Straight Until You

Chapter 3 — Off Limits

Nathaniel Anderson had officially become pathetic.

There was no other explanation for why he was sitting through an economics lecture while thinking about the way Asher Reyes smiled in the library the night before.

A tiny smile.

Barely even a smile.

Yet Nathaniel had replayed it in his head at least ten times since waking up.

Possibly more.

Jordan noticed immediately.

Of course he did.

They were sitting near the back of the lecture hall, and Nathaniel had barely paid attention for twenty minutes.

Which, according to Jordan, was “emotionally suspicious behavior.”

Jordan: “You’re doing it again.”

Nathaniel looked away from his notebook.

Nathaniel: “Doing what?”

Jordan: “Smiling at nothing like a creep.”

Nathaniel frowned slightly.

Nathaniel: “I was not smiling.”

Jordan stared at him.

Slowly.

Judgmentally.

Jordan: “Nathaniel.”

Nathaniel sighed.

Because unfortunately—

he had absolutely been smiling.

Dylan leaned forward from the seat behind them.

Dylan: “This is getting embarrassing.”

Nathaniel: “You’re both dramatic.”

Jordan: “You stared at the same sentence in your notes for five minutes.”

Nathaniel glanced down automatically.

The page was completely blank.

Interesting.

Very interesting.

Dylan looked delighted.

Absolutely delighted.

Dylan: “Oh, he’s gone.”

Nathaniel rolled his eyes.

Mostly because they were exaggerating.

Probably.

Then his phone buzzed.

A new message appeared in the group chat.

🧡 Dylan

Did you dream about him?

💙 Nathaniel

You need hobbies.

💚 Jordan

That’s a yes.

💙 Nathaniel

I hate both of you.

🧡 Dylan

You smiled at your phone.

💚 Jordan

IN CLASS.

💙 Nathaniel

Focus on the lecture.

💚 Jordan

You don’t even know what chapter we’re on.

💙 Nathaniel

That sounds like a personal problem.

Nathaniel locked his phone quickly.

Too late.

Jordan already looked horrified.

Jordan: “You used Asher’s line.”

Silence.

Nathaniel froze.

Dylan gasped dramatically from behind them.

Dylan: “OH MY GOD.”

Several students turned around.

Nathaniel considered transferring universities.

Briefly.

Nathaniel: “Lower your voice.”

Jordan: “You’re adopting his personality already.”

Nathaniel: “That is not happening.”

Unfortunately—

even Nathaniel wasn’t fully convinced.

⸻

Across campus, Asher’s morning was somehow worse.

Track practice started at six.

By eight-thirty, two different girls had asked for his number, one guy had winked at him near the gym, and his coach had yelled at everyone for being distracted.

Asher blamed Nathaniel.

Entirely.

Because apparently people had decided seeing them talk in the library meant something important.

Ridiculous behavior honestly.

He shoved his headphones over his ears while walking toward the locker rooms.

Unfortunately, his teammate Marcus immediately jogged beside him.

A disaster.

An actual disaster.

Marcus: “So.”

Asher already felt irritated.

Asher: “No.”

Marcus: “You don’t even know what I was going to say.”

Asher: “It’s about Nathaniel Anderson.”

Marcus looked offended.

Marcus: “Okay, rude.”

Asher sighed deeply.

Marcus: “The entire campus is talking about it.”

Asher: “There is nothing to talk about.”

Marcus blinked.

Marcus: “Nathaniel Anderson literally followed you into the library.”

Asher frowned slightly.

Followed felt dramatic.

Probably.

Maybe.

Actually—

possibly accurate.

Annoying.

Very annoying.

⸻

By lunchtime, Asher had reached his limit.

Which was exactly why he was hiding behind the athletic building eating fries alone.

Peaceful.

Quiet.

Perfect.

Then somebody sat beside him.

Without permission.

Asher looked up immediately.

And nearly sighed out loud.

Nathaniel smiled beside him.

Completely uninvited.

Completely comfortable.

A problem.

Definitely a problem.

Nathaniel: “You keep disappearing.”

Asher stared at him for a second.

Asher: “You keep appearing.”

Nathaniel laughed softly.

Again.

Why did he keep doing that around him?

Nathaniel: “Maybe I’m committed.”

Asher: “Maybe you need help.”

Nathaniel placed a hand dramatically against his chest.

Nathaniel: “That was mean.”

Asher took another fry calmly.

Asher: “You’ll survive.”

Nathaniel watched him for a second before speaking again.

Nathaniel: “People really are talking about us.”

Asher immediately looked annoyed.

Asher: “There is no us.”

Nathaniel smiled slightly.

Interesting answer.

Very interesting answer.

Because Asher didn’t deny the talking part.

Only the us part.

