"You don't know who Asher Felix is?" Fiona exclaimed one afternoon as I prepared to leave my shift.

Apparently, Asher was a musician and he became famous after uploading covers on Youtube. An agent from LA discovered him and invited him to do some gigs there. Hence, they moved there with his family to pursue his music career.

"I don't... recognize him," I answered, clutching the strap of my backpack on my shoulder. My shift just ended and I wanted to go home, but my colleague didn't seem to want to let me go, not until I satisfied her curiosity.

"Anyway, I still can't believe you're neighbors! How cool is that?" Her tone rose a notch higher than usual, her long lashes fluttering as she looked at me. "Did he say why he suddenly come back here?"

"Maybe to visit his grandparents?"

"Or is it because he just broke up with his girlfriend?" Fiona's ginger brows creased. I just shrugged at her. "Did you know he used to work here?"

Nodding, I looked at my phone and checked for my bus. I still had ten minutes to spare, but I needed to escape Fiona's Q&A. "My bus is coming. I'll see you next time, Fiona."

I marched towards the entrance, halting abruptly to the side after seeing someone entering the store.

My eyes fell to the ground, waiting for the customer to walk past me, but no one came in. Perplexed, I lifted my head, seeing the guy only a few feet away from me, his dark shades concealed his eyes, but his gaze definitely directed at me. "Hey!" That animated voice caught my ears.

I remained motionless, still amused at the guy's sudden appearance again. It was only until another customer who tried to make her way inside the store that he stepped in, moving towards my direction. His sapphire eyes finally stood out the moment he took off his shades. I just bat an eye at him, not really knowing what to say.

"Hey Asher! It's really you! Oh my God!" A girl shrieked, catching his attention. I could already recognize Fiona's fangirl-ing mode despite only learning her love for the musician a few hours ago.

Asher smiled at the girl behind the counter, initiating another squeal from her. "Hey, how's it going?" he greeted, exposing his perfect set of teeth. With just his navy flannel shirt and black ripped jeans, he could easily catch anyone's attention, even if they weren't his fans.

"I'm Fiona, by the way. I'm your fan," she introduced herself, her cheeks almost turning to the color of her hair.

"Thanks. Appreciate it," Asher answered. Then, he turned to me. "Jam, are you heading home now?"

I met his gaze, unsure if I should answer him. "Y-Yes?"

"Yes?" he mimicked, a question mark almost forming on his forehead. "Are you going somewhere else?"

"Uh... no. I was about to head home... yes," I confirmed, slapping myself mentally for my lack of eloquence.

"Cool. Let's go!" He initiated, but I just stared back at him. "I'll drive you home," he added, trying to convince me more. "Come on, Jam. Don't make this hard for me." His expression shifted to glum.

"Thank you. But... I'm just not comfortable riding on someone else's car," I finally answered him, avoiding his eyes.

"I'm not just someone else, Jam. We're neighbors and besides, I thought we're friends now."

"Jannah, just take the guy's ride," Fiona blurted out. I snapped my head at her, signalling her with my eyes. But, she ignored me, glancing at Asher. "You'll take her home, right?"

"Of course. Thank you, Fiona." Asher brought his hand up to acknowledge her indirect help. "Also, can you tell your friend that I need her to come now because my grandma has still some errands for me to do?"

I gawked at him. I couldn't believe he just ordered Fiona to convince me. "Can you kindly tell him that I can just take a bus going home, Fiona?"

The ginger-haired girl groaned inwardly, looking at us. "Can you just talk to each other? I have a customer right here." She forced a smile at the woman in front of the counter who was about to pay her purchase. "Just go," she mouthed, throwing me a look.

I finally gave in. I was already too tired to debate with anyone.

***

My throat was almost always dry. I was used to it. Silence was my best friend. And, right now, the loud beating of my heart collided with the dead air surrounding us inside the car. Next to me was a guy whom I just met yesterday and I couldn't help but feel jittery being alone with him.

