from the top | rp discussion

When you wanted to find someone around Rockwell's enormous campus, you were basically SOL. But when you were trying to avoid someone, or there was a certain person who you didn't particularly enjoy speaking to in passing -- of course those were the people you ran into constantly. And as luck would have it, that's usually how things worked for Megara when it came to Asher. Ever since she had gotten his text, she'd been annoyed and wondering what kind of humiliating torture he had for her now (because come on dude, it had been years). But she wasn't the kind to hide when he came lumbering down the hall, arms swinging like a dumb baboon; she was Megs, who confronted her issues, him being one of them. Especially if he thought he could text her whenever he felt like it with personal invitations to parties she had no intention of going to. Because lets be honest here, they weren't really friends. For more than a while, they'd had more of a love-hate relationship harboring mostly on the hateful side.

She pulled her phone from her pocket as she walked over to him, slinging her laptop bag over her shoulder as she moved to cut his path. Megs had to stand right in front of him to get his attention, because he was too busy smiling around at people like the annoying socialite he was. Well, and she was probably like a foot shorter than him. Though she would think her bright red hair would be enough to catch his gaze. "So, what's the story you're desperate to tell me that got my phone taken away in McGriver's class?" she asked, flashing her phone screen towards him to remind him of the text he'd sent her yesterday during an exam.

Since leaving Garrett in the computer lab yesterday, Asher had had his hands full. Not only did he have to plan his alcohol delivery to the school and then smuggle it into his dorm and hide it until the party, but he had to spread the word of the party and find a new, secret locaiton. And he actually had to pretend to care about class. Bo-ring. But luckily for him, Asher didn’t have to do much to spread the word about his party. He’d had ten people stop and ask him about it in the past hour alone. Ah, the perks of being him.

So as he walked through the hallway, headed to the gym to workout, Asher was feeling pretty good about himself. As he headed towards the entrance, he saw a little ball of anger come storming up to him out of the corner of his vision. He calmly stopped in his tracks and pointedly looked down at the radiating Megara, whose phone was shoved into his face, flashing an innocent smile down at her.

“That,” He said with a nod to her phone, “Is a personal invitation to a small gathering I’m holding this week.” That she was not welcome to be anywhere near, hence the reason for a personal invitation. “Drinks, friends, and the best story of your career guaranteed.” He said, using his best sales voice that he knew drove her crazy. Take that as you will. "If you were the one who had your phone turned on around McGriver, that's not my fault."

Asher had never thrown a 'small gathering' once in his damn life, so she already didn't buy it. The giant hadn't ever done a small anything. They both knew it. Which is why Megs rolled her eyes, already annoyed with this conversation. She wasn't sure why she thought this would be productive, he was already making her grind her teeth. Crossing her arms and staring up at him, Megara took a step closer to him, "Okay, let's both just take a second to acknowledge the fact that we know each other, which means we also know the bullshit isn't going to work."

She stared up at him, eyes narrowed and very obviously trying to figure out what his real motive here was. Megs knew Asher usually threw parties when he was trying to work some Garret+Asher dream team magic behind the scenes, because yes she had eyes and she wasn't stupid. So, if he was trying to pull a magic trick, where ever he was telling her to look, she should be looking somewhere else. "I'm sure I will find the best story of my career, guaranteed, but it's not going to be the one you're telling me, it's going to by whatever story you're trying to hide." she pointed out, still squared defensively in front of him.

Oh, invasion of personal space? She really was irritated. Wonderful. Asher thought to himself as he had to look a bit more directly down at her, maintinng his easy-going smile and gave her an innocent shrug. “I do know you,” He said casually, stating the obvious, “and I promise you this is no bullshit.” Technically, not a lie. He had invited her to his party, which he had only invited a few people to. If they invited the whole school, that was not by his doing. Directly. So, technicalities. She would argue otherwise until she was blue in the face, which was exactly what he wanted her to do.

Under her stare, where he could see the gears turning in her head, Asher just shrugged. “I have nothing to hide.” He said. “But,” He said, “You’d find your big story a lot sooner if you let me help.” He took a step towards her, closing the small distance between them, and lowered his voice so that only she could hear him. “Because there are some secrets that i’d love to show you, if you’d let me.” Was he using her old crush on him to its full advantage? Asher could see Garrett rolling his eyes and yelling at him for wasting time, but this would get him a laugh, and the result he needed. It had before. He took a half step back, fully ready to dodge any punch she threw his way, and added a quick wink just for kicks.

