interest in having a conversation with you. Yes, I’m off the squad, but I plan on becoming a cheerleader again. It’s going to take some time, but I’ll get back in. In the meantime, I can’t be seen associating with someone like you. It’s bad for my reputation, whatever’s left of it.”
It was hard to believe how little Ash had learned from what had happened to her. She was always going to be self-absorbed. I was kidding myself when I’d come over here wanting to connect with her in some way. I’d been mistaken when I thought the old Ash was still in there. There was nothing of my Ashy left. She was a different person.
“Right, because I’m a freak, you can’t be seen talking to me,” I said with a roll of my eyes. “You are so small-minded.”
“I am not small-minded.” Ash’s nostrils flared with anger. “I just have eyes, something you clearly lack. Go and look in the mirror before you go ahead and judge me. You have greasy black hair, dress like you’re at a funeral, and I’m pretty sure you wear more make up than I do.”
“Your friends dumped you, yet you still think you’re going to get in with them again by acting like a bitch. Darlin’, you ain’t got nothing. No friends, no one who likes you, absolutely nothing.”
“That’s just temporary,” Ash said with a scowl. “Look, if you came here to rub it in my face then I have no time for you.”
“You have no time for me anyway,” I said. “Remember, you can’t be seen with me? Maybe I’ll suck your blood.”
Ash narrowed her eyes. “You’re right; I really don’t have time to waste on the likes of you.”
She went to shut the door, but I stopped the door with a hand. I always came out looking like such a God damn jerk every time we spoke. Just because she was a total snob didn’t mean I wanted to treat her the same way. Otherwise we were both just as bad as each other.
“Look, the reason I came here was because I wanted to see how you were. I wanted to make sure everything was alright with you. I didn’t come here to gloat, as fun as that would be.”
We stood there for a moment staring at each other. Ash’s eyes were wide with confusion, like she didn’t know how to react to what I’d said.
Her bottom lip quivered and she heaved a deep sigh. “Good bye, Luca,” she said softly, and shut the door in my face.
Chapter Thirteen
Ashton
School the next day was worse than the day before.
Most of the people who normally spoke to me avoided me like there was a bad smell hanging around me. The rest would whisper to each other when I walked past. That was the worst part about this whole thing: the fact that people were talking about me and they weren’t saying good things. My reputation was worse than it’d been before.
When lunch came around, I avoided the cafeteria and the courtyard and headed straight for the library. I was starting to feel like a major nerd. This was the second day in a row that I’d spent in the library and things weren’t looking up.
At least, in the library, the students didn’t talk in hushed voices about me. They stared at me, but it was more of a ‘what the heck is Ashton Summers doing in the library?’ kind of look.
Heading towards a deserted corner, I sat on the floor between two bookcases that towered above me. I felt safe sitting here, like no one could hurt me with their whispers and stares. I pulled my knees up and rested my head on them, trying to shut out the faint sounds around me.
I would stay in here until lunch ended and then head to my last class for the day, America History. After that, I had detention again.
I had to gather up the courage to walk into that History class, because it was the only one that I had with Kance. I was pretty sure she wouldn’t let me sit with her, but I was going to try anyway. Maybe if I persisted, she would eventually cave and start talking to me again.
“Oh, hey! I didn’t see you there.”
Glancing up, I saw a girl
It was hard to believe how little Ash had learned from what had happened to her. She was always going to be self-absorbed. I was kidding myself when I’d come over here wanting to connect with her in some way. I’d been mistaken when I thought the old Ash was still in there. There was nothing of my Ashy left. She was a different person.
“Right, because I’m a freak, you can’t be seen talking to me,” I said with a roll of my eyes. “You are so small-minded.”
“I am not small-minded.” Ash’s nostrils flared with anger. “I just have eyes, something you clearly lack. Go and look in the mirror before you go ahead and judge me. You have greasy black hair, dress like you’re at a funeral, and I’m pretty sure you wear more make up than I do.”
“Your friends dumped you, yet you still think you’re going to get in with them again by acting like a bitch. Darlin’, you ain’t got nothing. No friends, no one who likes you, absolutely nothing.”
“That’s just temporary,” Ash said with a scowl. “Look, if you came here to rub it in my face then I have no time for you.”
“You have no time for me anyway,” I said. “Remember, you can’t be seen with me? Maybe I’ll suck your blood.”
Ash narrowed her eyes. “You’re right; I really don’t have time to waste on the likes of you.”
She went to shut the door, but I stopped the door with a hand. I always came out looking like such a God damn jerk every time we spoke. Just because she was a total snob didn’t mean I wanted to treat her the same way. Otherwise we were both just as bad as each other.
“Look, the reason I came here was because I wanted to see how you were. I wanted to make sure everything was alright with you. I didn’t come here to gloat, as fun as that would be.”
We stood there for a moment staring at each other. Ash’s eyes were wide with confusion, like she didn’t know how to react to what I’d said.
Her bottom lip quivered and she heaved a deep sigh. “Good bye, Luca,” she said softly, and shut the door in my face.
Chapter Thirteen
Ashton
School the next day was worse than the day before.
Most of the people who normally spoke to me avoided me like there was a bad smell hanging around me. The rest would whisper to each other when I walked past. That was the worst part about this whole thing: the fact that people were talking about me and they weren’t saying good things. My reputation was worse than it’d been before.
When lunch came around, I avoided the cafeteria and the courtyard and headed straight for the library. I was starting to feel like a major nerd. This was the second day in a row that I’d spent in the library and things weren’t looking up.
At least, in the library, the students didn’t talk in hushed voices about me. They stared at me, but it was more of a ‘what the heck is Ashton Summers doing in the library?’ kind of look.
Heading towards a deserted corner, I sat on the floor between two bookcases that towered above me. I felt safe sitting here, like no one could hurt me with their whispers and stares. I pulled my knees up and rested my head on them, trying to shut out the faint sounds around me.
I would stay in here until lunch ended and then head to my last class for the day, America History. After that, I had detention again.
I had to gather up the courage to walk into that History class, because it was the only one that I had with Kance. I was pretty sure she wouldn’t let me sit with her, but I was going to try anyway. Maybe if I persisted, she would eventually cave and start talking to me again.
“Oh, hey! I didn’t see you there.”
Glancing up, I saw a girl
Similar Books
