**Chapter 9: Tangled Up in More Than Just Yarn**

Asher couldn't believe his luck. One minute, he was successfully dodging Mrs. Jenkins' advances, and the next, he was being swooped up by a new admirer. He felt like a ship caught in a storm, with waves of feminine attention crashing against him from all sides. Ethan, sensing his distress, clapped him on the back. "Hey, don't worry, Asher. We'll get you out of this mess. We just need to come up with a new plan." Asher raised an eyebrow. "A new plan? You mean, like, a plan to deal with Sophia?" Ethan nodded. "Exactly. We can't let her get too close, or she'll be just as bad as Mrs. Jenkins." Asher sighed, feeling like he was trapped in a never-ending cycle of feminine attention. "I don't know, Ethan. I'm starting to think that knitting isn't going to be enough to keep her off my back." Ethan grinned mischievously. "Oh, I think I have a better idea. Why don't we use Sophia's interest in knitting to our advantage?" Asher raised an eyebrow. "How do you mean?" Ethan leaned in, a sly look on his face. "We can use knitting as a way to distract her. You can teach her all about knitting, and while she's busy learning, we can sneak in some subtle hints that you're not interested." Asher thought about it for a moment. It wasn't a bad plan, but he had a feeling that Sophia was going to be a tougher nut to crack than Mrs. Jenkins. As the day went on, Asher found himself growing more and more anxious. He had a feeling that Sophia was going to be a lot harder to shake than Mrs. Jenkins, and he wasn't sure if he was ready for the challenge. When 3 pm rolled around, Asher made his way to the library, feeling like a man walking to his execution. Sophia was already there, sitting at a table with a notebook and pen. "Hey, Asher," she said, smiling up at him. "I'm so excited to learn about knitting. I've always wanted to make something beautiful." Asher forced a smile, trying to look enthusiastic. "Great, Sophia. Let's get started. What kind of project do you want to make?" Sophia thought for a moment, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "I want to make a sweater. A beautiful, intricate sweater that will make everyone jealous." Asher's heart sank. A sweater? That was a lot more complicated than a simple scarf. He was going to have to think fast if he was going to get out of this situation. As they began to work on Sophia's sweater, Asher realized that he was in over his head. Sophia was a quick learner, and she was determined to master the art of knitting. Asher found himself growing more and more frustrated, feeling like he was trapped in a never-ending cycle of yarn and needles. Just when he thought things couldn't get any worse, Sophia leaned in close, her breath tickling his ear. "Asher, I have to say, I'm really enjoying your company. You're so patient and kind." Asher's heart skipped a beat as he realized that Sophia was flirting with him. Again. He glanced over at Ethan, who was watching from across the room, a look of amusement on his face. Asher mouthed "help" to Ethan, who just shrugged and shook his head. Asher was on his own. As the afternoon wore on, Asher found himself growing more and more desperate. He needed to come up with a plan, and fast, or he was going to be stuck with Sophia's affections for the rest of the school year. As they packed up to leave, Sophia smiled up at him, her eyes sparkling with interest. "Thanks for today, Asher. I had a great time." Asher forced a smile, feeling like he was trapped in a nightmare. "No problem, Sophia. I'll see you tomorrow?" Sophia nodded, her smile growing wider. "Can't wait." Asher watched her walk away, feeling like he was in way over his head. He turned to Ethan, who was grinning at him. "Well, buddy," Ethan said, "it looks like you're in a bit of a pickle." Asher groaned, feeling like he was going to have to come up with a whole new plan to deal with Sophia. "You think?"