I can't remember if I met a stupider person in my life. Who offers their principals chocolate to bribe them? Especially the ones who look like they go through loads of shits to maintain that figure?
I close my eyes and wait for the worst to come. Any second now.
But nothing happens.
After a long pause, I hear Principal Samantha say, "I'll take the Milkyway."
I hear a shuffling noise and peek an eye open. My jaw falls on the floor at the sight in front of me.
Ashton runs his hand through his pocket and takes a Milkyway out. He offers it to the Principal and she takes it from him.
Then she gives both of us a stern look. "This better stay between us."
She walks past me in her office.
Ashton also turns around. "What?" He asks.
"Don't 'what?' me!" I hiss and drag him with me away from the Principal's hearing range. "What just happened there? I thought she hated sweets. She even banned cupcakes and other sweets from our lunch menu."
Ashton pockets his hands. "I have no idea where you heard that from, but from what I know, that banning action was taken because this school was running low in the budget because of the renovation two years ago."
I furrow my brows. "Who told you that?"
"Cora, her dad is in the guidance council, remember?" He says. "You probably heard the bunch of rumors some sadist spread around the school."
I look at him with a shocked expression. "But-but she just told us to keep-"
"Ah that," Ashton grins. "You see, you might not know from the anti-socialist you are, but Samatha has a channel on YouTube called Heath Beauty, she talks loads shits about maintaining body diets and staying healthy there. So it might hurt her reputation if people start to know she's a forever chocolate-holic."
"Really?"
"Yes, and the source is also verified."
'What a gossip girl.'
"First I don't see anything 'girl' here," Ashton gestures to his body. "And I don't gossip. These are facts."
Was I loud?
"These are bullshits," I murmur. "Anyway, then why did she take that Milkyway from you? And did you actually call her by her first name? Are you freaking nuts?"
Ashton grins again. "Thanks for asking. This reminds me of one of those sweet memories when I sneaked into her office to pull a prank and instead found her treasure hidden."
I gasp. "Oh no, you didn't."
Ashton shakes his head. "Oh yes, I did. I caught her red-handed. We talked around it and came to an agreement."
"And the agreement was you will keep your mouth shut if she lets you call her by her first name?"
"You really think too highly of me," Ashton shakes his head with an amused look plastered on his face. "Unfortunately, it's not."
"Then what was it?"
"Sorry, it's only between her and me only," he tells me. "Anyway, I still had the bet to prank her. So then I started flirting with her daughter to get on her nerves."
I remember that one. It was at the end of last year. Everyone in the town used to talk about it. I wrote several columns on it too.
As if reading my mind, Ashton says, "I read your columns too, they were pretty good. Especially for the prank and my reputation," he continues. "By the way, it was true. I was about to ask her hand in marriage. Though it was all part of the prank. That lady was so hard to crack."
I don't know what's more astonishing. The fact he read my column or that he had the nerve to go that down.
I shake my head and promise myself never to get on his best or worst interest.
Then again, I am there already. And currently suffering its consequences.
Kiara, the girl who was brave enough to stand against the Populars or whatever.
I shake my head and we go inside the library once I finish eating my Snickers. Ms. Julian was sitting by the desk.
Ms. Julian isn't the type of person whom you can call chatty. She's usually very reserved and straight to the point. She won't even listen to you unless you catch her attention with lesser words.
She looks up from the screen when she hears us. "Students aren't allowed in the library on weekends."
"We know but-"
"We have passed from Mrs. Roth," Ashton cuts in. I send him a deadly glare. "I was getting there," I hiss.
But Ashton ignores me as he keeps his eyes on Ms. Julian. "We have to talk to you about something."
"And what can it be, Mr. Fellan?" She looks from the corner of her glasses. Then we tell her all that she needs to know.
"I see," she says once we finish telling her everything. "But I'm afraid I can't help you."
I panic and glance at Ashton. But he looks as cool as a cucumber.
"We have Mrs. Roth's permission."
"That won't work. But I can give it to you if you manage the Principal's permission," Ms. Julian says.
Ashton gets up from his chair. "If that's what you want."
Five minutes later, Ashton comes back with a written pass from the Principal.
"Now let us see the footage," he says.
"We don't have one," she shrugs.
"What?"
"Don't raise your voice in the library," Ms. Julian hisses, though it's only us and the school ghosts here. "Security cameras are against our school code. We have only one in front of the Principal's office"
"No wonder she gave the pass so easily," Ashton mutters.