Nathaniel probably shouldn’t feel weirdly victorious over that.

Yet somehow—

he did.

⸻

Asher noticed the expression immediately.

Suspicious.

Very suspicious.

Asher: “Why are you smiling?”

Nathaniel: “No reason.”

Asher: “That’s never true.”

Nathaniel laughed quietly again.

Hopeless.

Absolutely hopeless.

The worst part?

Asher was starting to enjoy it.

Which was terrifying.

⸻

Nathaniel leaned back against the bench casually.

At least—

he hoped it looked casual.

Nathaniel: “You know, most people would be excited I keep talking to them.”

Asher looked unimpressed immediately.

Asher: “You say that like it’s a reward.”

Nathaniel blinked once.

Fair.

Very fair.

Nathaniel: “Okay, that one hurt a little.”

Asher almost smiled again.

Almost.

Nathaniel noticed anyway.

Of course he did.

He was becoming disturbingly aware of every tiny expression Asher made.

Dangerous.

Very dangerous.

⸻

A group of students passed nearby.

The second they noticed Nathaniel sitting beside Asher, they immediately started whispering.

Asher’s shoulders tensed slightly.

Nathaniel caught it instantly.

Interesting.

Very interesting.

Without thinking, Nathaniel shifted slightly on the bench.

Blocking some of the stares naturally.

The movement was subtle.

Instinctive.

Asher noticed anyway.

His expression changed slightly.

Not softer exactly.

Just surprised.

Like he hadn’t expected Nathaniel to notice his discomfort.

Truthfully—

Nathaniel hadn’t expected it either.

⸻

Asher: “You don’t have to do that.”

Nathaniel looked at him.

Nathaniel: “Do what?”

Asher: “Pretend not to notice people staring.”

Nathaniel frowned slightly.

Nathaniel: “I’m not pretending.”

Silence.

Asher looked away first.

Toward the parking lot.

Toward anything except Nathaniel.

Because somehow—

that answer affected him more than it should have.

⸻

Nathaniel studied him quietly for a second.

Then—

Nathaniel: “Why do you hate attention so much?”

Asher sighed softly.

Not annoyed this time.

Just tired.

Asher: “Because people confuse attention with caring.”

Nathaniel froze slightly.

The answer felt too honest.

Too real.

Asher continued staring ahead.

Asher: “Most people don’t actually want to know you.”

A pause.

Asher: “They just like the idea of you.”

Silence settled between them.

Not awkward.

Heavy.

Nathaniel looked at him differently after that.

Because suddenly—

he understood something important.

Asher wasn’t cold.

He was careful.

Very careful.

And for some reason, Nathaniel wanted to be someone Asher trusted.

Not because of the bet.

Not because of curiosity.

Because the idea suddenly mattered.

A lot more than it should have.

⸻

Asher stood first.

Probably because staying beside Nathaniel too long was becoming dangerous.

Very dangerous.

Asher: “I have class.”

Nathaniel looked up immediately.

Nathaniel: “Can I walk with you?”

Asher narrowed his eyes.

Suspicious again.

Asher: “Why?”

Nathaniel smiled shamelessly.

Nathaniel: “Because I want to.”

Asher genuinely did not know how to respond to that.

Which was annoying.

Very annoying.

Most people exhausted him quickly.

Nathaniel somehow did the opposite.

Every conversation felt easy.

Natural.

Fun.

That alone made him dangerous.

⸻

Finally, Asher shook his head softly.

Mostly at himself.

Asher: “You’re persistent.”

Nathaniel stood beside him.

Smiling again.

Hopelessly.

Nathaniel: “You noticed.”

Asher rolled his eyes before starting toward the academic buildings.

Nathaniel followed immediately.

Of course he did.

Halfway across campus, Asher’s phone buzzed again.

Luca.

Perfect timing honestly.

🖤 Luca

Mom wants to know if you’re coming home Friday.

❤️ Asher

Probably.

🖤 Luca

Good.

🖤 Luca

Mateo scared the neighbor again.

❤️ Asher

How?

🖤 Luca

Apparently he answered the door holding a wrench.

❤️ Asher

That feels intentional.

🖤 Luca

Everything Mateo does is intentional.

🖤 Luca

How’s your rich boy problem?

❤️ Asher

He is not my problem.

🖤 Luca

That was not a denial.

❤️ Asher

Goodbye Luca.

🖤 Luca

You like him a little already don’t you?

❤️ Asher

Blocked.

Nathaniel glanced sideways slightly.

Curious.

Dangerously curious.

Nathaniel: “Rich boy problem?”

Asher immediately locked his phone.

Wonderful.

Absolutely wonderful.

Asher: “Mind your business.”

Nathaniel grinned instantly.

Oh.

That was definitely going to become important later.