Tangled Hearts

Chapter Nine: Testing The Waters

"How was your night with Mr. Football?" Alana smirked while the both of them walked through campus that early afternoon.

Ashley rolled her eyes, laughing. "Good, it was fun! We did an escape room together."

"Let me guess, you guys didn't complete it." Alana raised an eyebrow knowingly.

"Good guess."

"So, would you consider that a date, or...?" Alana's voice was teasing but curious.

"Honestly, I don't know what I'd call it," Ashley replied with a slight shrug. "Also, he did try to kiss me last night."

Alana's eyes went wide. "Um, hello?! You didn't think to tell me that first? Forget the damn escape room."

Ashley exhaled, readjusting her bag strap. "I'm trying to forget it, honestly. It was kind of embarrassing on my end somehow."

"What you're saying is, you wouldn't kiss him?"

"Oh, I would. When the time is right," Ashley said, surprising herself with her honesty. JT was attractive, and his attention felt good, but she was cautious. He seemed nice enough, but she wasn't sure of his intentions.

⸻

JT took his usual seat next to Ashley in class, glancing over with a slight smile. Today was the day they'd present their portraits, and he was ready. "You ready to present?" he asked.

"Definitely. We aced these projects," she replied, her voice confident.

Professor Everett's voice cut through the classroom chatter. "So, who would like to go first?"

JT immediately raised his hand, eager to get it over with. He wasn't one to wait around. They walked up to the front, each picking up their portraits from the table. Taking turns, they explained their work, detailing the choices behind their pieces. The room filled with applause as they finished, and they returned to their seats, exchanging proud smiles.

After class, they lingered in the hallway, talking over by the wall as students moved around them.

"So... is it too soon to ask to hang out again?" JT asked.

Ashley smirked. "Maybe you've earned another chance to be in my presence," she teased.

"Good to know." He leaned in slightly. "We don't even have to go anywhere. You could come over to my dorm or I could come to your place."

Ashley raised an eyebrow. "I can't just bring random boys over. My mom would ask a million questions."

He chuckled, nodding. "Alright then, my dorm it is."

"And do what exactly?" She tilted her head, crossing her arms.

"I have like a couple of board games and shit upstairs if you want to do that," he offered.

"Sounds like fun, I guess."

They headed to JT's dorm room, and Ashley immediately made herself comfortable, setting her bag down on the dining table and removing her jacket. She scanned the shelves of board games he had stacked and finally picked one called *Levels.*

"What about this one?" she asked, holding up the box.

JT hesitated, giving her a skeptical look. "You sure? It's kind of like truth or dare, it's kind of you know..."

She arched an eyebrow. "Do I look like a pussy or something?"

He laughed, putting his hands up. "Hey, just checking." He opened the box, setting up the three easy, medium, and hard piles on the table.