"But do you at least have the list of students who used your computers this semester?" I ask her. "Or that invades students' privacy too?"
She gives me another stinky eye. "Yes I have, but I can't allow students to have it."
"But we have two passes here," I say.
"In that case," Ms. Julian continues. "I can mail the list to Mrs. Roth."
"Can you do that like right now, please?" Ashton pleads which satisfies her.
She also let us check the computer room after persuading her for another five minutes.
"I wonder how they used it during weekends," Ashton wonders as we enter the room.
"Breakthrough the window." I snort.
Ashton looks at me with a wide eye.
"What? I was just joking."
"You're a genius, Snow!" He lightly kisses my cheek and dashes to check the windows.
I, on the other hand, stand frozen to the spot.
Relax, it was just a friendly gesture.
Yeah, right, Miles kisses my cheeks all the time, I shake my head and follow Ashton.
He's standing in the farthest corner of the room. He turns around when he hears me and gives me a cheeky smile.
I step closer before finally seeing it. An open window.
"Someone leaves the window open for them," Ashton says.
"Fridays are always a rush, maybe the volunteers missed it."
"Or maybe one of the volunteers is working for them."
I look at Ashton. He looks confident saying it. I wonder what grudge they can have against Ashton or any of the popular students. Usually, those library volunteers are peace-loving people.
But when we ask Ms. Julian for the list of the volunteers of the last few weeks, she tells us she doesn't keep a record of them. We go back to our committee room and tell everyone about it. Mrs. Roth tells us that she will check the list at home. She's also taking the papers with her and said that she'll hand those papers to Mrs. Glenda herself.
In the meantime, Spencer and Nyako managed to fix the security of our Facebook page and change the password.
"The only three devices that can log in are Luca, Tristan, and Mrs. Roth's phone," Ellie explains to us.
The boys volunteer to carry the stack of papers to Mrs. Roth's car.
"I'll talk with Samantha about it too," Mrs. Roth tells us before leaving. She's on a first-name basis with the Principal because they were childhood friends. "We'll see what we can do. You kids just relax and enjoy the weekend, okay?"
"Yes, I'm going to a party tonight," Cora finally says something willingly. Nobody, literally nobody, asked.
And here I thought she was still grounded.
Mrs. Roth smiles at her. "Hope you'll enjoy yourself."
"I will," Cora says determinedly.
A small redhead comes in right after Mrs. Roth leaves. Her hair is hiding most of her face. She doesn't look familiar so my best guess she's a freshman.
"Is this the press committee?" The girl asks hesitantly.
"Yes, how can we help you?" Payton approaches her with a smiling face.
That relaxes her. "Hi, I'm Bonnie River," she says. "I would like to join your committee."
"Uh, actually we're currently not looking for new members," Luca says.
Payton hits her boyfriend and turns back to the girl with a smile on her face. "Hi Bonnie, I'm Payton. Nice to meet you."
The girl shakes her hand.
"You know I think we can use more hands. And with most of us graduating this year, Promy and Tristan will need more people, right?" Payton suggests.
"Yes, in fact, we might advertise for more people after this fiasco is over," Promy says. Payton welcomes the girl in and shows her around.
The fact this girl wants to join our committee with the fiasco ongoing makes me doubt deep inside.
But like always, I ignore my feelings and keep my mouth shut.
"Are you leaving now?" Ashton asks me. I nod and we head for the door.
"Coming to the party tonight?" Cora asks Ashton.
Ashton moves his eyes from her to me and back and forth. Then he flashes her a smile. "Next time."
"What happened to you, Fellan?" Asher claps his arms around Ashton. "You hardly go to parties these days."
"Fuck off." Ashton smacks his arms away. Asher pulls back grinning.
"Yeah, the last went was Micheal's party," Cora mumbles loudly. "And that was weeks ago."
Wait, Ashton, the party king, doesn't party anymore?
Is that even English?
I look at Ashton but he avoids my gaze and drags a hand through his hair. "You know the senior year is a bitch."
Nyako's snort cuts in the room. "Yeah try to sell that to my grandma."
He holds Ashton's gaze. Ashton does the same. I watch as the two boys telepathies to each other.
The whole room watches them silently until Nyako nods and looks away.
Ashton turns back to us audiences and grins. "Next time I promise." He throws them a mocking salute and tells me and Miles to follow him.
Cora rolls her eyes as Asher grins ear to ear. Something doesn't feel right about Miles' expression too.
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