The Butterfly Effect

Chapter 6

Sunday

Ashley cast a long, brown-haired girl beside her a sharp look while the girl pretended not to notice. "Jess! How could you not tell me that Princeton is playing against Columbia, our own university?"

"Hmm," Jessica put her thumb to her chin, pretending to give it some thought, "didn't I mention it last night?"

"No!" Ashley groaned. "Wouldn't it be awkward if someone we know saw us here?"

"Relax, Ash. It doesn't matter which bleachers we're on. We're here for Sean, anyway, not the game."

Ashley rolled her eyes then held her hot coffee tightly, trying to warm her hands. She noticed some guys in white jersey warming up on the court had been stealing glances at her since she arrived there. But no one caught her attention because there was this new guy lived across the hall in her building who had been occupying her head in the last two months.

"Anyway," Jessica nudged Ashley's arm, "I think those sexy guys have been making eyes at you."

Ashley rolled her eyes again. "How do you know? Maybe they've been making eyes at you. Or, maybe, they somehow know that we're Columbia students who happen to sit on Princeton's bleachers."

"Well, I don't mind to date them, though, but I already have someone special."

"So do I."

Jessica raised one brow teasingly. "Who? Joey?"

"What? No way!"

Jessica laughed.

"If you mention his name again, I'm going home," Ashley grouched.

"I'm just joking, Ash," Jessica said, still half chuckling. "I know, you meant Harley, right?"

Ashley blushed then gulped her coffee to hide it.

"Why don't you just ask him out?" Jessica asked. "You're beautiful, smart and popular. He won't reject you, believe me."

Ashley scoffed. "I can't, Jess. I never ask a guy out first."

"Oh, right. You always get asked first," Jessica remarked. "But for once this time, I think there's nothing wrong with asking a guy out first."

"But what if he rejects me?"

"What if he doesn't?"

Ashley was silent, having no idea what to answer. Jessica was right. But why hadn't Harley asked her out yet? Was she not his type? Or could it be that he actually had a girlfriend?

"Oh, my God! Ash, that's him!" Jessica exclaimed.

Ashley jumped and sat straighter as she started looking around. "Who? Harley?"

"What, no! It's Sean!"

"Oh." Ashley was disappointed. "Where?"

"There!" Jessica pointed straight. "Number twelve!"

Ashley followed Jessica's finger. When she was finally conscious from her reverie, she noticed a half Middle Eastern-half Caucasian guy in Princeton white jersey who was obviously a total standout. "Okay, I admit he's much hotter in person. Now I understand why you can't get over him."

Jessica gave her a smirk. "Right? But you should see him with his glasses on."

"And why's that?"

"He's way much hotter wearing glasses! I love his sexy-nerd look!" Jessica's eyes fixated on Sean's figure.

Ashley smiled at her best friend who was acting crazy in love. "You're so lucky, Jess. At least you can be close with someone you have feelings for. I wish I had that with—"