Asher's prolonged yawn jolted me from my seat. I directed my gaze outside, unwilling to turn to him. "Sorry," he murmured. My ears perked up, but my head still faced the other side. "For the way I acted earlier. I shouldn't have done that."

"It's all right," I mumbled, still not looking at him.

"I hope you don't mind if we stop by the grocery for a bit. Grandma gave me a list and I figured it'd be easier when someone's with me," Asher explained.

I bit my lower lip, exhaling a breath. "Sure."

"Don't you think it's best for us to be friends now? I don't want us to be awkward especially we're neighbors and all."

If only he knew how much I had been struggling on that aspect my whole life, I bet he wouldn't be telling me this.

"So, what do you say?"

I sneaked a look at him. His attention was completely on the road, both hands on the steering wheel. I still knew nothing about him apart from the fact that he was a musician. But somehow, sitting here with him inside his freshly-scented car assured me that he wasn't a complete jerk. "S-Sure," I finally answered.

#

"I'll take this!" Asher snatched a packet of cheesy biscuits from the aisle, enclosing it with his arms over his chest. "I'm so glad they still have this."

I looked at the trolley in front of me. The sight of huge bags of chips and all sorts of biscuits made me question the identity of the guy with me right now. Fiona told me Asher was only three years older than us, but seeing how his grin never left his face from the moment he got hold of the biscuits, I might have to ask my source again.

Gripping on the trolley, I pressed my lips in a thin line, preventing myself not to say anything. He looked at his phone screen again, finally checking the list of his grandma. I hope.

A soft groan escaped from his mouth, his eyes glued on his phone. I counted five seconds in my head, before opening my mouth to speak, but as soon as I did, a sulky voice behind stalled my plan. "You're blocking the aisle," an old lady muttered, so I lowered my head and mouthed, "Sorry."

My hands struggled to push the trolley to the side. I had to do it fast because the old lady's brows were unnerving. As I maneuvered the trolley, I collided against a warm and robust figure, making me shudder. If Asher had not enveloped me with his arms, I would have fell on my butt in that instant. "I got you," he hushed, tingling my ears and burning them at once.

"Asher?" The old lady's tone suddenly turned upbeat, recognizing the guy who was still holding me by the arms. "Is that you?"

Straightening myself up, I finally took a step forward to free myself from him. He chortled as he waved a hand at the old lady. "Hi, how are you?" He greeted her with his snappy tone. I couldn't tell if he knew the lady or not, but she definitely knew Asher. I suddenly got reminded that I was standing next to a celebrity.

"I didn't know you came back to town."

Asher stifled a laugh. "Yeah, just few weeks ago. I just miss being here."

"So, you're staying with Olive and Allen then?" Ah, so she knew his grandparents too.

Asher nodded, glancing at me. "I think I will be staying here for a while."

Heat rushed up to my cheeks this time. Looking away, I heard the lady finally say her regards to his grandparents. "Sorry I didn't know she's your girlfriend," she ended and I almost choked.

"See you later!" Asher bid her goodbye without even correcting her.

I just stood there, my stomach still twisting in a knot.

"Jam." His voice urged me to look at him and when I did, his lips curled into a smile. "Let's go?"

Surprisingly, we got everything on his grandma's list after spending almost two hours in the store. I honestly didn't think we would find everything, but somehow, we did.

Never mind the fact that my body was about to collapse from standing up all day at work and then getting dragged by a guy to shop for groceries. I was just relieved that it was done.

When the car finally stopped in front of our house, I turned to Asher with a small smile. "Thank you," I mumbled.

He lifted his chin a bit, a smile visible on his lips. "No, thank you."

I just nodded, pushing the car door open. I exhaled a huge breath as I stepped out of the car.

The beating of my heart finally turned back to its normal pace, not until he bellowed, "See you tomorrow, girlfriend!" I might not be able to sleep tonight.

***