Rock 'N' Rollin

Cass smiled back at Asher, amused by his eagerness. “Well I typically make mine from scratch. Would you like to help?”

“YAS!” Asher bounced up from the floor, he had never been asked to help make something especially with something so complex as cooking. He fondly remembered the time he set fire to dry spaghetti as he approached Cass. “What do I gotta do, chef?”

“Feeling a little unlove-struck?” 

“Yeah that whole thing. As much as I want you to forget what happened, there’s no point when it already did. I’m not going to fully apologize either since I had no control over my emotions, but I honestly didn’t mean to react in such a way and lash out at you like that. It was rude of me to not respect your decision and I should have handled it better.” 

“I spent the week in love with Alex who didn’t love me back, and I bought her an island and she still wouldn’t love me.” She dramatically sighed. “How’d you fair in love? I hope you didn’t cry like me.” 

“Thank goodness,” Cass sighed, looking to the bowl of the ingredients of what would have been a cake. She turned the faucet on and rinsed out the bowl, setting it aside to dry.

“That I can,” she smiled. “Do you want some?”

“Yess pleaaaaaase.” Asher sat up straight like a school child and beamed a smile at Cassie. “I live off the packet stuff, how do you do your’s?”

“I’m sorry about that day, I was suddenly hit with feels and then I had to find the love of my life.” He said trying to smile. “I uhm… Fine, you?”

“A love spell apparently. Yeah, I’m probably one of the only people that wouldn’t have truly minded that feeling. What happened during your lovey dovey phase?”

“Errrrr... I had my first kiss?” his voice rose ten octaves higher at the end, not wanting Dani to laugh at him too hard for his admission. “I basically learnt how to smooch. Which is a good life skill to be honest.”

“Maybe mean people would laugh. We’re friends silly. I’ll support you always.”

Emily looked on in confusion and Asher looked for air conditioning. When he wheeled a chair back, she raised an eyebrow but took a seat. “A pew? Ash, you know I’m not one for church.”

“Fwends!” he exclaimed, soon toning it back down, “I-I do appreciate it, thank you.”  Maybe he shouldn’t be so hung up about it. Zoey didn’t mind that much.. or it didn’t seem like it. “I heard it from an english film, makes me sound all cultuuuured~”  

“Actually, yes, but I would obviously think certain wordings would be more appropriate. At least you can’t nap on nicknames,” Cristina said, crossing her arms.

“Knew it. Maaan, are you still mad at me for sleeping on your textbooks? I didn’t even know they were there! Aaaand sleeping on textbooks is good for your brain.”

Zoey smiled. “I mean as far as first kisses go? They’re all horrible. I had my first one last year during a personality swap mishap. I get it. But I’m glad I could be your horrible first,” she offered hoping that helped the situation a little. Zoey wasn’t surprised by anything he’d said, actually. “There was a time when we first met I had a tiny crush on you too, Asher. But whatever that spell was, I’m sure that’s what made you attracted to me. I’ve struggled with that too, you know? My sexuality. Figuring out what I like when I hadn’t even had my first kiss to be able to truly tell where attractions lie.”

“Still kind of weird, but I could get used to it...? Maybe?” On the actual night he couldn’t help but feel a little disheartened that he couldn’t provide Zoey with what she wanted, he was holding her back. “Ugh, I dunno, it’s all super confusing, I don’t know how anyone can be sure. Yo, have you made up with Barry? Are you guys okay? Is he gonna come and punch me?”

“Why would I laugh about that? So you don’t kiss a lot of people.” She squeezed his arm. “I mean I like kissing people and I don’t even kiss that many.”

“Thanks Ash. Probably for the best.” She looked around at the room full of computers, not really sure why they were there. “I’m ready for the magic, for sure.”

“I dunno? Some people would laugh at that... right?” Relief washed over him, Em made it seem like it was okay, it wasn’t such a big deal. 

Cristina glared at him. “Hate is such an extreme word, and I find it difficult to hate a person as it is possible to like them. However, if you continue to give me terrible nicknames, my stance may change entirely.”

Asher beamed a smile, “I think I can translate that: Naaa Asher’s a total plonker, what the fuck is up with this guy. First he steals my textbooks now he’s giving me crap nicknames. What a weirdo. Was that about right?”

She allowed Asher to wrap his arm around her shoulder, and she walked along with him. “It is kind of an uncomfortable situation. I think your friendship will make it though.” She let out a sarcastic laugh. “At least you knew when the love spell wore off.”

“We’ll be okay. It was just um... don’t laugh okay? I think Zoey was kinda getting annoyed cause I don’t really like kissing sometimes and I’ve never... kissed anyone?” His problems seemed trivial compared to Em’s.

“I’m always down for that. I have a lot more time now that I’m…” Emily gestured at her whole body, the knee brace especially. She didn’t have a lot to do without E-Blitz. “I heard you did some serious smooching. How are you feeling about that post-love spell?”

Peering down at Em’s knee brace he winced empathising with her so much he started to tear up a little. “God that’s...” he couldn’t finish, rubbing at his eye a thought came into mind. “Yo. I’ve got a great idea.” Putting his arm around her shoulder’s he slowly started walking with her. “Um, yeah... with Zoey... I dunno how I feel about that. Kind of uncomfortable actually...” 

“I’m shit- fell in love with someone I already loved. But she did not feel that way without the spell. Of course you can hug me Ash.”

It sounded like Emily had an awful time. Much worse than what he went through. “Oh my god...” Asher breathed a woeful sigh for her, “Come ‘ere you.” Stepping forward he pulled her in for a hug. “I think we need a serious sesh of Oreos, pizza and trashy movies yeah?”

“Can we please talk?”