I Like Your Shirt

"How can I help him feel less nervous around me?" She thought to herself. "Maybe if I start a conversation with him he will then be able to keep it going." But he was with his pals now on the other side of the library. "I don't want to talk to him with his friends staring at us." she sighed.

She moved into Zoey a little and whispered, "Hey!"

"I am trying to study here..." said Zoey in an irritable manner.

Ashley closed the book placed in front of her to get her attention, leaving Zoey with an eyebrow raised, "What?!"

"I wanna know him! Please? He was your friend, come on give me little details about him, help me out here?"

"What kinda details?"

"Like what's his favourite colour? What movie does he like? How many siblings does he have? Do you think I am his type?"

"Well as far as I know he likes purple but he tells people it is green to sound macho."

Ashley laughed thinking how adorably funny he was.

"He likes 10 things I hate about you just as much as you do. In fact, you two were the only people who had first suggested I watch it."

Ashley was thrilled knowing he liked one of her favourite rom-com films.

"He has two younger brothers, and he is the oldest one and well since we are on that subject, frankly I don't think you're his type."

"What?! Why not? What's wrong with me?"

"Oh no no, don't take me wrong, I'm not saying there's anything wrong with you it is just you're no Angela..."

Ashley gasped at her friend, not believing what she was hearing and repeated what Zoey had just said slowly, "I am no Angela? Umm yeah, maybe cause I am NOT!"

"Look I'm not trying to hurt you or anything but she used to stand out, okay? She is a med-student who plays the guitar, writes her own songs and sings with a voice of an angel. Just imagine. Not only that she draws, writes wonderful poems okay? I'm sorry but I personally think he is into girls like that." She took a deep breath and added "She used to write songs about him, sing especially for him. Can you do any of that?"

Ashley was furious but more than that she was insanely hurt. After all the things the two had been through, THIS is what Zoey thought of her? Ordinary? Not worth Samuel? Is that what Sam thought of her too? She moved a little far from Zoey and buried her face in her palms, feeling frustrated. Demoralized. Disheartened. She knew she couldn't sing or write lovey-dovey songs but does that mean she didn't know how to love? Hell no! She knew love. She knew how to make the other person feel cherished, make them feel like the world revolved around them instead of the sun. Sure singing songs and writing poems for your beloved is a good way to go but she had her own ways. It was time to take matters into her own hands.

She glanced over where Sam was, still busy studying with his friends. She sighed and after about five minutes decided she would take off to the gym to figure things out, clear her mind off from everything Zoey had said. She was busy packing her stuff and as soon as she looked up towards the door she found Sam and his friends leaving too. "What are the odds?" She thought. She slowed down her steps waiting glumly for them to leave but Sam had already noticed she was headed out too. He quietly held the library door open behind him indicating he was holding it open for her.

She smiled at him, nodding as she stepped out. "My gentleman."

Samuel and his friends were right ahead of her as she walked to the gym until she stepped in and they disappeared even farther. She needed a plan. She needed a friend who could help her and after Zoey's painful words she decided who better to discuss her next move than the friend who was with her when she had her first encounter with Samuel, Anna.

____________________________________________________________

She got up on the bleachers and gave Anna a call. After a few rings, the call was finally picked up from the other end.

*PHONE CALL CONVERSATION BETWEEN ASHLEY & ANNA*

Anna: Hello?

Ashley: Hey! Are you free?

Anna: Yeah, what's up?

Ashley: I am at the library. Sam's here too along with his friends, I have been thinking... I think I'm gonna tell him I like him.

Anna: Have you completely lost your mind?!

Ashley: Why, why can't I tell him? He is sweet, he is nice, he is single. Why can't I just get it over with and free myself from this agony! Just rip the band-aid off and get it over with.

Anna: Who even gave you this ridiculous idea?

Ashley: No one. Apparently, his last girlfriend was some super amazing chic and I can't help but wonder what he thinks of me. I just have to find out... I'm scared. I don't wanna play games I just wanna know if he is at the same place as me.

Anna: Hey! You're not playing any games, okay? I am just asking you to take it slow, play it safe. What's wrong with that? Don't rush into it. Look, don't give the ball in his court like this. Trust me, give it some time before you confess. I saw the way he looked at you, there is no way he's not into you but let his emotions get stronger first. Say something sweet and casual to give him a proper hint you know? How about "You look nice" or "I like your shirt!"

Ashley: I like your shirt! Yeah, I can do that. Okay! Sounds easy, I will do that next time I see him. I just hope that dumb boy brain of his gets that I'm trying to throw a signal at him.

Anna: Ha-ha! He will eventually, trust me boys are just slow in processing but they're not stupid. And hey! Don't compare yourself with anyone, remember I told you, the guy's lucky to have a girl like you falling for him.

Ashley: Ha-ha! Thanks love!

She patiently waited for Sam and his friends to return and when she finally saw them heading back to the library through the gym window, she took a deep breath. It was now or never, she thought. Before she could have second thoughts, she ran up to the boy gang.

"Hey, Sam!"