ᴋʟᴜᴛᴢ | ʟʀʜ

𝟖. 𝐋𝐞𝐦𝐦𝐞 𝐆𝐞𝐭 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐍𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫

"So, why are you going home so early? Were you not having a good time?" Ashton asked nervously, looking down at the pavement they walked on.

"No, no, that wasn't it," Alina partially lied. She had bee enjoying herself before Macy showed up. "I had been planning on leaving early anyway; I need to work on my paper that's due tomorrow."

"Oh well, I'm sorry you couldn't stay longer. I was hoping for another dance," Ashton chuckled, flashing her his dimples with a cheeky grin.

Alina let out a short laugh before assuring, "I'm sure we can dance sometime again."

"You promise?"

"I promise. But I can't say people would like it," Alina muttered the last part, thinking of Nina's comment about Luke's jealously.

"What do you mean?" Ashton pressed, his eyebrows furrowing.

"We wouldn't want to annoy people with our crazy moves, would we?" Alina saved, striking a pose dramatically and then pointing at him to continue.

"You don't know what you just started, love," Ashton winked, ceasing his walking to place his hands on his hips. Shaking his hips, he grinned at Alina covering her face in embarrassment.

"Ashton, people are looking," she groaned, peeking out of her small hands to glance at the few teenagers and adults staring from the other side of the street.

"Let them look. They're just jealous," he shouted, thrusting left and then right.

"Ew. I feel attacked."

"You asked for it."

"Not for the thrusting!"

Ashton rolled his eyes before slinging his arm around Alina's shoulders. Alina had to admit that she enjoyed his company; the five-minute walk back to her apartment flew by with his incessant jokes and, dare she say, compliments.

"The eyeliner looks good on you," Ashton smiled down at her.

"Thanks. I've never really worn it before," Alina beamed back, forgetting about Macy's bitchy comment about it and instead focusing on the opinion of the much better judge of beauty and style, Ashton. "This is my place."

"No problem. A girl like you deserves all the compliments in the world," Ashton asserted as they stopped outside the apartment complex. His eyes peered down at her with an emotion Alina was starting to recognize.

As he started to lean down towards her, she began to panic. She liked him but not like that. At least, not yet. Alina didn't want to hurt his feelings and completely push him away, but she definitely did not feel comfortable kissing him. At the last second, the petite girl turned her head to the side, choosing to accept his kiss on her cheek.

"Oh God. I'm sorry...I-I don't know why I did that," Ashton rambled as he rubbed his face stressfully. "Actually I do; I like you a lot. And I know we just met and all and I had no right to just try and kiss you without asking. God you're probably ma-"

"Ashton, Ashton. It's alright. I get it. I'm not mad or anything!" Alina soothed, shaking her head softly.

"You're not?"

"No. I-I mean...I don't really know you that well," she began. "And I'm not sure if I like you like that. Sorry," Alina added, hating herself for having to say this to him.

"Oh. Well, could you see yourself getting to know me?" And liking me? Ashton finished in his mind. He fumbled nervously with the rings on his lanky fingers.

"Yes, I'd love to hang out sometime," Alina said.

"Great. Lemme get your number real quick and we can set up a time that works for both of us," Ashton suggested, eagerly handing Alina his phone. "I work most days but I'm usually off in the evening.