Crush

Party

Oliver

Music blaring, drinks flowing, lights dimmed, bodies everywhere. Mason's party was in full swing.

Everyone was laughing, chatting, singing and just chilling out, enjoying their freedom. The last couple of weeks of school had been full on. Full of teachers explaining the school work we needed to do in time for the new school year, full of end of year tests, full of stress ...

And full of Asher Williams.

Every day.

He had been with me. Every. Single. Day.

Seeking me out in the halls, chatting to me in the cafeteria, sitting close to me in class. Even started sending me text messages, just to see if I was okay, if I wanted to hang out.

No one else seemed to think it was out of the ordinary. In fact, everyone thought I was getting reacquainted with an old friend. And I was ... in a way. On the outside, I was simply catching up with someone I used to know. On the inside, however, I was rekindling the feelings I'd had for him - the heart stopping moments, the fluttering in my stomach, the prickling of my skin whenever he sat too close.

I wanted to avoid spending too much time in his presence because I had to pretend to not be affected by him, pretend not to look at him too much. I never thought I would end up getting this close to him again. I always thought ....

Honestly, I didn't know what to think. My heart felt like it was constantly hammering against my ribs and my head .... My head was fuzzy. Like I couldn't think properly. Almost as if I was looking at everything through a hazy lens.

It was like a dream come true for me.

He had looked so cute in Principal Collins' office that day. Cute. Bashful. Nervous. I had always thought about being closer to him again. Younger me would be jumping at the chance. Egging me on. Older me did just that. And now older me was regretting it.

What if he starts to notice? What if he starts to put the puzzle pieces together? Figures out I'd had the biggest crush on him for years?

Seeing Asher was not doing anything to help my heart. Every day I was sure I would have a heart attack. Watching him chat and laugh with my friends, noticing how his shirts seem to stretch across his muscular chest, how his perfect mocha-coloured skin glistened under the false lighting of the school halls, how his jeans cupped his perfect round ...

A beer bottle appeared in front of my face, shaking me from my thoughts..

Jenson.

Glancing at his cheeky grin, I grabbed the bottle out of his hand and took a long swig. I needed it.

We were propped up against the kitchen counter, watching the party unfold in front of us.

"Man, this party is great!" Jenson had to shout over the blaring music. Right into my left ear. I turned my head slightly, watching him grin cheekily at me and clapped an arm around my shoulder, going for my hair again. I ducked my head. I'd managed to style my hair tonight and didn't want him to ruin it. Just one night with perfect hair. That was all I asked.

Jenson laughed. "What's up, man? Would you rather a certain swim team captain mess up your hair for you?" He left his arm around my shoulders and squeezed me to his side. Despite his lean muscle, he was strong. We played basketball. We didn't need the big muscles of the footballers. We just needed enough to keep us fit.

"Jealous?"

"That Chloe gets to run her hands through your hair and I don't?" He shook his head. "Nah. I'm not jealous. I know I'm still your favourite." He reached over and messed up my hair. Again. Hundredth time today.