They Are Not Ordinary

CHAPTER 16

ASHTER STARR

"Hey Ash, have you seen Damien lately?" I heard Jane asked me as we were working on our project together. I stiffened for a bit before I could come up with an answer.

"No... why?" I replied in a casual tone.

"Well, he is mostly in your classes so I am asking if he is still coming to the classes?" She asked again.

"No, I really haven't seen him in our classes," I told her.

"I know he has his absences but damn it's getting too much" She sighed, scribbling on her paper as she rested her cheek on her left hand. "It used to be once or twice a month where he would leave but he would come back like in a few days, but now it's like every day he is constantly disappearing, I've been asking his two best friends but both of them wouldn't seem to give me an answer"

I looked over at her and frowned. The last time I saw Damien is when he came to my room with a bunch of scratches and bruises on his face. which is like a week ago. I told myself not to worry, that this is what he does. Disappearing. but now Jane's concern for him is starting to make me a little uneasy.

"Maybe he is sick like you always said?..." I lied, even though I know to myself that he is not definitely sick.

"No, I don't think so. But whatever it is, I hope he comes back soon. I missed that jerk a lot. I mean yeah he is weird but he is also the coolest friend I ever had. He is really cool once you get to know him I swear" Jane said while looking at me like she needed to convince me. Little does she know she doesn't need to convince me at all because I clearly know him... I guess.

"Don't worry though, I know that he will come back" I assured her before I looked out to the window and stared into the woods.

"I know that he will" I mumbled to myself.

-

"Hey Ashy" I heard a soft voice from behind me as I finished putting my books away. I turned and smiled at him as I shut my locker.

"Hi, Leo" I kindly greeted, me and him have been getting along really well that we even both have nicknames for each other.

3 days ago I already asked my coach if I could join other clubs and he said yes as long as I can handle all the things. So here we are. We have been practicing for 4 days now in a row now and I guess I gotta say he is actually the sweetest guy ever and we've grown close over the past few days and it turns out we have a lot of things in common. Likes music, books, movies, favorite artist, and whatsoever. It was like a perfect match, me and him.

Every after class he is waiting for me by my locker and we would go together on the theater stage.

"You're staying for practice today right?" He had a hopeful expression on his face. He has always been like this since day 1 he always thought that I was going to ditch him every time.

"Yes, of course, I told you many times before I will always practice," I told him while smiling but then I remembered something my dad told me this morning. "Oh shoot I forgot I have to go home first for something"

"Sorry" I apologized. I immediately felt guilty when his face fell but replaced it with a quick smile, wishing that I didn't see, but I did.

"No it's okay I understand. It must be important"" He smiled and shoved his hands in his pockets. A habit, that I noticed he always does when he is nervous.

"I feel bad, but I will come back an hour or so you know because I still have volleyball practice. It shouldn't take me long so if you are willing to wait I would still be up for practice even though we don't have much time. But if you don't want too that's fine" I offered while shrugging.

"No yeah it's fine I will wait for you" He answered. there it goes the bright smile again.

"Okay well, I'll see you later" I waved goodbye at him as he did so.

I turned and bumped right at Aliana who had a smirk plastered on her face.

"Aww you look so cute together" She cooed and I rolled my eyes playfully at her.

"Are you always watching us? I swear every time I am with Leo it's like you are always there watching" I asked while letting out a small laugh.

"No I just happen to witness the cuteness and I am not complaining" She shrugged "And since I am the president of the school I always wander around so..."

"Whatever" I mumbled as I stuck out my tongue to her as I started walking and she followed.

"Looks like someone is getting close to someone..." She wiggled her eyebrows at me.

"We are just friends no big deal" I shrugged

"Well, that's what they all say" She nudged me playfully.

"You know what I'm not gonna talk anymore because you are just going to end up teasing me" I whined

"Okay, okay I'll stop, I'm just making sure that our ship is sailing"

"What? Our ship?"

"Yes, me, Sophie and Jane are shipping you both' She simply said.

"Jesus, what the hell, are you guys like twelve or something" I muttered as I heard Aliana softly giggles. Man our president is something.

"Well don't get your hopes too high because this 'ship' you are talking about won't be sailing anytime soon. Besides, I only saw him as my friend" I laughed making her glared at me.

"Well that's what you say now" She teased "Hang around him a little more, I'm sure your answer will be different"

"Well I'm sure I won't answer differently though, anyways I will now get to class dummy, I'll see you later" I waved goodbye and started walking away from her before she could say anything else and went off to my class.

-

I bid farewell to all my friends before I drove out to the school parking lot. My dad wanted me to take his briefcase which includes his equipment. Since he and my mom worked late again and didn't have time to pick it up so they told me to. So I dropped that off really quick before heading back home to get some food so I won't have to spend my money and to change into training clothes so I won't have to rush dressing up later.

