Cody Christian, Theo Raeken, & Asher Adams Imagines

Part 2: New Roommate

I stepped out of the shower and wrapped a towel around my body. I grabbed another towel, tucked my hair in before wrapping it around my head. I took a deep breath and wiped my hand across my foggy mirror. My muscles were finally relaxed with a hot shower after a crazy and intense volleyball practice, as coach decided to have the team run suicides the entire practice for all the mistakes we made in our previous game.

I opened my bathroom door and immediately stopped in my tracks after taking a step. Asher was sitting on my bed, looking down at his fingers before he looked up at me. He didn't look surprised to see me in just a towel. Instead, he kind of ignored it as if it was no big deal, and for some odd reason, that kind of bugged me. I wasn't expecting him to be uncomfortable or suddenly had dark eyes filled with hunger, but I wanted some kind of reaction. I was naked underneath a towel after all.

"I need to talk to you," he said.

It wasn't just the hurt in his voice, but also the sadness in his eyes that told me something was wrong. Something happened that genuinely hurt his feelings. Did his dad tell him something else to bring him down more than before? Did Coach Baker give him more bad news, like maybe he couldn't play next year either? Did-

"It's Lelia," he interrupted my train of thoughts.

Of course it is, I thought to myself.

"Can you give me a minute or two?" I asked as I wrapped my arms around my towel covered body.

"Sure," he said before I quickly grabbed a change of clothes and made my way back to my bathroom.

Sharing my room with Asher is still something I hadn't gotten used to. I never had to change in my bathroom before. Also, I wasn't used to sharing a bed with someone, let alone with a boy. Yet, there were a couple of things that made it comfortable living with Asher. It was easy to talk to him in the kitchen while having breakfast, watching Netflix together, and him teaching me to play his favorite video games. However, it's also hard living with someone who's completely given up on his life. Since he's been suspended from the team and his father kicked him out, he stopped going to school, gambled to earn some money, and refuses to make any amends with his friends.

"Okay," I said as I walked out my bathroom in my most comfortable black yoga pants and a light pink tank top. "What happened with Lelia?" I asked as I sat next to him on my bed.

"I was surprised to see her since I've been avoiding her since the break up, but it was nice to see her, too. She was worried about me and even tried to get me to get back on the right path. She said something that kind of hit me."

"What did she say?" I asked.

Asher didn't speak for a few seconds. Instead, he reached for the towel on my head and undid it, letting my wet hair fall to my shoulders. He grabbed a strand of my hair and began playing with it, wrapping it and unwrapping it around his finger repeatedly. Although I knew he was avoiding the question, I knew he still wanted to tell me. Otherwise, he wouldn't have told me he wanted to talk. He needed someone and although I don't know what happened today with Lelia or what she said, I was going to be there for him.

"Asher," I wrapped my hand around his, stopping him from playing with my hair. "What did she say?"

"She said there's always a way back."

"She's right," I admitted as he looked up and locked his beautiful eyes with mine. "I don't think she knows what you're going through like I do, but she has a point. You're going through a lot, the break up, getting suspended from the team, not exactly on the best terms with your friends right now, and your asshole of a father-", me referring his dad as an asshole caused Asher to smile knowing I hate him just as much as he does, "kicked you out of the house," I rambled. His shoulders fell and looked down. I cupped his cheeks and lifted his head to look at me. "Although it seems like you're in a dark place with no light right now, there is a tunnel at the end of the darkness you're in. You will see light again. There's always a way back."

He held my gaze for so long and didn't move from my hold. I felt like I had somehow paralyzed him with my touch, but I didn't want to think that. I didn't want to give myself any hope of Asher having any kind of feelings for me when I know he'll never be interested in me.

"I made a fool of myself," he whispered. I tilted my head at him silently asking him 'how?' "I thought it was her way of giving me hope to get back together, because I do want to get back together with her."

Exactly why I don't want to give myself any hope, I thought to myself as I pulled my hands away from his cheeks.

"I showed up with flowers and told her I love her, only for her to tell me she's now dating Spencer," Asher continued as he batted the tears forming in his eyes. "It's just hard. Not just with her, but also with everything else. I feel like I'm stuck and I can't move. Like it won't get any better any time soon."

"Asher, things take time and they don't magically disappear or get fixed overnight. Sadly, it doesn't work that way. If it did, life would be so much easier, but what's life without a few curve balls and challenges?" I patted his thigh. "I believe in you and I believe you will overcome everything you're going through eventually. Just take it one step at a time, maybe start with going back to school," I suggested.

"Maybe," he mumbled before he plopped back on my bed. He ran his hand over his face. "It just really sucks."

"Here," I gave him one of my pillows. He gave me a weird confused look. "Just take it. Roll over to your side and face the wall," I instructed. He raised an eyebrow. I rolled my eyes. "Just do it."

Asher took the pillow and did what he was told. I grabbed one of my pillows and placed it as close to him as possible. I made myself comfortable before snuggling against his back. I wrapped my arms around him and tried my best to pull him against my chest. His muscles were tense. I couldn't tell if it was from all the stress or me being the big spoon as we have never cuddled before. Hell, we never even hugged before.

"What are you doing?" He asked.

"Shut up and let me be there for you," I said. Who knows what Asher needed, but I felt like he needed someone to hold him and let him know it was going to be okay.

Asher turned his neck to look at me and I immediately locked my eyes with his. "Let me be there for you, Ash."

Asher turned around and immediately wrapped his arms around me before be pulled to his chest. I wrapped my arms around him as we tangled our legs together. He buried his nose in my wet hair, which I'm glad it now smelled like roses instead of my dry shampoo. As I buried my face at the crook of his neck, I felt his muscles slowly relaxing.

"This is so much better," he mumbled before he tightened his arms around me.

It felt nice and safe in his arms. There was this warmth and comfort I couldn't explain. It just felt right and I knew that was going to be a problem. I couldn't catch feelings - well, anymore more than I already have - with someone who's clearly still in love with his ex-girlfriend and would probably never see me as something more than just his new roommate.

"Thank you, Y/N," he whispered. "Thank you for taking me in and being there for me. You're the only friend I need right now."

"Of course," I whispered back.

***

Author's Note: Who's also happy All American is back?! I know I am! I'm ready to continue writing this new mini-series for y'all! Any and all feedback is much appreciated :)