simmer down // a.i. [ON HOLD]

[23] ashton's good sense of smell

‘Last order?’

Ciara checked her list and nodded.

‘Then you’re free for the rest of the afternoon. Thank god.’

I laughed and rubbed at my tired eyes.

‘Amen to that. What’s the room number anyway?’

She gave me a sideways look.

‘Why don’t you check your own list?’

Looking down, I felt my stomach drop. 3 boxes of pizza to Room 5505 on level 5 - well, that sure looked familiar. I thrust the order towards Cee.

‘You take it. I’m not going up there. I’d sooner jump off a cliff.’

She didn’t look up, but I heard her sigh.

‘I think you should just go, okay? You have to sort this shit out with Ashton, seriously. There’s only two ways it could end, and the rest of us are sick of watching you two go around in circles.’ She giggled. ‘Just admit you’re in love...’

‘I am not! But fine, I’ll go, but I’m telling you, this isn’t going to work. We’re never going to work. He’s... he’s just so Ashton. Stubborn asshole,’ I muttered to myself. Even if he’s a hot stubborn one.

Ciara however didn’t seem to care. She was grinning at me slyly.

‘So you do like him then?’

Ooops.

‘No, I don’t! I hate him! No, wait, I don’t,’ I sighed, and gave in, ‘fine, yes, maybe, I guess I do.’ I paused. ‘But only a teensy tiny bit.’

She flopped back into her chair and raised a hand to her mouth, looking at me in wonder.

‘Huh. Well how about that.’

I tensed up and my stomach dropped again. When I opened my mouth, I started spewing words pointlessly.

‘It’s bad isn’t it? I knew it - he doesn’t even think of me that way. It’s just a ridiculous crazy stupid hopeless little crush that I’ll forget about soon. Oh wow, did you see that gorgeous girl he was with last night? I bet she’s a model, he’s probably dating her-‘

‘Emma, oh my god. Just stop talking already babe.’

Ciara turned around and began ruffling around in the papers behind her. Finally, she pulled out her phone and dialed a number. I could hear the phone ringing before someone picked it up on the other end.

‘Hello?’

‘Luke - it’s me.’

No! I started waving frantically at her but she waved her arms, shushing me. I heard the muffled talk of the person on the other end, and then Ciara blanched.

‘Oh... sorry Ashton... um, yeah, is Luke there?’

Ashton??? I put my hand in my palms and moaned, almost ready to start crying. Ciara looked nervously at me.

‘Yeah, Emma’s here - no, sorry, she, um, she can’t come to the phone right now. Yeah, I’ll tell her.’ There was a pause. ‘Can you please put Luke on? Thanks.’

She mouthed sorry to me, but I just glared at her.

‘Luke? Hey! Yup, I got her here with me, but don’t tell Ashton. What? Uhuh, yeah, okay, sweet.’ She looked at me quickly. ‘She’s coming up soon. Yeah, I know - wait, what? He admitted to...he said he did?? That’s, that’s perfect, wow.’ Another pause. ‘Okay. I’ll talk to you soon. See ya Luke.’