Playing With Someone Else's Pet

[Ashley Benson]

Ashley wasn't the type for spirited debates and discussions centered around changing people's opinions. She wouldn't tolerate disparaging remark about one of the few people she'd met who had gone beyond merely accepting her presence, though Akeem also didn't look as though he was interesting in pursuing that line of conversation either. Ashley nodded faintly, taking in his words. She wasn't blind, she knew why Akeem would think the way he did about Ellen. Ashley had seen glimpses of this cold persona he seemed to believe made up the core of the blonde girl's being. "You're entitled to your own opinions." She replied honestly before offering up a smile. "I won't try and change your mind."

There was another pause as Ashley studied the young man who'd approached her. He was different than most, especially with his suspicions over the unlikely bond she'd forged with a certain blonde girl. He already knew more about her than most and, for some reason, what little he had been able to glean off her was enough to capture his attention on some level. It was a dangerous game he was playing, of that Ashley knew. Slowly her head shook as the same strange, detached smile remained unwavering on her face. "A common misconception is our past doesn't become part of our personality. Everything we've experienced, good or bad has helped shape and define who we are." Of course she couldn't expect Akeem to understand the full weight of her words. It wasn't as if he knew the skeletons in her closet were still rattling around waiting for another opportunity to escape and wreak havoc. "Go ahead. Dig as deep as you like." She said, her tone flat. "Don't say I didn't warn you."

[Akeem Ten-Amen]

Akeem had a clear idea who Ellen was and would not change it anytime soon. She was just one of those girls who, since they couldn’t get the love and affection of the ones they wanted it from, decided to be cold and hard to everybody else. She made damn sure Akeem would know she considered him an employee at best. She better not try to snap her fingers at him and order him to massage her feet or she would see he could put an end to this real fast. It was not like he really needed the money she gave him. And she already proved not to care about their one rule of ‘no using our power on each other’ so why should he care about her? However, before leaving, he was not against a bit of mischief. Ashley seemed the perfect candidate to have it happen.

If he knew he was playing a dangerous game, it might not be for the same reason as Ashley thought. She was the one who’ll get caught in his web, not him who risked to get burned. He didn't know much about her, other than the way she looked, the fact she was rather shy or at least had little friends other than Ellen. In reality, he cared little about Ashley’s personality. She was only a mean to an end, the important factor here being her friendship with the blonde girl. She was being too spiritual for him though and it was boring him. It had to be her defenses trying to keep him at a reasonable distance. “If I promise not to poke where you don’t want me to go, is that fair?” he said, not ready to give up just yet.

He let himself rest against the back of the chair. It was amusing how he could look almost small when sitting despite the fact he was over six feet tall. He just had an aura that screamed tiny for some reason. But she might also get an aura of a king on his throne. That sure was an image he liked to have about himself. “I’m curious about you. I don’t understand how I could not have noticed you before and what I can do for you to notice me more.”

[Ashley Benson]

Something strange inside Ashley had clicked. She'd hardly switched personalities, the shy, introverted girl Akeem had approached was still very much present behind the deep, brilliant blue eyes that now looked at him. Though as he spoke he could almost see the subtle change in her demeanor. Her posture straightened just slightly, her voice came without a waver and carried a certain weight that bordered upon the foreboding. "If you only knew." She replied cryptically as her head shook and she lowered her gaze to the book that was still sitting in her lap. For a moment she took in the weathered cover, her fingers brushing along the worn lettering printed across it.

Akeem's next words were met with a soft chuckle that escaped Ashley's through. Slowly she pulled her eyes from the text on the cover of her book and brought them to Akeem once more. "To what end?" She asked as the pools of blue that now looked at him gleamed with a subtle sense of mischievousness. She had to give him credit. He was stubborn, that was for sure. Ashley couldn't help questioning his intent. Who was she to him? If Ellen wasn't his friend and he had no concern for her, why did Ashley matter? "I'm... not like other people." She insisted. "I don't think you'd like my attention." She replied honestly.

[Akeem Ten-Amen]

Something stiffened within Ashley. He was not quite sure what he might have said to deserve it but he figured she was more aware of what was being said now. The shy girl opened up her eyes, if ever so slightly. The answer came, however it was quite enigmatic. He had no idea. Something in her past must be troubling her a lot and it only made Akeem want to learn more about it. He had to be careful though. He doubted Ellen said anything about him to this girl but should Ashley mention him, Ellen might have no problem pointing out how ‘evil’ this one really was. He didn't need Ashley to believe her just yet because she revealed things to him she never should have. He’d let Ellen paint him black than try to show she was exaggerating. Even if it was later to prove the total opposite.

He expressed some surprised that, in reality, was all fake for the purpose at hand here. “Why would I want to know you? Why wouldn’t I?” It seemed easy for Akeem to give big innocent eyes to people. It sure helped that his eyes were naturally big and expressive. He sure was no classical beauty but he knew how to play with it. She seemed to warn him about her, that she was not the kind of person you want the attention of. “Oh? And why not? There seem to be nothing wrong about you. You might be a little quiet but what is wrong with that? I know I tend to talk too much.” He offered her a big smile. There seemed to be no nicer way to admit he had a huge ego that took a lot of space. It sure would not play in his favor if she knew that. He pointed at the book with she torturing the cover of. “What were you reading?”