Chapter 7: CHAPTER 6

"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent."- Eleanor Roosevelt.

Ashley's POV

After yesterday's incident, I've dreaded seeing Grayson today. I mean If I see him, what am I going to do?

Hide?!!

Well ...that sounds like a plan. No no no....that's so ugh!!.

Act normal?

Act normal. Normal!!.... I can do that. Can I ?... Of course. Wish me luck.

I sit in the front of Dylan's car instead of the back.

"Someone's in a good mood today," Dylan mutters smiling but I look out of the window ignoring him completely.

I fidget in my seat a little wondering what the day will be like. I take in several shaky breaths. When we get to the school gates I puff out air to calm my racing heart.

"You don't seem okay....you're okay?" Dylan asks as he parks the car.

"I'm fine," I state.

"No, you're not...that I know. Let's get to class anyway."

"I have to go to my locker first, meet you in class." I wave him off.

"See you in class then," he says and leaves me to myself.

I rush to my locker with the idea of hurrying up and rushing for class in hopes of not meeting Grayson, although I perfectly know I'll see him in class. I put in my locker combination and take out the books I need. I shut my locker and immediately I turn around I'm faced with the sight of Grayson by his locker.

How come I never noticed that his locker was this close to mine?

There he was with the same brunette from yesterday by his side. They were talking heartily, all smiles. The shutting of the locker broke my gaze as I realized I needed to get moving before he noticed me.

I walked hastily as I brushed past both of them.

I enter maths class and guess what? Cam was already seated.

"Holly Molly." I gasp taking my seat beside her.

Her attention shifts to me at the sound of my voice.

"Good morning to you too." she smiles.

"You're early today," I state the obvious and she rolls her eyes flipping her silky brown hair.

"And when was I never early?" she comments.

"Cam, you're never this early. Most times you follow just after  the teacher enters." I raise my brows.

"Well..." she trails smiling.

"Well????...." I probe.

"That's changed." She adds

"Who's idea?" I ask. It's definitely not her idea. Cam isn't one to change overnight.

"How did you know?" she asks amused.

"We've been friends since forever, why wouldn't I know?"

"It's my parents." she frowns.

"What did they say?"

"They told me this was my final year and that I had to make improvements in my grades. How I should be getting A's instead of B's and C's."

"Wow....that's huge."

"Yeah...they've got me this list of Do's and Don't that I have to abide by else I'm getting grounded if I ever disregard anything on that list. And one of the  do is to come to school early."

"Well...it's for your own good." I try to sympathize with her.

She rolls her eyes. "That's what my mum says but whatever."

"Good morning class." Mr. Parker's voice booms.

—— ——

Math class was interesting so were the other classes. It's lunchtime, and Cam and I are in the queue for our food.

After what feels like forever it finally gets to our turn.

After being served I look around to find almost every seat in the cafeteria taken and almost every table full except just a few ones.

"It's crowded in here," Cam says from behind.

"Yeah....let's find a table first, later we can talk about how this place is crowded," I say scanning the entire place again looking for a suitable table.

"There" Cam points cutting short my search.

"Where?" I turn in the direction of her hand. There it was, a suitable table. Just perfect!

We both make our way over to the table. We were almost close to the table when a set of people took their seats at the table.

"Really?" Cam grunts clearly pissed.

In my annoyed state, I take a close look at the faces that beat us to the table, and my, It's the person I've been meaning to ignore today, Grayson. It's not just him, his closest friends Pierson and Cole are also there with him, Of course !!.

My eyes roam the room in search of another table and it lands on a table not too far from them.

"See...." I point.

"Go go go," Camilla says dragging me to the table.

"Hugh !! finally." Cam sighs as we take our seats.

"Yeah... finally." I agree.

We set our trays on the table.

"The food is sumptuous" I state.

" Mmmm..." Cam moans shoving her food into her mouth.

I was about to shove some food into my mouth when Cam nudged me in the shoulder.

"Why are you nudging me?" I ask raising my brows at her.

"See..." she says eyes hinting in a particular direction. I turn my head in that direction only to see a set of blue orbs staring at me, intently if I may add. I turn my head away immediately and swiftly.

"Ash, he's definitely in..."

"Stop!! Cam don't finish that sentence....don't you dare."

"But he.." she starts but I shut her up with a glare.

"Okay, fine. " she chuckles raising her hands in mock surrender.

"He's still looking at you know."Cam persists.

"Well...let him," I say releasing a shaky breath.

Why is he staring at me?

I continue with my food and so does she.

"Done," Cam mutters.

"Same here," I reply putting the tray away.

We get up and head for class.... different classes though. I had an Art class while she had another class.

"Have fun painting or drawing or whatever you do in that class" Cam waves at me.

"Well... have fun too, you know."

"No, I don't know. And there's no way I'm having fun. Gosh, I feel like skipping.....should I skip class and go ice cream shopping? That sounds like a plan you know." She huffs.

"Nu-uh, the principal is definitely going to call your parents informing them of how you left school without any notice," I say.

"I wish what you just said wasn't true, but it is. I don't want my parents breathing down my neck like they don't already. I guess I have to stay then, I mean school is almost over."

"Yeah." I agree

"See you after school then."

"See you," I say before leaving for art class.

__ __ __ __

"Good day, class." Mr. Highty greets and the class responds.

"Today's art class is going to be a tad different. It's going to be more of two heads coming together kinda thing." He says picking a marker from the table in front of him, he turns to face the board as he scribbles Unity on it. "I'm going pair you up and what you'll do is work hand in hand to produce a beautiful piece."

Thomas Bummer .... Eliana Wilson

Ashley Canton ..... Cole Kensington

While he kept pairing up my mind was no longer in the class but in la la Land till I felt a masculine cologne hit my nose, the sign of a new presence. That kind face and honestly speaking  I'm impressed by his beauty. Well-defined jaw, long lashes, pink lips, and dirty-blonde hair. He's handsome, I'll give him that. Masculine-wise he has broad shoulders, is pretty tall although a little weighty, and oh he's popular, no wonder most girls keep falling for him and it's not like he's taken interest in any of them... sad. He's the closed-up reserved type of guy and I'm seriously wondering how we're going to do this together.

So help me God

It's been two hours and mind you, was this particular lesson interesting, it was. Working with Cole was a little challenging from scratch but then with time everything went on smoothly and we were able to work together to produce a beautiful piece. Whenever I asked a question he utters a few words and as much as I wanted to make little conversation he would shut me up by not replying.

Anyway, there's always a reason for our actions, right?

******

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