LIFE IN HILLS ACADEMY

Chapter 7

Ashley came out of her bedroom a few seconds after hearing the front door open. Her Mom had four plastic bags in her hands and her bag hung across her chest. Her brown hair was stuck in sweaty patches on her forehead.

Ashley felt pity for her the moment she saw what her Mom looked like. She looked tired and pathetic. She walked close to her and helped her with the plastic bags.

"You could have called me if you were going to get groceries."

"I thought you might be busy doing your thing" her Mom said, showing how considerate she was.

"I wasn't busy with anything", Ashley told Naomi as she followed her into the kitchen to set down the things she bought.

"Any friends at school yet? Or are you a loner," Naomi asked as he opened the fridge to get water. The last sentence was meant to tease Ashley.

"Yes! We are even best friends now. His name is James."

"He?"

Ashley looked up from what she was doing and sighed. She could guess what her Mom was thinking.

"Yes, he is the only one friendly so far. Every other person follows some ridiculous ranking". She satisfied her Mom's curiosity.

"Ranking?" Her Mom was quick to get curious.

"By the way, you keep telling me you want the best for me without telling me how you got the tuition fee. It's a lot of money, and we both know we don't have it."

Ashley's Mom shifted uncomfortably. She had been trying to avoid the question, but there was nothing she could do, especially when Ashley wouldn't stop staring at her with her big eyes, waiting for an answer.

"Your Dad paid for it and the house we live in."

Ashley stared at her, not sure whether she understood what her Mom had just told her.

"My Dad?" She asked surprisingly "You said he was dead!"

"I know I said that, but it was because I didn't want you to think about a father that was never coming back. Okay?"

"Maybe I understand why you lied, but I can't believe my whole life became like this because of a man I've never even met!" She was looking horrified after hearing her Mom.

"Okay,I'm sorry, but he wanted to be a part of your life for once, and that was why he suggested changing your school and environment. I'm very sorry for not telling you, Ash" she began to walk closer to Ashley, but she kept moving back from her.

"You and whoever he is are being selfish. You both expected me to blend in with every change without even telling me anything. It's my life, and you can't keep controlling it like it is yours, okay?" she sniffed "You know what, I'm done with trying to make you understand me. Because nothing has ever changed!" She stormed out of the kitchen angrily.

She couldn't believe she left the people she was used to, the people that loved her as much as she loved them because of a man she had never even met. Because of a man that abandoned her Mom because she was pregnant with her.

"Ashley, open this door, will you? Let's talk this out please", her Mom knocked on her door after she had locked it behind herself, but there was no response.

"Unbelievable! Little James has a best friend now?" Sharon, who had been spying on his messages the whole time, said, and James flinched. He wasn't aware she was behind him at all.

James had no real family problems or personal problems like every other kid in school. His parents were amazing towards them. His only problem was his ten-year-old sister, Sharon. She was always on his nerves and doing her best to annoy him all the time.

When they were much younger, Sharon never loved to play with her mates, she always believed she was smarter than all of them. Instead, she associated herself with James' friends, and even made them like her more than her brother, which James doesn't like.

"You have no right to read my messages, you dimwit!" James snapped.

"Oh! Well I did", Sharon said in her annoying voice.

"Can I also chat with Ashley?I won't steal her away from you" she pleaded. James knew better. He would be a fool to believe her.

"No way!" He stood up and walked up the stairs to his room, slamming the door loudly.

Ashley ran to the lockers as fast as her legs could carry her. She could feel her pad get so wet. She needed to change it as soon as possible before it could stain her uniform.

She sighed in relief, and immediately she took a new pad from her locker. She was already stressed from running. She was about to start running to the restroom when she fell. She knew she was tripped, and if that was the case, she could easily guess the perpetrator.

Attentions were already on her before she stood up and there was the devil she had guessed. Vanessa was smiling.

"You tripped me!" Ashley said, pushing Vanessa over her chest.

"I'm not denying that, but what will someone like you do about it?"she asked with a smirk.

"I'm going to report you for school violence!" Ashley threatened.

"Do you have evidence? The school believes in one. "

"The CCTV obviously caught you tripping me."

Vanessa looked back at her friends, and they all laughed.

"I was at a blind spot when I tripped you. The camera probably caught you starting a fight by pushing me."

Ashley clenched her fist as she watched other students hail Vanessa. She felt like she had been defeated, and there was nothing she could do about it.

She was about to give up and just go to the restroom silently when she heard a voice among the students.

"What if I have one?" Amelia asked as she walked closer to them.

Everybody, including Vanessa, found it unbelievable that Amelia was interfering. She was not the type to do so.

"I said, what if I have the video of you tripping her?" She asked again once she was closer.

"Amelia, why would you even care about someone like her?"

Vanessa asked. She was already looking restless.

"Someone like her? Then how should I address you if I judge by your perspective?" She scoffed.

"Just delete the video Amelia, if you really do have it", Vanessa wasn't ready to be suspended from school. She only knows what would happen to her if she gets suspended.

"Mrs Johnson is probably watching the video now" her lips curled into a smile "and she is probably on her way to get you" Amelia winked at Ashley before she walked away from them. Ashley must really be in luck to be defended by someone like Amelia. The number one richest.

Vanessa cursed Amelia under her breath. She had always wanted to get closer to Amelia, but not anymore. She couldn't believe she could do that to her.

"I might as well cause more trouble" she muttered to herself before pulling Ashley's hair with force.

"Are you crazy? Let go of me!" Ashley screamed in pain as she struggled to break free from Vanessa.

"All of this is happening because a b***h like you won't know her place" Vanessa said as she tightened her grip on Ashley's hair. Students tried to separate them, but Vanessa was just so strong and determined. With all of his strength, James managed to push Vanessa away from Ashley.

"You psycho!" Ashley yelled as she tried to brush her hair with her fingers.

"Vanessa!" Mrs Johnson called loudly and authoritatively "I want you behind me now!" She roared.

"Amelia! That sly b***h!"