Manipulative || A.I.

Shrewd

Ashton's POV -

Hitting the end button he heard a knock on the door joining his room to another. He jumped off the bed and walked over and pulled the door open. 

"Ready to go?" Luke pulled his blonde hair up out of habit. He was dressed in his standard band tank and skin tight black jeans. 

"To bed? Yes," Ashton replied. 

"Um you should've been doing that all night," Luke walked into the room and over to the closed curtains. 

Pulling them open, the bright, warming rays of the sun blinded Ashton. 

"What the hell?" He grabbed his phone and realized he had talked to Sarah all night without even realizing it. 

"What were you doing all night? I didn't hear any of your usual," Luke paused to look around the room to see if a girl was in the room, "noises."

"I was talking to Sarah,"  Ashton rubbed his eyes and knew he was not going to be a true functioning human that day. 

"All night?" Luke's eyebrow raised questioningly. 

"Apparently," Ash threw his hands down and walked over to grab a shirt that smelled clean enough to toss on and a pair of the bands uniform black skinny jeans. Throwing a bandana around his forehead and pushing his phone into his pocket he walked to his door to see Luke was still standing, arms crossed, over thinking the situation like he normally did. 

"Come on Luke," He rolled his eyes, opening the heavy door and walked out himself. 

"You don't think that is odd?" Luke sprinted out the door to keep up with Ash. 

"No. Why would I?" 

"Because I have never seen you ever actually have a conversation with a girl. Most conversations you have are full of flirting and innuendos, and then fifteen minutes later you've both disappeared. Now you are about to board our bus, after not sleeping because you were talking to a girl who you only wanted to sleep with, and who quite adamantly told me she dislikes you."

Ashton said nothing. Ignoring the comments he knew were trying to get him to tell a different story. 

"I wouldn't play hard ball with this girl mate. She doesn't seem like one to mess with," Luke warned. 

"And why do you think I am messing with her?" Ashton stopped in his tracks and spun to see Luke nearly run into him. 

"Because that is what you do man. You will shape and mold her into getting exactly what you want. Which in this case isn't even her. She will think you have changed and maybe, just maybe, she will fall for it, and then you will screw her over. Because she was not what you wanted in the first place."

"I apparently can't get what I want. So why not have a little fun?" Ashton winked and with a devil like smirk he turned back to the elevator. 

Sarah's POV

She had not realized her entire night was spent talking to the person she believed was a wolf in sheep's clothing. She knew he had a motive. And even with that she gave in, like any normal girl would. She had always prided herself on not falling for his kind, and his moves but as she heard her alarm buzz alerting her she needed to get ready for work, she realized she just did. 

Walking into work Amelia did the usual popping of her head over the cubicle wall and this time Sarah did not even jump. She was too tired to react. 

"Jesus. What happened to you last night? You look exhausted." Amelia crossed her arms and leaned her chin on them. 

"Your stupid love sick friend kept me on the phone all night. And I regret letting him do it," Sarah took a large swig of the steaming hot liquid in her travel mug and even though it burned it shocked her system to wake up.

"Oh? Discussing what exactly?" Amelia now perked up at the thought of hearing the new development in her blind date massacre. 

"Nothing. Luckily he did not seem to bring you up that often. Which is what you want in the first place so I would say it's working. But now I have to deal with being up for 48 hours straight now. So thanks for that," Sarah spoke with a strong sense of sarcasm. 

"I didn't say talk to him all night," Amelia tried to argue by putting her hands up and putting the blame on Sarah. 

"No. But you did tell me to keep his mind off you, and well he took that as 'talk her ear off'" Sarah mocked. 

"Well I hope you had a decent night," Amelia dropped back down into her cubicle and Sarah stared at the wall again hoping Amelia could feel the piercing stare. 

But her phone buzzed taking her mind and eyes away from the wall. Reaching over and looking to see a new message from Ashton. 

She wondered why he was so interested in talking to her all of a sudden. 

Ashton-

Since I am going to be in the city again for New Years should we make plans to see each other?

Sarah-

Why would we want to do that exactly? 

Ashton-

Why wouldn't we? I thought last night kind of changed the whole 'I hate you and never want to speak to you again' mentality. I thought we were friends...

Did I think wrong?

Sarah had to think about it. Did she really not dislike him anymore? Or was this what he wanted her to think so he could continue to use her as a pawn? Amelia straight up said he had maniupated her, and Luke had warned her about it as well when they talked on the bus. 

Sarah-

I don't know to be honest. 

 Ashton-

Wow. Ok. Sorry for totally misinterpreting last night. I thought we had come to some sort of truce. 

Sarah-

I don't mean it like that. I mean it as we have only been civil for a day. And we have only known each other for three. So maybe down the line I could agree to us making plans to hang out for New Years. But for now...I turn down your proposal. 

Ashton-

That was such a proper way to turn me down I feel so uneducated. I might go pick up a book to just to feel a little bit better. 

She let out a slight giggle and put her phone down to get some actual work done. 

Sorry this was short and mostly just filler but I promise it will be getting better!