An unexpected turn

Chapter 3

Jess checks his phone, hoping Ashe has responded to his message. But disappointed, Jess sees that Ashe did not respond to his message, not even opened it. He looks at what time it is, and the clock shows 11:36 pm. With a sigh, he thinks of Ashe's face and wonders why she was not at school today. Is she sick? he asks himself. Jess feels anxious inside, but does not really know why. He does not know Ashe at all, yet he has such a desire to get to know her.

Tired, he lays down the phone on the table next to him and lies down on his back.The room is dark and quiet.

"Ashe..." Jess closes his eyes and falls asleep.

.

"What an ugly outfit she has!" whispers a girl, behind Ashe, to some of her friends. Shortly afterwards, laughter and even more whispers are heard, behind Ashe.

Ashe sighs but tries to ignore Emma and her friends. Used to their teasing and laughter. Ashe puts her arms on the table and her head against her arms. Hiding and trying to get away, away from everything and everyone. I hate it, I hate it, I hate it! Without caring about the lesson, Ashe stares out the window, not hearing anything about what the teacher is saying. All she wants is to leave, leave this place.

.

The time goes and Jess looks at Ashe who does not seem to pay attention to the lesson, she just keeps looking out the window. Her face is blank, no emotions. Jess decides to try to talk to Ashe when the lesson is over, but continues to check on Ashe from time to time to see if anything changes with her. But nothing changes, her blank face is still there through the whole lesson.

"Don't forget to check the pages before next lesson! Okay, have a nice day you all!" says the teacher and the classmates start to gather and get up to leave the classroom. Jess looks at Ashe who has not moved yet.

"Ashe? Can we..."Jess whispers to Ashe but is interrupted by the teacher.

"Ashe, could you stay for a moment?" asks teacher Ashe. Jess looks at Ashe again, but she does not even seem to have heard the teacher either. Jess sighs but gets up and leaves the classroom. Something's wrong...

.

"Hey Ashe, how are you doing?" asks the teacher, Mrs. Grey, and walks to Ashe. Ashe does not hear Mrs Grey, still completely inside her mind. "Ashe?" Mrs Gray repeats.

"Huh?" Ashe answers in surprise. "I'm sorry, I..."

"It's okay Ashe, I just got a little worried, is everything okay? You seem... you seem a little bit off", interrupts Mrs Grey with a friendly voice and places a calming hand on Ashe's shoulder. Without thinking about it, Ashe moves away from Mrs. Grey's hand. Ashe can still feel Mrs. Grey's hand on her shoulder, even if it isn't there, it's uncomfortable.

"What, no, no everything is fine. I just... I trust thought about something, I'm sorry. I will be more attentive during the lessons, I promise", Ashe lies, even though they both know it's not true.

"Ashe, it's okay. I know what you been through. I just want you to know, that if you need anything, need to talk to someone, I'm always here. Okay?" says Mrs. Grey soothingly and kindly.

"Thank you Mrs. Grey, I appreciate it", Ashe answers and stands up.

.

"Hey, you okay?" Jess asks and comes from behind Ashe.

"Omg, why does everyone ask me that, I'm fine", Ashe answers annoyed.

"I just... You weren't here yesterday, and you seemed a little bit... off during class", Jess continues, looking anxiously at Ashe.

"No, I'm fine. Please just leave me alone", Ashe replies, relieved that Jess did not comment about... yesterday's i********: incident.

"Ashe", Jess tries. "Please look at me, just once."

"What?" Ashe stops and looks up at Jess. She only now notices how tall he actually is, probably a whole head taller. As usual, she notices his face, his perfect jawline, his cute eyes... Stop!

"Thank you", says Jess as the two stand there in the corridor, in front of each other. Eye to eye. They're both quiet for a while.

.

Her face, it's just so perfect. She's so cute. I've never seen anyone like her. Despite all the girls I have met, none of them have stolen my attention like this girl. Her gaze is full of energy, but also somewhat sad. Something is so different with her.

Jess notices the silence growing between them and starts talking.

"I... I promise to leave you alone, if you meet up with me, just once, at the Jason's Cafe. Please Ashe", Jess asks in a calm voice.

.

Ashe feels a strange flying feeling in her body, a feeling she has not felt for a long time. A strong will inside of her wants to say yes, a naive childish part, while her conscience screams no in her head.

"Fine, one time", Ashe answers nonchalantly, but deep down she already feels hope and longs.

