You must be the change you wish to see in the world - Mahatma Gandhi
Ashley's POV
See me in my office after school ends.
These words have been ringing in my head ever since it was uttered. What could she possibly mean by that? Better still, what does she want to say to us? In fact, why did she just call just Grayson and me, and not the other people?
It's got me thinking throughout the rest of the classes, and now school has finally ended, it's over and my nerves have decided to kick in, fully.
I look at Cam beside me who's busily shoving her books into her bag whilst humming to herself. I watch as she makes sure her books are well secured in her bag and after she lifts her head to meet mine. I pout at her, mirroring a sad expression.
She chuckles slightly before wiggling her brows at me. "Why are you giving me that look?," she asks.
"Teacher's Office, Miss Brooke."
"Oh, that!" She sighs! "You're going to be fine. Who knows? Miss Brooke just wants to give you both extra tips, since you're like main characters and all. Just go listen to what she has to say. I bet it's nothing complicated."
"I hope so, I pray it ends as fast as it can."
"Should I wait for you? I can if you want."
"Oh no, I'll be taking a ride with Lucas, you know he has football practice so I have to wait for him." Ever since the first day that Dylan took Lucas' car, he hasn't done so anymore. He rides with us to schoolâmum would complain if he didn'tâ but he takes Cam's back home. So he always gets home before I do. "You'll be taking Dylan home right?"
"Yeah"
"Drive safely."
"Sure will do, I'll get going then."
"Yeah!" She gets up from her seat and just when she is about to get out of it and head for the door, "Wait!" I say and she halts, "I just remembered, your crush, what's his name?"
"Dante!" She squeals, "he's a musician and he's got a great voice. Oh my!"
And just like that she hugs me quickly, muttering a bye before rushing out, probably going to social-media stalk him. Why do I feel like I kind of reminded her to continue social media stalking her so-called new crush, which I know for a fact she's doing? It's her thing.
Grayson's POV
It's closing time now and Miss Brooke asked usâAshley and Iâ immediately after English period ended to see her right after the bell rang for closing.
Ashley
Why do I sometimes feel like she doesn't seem to like me? Am I just overanalyzing stuff? Or am I not?
When I went to apologize, she actually listened, but then I had to push it, didn't I? Even when she said it was okay. I pushed her away, didn't I?
But I didn't mean to, and when she placed her head on the desk, I don't know but I felt... hurt, I did. And although it was slight, I still felt it. Her action, made me feel like whatever I was saying meant nothing to her, that she had no option but to block me out.
But out of it all, the most important thing, I did what I went there to do, apologize. I didn't mean for our lips to brush against each other. My neck was stiff from being bent for long, I was trying to avoid the cramps that were beginning to crawl up my neck, and that's how it happened.
I felt funny after our lips touched, the feeling I still couldn't place my hand on it. It felt nice, her lips touching mine. The incident has been in my mind ever since the image flashed in my mind from time to time.
At that moment when her lips touched mine, it felt like a dream, surreal. I was in shock for the most part of it. It was only a few seconds, Yes! But it knew how to sizzle me up and I can't count the number of times I've drifted off into space, thinking. Pierson even realized I was not paying attention completely in class, he asked me about it, probing if everything was okay. 'Everything's cool', I reply to him.
Well, Cole just kicked me under the desk for not paying attention.
School's over, and one by one, students patrol out of the class, the size of the available people diminishing by the second.
"Gray! We're taking the lead, heading home first." Cole says to me when he picks up his bag and positions it at his back.
"See you, man," Pierson says, picking up his bag too, he pats my back.
"Okay, see you both later then."
"And we're out," he chuckles, "have fun." He smirks and give me a knowing look before stepping out with Cole.
Who has fun by being called by a teacher?
For all we know, she's about to scold us.
I sink back in my chair and turn my attention to Ashley who is in a busy conversation with Camilla, she has her back pointing toward me.
Minutes pass by and more students leave the class till finally it's Left with Camilla, Ashley, and I. But that quickly changes when Camilla stands, bag at her back, and Ashley mirrors her posture. After that everything happens so fast before my eyes, Camilla lets out a squeal I perceive to be out of excitement, before engulfing Ashley in a quick hug, and with quick yet study steps she leaves the class.
The time's finally here. Now, it's just Ashley and I, only a stone's throw away from each other. Picking up my bag, I slip my hands in them and position it at my back, and with ginger steps, I walk towards her.
When I get to the seat she seems to be in, "Ashley, " I call out.
No response.
"Ashley!" I call out to her again, much louder this time around.
Still no response.
