Claws And Flaws

~Chapter 5

HARLEY

"I'm home!!" I yelled.

"Over here kiddo!" I heard my Dad's voice. I practically ran to the living room. It's unusual for my Dad to come home early. Since he got promoted in the game company he usually comes pretty late, so when Dad comes early it's practically our lucky day. My grin brightens as I watch mum and Dad cuddling on the couch with popcorn on top of mum's lap as they seemed to be watching movie.

"Hi Dad! Mum!" I greeted.

"Hey sweetheart. How was school? You came back late today." Mum said moving her eyes from the TV screen to me then back at the TV again. Thanks to Dad's presence mum won't take my coming late pretty seriously.

"It was great." I said grinning like a five year old girl who got five ice creams in a day. Both mum and dad turned to me same time looking shocked. "I need to go change." I said and left the living room.

"Is that our girl?" I heard Dad's voice making me roll my eyes with a lingering smile on my face.

"She's been acting strange lately. Even after school when she gets back and I ask her how..."

I rolled my eyes and chose to ignore them.

***

"Hey sweet cake." Asher greets. I turn from my locker to face him.

"Hey Asher and it's Harley, remember?" I said grinning at him.

"I love this one more." He said then rest his arm on my shoulder.

"Wow." I said. I really don't know what to say about that.

"So what's your first class?"

"Sadly, history, yours?"

"Calculus, but I'll escort you to class."

"You sure about that?"

"Yeah, why not?" He asks as he raised an eyebrow.

"Thanks." I said smiling brightly at him.

"Any-" He was cut off.

"Hey Asher!" That oh so familiar voice made me feel uncomfortable. We hear the voice from afar then we both turned to the direction it's coming from. The most popular girl aka Queen Bee in our school. I introduce to you Janine with her two friends Felicia (remember the girl that was once new to this school but hated to be friends with me after finding out how unpopular I am? That's her.) and then Emily, the Korean cute girl but just another meanie. Then Klein with three of his other friends Gregg, Leo and Andrew. The popular group. I let out a sigh. Knowing all they scream is trouble especially when they are all together.

"I need to go." I said hurriedly ready to leave but Asher hold my arm and moves his head closer to my ear.

"Stay next to me. They need to know you're a friend of mine." He said. I looked up at him and he grins, I couldn't help but grin back. The group finally made their way to us.

"Hi Ash, what's your first class?" Janine asks with her high pitch voice. The typical girl.

"Why do you want to know?" He asks her back raising his fine eyebrow.

"Come on Ash, we are friends. We even hang together at break." She said that sending a quick glance at me. "I found out we are going to calculus together."

"Then why did you ask?"

"Just wanted to see if you knew, so we can start heading to class together." She said shrugging.

"Yeah but I'm not ready to go now."

"Why not? Are you going somewhere else?" Klein asked stepping forward next to Janine as they both ignore my presence while I stand just next to Asher, looking like his unseen guardian angel.

"Yeah, just want to escort my friend here to class first." He said resting his arm on my shoulder. They all turn to me. Wow! They finally all noticed my presence. Stand in ovation and clap hands for them. I gave them a nervous smile. The look they were all giving me could tell they wish I could disappear right now. They turned back at Asher.

"Friend?" Gregg scoffs. Rude much?

"Friends with a strange looking girl?" Janine asked snickering and giving me a disgusted look while looking from my feet going up to my face then back down. I felt uncomfortable so I looked away and couldn't stop moving as I cleared my throat. The bell rings, signalling we should all head to class now as first period has started. I thought I could never be this happy to hear the bell ring. The tension in the air was quite disturbing. I felt out of place. If it hadn't rang, I had a feeling that Janine would have made a scene.

"As you can see she's a human just like you. So just except the fact and don't go that far. Now, we need to go."

He holds my hand as we make a round from them and started walking to my class. To my surprise the corridors were full as usual of students rushing to class but no one bothered to push me around or step on my foot, they did the opposite, made way for us to pass. I couldn't help but feel butterflies in my stomach. I felt special and noticed.

We finally reached history class. I turned to Asher. "Thanks. You were awesome." I said referring to the way he replied them all including Janine as I grin at him. He smirks.

"I'm always awesome, haven't you notice? And anything for sweet cake."

"Stop with the nickname. It's horrible." I said honestly with an annoyed look on my face.

"It's not a shame I like it."

"Anyways, I need to head to class, bye!"

"See ya!" He waves then turns around walking his own directions. I smiled at his retreating bold and wide back before turning open the door and getting in.

***

"I already said no!" I whined at him. He found out my hiding place at break was the library now he wouldn't stop telling me that I should be heading to the cafeteria.

"I'll come to find you and then carry you on my shoulder in front of everyone if you don't show up at the cafeteria."

"What?!" I whisper yelled. "No, you wouldn't."

"Choose, you willingly come to the cafeteria or you love to be embarrassed?" He says.

"But-"

"I'm not listening to any buts."

"Okay, fine I'll go. You're so persistent." I muttered, defeated and sighed.

"Good girl." He says. The bell rings signalling English class is over for us.

"If you are not done with the class work, it's a homework for you." Our teacher reminds us. I guess me and Asher has homework now, considering we were both arguing and talking about this same thing for the past thirty minutes.

I started packing my books and as usual Asher would wait for me. I grin at him before carrying my bag. As he escorts me to my next class before going to his.

***

I let out a sigh as I push the double doors open and got in. Most people already got their eyes on me while others just turned towards me now. I sighed. Am I already getting from the unnoticed girl to be the popular annoying girl?

But as soon as they noticed it was just me. They all took their eyes off me and went back to what they were doing. I looked around for Asher but it seems like he isn't here yet. I might just look for an empty table. After few seconds of looking, I found one at the back corner, where I like it.

I started to make my way there.

"She's the one I was talking to you about. The strange looking girl." Well I guess it wasn't everyone that took their eyes off me. My walk slows down as I make my ears more active. I wonder why they call me the "strange looking girl". I let out a sigh and just continue walking.

"I wonder how a girl like her made it so close to a hot guy as Asher." I heard another say. I rolled my eyes, not wanting to here anymore, I walk fast to the table. I got there and took my seat.

The double doors opens and again everyone looks that way, well half of the cafeteria. Asher walks in. I found myself smiling.

"Hey Asher! Over here!" That, wasn't me. I thought. It was Klein. I look back at Asher who looks like he is searching for someone. Come on Asher. I try pushing as he continues to search in a hurry. He had look of disappointment now covering his face as he makes his way to the popular table.

I started biting on my nails as I watch him make his way to Klein's table. Surprisingly, the students didn't take their eyes off him the way they did with me. They kept following his move. Wow he just became popular as soon as he stepped his feet into this school.

I came back to reality as he moves one of their table's chairs so he could sit. I could see Janine's bright smile.

"Asher!" Yep, this time it was me. Practically everyone turned to me. The cafeteria went silent. What? Was I that loud? I didn't mean to be that loud. I wanted Asher to see me. He is my only friend after all and I'm in the cafeteria all because he wanted me to. My cheeks decided to heat up as I stare at Asher. He smiles brightly at me as he moves their chair back. I could see from the side of my eyes as Janine threw daggers with her eyes at me.

She made me wonder, how much enemies I have the moment I yelled out Asher's name.