Chapter 17

After getting coffee with Noah before school, I had a hard time staying focused in all my classes. I tried not to read too much into what he asked but failed miserably. Chloe wasn't helping matters either; with her, he likes you, and you've got a boyfriend statement every five minutes.

Not to mention, I wanted to find out what was going on with Ashton and Claudia. He couldn't be back together with her. He needed his ass kicked if he did take her back. There was too much drama around me, and it felt like I was drowning in it. He even sat with her and her bitchy friends at lunch. I couldn't even look over their way, fearing I'd lose my lunch all over the table. Needless to say, I wasn't the only one confused with their situation. Olivia could've killed someone with the knives she shot out of her eyes as she glared at Ashton. I didn't care because it got her off my back for now. Let Ashton deal with her since he decided to return to Devil Woman.

Finally, the last bell of the day rang, and it was time to go home. I didn't know why I was eager to go home, either. Ashton would probably show up at his house with Claudia. I shivered at the thought as I gathered up my stuff. I grabbed my phone and swiped it on as I headed out of class, hoping videos would clear the image of Ashton and Claudia out of my mind.

"Hey, Gemma!" Noah hollered, running up behind me. "Wait!"

I stopped, shut my phone off, and put it in my book bag. I turned and saw Noah talking to one of his friends. He turned and smiled, raising his finger and telling me to wait a minute. Chloe was right about one thing: Noah was hot as hell. Even his friend was good-looking too. His friend had blonde hair, short on the sides, a little longer on top that swept to the left side. He must have been on the football team with Noah and Ashton because his arms were defined. I was trying not to stare, so I got my phone back out before I got in trouble.

"Sorry about that. Ethan stopped me as I was headed to you," Noah said, walking up. "I hope I'm not making you late getting home."

"No."

"What are you doing this weekend, Gemma?" He started walking.

"Nothing."

"Would you like to go out with me Saturday night?" Noah smiled.

"Yes."

"Great. I'll pick you up at six." He opened the school's front door for me, letting me walk outside first. I squinted, walking down the school steps, searching my purse for sunglasses, and realizing I left them in my car. "Great," I mumbled in disgust, knowing I'd have to walk across the parking lot squinting the whole way.

"I need to get going, so I'll text you later."

"Sure." I tilted my head to the side, trying to keep the sun out of my eyes. I tried watching him walk away, but the sun made that difficult. I turned and walked to my car, praying my sunglasses were in the console. While I unlocked my car, I peeked through the window to find my tinted rimless sunglasses in the console. At least I wasn't going to be blinded while driving home. I sighed, rolling my eyes at the thought of going home, risking the chance of seeing Ashton with Claudia while I closed the curtain to my room.

I pulled into my driveway, and sure enough, Ashton's car sat alone in his driveway. I stared out my window at his car, wondering if I could just sit here until he took her home. I grabbed my purse and book bag and opened my driver's side door.

"Hey, Gem. You're home late." Ashton said, walking out his front door.

I got out, waiting for Claudia, Devil's girlfriend, to come strolling out the front door. I closed the door, bracing myself for her bitchy self to waltz out the door, but nothing was happening. I glanced up at the sky, looking around, waiting for lightning to strike me or something so I wouldn't have to deal with her.

"Gem, what the hell are you doing?"

"Waiting for something to happen to me so I don't have to deal with Claudia."

"You're just so funny. But she's not here."

"Wow...You two break up already?" I looked down at my smartwatch.

"Full of jokes today, are we?" Ashton raised an eyebrow, frowning.

"No...Just being honest." I smiled. "Didn't you learn your lesson the first time?" I started walking toward the steps to my house, glancing back at Austin.

"We aren't together!"

"If you say so...And just so you know, Olivia didn't look too happy at lunch today either. I have a feeling you might be hearing from her soon. Good luck with that. Wow...You really know how to pick them." I laughed, walking up the steps.

