Chapter 4
1181 Words
Ashley decided to stop by her Mom's studio before going home, and luckily she was the only one inside the studio. Her Mom was cleaning her makeup brushes when she arrived
"How was your first day?" Her Mom asked immediately she saw her
"It was so amazing that I became a prey to bullies" Ashley replied sarcastically.
"Bullied? You were bullied?" Her Mom left what she was doing and walked closer to her
"Yes Mom! I was bullied because I'm not in the same class as them" she sighed tiredly,
"What does that mean?" Her Mom was obviously clueless.
"High class Mom, wealthy families, elite kids"
"Oh! Do you want me to file a complaint?"
"It's the most unnecessary thing to do."
"What if they keep bullying you? I'm worried"
"I'll be fine. I'm only tolerating them because I don't want to be in the school black book in my first week of school". She remembered she was going to ask how she was able to afford the school. "And how on Earth were you able to pay the tuition fee?"
"I have always wanted the best for you, even if it will be inconvenient for me"
"Maybe this was too extravagant. I'm going home"
She walked out of the studio and headed home.
Ashley got out of her cab and kept staring at Hills Academy gate. She was yet to recover from the previous day's experience with Vanessa.
"Here we go again" She sighed heavily.
She kept looking around as she walked into the school, hoping to find the one person that could be her friend if things went well between them, but he was not in sight.
She was going to enter the class when a masculine voice called her name. She felt excited.
"James! Thank God"
She turned to look at the person, but it was a totally different person and the excitement vanished.
"Guess you have been looking for James" the guy said.
He was handsome and Ashley wondered if one of the requirements to get into HILLS was also appearance.
"Yeah, I was" she replied.
"You must have been disappointed. I'm David, a classmate and I know you are Ashley."
"You probably would, I introduced myself in class yesterday" she stated the obvious.
"No, I wasn't in class when you came. I stabbed classes, I heard about you from Vanessa"
Oh! Great! Her bullies even told people about her. She told herself to make sure to stay away from David if she wanted peace, so she decided to excuse herself.
"Okay David, it's nice to meet you, but I have got to run. I hope to see you around". She didn't mean the last part.
"You had an eventful day yesterday, wasn't it?" David said after her
She entered the class and was finally grateful to see James busy reading a book.
"Will I ever get to see you without a book?" She asked, because he was also with a note when they met the previous day.
"You will". James closed the book.
"I thought I would run into you outside of class"
"Trust me, that would be rare. I come to class early. You want to sit with me today?" He offered
"Definitely" she said happily and sat beside him,
"I heard you almost had a fight with Vanessa."
"It wasn't a fight, I was bullied! Are you also her friend?" Ashley silently prayed for his answer to be negative.
"No, we are not. In fact, she doesn't like me one bit and the feeling is mutual. And I don't think David,who is her only made friend, has ever tried curbing her sick manners".
"David? I met him earlier."
"He is Number Two, and she is Number Three."
It was almost lunch break, when Gabby, a classmate, walked up to James. Everyone except James knew she had a crush on James.
"Hi James", she called his attention.
"Hey Gabby", James acknowledged her in a friendly manner, with a welcoming smile.
"I was wondering if we could eat lunch together, probably tomorrow?" she said nervously, while Ashley just kept staring at them. Gabby would have asked them to eat lunch with her that same day, but she thought it was the last minute already.
"Yes,sure. She can tag along, right?" He pointed to Ashley. "She is a loner", he added, and Gabby nodded positively.
"Someone got eyes on James?" Ashley asked him, hoping to tease him.
"She is just a nice girl."
"Shut up". They both laughed.
Lily and Grace ran to Gabby. Immediately, she went back to her seat.
"Do you know you are at the top of my dumb people list?" Grace told her rudely.
"Actually. Why would you ruin your own chance? The lunch offer was an opportunity to confess your love to him!" Lily supported
"I don't need advice from two silly dumb friends" Gabby said dismissively,
"We are smarter and more brilliant than you are."
Ava, the class president who had chosen to sit beside Gabby for the day, decided to join their conversation to make corrections.
"I really don't want to interfere, but the last time I checked, your grades were behind Gabby's" she told them.
"Can you mind your business, Miss class President?" Lily shushed her
"She annoys me more than Adams," Grace told Lily as they walked away.
"That is a lie," Lily said and they both giggled.
Isabella followed Ashley to the house with her popcorn and book. Immediately, she saw her being back from school. Obviously, she had been waiting for her to be back.
"Don't litter the whole place" Ashley warned her. After they got in
"Got it" Isabella said as she made herself comfortable.
"So first, I need your help with my excerpt" Isabella said.
"Sounds like there's a second."
"Yes! There is something I'm so itchy about telling someone except my Mom"
"Okay ……" Ashley wondered what their neighbor's daughter could want to tell her.
"I got myself a boyfriend!" Isabella clapped her hands in excitement and smiled widely.
"Oh my God Isabella! You don't have a BFF?"
Isabella was a bit disappointed Ashley was not matching the vibe she had expected.
"He has been my crush since Seventh grade" Isabella ignored the cold Ashley and continued anyway.
"Are you even in a relationship at all?" Isabella asked and, judging by Ashley's silence, she could guess "I can introduce you to my cool friends in twelveth grade though," she offered.
"I don't need your stupid friends. I'm fine"
"My friends are not stupid! Maybe if you get nicer with words, you can get yourself a boyfriend". Isabella was obviously angry at Ashley for disrespecting her friends.
"And maybe you could also help yourself with the door." She stood up from the couch.
"My Excerpts!"
"Leave it behind, I just don't want to see your face. I'll bring it over before dinner"
"The feeling is mutual"
Isabella said and walked herself to the door.
Finally, having time alone, Ashley went to her room tiredly and laid on her stomach before finally drifting to sleep
- Writer
