Project Fuckboy || a.i

Chapter 8// Torn

"Why not? He wanted to go as friends," I tell Ashton in a snarky tone, looking around for the curly haired fuckboy. "Where are you? Come out."

Ashton appears right around the corner of the hallway, his phone still at his ear. He ends the call on his end and starts walking towards me.

"Everyone knows that there's no such thing as going to Fall Formal as just friends. You either end up wasted or making out at the end of the night," he tells me, frustrated.

I shrug. "Well, no one else asked me, so I'm thankful Michael did, at least."

"No one asks you because they're scared of getting rejected." Ashton groans.

"Whatever, Ashton. I still have plenty of time to think about it." I swing my bag over my shoulder and turn around to leave. But Ashton grabs my arm, making me stop.

"There is no time," Ashton exclaims. "Azalea, have you even been to the Fall Formal?"

"...No?" I say. "I don't usually do school dances."

"Fall Formal is in October. October 18th. Tonight," he says, exasperated.

"What?" Holy shit. Tonight?

"Great. You didn't even know what day it was on." He groans, releasing his hold on me. As soon as his touch leaves my skin, I let out a breath I hadn't know I'd been holding.

Then, to my embarrassment, I begin to blush. "I thought it'd be in a few weeks. I only heard about it this morning, from Calum." But of course. Why would Michael ask me so many weeks before the actual dance? He does things the way he wants to, including asking out a girl on the day of, giving her no warning, and no time to prepare.

"Go with me instead," Ashton says, his gaze burning into my soul or something. "I don't trust him."

"No. You're not my dad, Ashton," I tell him, scowling as soon as the words come out of his mouth. Then before he can say anything else, I turn around and really leave this time. Ashton doesn't even bother to come after me or try to be convincing. He just watches me walk away.

...

Sitting in class, I realized I'd forgotten to talk to Ashton about the fake recording of us in the stall. But today, I don't want to think about it. I was already obsessing over my Fall Formal conversation with Michael, and my conversation with Ashton, and I didn't want to ruin my day even more. Finally, I decide to ignore the problem until Ashton brings it up himself.

"There is no such thing as going to Fall Formal as friends. Everyone knows you've got to make out at the end and get wasted."

By the time I get home, I'm thinking of ditching the Fall Formal. It's too short notice, and I can't just refuse Michael and go with Ashton. And I can't go with Michael, either, because it'd put more drama in my hands. There are dozens of girls willing to rip me up if I get romantically involved with Michael... just like the ones that made up the rumor about Ashton and I.

Turns out, Violet makes the decision for me. She literally crashes through my bedroom door, screaming my name.

"Azalea!" She says. "Word on the street says two boys asked you to Fall Formal. Are you going?" She shrieks, making me cringe.

"Probably not. It's...complicated. I don't want to go with either of them." Okay, that's a lie, but whatever.

"No way! You're going," Violet says, jumping onto my bed breathlessly.

"Ugh, how come no one ever gave me a heads up about this?" I mumble under my breath.

"They probably did, and you probably didn't listen," Violet teases, grabbing my hand with a wide grin.