He promised things as easily as one might toss pennies into a fountain, and probably broke those promises twice as fast. No one in their right mind would believe Asher, so Megs honestly wasn't sure why so many people liked him. Not that she was completely bias in her assessment of his personality. Where she thought him to be arrogant and manipulative, others might find him to be charming and authoritative. "You don't seem to know me, because you still think that pretty-boy smile works wonders." she challenged him.

Megara leaned backwards when he stepped towards her, as to avoid hitting her face on his chest and shoulder. His face loomed over her like some kind of threatening llama, and she almost gagged at the amount of men's cologne she could feel herself taste-testing -- she put a hand out to keep him from getting closer, which basically just meant she had placed her palm flat to his chest. "I have my own sources, Kenny." she waved her other hand in front her face, being dramatic about her need for clean air. "And chill the after shave before you go shoving your face into other people's personal space, just a friend-to-annoying-classmate tip."

Sure, the offer was tempting... but she had no trust for Asher. And him offering her a story was like the snake offering Adam & Eve the apple. Safe to say Megs wasn't trying to get kicked out of the garden.

Asher stuck his tongue in his cheek to keep from laughing in amusement, his pretty-boy smile still solidly in place, even if it was a bit lop-sided. Ash knew that the radiant Megara knew that he was a man behind a cloud of smoke, but she had never been able to fully clear the smoke enough to actually see what was happening. So the Oz charade continued, and he had the best of times watching her try and figure him out.

“Sources?” Asher questioned, raising an eyebrow. “I certainly hope they’re not those horrid ones from last year. I have to say, they weren’t very in on the whole confidentiality of sources thing.” They had been blabber mouths. Granted, Asher had slipped some Everclear into their drinks one night and gotten them to spill everything before buying their silence with some grade adjustments, courtesy of Garrett, but once again…technicalities. “You’re going to have to do better than that, Megara.” He said, ignoring her comment about his after-shave. Even with her hand in front of her face, he could see the slight blush she was trying to hide, which was just the cherry on this already immensely amusing cake.

“But let’s assume you do have sources,” he said with a shrug, crossing his arms comfortably across his chest. “Where would you be looking for your story this year? Just so I can make sure to stay out of your way.” And make sure it didn’t interfere with his plans. Otherwise, he’d be all over in that mess.

Maybe her sources would be of higher quality if he didn't go around abusing them and trying spoil everything she worked so hard for. If Asher thought that Megs interfered with all of his plans constantly, he really needed to take a hard look in the mirror because Megara's portfolio was twice as impressive when one had to consider the ceiling length obstacle always in her way, who went by the name of Asher Kenny. "I'm going to have to do better? That's laughable, considering you're just a front for the kid who does the real work." she shot back at him, anger coloring her face just as much as the embarrassment. It wasn't completely true, and she knew it, but she knew it would strike a nerve.

Megara was still staring up at him, probably looking like some kind of small and angry bird that was beyond its wits and about to get eaten by the wolf. Because he had definitely ruffled her feathers, and on some level, they both knew the odds were always stacked in Asher's favor. "Why, are you scared?" she asked, more than implying that he should be. The only reason Asher would be messing with her was to get information when she was too angry to realize she was giving it, because it's not like he actually sought her out because he enjoyed her presence. Not that she was totally bitter about the fact that they were reduced to these conversations. "Ever consider butting out? I've never needed your help before, and I most certainly don't need it now. I'm always willing to offer my services though, what are you working on, Ash?" Because that little athlete facade was just a tight butt and a jersey disguising the real game.

This time Meg stepped closer, but her words weren't as seductive as his, they probably just came out sounding bitchy. "Come on, Ash, we all know I'm a girl who can keep a secret."

Asher’s smile dropped for about a half second. Insulting him was fine, but Garrett was a totally different ball game. The kid could barely speak up in class, never mind what he could do behind a computer screen with a wifi password. Asher could take all the beatings and gossip this school could throw at him, but insult Garrett? Nope. Nope nope nope. Asher took a breath to collect the string of fiery thoughts that shot threw his brain, and landed on “Now that’s low. Just because I happen to be the one person in this school given food delivery duties does not mean I’m the hot-ass magician’s assistant.” He was the hot piece of ass, but they were a double act, not a one plus an assistant.

