Ashton's POV

Nothing can kill my mood today. Emmie agreed to go with me to the party on Saturday and I can't wipe this stupid smile off my face. Last semester, the party was extremely boring and the only thing that kept us entertained was when Calum got drunk off of champagne and tried talking to some business officials who weren't too pleased with his slurred speech and attempts to ask for an internship in 'working for the man.' He ended up getting kicked out which led to the rest of us leaving.

"Can you stop being such a lovesick puppy?" Michael says. "You're making my sick." He pretends to gag at my happy expression.

The smile drops from my face out of sheer embarrassment. "I'm not lovesick. I'm just...excited."

"Mate, that's a load of bull," Luke says, the other two nodding in agreement.

"Whatever," I mumble, waving them off. I'm not lovesick. Yes, I like Emmie, but I know nothing will come from it. I shake my head in an attempt to erase the thought so not to damper my mood.

"Isn't your dad going to be there this time?" Calum asks, completely killing my good mood.

Mood killer.

"Yes." Just the mention of my father irritates me. I try not to think about the fact that he's going to be there and that Emmie will have to meet him, but it's impossible. Last Friday, when he gave me the stupid invite, all I wanted to do was yell at him.

"Ashton," Dad called as I was about to pass through the classroom exit.

I didn't say anything; I walked to where he was standing behind his desk and pulling out a square sheet of cardstock. I knew what it was by the time I saw the paper. It looked exactly the same as last semester's and knowing that he wanted me to go again pissed me off.

"I'm hosting it this year, and I would like for you to come," he said.

"You're hosting?" I asked, befuddled. It wasn't abnormal of me to act so skeptical. Even though I don't know him that well since he left, I did know he hates having the spotlight on him, which is probably the reason why he didn't show up last semester. He was supposed to give a speech, but he ended up using the excuse of being sick to get out of it.

"There will be a lot of prestige officials this time," he said, completely avoiding my question. "You need to get an internship with one of them. You have a reputation to uphold."

"Why does my reputation matter to you?"

"You're an Irwin. You know that our family has worked in the business field for years."

I shook my head. "I don't consider us family. You left us without so much as a goodbye. I may have your last name, but that does not make us a family," I snapped.

He stared at me expressionless. This was one of the reasons why I hated him so much. He only cared about his name.

"I've already recommended you to some of the corporations so be sure to leave a good impression."

I bit the inside of my cheek so that I wouldn't end up screaming at him. As much as I didn't want to go, it was a good opportunity. I watched as he began to walk towards the exit before I called out to him.

"Can I bring guests?"

He stopped in his tracks, not even bothering to turn around.

"Will it be those friends that you brought last time?"

"Yes...and someone else."

His back was still to me, but he turned his head slightly to the side as if saying I'm listening. "Who would that be?"

I hesitated, unsure of whether I should tell him about Emmie or not. "Her name is Emilia."

"What about Natalie?"

Of course he would ask about her. Natalie's dad used to work with him at a business firm before he moved to the states and became a professor. I wouldn't be surprised if they still keep in contact.

"You know that ended," I said. Memories of Natalie flashed through my mind, which only fueled my anger.

Dad didn't say anything. He just turned his head and shrugged, walking out through the double door exit.

I'm not sure what made me angrier that day: the fact that he is trying to force me into getting an internship when I should have clearly said "fuck you," or that he brought up Natalie and then brushed off Emmie like she was a piece of dust.

"Don't you have to let her meet your dad?" Luke asks. "For that project?"

I don't care about the project anymore. I care about keeping this friendship with Emmie; not some grade. "As much as I don't like it, yes," I say.

"If he acts like a douche, we can easily just leave, so don't worry about it too much." Luke smiles sympathetically.

I nod, knowing he was right. The phone in my pocket buzzes and I smile at Emmie's name lighting up on the screen.

"Am I going to have to wear heels too? I can barely walk on a flat surface without tripping. How am I going to walk when I'm two inches off the ground?" her message reads.

I imagine her trying to walk in heels and I can't stop laughing. The guys look at me like I'm crazy, but all I care about is the girl who managed to brighten my day again.

