Crush

Alone

Asher

Never would I have thought I'd spent so much time at home over Christmas. All I did was loiter, hang about.

In my room.

In the kitchen.

In the living room.

Chatting with Aaliyah about school.

Talking with Mom about what was going on in her friend group.

I even had a conversation with Dad about college. He'd gone over my college applications and sent them all off for me. I was now getting letters back from them, offering to show me around their campuses, commenting on my applications. I even had a response from the college in Florida. My dream college that will lead me to my dream life with Oliver.

I'd sent off that application myself.

Dad wanted to know when I'd be going for tours around the colleges, wanted dates, times, places. He'd been making notes of them on his phone as I told him.

I had hoped that didn't mean he was going to follow me. Or start questioning me about them. Or, worse, come with me.

For the weekend I had my tour in Florida, Oliver and I were travelling together as we both had tours there on the same day.

Oliver said he would ask Liam to see if we could stay with him while we were in the sunshine state, but I wasn't so sure about that. Couldn't say I was too keen on him sharing a room with Liam's roommate in the same room. Especially after learning about what they did together in the spring.

It would also be a bit cramped. I mean, four guys in one room?

I stood in the window of one of the sitting rooms, staring at the long driveway leading up to my house, trying to spot the gate at the end.

Every day over the Christmas break I'd been in the same position, watching over the driveway. Every day was an attempt to see if Sofia would turn up, flashing her phone and the incriminating photo at my dad.

So far, she'd stayed away.

And the anticipation was killing me.

Sighing, I shook my head, closed my eyes and crossed my arms over my chest.

I was so stupid.

Reckless.

An idiot.

I should have known that someone would notice the attention I was giving Oliver. That someone would take offence.

What I wasn't expecting was someone to think about profiting from it. Even if it was a date or two. Or three.

Sofia knew what she was doing.

And she was making my life hell.

She never really told me why she wanted me back, why she wanted to blackmail us.

I guess she just saw an opportunity and ran with it.

Or she was just plain crazy.

Spiteful.

And it was all my fault.

I had no one to blame but myself.

What made it worse was the fact that I was dragging Oliver down with me. He had barely spoken to me since we finished school for the Christmas break.

I'd told him about Sofia. Had to. This wasn't just about me. It was about him, too. I wanted so much to protect him. I'd do anything for him.

Sofia didn't know that, though. She had no idea how deep my feelings for him ran.