CHAPTER 13 (EYE ON ME)
503 Words
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Saturday came fast.
The Arts and Culture booth bustled with volunteers and curious students. Paintings, ceramic pieces, woven fabrics, and student-written poetry filled the table. Asher sat behind it, adjusting a crooked name tag that simply read: *Asher – Volunteer.*
He glanced up when Zayn returned from getting juice.
“I got your favorite,” Zayn said, handing him the bottle of mango juice.
“You’re the real MVP.”
“Obviously.”
Zayn leaned against the table and looked out at the crowd. “You know… for a freshman, you’re handling all this chaos pretty well.”
Asher smiled. “It’s a distraction.”
“From Rhett?”
“From me.”
Zayn didn’t push further. Instead, he scanned the crowd. “If I spot him, should I hide you?”
“No,” Asher said. “I want to see him.”
Zayn nodded. “Then let’s hope he wants to see you too.”
---
Rhett hadn’t intended to stop by the festival. But Jude had dragged him out with the promise of free snacks and "a break from your brooding cave." He walked casually, hands stuffed in the pockets of his dark jeans, while Jude chatted with people along the way.
That’s when he saw him.
Asher, behind the booth.
Laughing.
Talking.
Looking like he belonged.
Rhett slowed his pace.
Jude noticed. “There he is.”
“Shut up,” Rhett muttered.
“Go talk to him. Or I’ll do it first and pretend I’m the nice one.”
Rhett gave him a look and walked forward.
---
Asher was showing a group of girls some student poems when he heard a low voice.
“You should’ve marked the one you wrote.”
He looked up.
Rhett stood there, a small smirk on his lips, but his eyes searching.
Asher’s heart picked up pace. “You came.”
“I said maybe.”
“And here you are.”
Rhett stepped closer. “This is nice. It suits you.”
Asher shrugged. “Guess I like things that feel like they’re made from emotion.”
“Yeah,” Rhett murmured. “I see that.”
They stared at each other for a beat.
Zayn, from behind, was trying not to eavesdrop but failing miserably.
“Can we talk?” Rhett asked quietly.
Asher hesitated, then nodded. “Let me hand this over to Zayn.”
Moments later, they walked away from the booth, weaving through the crowd until they found a quieter spot near the campus greenhouse.
Rhett rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m not used to this.”
“I figured,” Asher said gently.
“I’ve never… tried. With anyone. Not like this.”
Asher looked at him, eyes calm but firm. “Then try. With me. Just be honest. I’m not asking for more than that.”
Rhett looked away, then back again. “Okay.”
And it was that simple.
And that complicated.
TO BE CONTINUED IN THE NEXT CHAPTER
- Writer