I waved my hands in front of her and that snapped her out of her thoughts. "Mmmh.... yes?" She looks up at me with those chocolate orbs that seem to set me in a daze.
"Miss Brooke!" I remind and she quickly nods her head in understanding.
"Let's get going?" I ask.
"Yeah!" She says and gets up.
She picks up her bag and scurries out of her seat. As I walk towards the door, she trails behind me and when we get to the door, I open it for her. I contemplated though, wondering if that might make her uncomfortable, I had to try only to know the results. Well, she turns to look at me with slightly wide eyes, before muttering a small 'thank you' which I reply back with a faint smile before we step out.
As we walk along the corridors, some students shoot us weird glances as we walk past them. We both ignore the stares, besides, whatever we do is nothing to them.
When we arrived at the Teacher's Office, I beat her once again to open the door, I did it for her. Once we get inside she mutters a 'thank you' to me, this time around with a smile on her lips, one which I return gladly, and maybe a bit enthusiastically.
You can't blame me.
I think I might have a crush on her or maybe I'm just confused.
Confused, maybe.
As we enter, I realize how suddenly her steps begin to decline in its pace. She suddenly begins to clutch her bag tightly as she continuously bites her lower lip. A frown makes its way to my face when I realize this.
She's nervous, my thoughts chime. But it's just Miss Brooke. Is she perhaps scared of her?
At the sight of her nervousness, an urge in me elicits, the urge to calm her down, it becomes so strong that I don't think twice before placing my palm at her back, which immediately becomes rigid as it comes into contact with my palm. Ignoring the tiny voice in my head that's telling me to stop this nonsense, I trace my palms at her back in a circular motion.
In seconds she calms down, a tad. I keep rubbing my palms in circles at her back till we finally get where to Miss Brooke's seat and then I take my hands off her back.
"Madame," I call out to Miss Brooke who was busy reading a file in front of her. At the sound of my voice she raises her head, and once her eyes sets on us, she flashes a smile.
"Oh! You both are here, I nearly forgot all about you. Well..." She looks at her wrist watch "....the reason I asked you to see me has something to do with the play and your roles as main characters." She purses her lip for a second. "To be honest your performances are quite okay, but I would like for you to improve and be better. So, I have a suggestion for both of you."
Suggestion?
"Yes! A Suggestion."
Okay, so I asked that out loud. Right!
I look towards Ashley to see her mirroring the same thinking expression I wore on my face.
"Do you guys want to hear it? Or you'll find a way of improving your acting skills and making it the best?"
"We would like to hear it." Ashley and I say at the same time.
"Well, my suggestion is, I think both of you should spend quality time together, practicing your scenes. You could do it after school on weekdays. For weekends, you can meet up at each other's houses."
Mmmmmh.... does that sound reviving?
"So what do you say?" Miss Brooke looks at us with a hopeful look.
I turn to look at Ashley, and she shrugs.
Clearing my throat, I say "I think, we will talk it through."
"That's a great response. The decision you guys make though, it has to be soon, because you need to start rehearsing as soon as possible."
"Yes, madam."
"Dismiss."
With that we both get out of her office, I look at Ashley who seems to be deep in thought.
Guess I have to do the talking.
"So....." I drag on, "..what do you think?"
She turns to look at me, "Were you saying something?"
"Yeah, I was asking what you thought about what the teacher said."
"Uhm! It's fine with me, I guess."
"You sure?"
"It's not like we have an option, anyway." She chuckles awkwardly.
"Yeah, we'll have to talk about the arrangements. Can we do that now? Or..."
"No!, I think we should do that later. Right now, I'm worn out a bit."
"Oh!"
"Hand me your phone?"
Those eyes.
I almost get lost in them but I quickly recover. "Uh, yeah...." I pick it out of my pocket and unlock it "...here." I hand it over to her.
Her fingers do their work on my phone and as I stand still, watching her, a million thoughts of what she might be doing run through my head.
"Here," she hands me back my phone and I stretch my hands to take it out of her stretched hands.
"My number," she says, "you can text me later."
No matter how hard I fight, a smile still manages to make its way to my lips. "Thanks."
"U-h... Bye." And with that, she leaves.
Wow!
That is all I can say.
How to store her name?
Ashley?
No, too obvious.
What name? What name?
Aha!
'Smile'
I know, creepy right? I just hope she never finds out, I wonder what she's going to think. So, it's final, I'm going to store it as 'Smile'. It's because when I look or think of her, I automatically smile.
I save the contact as 'Smile' with a smiley blushing emoji beside it.
Finally!
******
Heeeeey!!!!
I looove, like literally loooove, like frigging looove, absolutely looove Chinese dramas. I do!.
What of you guys? Tell me something.