"Woah! Wait a minute! You're going to question who I date. You don't have any room to question me. Do I need to remind you about Jude? Now, you're dating the biggest player at Warren High." Ashton followed close behind me up the steps.

"What is it with Noah? Why are you so against me dating him?" I turned around, staring into Ashton's blue eyes. He stood there for a few seconds, not saying a word in response to my question. "Well..."

"I told you why." His brow furrowed as he looked out toward the road.

"Because he's a player. No other reason?" I leaned to the side, trying to look into Ashton's eyes.

"No." He turned to face me. Anger filled his eyes now. "I've got to get going. I'll talk to you later, Gem." He walked down the steps and hit the button on his fab to unlock his car.

I unlocked the front door, went inside to get something to drink, and texted Chloe. A few minutes later, Chloe's face appeared on my phone for a video call. I swiped it to accept the video. "Hey, are you busy?"

"No, why?" She popped a chip in her mouth. "Braedon's going out with his friends tonight."

"Would you like to come over for a little bit?" I asked, sipping my sweet tea. "Mom's not home yet, and I'm here alone again." I rolled my eyes. I set my drink on my nightstand and curled up in bed.

"What's wrong, Gem? The crease between your eyes is giving it away." She ran her finger from her forehead down between her eyes. Don't tell me; I'll get my stuff and be there in about thirty minutes. Do you want me to bring Sarah and Ava with me or not?" She popped another chip in her mouth.

"Sarah will probably be with Ty; you already know about Ava. I don't feel like dealing with Caleb."

"Good point." She gave her small bowl of chips to her younger brother Brad, then walked to her room. She told me she had to let her mom know she was leaving for my house, and Brad was home. She ended the video call, and I was left alone to think about what happened earlier with Ashton. I don't know why he had gotten upset that I was going out with Noah. That was the whole point of his helping me transform myself to find a date for the big dance coming up in less than two months.

"What time is your mom coming home?" Chloe asked, walking through the front door.

I shrugged my shoulders as I turned, walking toward the kitchen. "You hungry?"

"Yeah. So, what's bothering you, Gem?" She asked, following me into the kitchen. "Did Noah do something to you?" She hopped up on the stool at the counter.

"What? No." My brow furrowed. I walked over to the pantry. "Sandwich?"

"Sure. If it's not Noah...Oh..."

"Ham or turkey?" I placed the bread and chips on the counter. "He got mad at me because I'm going out with Noah." I put my hands on the counter, shifting my weight onto my left side, then turned to the right to look out the window. "He said I shouldn't go out with Noah because he's a player. That's when he got mad and left." I turned and walked over to the refrigerator. "Ham or turkey?"

"Oh...Ham. He's the last one to talk about anyone being a player."

"That's what I said." I started making our sandwiches. "He threw Jude in my face." I peeked up at Chloe.

"What? Fuckin jerk." Her eyes narrowed. She scooted her plate closer to her and took a bite of her sandwich. She sat there for a few more minutes, eating her sandwich, not talking. I knew she was plotting Ashton's demise. Her eyes would narrow with each bite as if she were conversing with herself. I just hoped Ashton had enough brains to stay away while Chloe was here because I wasn't going to save him from her this time. In the past,  I'd have to jump in and save him from her snide remarks about being a player and how he was a bad influence on her boyfriend. I guess she didn't like how girls would fall all over themselves whenever Ashton and his friends were around. Braedon moved here a few years ago and became instant friends with Ashton after he and Chloe started dating. She would never admit it, but I think a tiny part of her was afraid Braedon would dump her and go after one of those girls one day.

"Do you think Ashton is right about Noah?" I couldn't take the silence any longer. I pushed my plate with my half-eaten sandwich to the side.

"About Noah? He does have a reputation for dating a lot of girls around school. I think he likes you. Is he playing you? He better not, or I will rip his balls off." She ate the last bite of her sandwich.

Author's Notes:

Wow...Ashton is upset about something. Glad Chloe is protective of Gemma.

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