Crush

Annoying

ASHER

"You still haven't told me where you're taking me." Sofia's voice came loud over the speaker. I pulled my phone away from my ear and winced. Did she have to be so noisy?

Taking a deep breath, I tentatively brought the phone back to my ear and forced a smile. "I told you, it'll be a surprise."

"But you haven't even told me when we're going out," she continued to whine at me. I had to stop myself from just hanging up, there and then.

Sofia had become annoying. Constant messages, phone calls, demanding my attention. She was just a way to help me. Dating Sofia meant that I could go on double dates with Oliver and Chloe, which meant that I got to see more of Oliver.

It annoyed me that Chloe kept touching him, snuggling into him, almost like she was begging for his attention. He didn't seem to mind it, though, and always did his best to include me. And bringing Sofia along was the perfect distraction for Chloe. While the two girls chatted away, I had Oliver's attention all to myself.

I sighed, thinking of the last double date we had. The girls had been gossiping about some reality TV show, while Oliver and I talked about the game we'd watched the night before. Watching him talk about something so enthusiastically, looking as his brilliant blue eyes lit up with passion .... It was something I craved. Something I just kept wanting to witness.

He was the same way when he was on the basketball court. Concentrated, fiery, skilled. He knew what he was passionate about. He seemed confident in his choices and it seemed as though he was more animated when he spoke to me. He didn't seem as eager or as energetic when he talked to Chloe. Or was it just me being too hopeful?

"Asher." Sofia's whiney voice brought me back to the present. "Are you going to tell me where we're going?"

Sighing, I forced a smile, hoping it conveyed in my voice. "Not yet. You'll find out when we get there." Honestly, I hadn't planned anything. Hadn't even thought about planning anything.

"Can you at least tell me when we're going out?" She was starting to sound annoyed. Good. That made two of us.

"I'll send you a message."

"Why can't you tell me now?"

Because I just want you to get off the line.

Forcing my voice to be kind and steady, I replied, "Because I'd like to surprise you."

"Why?"

Seriously, her voice was getting too whiney. Why all the questions?

"Because you're worth it?"

It came out as a question, but Sofia didn't seem to notice. She let out a shriek that had me pulling the phone away from my ear so quickly that I ended up throwing it across my bedroom.

Fuck.

She was too fucking loud.

Jumping off my bed to grab my phone off the floor, I checked it over to make sure it wasn't damaged. I could hear her babbling on the other end so I raised the phone back to my ear. As soon as I did, my temper began to rise while she giggled and jabbered on.

She was so annoying. And she just wouldn't shut up.

"Oh my god, you're so cute!" Her shrill voice pierced my ear drum.

I really wasn't cute. Not to her, anyway.

Another forced smile. "I'll send you a message."

"I'll look forward to it," she shrieked down the phone again.