The Bait and Switch

The next day, Asher and Ethan put their plan into action, determined to make Mrs. Jenkins believe that Asher was more interested in knitting than in her charms. Ethan had spent the previous night gathering a stash of knitting supplies, and Asher had spent hours practicing his "knitting face" in the mirror, trying to look as disinterested and artsy as possible. Asher's mom had even helped him pick out a few knitting patterns to work on, just to make it seem like he was really taking to the hobby. As they walked into school, Asher was carrying a large knitting bag slung over his shoulder, complete with a half-finished scarf and a set of gleaming wooden knitting needles. Ethan had coached him on how to hold the needles just so, and how to look at Mrs. Jenkins with a bemused, "what's a pretty woman like you doing in a place like this?" expression. At first, it seemed to be working. Mrs. Jenkins caught sight of Asher's knitting bag and raised an eyebrow, clearly taken aback. "Asher, dear, what's... um... what's all that?" she asked, her voice dripping with confusion. Asher smiled blandly and held up his knitting. "Just working on a little project, Mrs. Jenkins. Trying to get into the whole knitting thing." Mrs. Jenkins looked stunned, and for a few days, she barely gave Asher a second glance. He and Ethan would catch her looking at him occasionally, but she seemed to have lost interest. Asher felt a sense of relief wash over him as he realized that the plan was working. But just as they were celebrating their success, a new challenger appeared on the scene. As Asher walked down the hallway, he noticed a girl with long, curly brown hair and a bright smile watching him from across the hall. She was wearing a tight-fitting top that showed off her curves, and Asher couldn't help but notice the way her eyes sparkled as she caught his gaze. "Who's that?" Asher asked Ethan, nodding discreetly towards the girl. Ethan followed his gaze and raised an eyebrow. "That's Sophia, the new transfer student. She's been making eyes at you all morning." Asher groaned, feeling a sense of déjà vu. "Great, just what I need. Another Mrs. Jenkins in the making." Ethan chuckled. "Well, at least you're popular." Asher rolled his eyes. "I'm not popular, I'm just a magnet for weird women." As they watched, Sophia sauntered over to them, her hips swaying in a confident rhythm. "Hey, Asher," she said, her voice husky and confident. "I couldn't help but notice your... um... knitting skills." Asher's eyes widened as Sophia leaned in close, her breasts brushing against his arm. "Yeah, I'm really getting into it," he said, trying to sound nonchalant. Sophia smiled, her eyes sparkling with interest. "I used to knit all the time when I was younger. Maybe you could teach me some of your favorite patterns?" Asher's heart sank as he realized that Sophia was just as interested in him as Mrs. Jenkins had been - maybe even more so. He glanced over at Ethan, who was watching the scene with a mixture of amusement and concern. "Well, this is just great," Asher muttered. "I think we've got a new problem on our hands." Ethan grinned. "Don't worry, Asher. We'll come up with a new plan. After all, we're experts at dealing with overzealous women now." Asher raised an eyebrow, skeptical. "I hope so, because I'm not sure I can handle another one of these 'admirers'." Sophia, meanwhile, was still smiling at him, her eyes sparkling with interest. "So, Asher, when do I get to learn about knitting?" she asked, her voice husky and confident. Asher forced a smile, feeling like he was in way over his head. "Uh, how about... um... after school?" he suggested, trying to sound casual. Sophia nodded, her smile growing wider. "Sounds perfect. I'll meet you in the library at 3 pm." As Sophia walked away, Asher turned to Ethan and groaned. "This is not good." Ethan chuckled. "Don't worry, buddy. We'll figure something out." But as Asher watched Sophia disappear into the crowd, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was in for a wild ride.