____

Emilia's POV

"Never thought I'd see the day when Emilia Anderson would get completely shit-faced on her birthday!" Julia's yells from the couch as I walk into the apartment. "It was refreshing to see you let loose and become a very talkative and lively young adult," she teases.

"Well, being talkative and lively led me to tell Ashton about Jared," I say, dropping my backpack and collapsing on the couch next to her.

Her eyes widen. "You told him? What exactly did you say?"

"I don't remember everything word-for-word, but I didn't give him any big details, just the main parts. You know, how Jared was so controlling that he basically made me become an introvert. And that you caught him trying to take advantage of me."

Knowing that Ashton didn't force me to tell him everything makes this conversation much easier than I had initially anticipated. This morning, I pictured myself bawling my eyes out while Julia held me in her arms and rubbed my back in a motherly way. But here I am, completely indifferent about the situation.

"He told me to tell him when I'm ready and that he'll listen when that time comes," I say.

"Ashton sure is something else, isn't he?" Julia says. "I'm really glad that he didn't force you to explain yourself. It really shows how much he respects you." She pauses. "When do you plan on telling the entire story to him?"

I shrug. "I guess when the time is right."

Julia doesn't push the topic.

"Em, can I ask you something?" Julia fiddles with her thumbs, a nervous habit of hers that I've grown to notice. "Do you like Ashton?"

It takes a moment for her question to sink in. "Of course I-"

"Emilia, you know what I mean," she cuts me off, scolding me.

I never really gave much thought about my feelings towards Ashton. That's mainly because I was too preoccupied with learning how to have friends again and having more of a social life. From our first encounter to now, I've always viewed our relationship as strictly platonic, but over time, I've started to notice small things about him that I normally wouldn't pay attention to. Like the way he gets crinkles around his eyes when he smiles widely or laughs. Or the way his dimples pop out even when he's just talking.

"I'm honestly not sure how I feel yet," I say. "I know that I like Ashton as a friend but anything more just scares me."

"You're scared that he's going to turn into someone like Jared," she says, knowing that was my biggest fear. "I honestly believe Ashton wouldn't do anything to hurt you. I know you're scared, Em, but have you taken a look at yourself lately? You're practically glowing with happiness. Before you met him, you would just go to school and work and come right home. You would never go and hang out with people other than me. You kept yourself secluded and that scared me. But now, you smile more; you laugh often. You've surrounded yourself with great friends who make you happy and I couldn't be more proud of you. He's helping you become a stronger person. He's helping you live your life the way you should.

"Now, I'm not saying that you have to fall for him or anything, but just know that he's doing you good. Whether you like him or not, at least know that he will be there for you. Don't force yourself to understand your feelings towards him. That will come in time. If and when that time comes, we'll deal with it then. But as of now, enjoy your time with him and smile. Your friendship with him is the most important thing."

I want to cry at her words. I want to cry tears full of complete and utter happiness. Even if I'm confused with Ashton, I know that I can't let that get in the way of my friendship with him. I don't want to go back to being the completely anti-social girl that I was a month ago. I like being happy. I like knowing that there are people around me who can make me smile and laugh.

"Sometimes I think you're too good to be my friend," I joke. "You've taken the role of my mom and I'm truly grateful for that. If I didn't have you around, I don't think I would have put as much effort into my friendship with Ashton and the rest of the guys as I should have. Thank you."

"That's what I'm here for." She pats the top of my head, a gesture that for some odd reason I felt comfort in.

"There's something else I forgot to tell you."

"You're not replacing me with him, are you?"

"No, never," I assure. "He invited me to go to some formal party that the business department is hosting and I need a dress for it. Since I loathe shopping and you can most likely make a job out of it, I thought you could help me."

I've never seen anyone jump out of their seat, trip over the corner of the couch, and run to their room to retrieve their laptop faster than Julia. She lets out a squeal before throwing out dress terminology like a sweetheart neckline, or A-line dress, asking what I would like. She begins typing away on her laptop, looking for dress stores online and pointing out each one that would 'fit my figure well'.

Dear God, what have I got myself into.