University Roommates (Restart)

Ashton:

I watched her carefully. "I made pancakes," I said weakly as if that would make up for it. I pointed to the stack with my spatula and went to pull out the syrup and butter. I didn't know what to do to make her feel better.

Emily:
I looked at him and sighed, my shoulders deflating from the stiffness that my anger was holding. "No thanks," I mumbled. I felt my lower lip tremble and quickly turned around and headed in the direction of my room.

Ashton:

When she left the room I turned to the trash to retrieve her book. I brushed it off, glad to find that the trash was nearly empty and had nothing wet or smelly in it yet. I made my plate of pancakes and sat down at the kitchen table and read. At first, I was reading because I thought somehow that if one person showed interest in her book that maybe she wouldn't be so down. I continued reading it because I was actually engaged by it. I spent the next several hours with my nose in the freshly printed pages.

((Is there a character based off him? Or anything else I should know?))

((Yeah, the main character, Lucas, will be based off him. There's a best friend based on Tasha. And I guess the character based off Ash and the main character eventually fall in love.))

Emily:
I stayed in my room for the next several hours, sulking alone and yeah, I even shed a few tears, sue me. When my stomach couldn't remain empty any longer, I ventured out and into the kitchen. I froze when I saw him with my book, clearly several chapters in. "What are you doing?" I asked, my voice high and panicked. If my book sucked, I hardly wanted him to take it out of the literal trash can and read it.

Ashton:

I was a quick reader, so when the finally came out I was more than halfway done. "I'm reading, what does it look like?" I stood up from the table feeling a bit stiff and tucked the manuscript under my arm to keep her from trying to get rid of it. "I like it. A lot actually. Your publisher couldn't have read more than a few pages of it if he didn't like it."

Emily:
"It looks to me like you didn't take the hint that my throwing it in the garbage meant I probably changed my mind about you reading it." I said, my voice taking on the sarcastic tone again. I took a step forward and held my hand out. "Thanks for saying you liked it, but you don't have to read any more of it. Give it to me," I said, not asking. I was embarrassed about being rejected and feeling self conscious about the book. Even if I once thought it was pretty good, there was no way I wanted anyone else to see it. Him especially.

Ashton:

"No," I said simply side stepping around her. I grabbed an apple from the fruit bowl and went to sit on the couch with the book in hand. "I'll read it out loud for you if you want. I'll do voices," I offered taking a bite from my apple. I had made a few little notes for her in the margins throughout the book.

Emily:
My mind immediately flashed to my concussion. He had read to me for days when I wasn't allowed, while my head healed. He even humored me with voices and accents. My face softened for second before I shook my head. "Oh good, I really wanted to hear my failed book out loud. Thanks for the offer, but I'd rather you just gave it back," I said, following him to the couch. I was trying to gauge how far he was in the book from how many pages he had turned, but I couldn't tell.

Ashton:

"Good, I'll read it out loud then, come sit," I said over her and patted the couch cushion next to me. Even if I made her angry it would be worth it to take her out of her head. Antagonized was better than depressed.

Emily:
My mouth almost dropped at how...frustrating he was being. "Ash, if you don't give it back, I'm going to take it from you. So, it's everyones best interest if you just stopped whatever it is you're doing," I threatened, hoping he wouldn't call my bluff. I knew if I tried to take it, I probably wouldn't get very far.

Ashton:

I looked over at her with raised eyebrows. "Yeah? Like you got the pillow?" I said thinking about the first night we had hung out with each other on the couch. I patted the seat again then started reading her story aloud dramatically.

Emily:
My mouth fully dropped open now and stared in shock as he started reading. I was certainly not about to have him read this chapter out loud. It was the first time Lucas kisses Ronnie. If he read it out loud, I was gonna explode. I quickly darted around the couch and reached for the book. "Ashton. Give. Me. The. Book," I said

Ashton:

I chuckled. "I'm Ashton now, not Ash huh?" I twisted to keep the book out of her grasp. I leaned back and fell shortly back onto the cushion, holding the book above my head while keeping my thumb in the center to hold my spot.

Emily:
"I really don't see what's funny," I grumbled, reaching for the book. His arms were just longer than mine. I wasn't about to climb up him to get the book.

Ashton:

I looked up and flipped the pages open to continue reading. I could see similarities between myself and the main male character. In fact, one scene had paralleled one of my arguments with Emily almost exactly.

Emily:
"Yeah, keep flipping the pages. I totally look like a girl who is enjoying this," I said, grabbing one of his arms to pull the book towards me.

Ashton:

I switched the book to my other hand. "Eh, I've seen that look before. It's not gonna hurt anyone to keep going," I said. I continued to read but not out loud.

Emily:
"Yeah, you've seen this look before. On the discover channel right before a wild animal slaughters its dinner," I warned him. I sat back on the couch. "Its not even a good scene, you're wasting your time,"

Ashton:

"So slaughter me then," I muttered, not even bothering to look at her now as my eyes were flicking across the page. All I could think about what I was reading was that it was an insight into how she thought about things. What she liked.

Emily:
I crossed my arms over my chest and shook my head at him. "You've got to be kidding me," I said. "Stop acting like you're so engrossed in it and just give it back. You've made your point. I have learned my lesson. You are much stronger and you have freakishly long arms. Now give it back," I said, sarcastically, rolling my eyes.

Ashton:

I smirked at her comment. "Hush, It's getting to a good part. Although, You could add a bit more action. A car chase or something. It's a little tame," I said even though that wouldn't fit within the story.

Emily:
"It's not getting to a good part. Its getting to a stupid part that I should just cut out of the book altogether," I grumbled. "And If you want a car chase, allow me to take that book and give you another one with more action," I said, darting my hand out again to reach for the book.

Ashton:

I read through without commenting again until I finished the chapter. Holding the manuscript in my hands, I sat up and looked at her. "This is good, Emily. It's more than the story, it's good writing. You were so excited about it until you talked to your agent. Why let one asshole get you down like that? Why not listen to this asshole who-" I paused for a brief second and let out a breath. "Who cares about you? You think I wouldn't tell you this sucked if it was true?" I held the book close in case she tried to snatch it back again.

Emily:
I couldn't help the hurt expression that crossed my face when he said he cared about me. "Be careful," I mumbled. "Wouldn't wanna say something you don't mean." I referenced the other night when he said that he hadn't meant to say that he loved me. "That asshole isnt just some guy with an opinion. He makes the decisions on whether or not to publish my book and he said no, so thats that."

Ashton:

My face twitched at her comment but I did my best to ignore it. "He's not the end all. there are countless other agents you could pitch it to. Your guy wants your children's stories, not something like this," I tapped the book. "You just need to find the right market." I reached out and placed a hand on her knee.