A Year In Fort Lauderdale

Dance Prep and Super Smash Bros

Chapter Nine

"Okay, so I used microwavable bacon because I have no idea how to cook bacon," I laugh as I step into Asher's bedroom. "And I never know how much seasoning to put on scrambled eggs so I brought the shakers in case you needed more."

He sits up in his bed, wearing only a dark grey pair of sweats. I hand him the wood tray with the food and a glass of orange juice, and patiently wait for him to take a bite. One bite of the egg and his expression changes sour and he looks up at me.

"Delicious," he says queasily.

I groan. "Too much seasoning." I take the shakers off the tray and clutch onto them nervously. "I can go make you some new eggs if you want. I won't put anything on them this time."

"No, that's not necessary. The toast and bacon should be good enough, thanks."

"You sure?"

He smiles and nods. "Positive."

I head into his bathroom and open up the cabinet to the side of the mirror, looking at the list of medicine he's due for. Getting the pills into a small paper cup, I head back into his room and hand him the cup. He downs them easily and continues to eat his toast.

"I'm gonna go shower and get ready so just call me if you need me."

Heading out of his room, I hop into the shower and take a quick ten minute shower. Afterwards, I throw on a pair of high waisted black jeans with rips at the knees, a light grey crop top, and finish the look with white converse shoes. I clasp my dainty gold tear drop necklace around my neck and straighten it before I head back into the bathroom to swipe on just a little bit of mascara and run my fingers through my wavy hair.

"Okay, first time dress shopping without your mother, you can do this." I smile at myself in the mirror, giving myself a pep talk. "Plus, we're probably just going to the mall so it'll be a relaxing day of walking around the place, going into little shops; it'll be fine."

I take a deep breath and walk back into Asher's room. As I enter, Asher fixes me with a smirk, one eyebrow raised.

"Talking to yourself in there?" He asks, his smirk deepening.

"Okay, ha ha, very funny."

"Why are you freaking out over dress shopping? It has to be one of the easiest things out there." He leans forward, his abs becoming more defined.

"Why can't you ever wear a shirt?" He narrows his eyes at me. "And, hey, maybe if you talked to your girlfriend about it you'd understand that it's not as easy as you think it is."

"Ava isn't my girlfriend," he states, green eyes intense. "And I do talk to her, she just doesn't talk about those things."

I cross my arms over my chest. "Ava never talks about those things? Ava? The girl that wears six inch heels to a party? The girl that writes poetry about the pressures society puts onto everyone, especially women. She's never talked about the craziness that is dress shopping?"

He stares at me. "I mean, she's probably mentioned it? I don't know."

The doorbell rings but I keep my focus on Asher. "You claim she's not your girlfriend, yet you act like you're into her. You encourage her to act like your girlfriend, yet you don't even listen to what she has to say?"

His stare turns to a glare. "Don't act like you understand the whole thing."

"Oh, I think I understand enough. I'm not the biggest fan of Ava; she seems a little erratic at times, but I know she deserves to be listened to. Sometimes it seems like you're just leading her on."