Varsity Boy and The Prep

5

"Is this really how you want to present yourself?"

"Absolutely."

My eyes skated over Asher's perfectly coiffed, chocolate brown hair. Unless messy hair took more than rolling out of bed in the morning, this was the first time that Asher had made effort on this feature. It was definitely safe to say that Asher looked like a prep.

"We're twinning, Ash!" I said, referencing my blond-ish hair that was perfectly parted down the middle.

Asher frowned. "Don't call me Ash. And you should think about doing something different with your hair. Just for tonight."

I stared at my bleak, dull self and tried to picture what Asher pictured. Straight hair was next to impossible to achieve on me, as were perfect curls. I'd never had hair that was one way, the other, or versitile. It's the kind of hair that's wavy, and your hair's fate for the next day depends on luck.

"What do you suggest?" I said, knowing that he would probably shoot down the idea of me taking his opinion.

To my surprise, Asher lightly took one of my brushes, and held it over my head.

"Is this okay?" he asked.

I nodded. My stomach twisted up in knots as he placed one large hand on the side of my head, to steady it. Asher began to comb all of my hair backwards, destroying my perfect middle part. When he was done, Asher grinned.

"Magnifique." he said. "You're ready for movie night, now."

Fall Movie Night is the creme de la creme of social events at Towerpointe, and you can tell how planning was involved, as soon as you walk through the doors. The lowers were always put to the task of organizing the event and my first year being an upper, all I had to do was text and invite. Nobody really watched the movie, of course. It was a distraction for the teachers and staff, so that the socially well individuals could have fun. I usually ended up watching the movie. Because, track is the reason I'm invited every year. If I weren't on the team, neither Gabrielle, Carson, or myself would be going. With Asher, there was of course, no question of what he'd be doing. Really important people like him, usually spent the night hooking up with girls. He didn't look that way, though. With his new hair and attitude around me, Asher seemed different, walking into movie night. I stood by his side confidently, but shriveled up inside. We were in the campus garden, which was home to a variety of different flowers and plants. It was a colorful place and great to visit. Except when people are staring straight at you. Asher opened the fence to the garden, where everyone was.

"This is what you asked for." he whispered, offering his arm to me. I looped my thin arm through his buff, and together, we went to greet some of his friends. Or, aqquaitences. I knew for a fact that Asher's only real friend was Theo, who should've already arrived. My eyes scanned the place, but Theo was nowhere to be found. Could it be true that I'd taken Theo's rightful place at this event? I broke away from Asher's prolonged conversation and immediately spotted Gabrielle. She rushed up to me.

"Again Emerson, you are amazing for getting me an invite to this. I already got a guy's number, and the movie hasn't even started."

"Does he know that you're not a part of a school team and that you came on secondary invite? Because he'll find out sooner or later."

Gabrielle's cheeks turned a fair shade of pink. "Oh, have fun-"

"Gabrielle, I don't come to movie night because I want to. I come because I'm expected to. So if you need me, I'll be right here, watching the movie without my date."

That was true. If I didn't come to this, people would drill on me about it at practice. And living at school, you can't get out of social events by saying that your mom said no. I felt a hand against my back and looked up, but Gabrielle was gone.

"Without your date? That doesn't sound like much fun."

The air around me grew warm. "Aren't you supposed to be doing what all people of your status do?"

Exhaling, Asher led me over to a tree that was directly across from the projection screen. It was an oak, and had a colorful blanket at it's base.

"Theo and I always watch from this tree. Since you're my date, you get to sit on the very comfortable ground and watch a Disney movie with me, under the biggest tree on campus. Very romantic, but Theo and I haven't gone past first base-"

"What?"

"Kidding." he said, with a look of sheer amusement. "You don't believe that I'm actually my reputation, do you?"

I stayed silent.

"You're a disappointment, Williams. I was hoping that you could at least help me with Greek homework. I heard you're really smart and smart people know multiple alphabets, right?"

Up started to play on the giant movie screen in front of us. I didn't pay attention to Asher. The beginning of this movie always got to me, when the old guy's wife dies. Even if it is an animation, I don't see why you can't get emotional over it. Once that part was over, I allowed myself one glance at the spot next to me, where Asher was doing homework.

Asher was doing homework.

Knowing that it was finals week, helped me a bit to understand why he'd spend movie night studying. They usually held it a few weeks earlier. Then, I remembered that I did indeed have an exam the next day. I muttered a curse, which pulled Asher out of his focused state.

"Anything that I can help with?" he said.

Yes.

"No."

"Are you sure?"

No.

"Go back to being a better student than me AND a varsity athlete."

Asher didn't argue.

Okay, so I'm pretty much obsessed with Bates Motel and it's been taking over my life. I'll try to edit the next few chapters once I'm caught up inside Bates....