Becoming

2| chalcedony

"this is what you want, to belong, so they like you. do you like you?"

-try, colbie caillat

"Okay, wait, so not only did you drag me into an empty classroom in front of what must've been the entire goddamn school, you also want me to lift a rule that I've implemented since, oh I don't know, the first day I rose to the top?" I let out a harsh laugh. "Just who the hell do you think you are, Asher Miller?"

"Come off it, Felicity," Asher said flatly. "It's not that big of a deal."

"It's a big deal alright, it's a huge deal, actually!" I fumed, pacing up and down. "First, everyone and their mother probably thinks that I pissed you off, and knowing your loyal fan base, I'm going to get even more flak than I already do! Second, if I give in to your absolutely ludicrous proposal, people are going to talk! They're going to talk, they're going to protest, and they're going to loathe me even more than they already do. This is more than your puppy love, Asher!"

"Haven't you ever been in love, Felicity?" Asher sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Come on, please? For me? I'll help to dispel any rumours, I swear on Buttercup."

"Yes, for your information, I have been in love," I snapped, probably more irritably than was warranted. "I think it's a whole ton of hooey. Sure, the idea of it is great and all, but when you're in the tank of sharks that's high school, there's no time for love, especially not with the pressure of grades."

"But she's the one," Asher looked dreamily into the distance, blue-grey eyes glazing over. I nearly gagged at the sight. "It's love at first sight, Felicity, I swear it!"

"And then your arse fell out," I deadpanned.

"No one says 'arse' in this day and age," Asher shot me a look that was both irritated and pleading.

I sighed in defeat.

"Look, fine, I'll try my best," I rolled my eyes. "But at least give me some information on this girl who I'm supposed to magically warm up to."

To tell the truth, I wasn't sure why I was even agreeing to Asher's request. If anyone else had asked the same of me, I would have turned them down immediately and made sure their name was dragged through mud for embarrassing me publicly.

Then again, Asher was different. He was the first person who had listened to me in a long time, and the first person who had willingly accompanied me even if I wasn't exactly the most engaging person to be around.

For that, I was grateful, and for that, I couldn't find it in me to reject him.

"Right, okay, so I ran into her at Starbucks," Asher seemed to brighten up considerably, and as he spoke, he gestured animatedly. "We talked a little, and I found out she just moved here from Manchester. She's coming here in a few days, after she finishes moving in and all that finicky jazz."

"And how exactly did you 'run into' her?"

Asher smiled sheepishly at that.

"Spilled my coffee on her shirt. Needless to say, there was a huge stain. I'm lucky she didn't saw my head off right there and then, the shirt looked expensive."

"Smooth, Asher, real smooth," I shook my head, half in exasperation and half in amusement. "God, this is all so cheesy. My whole life is turning into a teen flick."

"So, everything else aside," Asher surveyed me with a calculating look. "Can you help me?"

"No promises," I looked away, wrapping my arms around my middle. I wasn't about to drop all my rules and ruin my image because of what Asher believed to be 'true love'. But at the same time, I wasn't about to turn down someone who had granted me some respite in the hellhole I called my life.