But for whatever second she’d gotten under his skin, it was repaid easily by the redding of her face and the attempt to make herself look bigger by sticking her head up at him and stepping back towards him. So much for avoiding his after-shave. “Should I be?” He asked, tilting his head slightly to the right. As if he could be scared by this adorable attempt to display dominance. He was getting exactly what he needed, a laugh and a show included. She never learned. Once a crush, always a crush, apparently. “And miss the chance to see you succeed despite me? Think of how boring your life would be.” Ash shook his head and pursed his lips. Then they’d have an actual investigative journalist running around the school. Imagine the horrors she’d uncover!

Ah. She would refuse his help, but offer her own services for her own needs. And she thought he was the only one being manipulative. She wasn’t as different from him as she thought, but Asher didn’t comment on that. “Oh, Megara,” He said wistfully, “You know I’m not going to tell you my plans Gallagher, that would be too easy. ” He was about to continue when she stepped closer yet again, and now she was about a half inch away from his body.

Asher couldn’t help the smirk that spread across his face as he leaned down slightly and lowered his voice so that only she could hear him, his voice both challenging and seductively inviting as he responded. “And we both know I’m the one who figures out those secrets.”

"Whatever you need to tell your ego so it doesn't have a mental breakdown, stroke away." was Megs' reply, deciding to ignore his reference to his backside, because for some reason, he always felt that it needed to be taken there. She almost felt bad when his smile faltered... almost. She just couldn't help being awful to him, and saying the things most people might think but wouldn't say out loud. He just brought out the worst in her, always pushing her buttons and seeing how far he could go before she finally snapped on him. She had no idea why he liked to torture her so much, because that was literally what it was. Torture. She never bit her tongue around him, because if he was going to go looking for trouble, he deserved to find it.

"If you have to ask, that should be your answer." Of course he should be scared of her. He could think she was weak and nonthreatening because she was small and was quick to anger, but he consistently underestimated her, and that was going to bite him in the ass. In moments like these, she couldn't fathom why she had ever found him interesting. Because right now, she wanted nothing more than to set him on fire with her eyes.

Oh, Megara, she mimicked in her head, mocking him internally. What a prat. She was so close to popping off, she wasn't sure how much longer she could stand here and talk to him. And then he leaned down to whisper in her ear, allowing his lips to brush her ear just slightly. When she would look back at this moment later, that's when she would identify the snap -- but right now, all she felt was white hot anger. She was so sick of him thinking he could just bat his eyelashes and rub it in her face she used to think he was attractive.

She literally could not stand him breathing down her neck like that. Megs' hand twitched, and before she fully realized what she was doing, she had reached up and smacked him across the face. Hard. Like her hand was burning so she couldn't fully imagine what his face felt like, hard. She took a few steps back, more than a little surprised by what she had done -- she had never once laid her hands on him, not matter how mad he had made her. She stared at him for a second, then readjusted the strap of her laptop case. "The answer is no; I won't be coming to your party. Sell your life-changing story to someone else." And with that, she turned around and kept walking, opening and closing her hand until the burning went away.

Oh, Asher already had his answer. Every interaction with Meg was him practically begging for trouble, which is what he intended them to be. She thought she was so high and mighty, searching after the “truth” or something, when all she was really doing was searching for a spotlight. Truth was relative, something she had yet to figure out. Which was fine, because until she realized that everyone had their own version of the truth, Asher and Garrett would be lightyears ahead of her. Throwing her off the scent with red herrings was just an added hobby of his.

As he leaned down and whispered into her ear, he knew it was working. He could feel the heat of her anger burning from her face, and a smirk pulled at the corner of his lips as he started to pull away, confident that he had gotten under her skin sufficiently to keep her away from his and Garrett’s plans for the next couple days, when….

SMACK

Her hand collided with the side of his face with such force that it snapped his head to the side with the momentum. A sharp pain seared over the side of his face that she had hit, his own hands instinctively flying up to the assaulted skin. The look of surprise and horror clear across his face as he took a step back, out of her arm’s reach as she chewed him out. As she spat out her last insult and spun on her heel, Ash just stared at her retreating back, blinking. That was not what he had been expecting. At all.

Asher worked his jaw for a moment to make sure it still worked, because damn that girl had an arm. It was going to bruise, which sucked, because that was his good side. He shook his head to clear the pain, and when he had gathered his thoughts, he resumed his walk towards the gym. If nothing else, he’d succeeded in buying Garrett a night free of interference. Hell, he’d probably just earned them at least two weeks of no interference. It’d better, or he’d make her pay for the bruise she had left him with. Because there was no way he was going to be able to pass this one off as a hickey.