"Great! Does today at 7pm work for you?" Jess asks. The joy on his face is clearly visible with a smile. His eyes shine and are filled with hope.

"Yeah, but I have to go now, bye", says Ashe and walks away without giving Jess one last look before she leaves. As she walks her away, she feels Jess's eyes on her, it's feels warm. The excitement inside her is growing and she can't hardly control herself. A smile appears on her lips as she continues to walk. The thought of her and Jess alone, not at school, gives her butterflies.

.

It's 07:06 pm and Jess is already at Jason's Café, waiting for Ashe. He sits at a table beside the window. The sky is orange and pink, and the sun is on her way down for today. And then, the moon will take over to light up the city.

After a while of waiting, the door to the café opens. Ashe steps in and looks around and sees Jess sitting at a table by the window. She walks to the table and sits down in front of him.

"Hello", says Ashe and looks out the window.

"Hello, I'm glad you came", Jess answers with a big smile.

"Yeah", Ashe answers shortly.

"So, have you eaten anything? Do you want anything to eat and drink? I'm sure I would", Jess says kindly.

"No, but I'm fine. But feel free to order something if you're hungry", answers Ashe.

"Have your eaten anything today? I didn't see you at lunch today, and I'm sure you didn't eat any breakfast either. You need to eat Ashe", Jess says calmly but anxiously.

"Why do you talk to me as you know me?" Ashe answers annoyed but you could see a weak smile appear as she get nervous.

"I'm sorry..." Jess answers and looks down. "I just... Don't want you to starve", he continues, looking up at Ashe again.

"Fine, I could maybe take a black coffee and a salad", Ashe answers quietly.

"Okay, that's great!" Jess answers with a smile as he gets up from his chair. "I'll be back, wait here."

"No, I can pay for myself", says Ashe but Jess ignores her with a smile as he walks to the desk to order for then both.

After a while Jess comes back with a smoked salmon sandwich and one ceasar salad for Ashe.

"Here", he says, setting down the caesar salad in front of Ashe. "I'll just get the coffee." And Jess disappears for a while but comes back quickly with to big black coffees in his both hands. He sits down and put Ashe's coffee beside her caesar salad and his beside his sandwich. They both open their packages to the food, it is quiet and tense between them.

"So... why did you ask me to come here?" Ashe finally asks.

"I don't know, I wanted to meet you aside from school. I want to get to know you, you're not like... like the other girls in the class, or rather, the school. You seem different, in a good way of course", Jess answers and takes a bite from his sandwich.

"Hmm, I promise you, you don't want to get to know me", Ashe answers shortly.

"Don't say that", Jess answers convincingly.

"I'm sorry, but it's true, you will regret it, like everyone else", Ashe answers, looking down at the food.

"Do you want to bet?" Jess answers with her eyebrows raised.

"Why are you so stubborn?" Ashe asks with a faint laugh.

"I'm just sure about this", Jess answers and shrugs. Time goes by and a short conversation continues for a while. Finally, when both have finished eating, Ashe feels that she can actually relax a little more.

"Thank you for the coffee and the salad", thanks Ashe with a actual real smile.

"No problems", Jess answers with an even bigger smile.

"Do you... do you want to go for a walk?" Ashe asks shyly.

"I would love to", Jess answers.

They leave the café and follows the sidewalk. It's nice outside, the wind is light and the sky is darker than before, but still orange and pink.

"What a beautiful sky", says Jess, looking up at the sky and the sun as if a few more hours are gone.

"Sure it is, I've always loved this", answers Ashe, admiring the colors of the sky. "Look, that's my favorite star" says Ashe, pointing to it.

"Ashe what's that?" Jess asks. She feels his warm hand against her arm. She pulls away quickly and all she wants to do is to run away from him. He saw her bandage, he saw her. "Ashe?"

"No, it's nothing, I have to go", is all she says before she turns around and walks fast.

"Ashe, please", she hears Jess say behind her.

"No, please leave me alone", she answers and she feels the tears coming. She feels his warm hand again. He takes a soft grip on her shoulder that makes her turn around, towards back to him. "Please just stop." Ashe wish as a tear falls down her cheek. Without another word, she feels his warm body embrace hers. Without knowing what to do, she feels her body relax and her crying face against his body calms her down. Her whole body feels still and calm, but in a good way. Another feeling she had not felt in a long time.