I threw my keys in the small plate my mom left by the entrance for our keys and some other stuffs. I hummed some random songs as I was going upstairs.

"Baby I'm preying on you tonight, hunt you down eat you alive... What the f**k!!" I screeched halfway through my singing.

There stood Damien with more scratches and blood.

"What the heck Damien." I breathed as I tried to steady my heart before walking to him.

He was a little out of breath as I took a closer look at him. He had his hoodie up, not looking at me but instead the ground. "

"Damien? I asked worriedly.

"Ashter" He whispered, as I took a cautious step towards him until he finally looked up. His glowing eyes slowly went back to normal as he looked hurt.

"Are you okay?" I asked politely

"Yeah, I just got stumbled upon a rock while hunting" He avoided my gaze and I immediately knew that he was lying.

"It doesn't look like it..."

"It is," He said quietly

"Okay" I sighed before taking a step backward. I am not going to deal with his lying today. I am still mad at him for leaving me last week without a single contact and all he does was leave me to confuse and lie to me.

"Ashter" He called for me softly as I grabbed my clothes and got ready to leave.

"You can stay if you want and you can do whatever you want, I'll have to go and see you later" I mumbled as I grabbed the doorknob.

'Please don't go..." He whispered.

My hand immediately stopped turning the handle and turned to him again instead as I waited for him to say something but when he didn't I spoke.

"Why should I? Give me one good reason then I might stay"

"I don't know...just please stay here" Was the only thing he said which made my blood boil. I scoffed. That's all the answer I've been getting.

I don't know. I don't know. I don't know.

This is really making my head hurt.

"Goodbye Damien" I spat before turning the knob fully.

"Wait let me go with you please"

"No, just stay here and don't you dare to follow me" I warned him seriously.

'But Ashte-"

"I said no Damien" I glared at him and his mouth immediately shut. he have this hurt expression on his face but I couldn't care less. I will rather be at school training and practicing than being here asking questions to him without getting any answers.

I finally stepped out and walked out without turning back to him. I got in my car and drove back to school.

I finally got to school and got out. I jogged inside and made my way to the room where Leo and I practice.

Leonardo was reading some lines as I walked in. He turned as he saw me.

"Hey Ashy you are here," He smiled, obviously relieved.

"Yeah I told you I would come back" I giggled at his reaction. He really needs to have some faith in me.

"I know it's just hard to count on people these days" He shrugged

"Yeah I know right" I mumbled "So what part did we left off?"

"Actually we don't have to practice today since it's a little late," He said as he raised his arms with a watch and begin to tap on his watch. "It's already 1:40 so I guess we will continue tomorrow"

"Oh my god I am really sorry" I facepalmed myself for making him wait for too long. I didn't even realize it was already 1.

"No don't apologize it's alright really," He brushed off politely "I understand. I am okay with seeing you in here today"

"I'm sorry, I promise I will make it up to you" I apologized again.

"I told you it's fine Ashy don't worry about it" He laughed as he started packing his things. I helped him clean up for a bit, as we are cleaning I noticed bad scratches and bruises on Leo's arm.

"Hey, what's that?" I pointed to his right arm. He immediately hid it by pulling his sleeve down.

"Oh u-uh it' m-y cat, you know how cats can be when you play with them" He stuttered which was odd. I frowned my eyes at him but I didn't ask anymore. Leo wouldn't lie. would he? If he is what is his reason for lying?

"So I will be seeing you tomorrow then," He said before rushing out of the room.

I just shrugged it off before I headed to the gym.

-

We are in the middle of the training when we heard the gym door opened. I snapped my head towards it to see no other than Damien.

Of course as usual he had his hoodie up again.

I watched him as I was doing my sit up, he is walking to the benches as sat on them while watching me which made me feel uncomfortable knowing someone is watching me.

"Why is he here?" I thought to myself before continuing to do my exercise.

After a few minutes, our coach blew his whistle and shouted "Water breaks girls 2 minutes"

I ran to my bag and took my water and Gatorade out of it and started chugging down because I've been thirsty since the start.

I glanced to the benches to see Damien is still there.

I stood up surprised and gaped my mouth open. I walked up to him. As I was near him I started to glare at him.

"Damien I thought I told you not to follow me!" I hissed

"I couldn't leave you alone and I really need your help..."

I frowned at first but when I heard him wince I took a closer look at him. He looked even paler than before and his forehead is dripping in sweat. I frowned then my eyes landed down to see his sweater was pooling with blood as he held onto his side.

"Damien, what happened?" I asked but his eyes were shut as he tried to keep his pain to himself.

I waited for a few seconds for him to answer but he never did I started shaking him and he wasn't moving anymore...