Chapter 2; Boys' Night.
"No, I admit, it wasn't as horrible as it could have been," Ashton laughed as he, Luke and Casey walked out of the theater into the main square of Old Town.
"That movie was awesome," Casey insisted.
"For something based on a kids' TV show, I guess it was alright."
Casey rolled his eyes with a very loud sigh. "You're impossible, Daniels."
"No, just picky," he grinned.
Luke laughed on Ashton's other side.
"And that is why I could never be a film student. You can't appreciate a movie for it's entertainment value, you have to critique everything," said Luke.
"Oh really, that's why?" said Ashton, raising a brow. Luke glared teasingly.
"What did I say about being cute?"
Ashton just laughed.
"I feel like I'm missing something," frowned Casey. Luke grinned.
"Ashton was giving me lip on Facebook. I told him to stop trying to be cute."
"And of course I pointed out that I don't need to try, it just comes naturally."
Casey rolled his eyes.
"Speaking of Facebook, what was up with your little pity party earlier?" Luke asked as they continued walking.
"What? Oh, the bruised ego thing? Nothing. Just had an awkward run-in on campus earlier," Ashton frowned, putting his hands into his pockets.
Casey eyed him curiously. "Uh huh. C'mon, spill."
Ashton stopped, realizing that Luke and Casey had both stopped and were staring at him intently. His shoulders fell and he groaned.
"Alright, fine," he pouted, stepping toward them with tight shoulders.
"It's not that interesting of a story. I was talking to this guy," he started. Casey interrupted.
"Who?"
Ashton stared dumbfounded. "Like I'm telling your big mouth," he replied. Casey grinned. "Anyway. We were talking, and I guess I made him uncomfortable because I put my hand on his arm, but then he seemed okay. So I suggested that we go to a movie sometime, just us."
"Like a date?" asked Luke. Ashton shrugged.
"Honestly, I don't know. I guess, maybe, if he wanted to take it that way, but it didn't have to be. But the thing is, he did take it that way and I obviously freaked him out."
"Maybe he's straight," suggested Casey. Luke and Ashton both stared.
"So I left," Ashton continued, ignoring Casey's comment.
"That's it?" Ashton looked up at Luke.
"Yeah, that's it."
Luke laughed. "Wow. You must really like this guy for something like that to 'bruise your ego'."
Ashton could feel his face burning. "Oh, shut up, like you're one to talk."
Luke stopped laughing, though it was obviously difficult for him to do. Casey grinned and stepped up, putting his arm around Ashton's shoulders.
"Don't let it get ya down, man. Just remember, you gay guys don't have to deal with the girls, and they're the crazy ones," he said with a goonish grin.
"Casey, you're an idiot," Luke laughed. Ashton laughed along and rolled his shoulders away from Casey.
"Speaking of girls, how are things with Allison?" asked Ashton knowingly with a smirk.
Casey glared. "That particular topic is off limits," he said quickly. Luke and Ashton laughed. "Laugh it up, laugh it up."
"Oh, I plan to," said Ashton as they approached Al's.