“He’s only doing it because it’s you,” Natalie said in a hushed whisper. We were sitting in the library two days later and I’d finally spilled about my conversation with Aston. She’d thought I’d gone to yell at him for kissing me, not to strike a deal over some silly tickets. My sisters were very lucky I was doing this for them, especially if Aston made me suffer.
“No Nat.”
“I think so,” she said, “He’s a really good guy.”
“He’s like my older brother.”
“He’s not though.”
“Still,” I said, “He teases me like a little kid.”
“Because he likes you!”
“No!” We received a glare from the librarian and I quickly slammed my books shut. “I’m leaving.”
“Where are you going?”
“Pub?” I shrugged, referring to the student union pub just across the way from the library at our uni.
“Jess it’s not even four.”
“So? Lectures ended today for the holiday and we don’t really need to revise.”
“True.”
“Come for a round or two.”
“Deal,” Natalie replied.
The pair of us packed up and went down to the pub, ordering mulled wine and a hot lunch.
“I can’t believe your Mum made you ask Ast for One Direction tickets.”
“It was so cringy.”
“I’m sure it was,” Natalie replied, “I’m sure he loved hearing that.”
“I’m sure he did.”
“Remember when he first finished X Factor and we begged for him to get us into that club?” Natalie asked.
“He was so mad!” I giggled, “They let us in no problem but wouldn’t let his boys in.”
“Things have definitely changed.”
I couldn’t help but laugh, remembering how many times we’d tried to get Aston to help us out with things. Most of the time he didn’t seem to mind, saying that if he was going to have all these special privileges he’d just as soon share. But sometimes things got a bit ridiculous.
“He said I have to do a favor for him in return for the tickets,” I said after a minute.
“You didn’t say that before.”
I shrugged lightly, “What do you think he’ll make me do?”
“Well…” Natalie grinned.
“Nat!”
“What did you think I was going to say?” she giggled.
“Make out with him or something.”
“I was actually going to say blowjob.”
“Oh god,” I sighed, “I can’t even imagine doing something like that.”
“No?”
“He’d stand there and just say all this snarky shit I’m sure.”
“Ohhhh Jessie…..” Natalie teased, mimicking Aston’s pet name for me.
“Ewwwww! Stop!!!”
“Just saying,” Natalie grinned.
“If he does anything mean to me, I’m done,” I said, “I’m so sick of him teasing me.”
“He doesn’t mean to make you mad,” Natalie shrugged.
“Yes he does!”
“No,” Natalie said seriously, “He really doesn’t.”
“Yeah right, he loves teasing me and seeing me all embarrassed. I don’t know why the hell he thinks its ok, but he needs to get over it!”
“You should just ask him,” Natalie said, “If it really bugs you that he teases you this much, you should ask him why he does it.”
“Nat…”
“Really Jess, you should. You might not like his answer, but maybe it would be good to hear?”
“Why wouldn’t I like his answer?” I asked.
Natalie just shrugged, sipping her drink.
“What do you know?” I demanded.
“I think you should ask him,” she said, “That’s all.”
I narrowed my eyes at her for a minute, shaking my head from side to side. I really didn’t want to hear why he teased me so much, but I really wanted him to stop. Catch 22.
