LIFE IN HILLS ACADEMY

Chapter 6

A very good friend of David's mom was getting married in Australia, and it was a wedding she couldn't miss. Her friend also came down to New York for her wedding back then, and it was only right to attend hers too.

She sat in the backseat of her car with David, because he had insisted on following her, while the driver drove them to the airport.

The drive to the airport was quiet. His Mom wouldn't look away from her phone and play with him, so he had to play with himself.

While playing, the wind blew his cap off his head, and it fell outside the car. He screamed and began to cry, telling the driver to stop the car, so he could get his cap back.

"David, we are not stopping the car on a highway. You have more of it at home, just let that go", his Mom tried to calm him down.

"No! I want it back!" He began to kick the back of the driver's seat and cry loudly. His Mom couldn't deal with the noise and just had to tell the driver to stop the car.

"Oh my goodness! Can you find a good place to stop the car and go get it for him?" His Mom finally said the words he wanted to hear.

The driver nodded and in seconds the car stopped. He got out of the driver's seat and ran back to where the cap was lying. Luckily, there weren't so many cars on the road.

"Seriously?" His Mom frowned at him.

"It's my favorite, Mom" he pouted.

"We could always get the exact type later, but because of you, we have to stop in the middle of nowhere for just a ……."

Before she could finish her words, a truck with a failed brake collided with their car from her Mom's side, shattering the car's glass. Background noises became muffled as the truck kept pushing forward till it somersaulted.

David kept gasping, till he finally opened his eyes with his hand on his chest and his eyes were watery. The day of his Mom's death had become a nightmare for him because he wouldn't stop blaming himself for the accident.

He continued to gasp for a few seconds before he finally calmed down. His chest heaved up and down.

"It's fine, it's fine," he assured himself. He checked the time on his phone, and it was just 2 a.m, so he had no choice but to sleep, hoping the dream wouldn't come again.

During breakfast, he kept staring into space as Rachelle, who had been working for their family since she was young, set the table for breakfast. He was so deep in thought that he didn't even notice his Dad was now staring at him until his voice took him out of his trance.

"Is something bothering you at school?" Even with his tight schedule, his Dad never neglects his duties as a Dad. He doesn't fail to notice David's discomfort.

"School?" David asked, not processing the question fast. "Oh! School is fine and nothing is bothering me."

"You looked worried."

He tried hard not to look so worried, but he should have known nothing could pass his dad.

"I had the same dream again" he sighed heavily.

"Do you think you should start seeing your therapist again?" Rachael asked with concern. She was already like a family to them.

"No, I don't want to. It doesn't seem like it's helping. It's twelve years already, and I still can't get over it" he blurted out.

"As I'll always say, it's not your fault. It never was. And I think it's time you opened up to your therapist, that is when his help can be effective". His dad encouraged him

"I'm not ready to meet with him now, but I'll let you guys know when I'm ready."

He assured them.

It was a week already since Ashley had been at Hills Academy, and she had gotten so much closer to James. They were mostly together in class and outside the classroom.

James frequently gave her a tour around the school, so she could get used to things faster.

"Do you plan to join a school club?" He asked while giving her a tour around

"I'm not sure, it's not necessary, right?" She stopped walking so she could look at him.

"Not. But it would help you socialize" he paused. "Almost everyone in our class is on a sports team, including me. Vanessa is the cheerleading president"

"I'm not interested in being a cheerleader, I think I'm interested in Yearbook club"

"That's cool, and that's David's club. I'm sure he would help you out a lot if you eventually joined the club."

"He is?"

"Yes he …" he was interrupted by Adams, who snatched the snack he was eating from his hand.

"Thank you, James. I'll enjoy it" he winked at him before running off.

James stared at him as he ran. He was so used to his annoying behavior that he couldn't just get angry at him.

"And that is Adams. The class jerk", he told Ashley.

"At least, he can make a name for himself, unlike me," Ashley said in whispers.

"Don't compare yourself to Adams, you will be disgusted thinking about it very soon"

They both continued their work.

"And Yearbook club means meeting up with deadlines"

"Of course, I know that," she smiled at him.

James had been helpful to her. He was kind and didn't hesitate to educate her about things she didn't know. She couldn't imagine how lonely and pathetic she would look in school if he was like everyone else that followed.

"James" she slowly, not sure of how to start what she was about to say.

"Yes?" He looked at her, so she could know she had got his attention.

"I was thinking…if you don't mind being my friend" she asked and held her breath, not sure of what he could say. She believed the word FRIEND wasn't something to use carelessly, and James might just see her as just a classmate.

"Aren't we friends already?" He asked cluelessly.

"I know we are, but I was thinking we could be best friends."

She finally found the confidence to say it." Oh my Goodness, that was embarrassing." She smiled awkwardly when James just kept mute. She had never asked anyone to be her friend. She just clicked with her two best friends in her old school, and thinking about it, she doesn't remember how they became friends.

"Are you asking me out?' James asked, throwing her off guard.

She laughed.

"Yes! I'm asking you out for a friendly relationship"

"Oh My Goodness! I never thought I would one day have a best friend" he said, and Ashley figured he had already given her an answer indirectly. She felt happy it ended well. She playfully hit him on his shoulders as they walked back to the classroom. At least, one thing has gone well since she moved.