ya doing?"

"I'm not even sure at this point...You?"

"Pretty good" Asher was acting uncharacteristically nice.

"Oh. I wonder what's up"

Asher shrugged, as if nothing was going on. Matt however, didn't believe it. Asher was talking to him.

What could he want?

"So how's today going?"

"So far pretty good. What about you?"

"I just ran into Mike...He talked to me and mentioned something about a plan you had. I'm honestly not that intrigued, but I'm thankful he's still talking to me"

"That's good" Asher mentioned briefly.

"Yeah...Good talk, Ash..."

"Yeah. I guess I should tell you. We talked about having us all over at my house" Asher smiled at him.

Matt looked at him with surprise. "Oh, interesting"

"Yeah! Could you imagine us all coming together like that? I can't wait!" Asher squeaked out, causing Matt to grimace at the words. The latter hummed in thought before speaking up the next words.

"I wonder what'll you get up to when you have us all over"

"Guess we'll just have to see" Asher shrugged.

"Are you sure it's a good idea to do that?" Matt interjected.

"We already decided. Mike even thinks it's a good idea" Asher replied simply.

"Uh huh, okay. And I'm sure your combined agreement won't end in a disaster?" Matt snarked.

"Aye, don't say that about me" Asher looked like he was about to shove him but stopped himself at the last minute.

"Relax, I'm just joking. I'll see you" Matt waved briefly at him before walking away.

"See ya!" Asher waved back cheerfully and went on his way.

Matt changed his direction from class to somewhere else. More private. He had to stop for a second before going in.

Later inside the class, everyone was relaxing minutes before the class ended, and the teacher left them to their own devices for a bit.. Everyone was having a good time. Well, almost everyone.

Some noticed the absence of one more student: Matthew Anderson...

"Where's Matt?" Eve asked worriedly, while Mike looked on with a contemplative look as he sat on his desk.

Asher was standing in front of the class. He glanced around the room for Matt, confused about his absence as well. Mara, Jordi and Rose were doing the same.

Just then, the door to the room swung open, and the person who was missing finally showed up. Everyone was looking in awe at Matthew as he walked confidently to the front of the class.

Matt turned around and faced Asher.

"Oh hi Matt, why did you get here late? Did you think about what I s-"

"You don't have to do this" Matt snapped.

"I- what?" Asher looked confused.

"You don't have to come to me and pretend like you actually want me at your house just because Mike said so. You're only tolerating me because of him, otherwise you'd be happy throwing me in the trash. Mike wanted us to stick together and care for each other, and I warned him exactly of people like you, who only stick around for some and toss away the others. It's fine if you don't like me, but don't you dare pretend to do that. You don't see me pretending now, do you?"

Asher stayed the way he was. Matt was breathing heavily at the end of his speech. Everyone else was frozen in place.

Matt finally turned around and went to leave as the bell rang. Mike, Evelyn, Mara, Jordi and Rose as well as everyone else followed after...And only Asher remains...

Rose looked she was about to stop and comfort Asher, but she decided he needed time alone first so she went out as well.

Asher stared at the place where Matt was, shocked and hurt. He couldn't believe it. He couldn't believe what he heard.