Claws And Flaws

~Chapter 12

HARLEY

"Hi mum." I greeted jumping next to her on the couch.

"Hey sweetie, how was school?"

"Not bad." I muttered lying.

"Okay sweetie, go upstairs and change. I got a nice movie for us to watch this time." She says. I grinned at her.

"Which one?" I asked excitedly.

"It's a surprise." She says.

"Okay," I quickly start getting up. "I should go and change quickly because I can't wait." I said.

I trust mum with movies because we almost always watch movies together and she knows my type of movies.

But then something hit me on the head that completely changed my mood. I slowly turned to mum.

"I can't." I said. As all they happened at school rushed into my head. My eyes begging to cry.

"Why sweetheart? Too much homework?" She asks.

I looked at her surprised but then remembered she is obviously talking about my homework only.

But I nodded anyways

"Aw, it's okay. We can just shift that to tomorrow." She says. I nodded in agreement before slowly and tiredly walking upstairs.

....

I nodded at Asher as we got out of the car. He walks to my side and puts his arm on my shoulder, bringing me closer.

I stare around tiredly with bags under my eyes while holding my own books in my hand. My backpack was also heavy with books in my hand. I didn't even understand some of the subjects they were doing. I had to use the internet.

"You look really tired today." Asher says looking at me concerned stopping us midway and walks to stand in front of me as he examines my face. He puts his hand on my chin. I couldn't help but admire his face. He was truly blessed with handsomeness. I was lucky to have a friend as handsome as he is. He has a face of a beautiful model. His sparkling peaceful eyes. "Are you okay?" He ask, clearing my dreamy thoughts. I cleared my throat and quickly slap his hand off my chin and moved a step back. I avoid his gaze for awhile and looked around as I reply him.

"Yeah, of course I am." I said and started laughing nervously. Lying is so sad and uneasy.

"You have bags under your eyes." He said trying to look at my face but I quickly look the other side and pretend to fix my hair. Why is he focusing so much on my face this morning?

But I am honestly tired. I only had an hour sleep before my annoying alarm rang. I did not even have time to complete my own homework. I was extremely tired from starring at their book the whole day. I decided it was better finishing theirs first before doing mine because I knew I wouldn't harm myself for not finishing my own work.

"Oh really? It's nothing." I smiled looking at the ground to avoid his gaze. 

"What were you doing last night?" He asks folding his arms.

"Last night?" I asked. He just stares at me blankly. "Well,.... I wasn't sleeping." I said.

"That's clearly obvious." He nods at me as we begin walking slowly towards the school entrance. "Then what were you doing?"

"I..." I gulped down.

"Hey guys!" Janine comes from no where with her bubbly mood and then Klein and the rest were just right behind her talking. I hold onto Asher's hand tightly, not once letting go. Asher gives me a questioning look. I quickly smiled up at him before looking down at my shoes.

"Hey." Asher greets.

"Hey Harley." Janine greets me. I look up at her through my lashes.

"Hi." I gave a quick reply.

"Asher?" Klein calls him.

"Yeah?"

"Can I please talk to you privately. There is something I want to tell you."

"Sure." Asher nods at his cousin giving him a weird look. He then turns to me. "I will be right back." He says, leaving a soft kiss on my temple. I nodded in response. He then left me and I let out a sigh as I let go of his hand. He walks away towards Klein.

"So, our books. Quickly." Janine says a bit too rude as she stretch out her hand.

Knowing Klein called Asher so they can distract him. I quickly took out all their books from my back and handed it back to each of them. They gladly all took their own books.

"You are stuck with us b***h. Don't even try sitting on another table again. You will always sit on ours as our slave, nothing else." Janine sneers, few inches away from my face, I had to move my head back a bit.. Then moves back from my personal space as she puts on a smile.

I stare at her like the witch she is.

Asher soon comes back with Klein. Klein signals to them and they all nodded.

"We'll be going now." Klein said giving Asher and I a huge smile

"See you in class Harley. Such a sweetheart." Janine puts her and on my shoulder and slowly slips it away as she moves with a smug smile on her face.

I looked at her blankly. I let out a sigh. Asher immediately turns to me jus by hearing my smile.

"Is something wrong?"

I quickly shook my head with a smile on my lips. "No, everything is perfectly fine."

He smirks. "I told you it would be nice making more friends." 

I looked away while nodding.

***

"Hey."

I groaned and face the other side.

"Harley." I was lightly shaken.

"Yeah?" I answered with my eyes still closed.

"The bell rang." I heard Asher's voice. I groan loudly.

"Two more minutes." I whined.

"Seriously, what kept you up all night?" He asked.

But his question somehow, woke me up clearly. I was sitting straight up in a swift move.

"Huh, we should go." I said as I got up from the chair letting out a yarn while taking my backpack

Asher sighed. "Okay." He said then gets up too.

I packed my stuff and shove them in my bag. We both started walking out of the class, side to side.

***

All the people I did their homework for, well except Felicia and Leo, Andrew (since the three aren't in my class) - were starting to torment me in class.

They all moved the people that once sat around me and decided on being the ones sitting around me. My life became a living hell in this class now.

They would kick on my chair. Gregg sat at my back so he would throw papers at the back of my head.

Janine sits besides him, as she would gradually hit on my chair annoyingly.

As if that's not enough. They would purposely drop any of their stationary on the floor including a pencil and they would tell me to pick it up for them. As I said, life became a living hell for me in this class.

I was more than glad when the bell rings as I was already frustrated at this whole thing. I quickly got up with my bag, ready to leave.

"Harley." Janine calls, making me freeze in the process of reaching the exit door of this class. I glanced her way with a blank look on my face. I hate her. "Pack our stuff for us." She says pointing at their books and stationeries on their table.

I sigh but nodded as I started quickly packing their stuff.

Once I was done, I positioned my bag properly on my shoulder and walked out if the class with of course an annoyed look on my face.

Thank God it's only one damn class I have with them. Even though all our subjects are almost the same. We all generally can't fit in one class because we are lots of students so sometimes we might have same subjects but different teacher or timing to head to that specific class.

***

After few more classes. The bell rang for break. I packed my stuff and left to the cafeteria.

I got in and went straight to Asher. Missing his scent and everything.

An empty chair was already by him. I sat on it.

"Hey sweet cheeks."

"Hey." I greeted softly. He moves closer to my ears.

"Hey, I'm sorry I haven't been escorting you to class lately. Something came up with the teachers." He whispers in my ears.

I turned to him concerned.

"Is everything okay?" I asked.

"It's all sorted out, sweet cake."

"Please, stop with that nickname." I said lightly chuckling for the first time today. For the actual first time today. I mentally rolled my eyes.

Everyone at the table stares at us.

I quickly stop and decided to just take out my lunch.

"So what's our lunch today?" Asher said. Trying to look inside my back.

"Sandwich." I said.

"Oh My, you just saved my tummy." He says taking it out of my bag for me.

I giggle at him. My mood saver.