"I don't think you've read the school rules" Mrs Jones started as Ashely stopped midway into the office.
Ashely kept mute.
"Fighting is against the school rules and you can get severely punished for it. I just decided to let it go today, but I may not be able to do that next time. It will be more that detention" She continued and Ashley listened attentively to her.
"And I didn't expect you to get into a fight with Alex" She said.
"He tore my mathematics note" Ashely said in a protesting tone.
"Then you should have reported him instead" She said and Ashley became pissed.
"And then you'll give him detention and that'll be all" She said almost rudely.
Mrs Jones drew in a deep breath.
"You know what, I hate school rules so I don't follow them. I do what I think is right. I don't care if I get punished" She sassed and stromed out of the office.
Angry, she had totally forgotten that Henry was waiting for her.
"Hey" Henry called running after her. She stopped and turned back. Realization hit her in an instant.
"I'm sorry. I'm just a little bit pissed" She apologized feeling guilty that she left him.
"It's okay" He said.
"Gosh! She said I should have reported him instead of fighting him like how does that make sense? It's just so annoying........... " She ranted and Henry bursted into laughter.
"What's funny?" She pouted.
"You look cute when you're angry" He winked at her. She held her breath. Did he just say she looked cute?
She was turning red, her cheeks were heating up. Her stomach twisted in excitement. She just couldn't control it.
"Huh.... Why is your face turning red?" Henry teased knowingly. She quickly cupped her face in her hands.
"We're gonna be late for the next class" She said and increased her pace. She heard him chuckle softly.
"Hey, wait up" He called running after her. She broke into a run and raced all the way to the class.
Henry could not stop laughing. He stopped to catch his breath.
"She's amazing" He thought and a smile curled on his lips.
***
As Ashley settled down on her seat, she started to wonder why Monica wasn't given detention. It had skipped her mind totally.
She remembered vividly that Monica didn't do her mathematics assignment. Did she perhaps copy Annabelle's note while she was gone?
"Anna" Ashley called, gesturing her to come over. As usual, Annabelle was full of smiles, but she was a bit cautious because Alex was seated.
She didn't want another fight to break out after what happened.
Getting to Ashley's seat, she leaned on her table.
"Did you give Monica your assignment?" Ashley asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Hmm... Yes.... I had no choice" Annabelle answered like it was nothing.
Anger flickered in Ashley's eyes. Bullying was one of the things she hated most.
"Forget it, it's okay" Annabelle added.
Before Annabelle could stop her, she had jerked to her feet. She took angry steps towards Monica, who didn't even notice she was coming for her until a hot slap landed on her cheek.
Shocked, Monica caressed her red cheek that now stung in pain.
Without thinking twice, Claire slapped her back. Ashely shut her eyes tightly. Her anger was at the peak.
"Do you have a death wish!" Ashely screamed, breathing hard.
"Shut that thing you call mouth!" Claire fired.
"You walk up here, slap my friend for no reason and you expect me to just sit back watch huh?" She added.
"For no reason? Your friend forcefully copied MY FRIEND'S assignment. Do you also expect me to sit back and do nothing?" Ashley fumed.
"Ashely calm down" Henry, who had already stood up from his seat said, placing his hand on Ashely's shoulders.
His voice calmed her down and her body shuddered a little as his hand touched her shoulders.
Suddenly, Alex stood up and punched Henry. He was angry, but he didn't know exactly why. Maybe it was because of his girlfriend, or maybe because Henry was supporting Ashley, or maybe it was because of the rift between them.
Ashely let out a loud gasp.
Getting up to his feet, Henry punched Alex in the stomach.
"Stop it!" Claire tried to separate them, but she was shoved aside. Ashely tried to stop them to no avail.
It was complete pandemonium and Ashely feared that they would get hurt. Henry punched Alex in the face and blood oozed out from his nose.
Ashley screamed so loud, they all stopped for a moment. She hated the sight of blood. It makes her heart quiver and her body tremble.
In a flash, she quickly used her handkerchief to wipe the blood already rolling down towards his mouth off.
Alex was suprised, at the same time touched by her sudden reaction. Did she care? Why did she do it? All these questions ran through his mind, but then his mind drifted back to the fight and Shoving Ashely aside, he punched Henry in the mouth.
The side of his lips bled and Ashley shut her eyes tightly.
"Fighting is against the school rules" A stern voice said and they all froze. They knew who the voice belonged to.
It was none other than their biology teacher, Mr Oliver.
Everyone scrambled to their seats. Ashley's legs wobbled as she stood up while Alex and Henry kept glaring at each other.
"Both of you" He said, referring to Alex and Henry.
"Jog round the field thirty times and after school, you're gonna wash the toilets on the first floor" He stated the punishment.
"Off you go" He commanded and they jogged out of the class.
For the first time, Ashely felt bad about fighting. She ought to be the one punished not Henry.
"Why did that asshole have to interfere? He just made everything worse" She thought.
She wondered if they were fine because they were both hurt.
***
Silence engulfed the air as they both jogged round the field. Soon, balls of sweats began to gather on their foreheads and their legs started to hurt.
Out of breath, they decided to stop for a while since Mr Oliver was in class teaching, he wouldn't notice.
They laid on the grass beside each other, their eyes fixed on the sky.
"Do you feel better huh?" Henry asked, but Alex didn't reply. Tears glistened in his eyes. He was angry, angry at himself.
He stood up suddenly and began to jog, then he broke into a run. Henry watched him and a part of him felt guilty.
Still running round the field, tears rolled down his cheeks. He tripped and fell on the floor. Henry rushed to help him up, but Alex's mind somewhere else.
The memory of a girl sitting all alone in the school premises flashed through his head. He clenched his fist so much, he started punching the concrete floor until blood slowly seeped out from his bruised hand.
Still not satisfied, he made to punch the floor again but Henry stopped him.
"That's okay now" Henry said in a soft voice.
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Ashley let out a long sigh. At times, she would place her head on the table, or rest her chin in her hands while her elbow rested on the table.She felt so guilty about the fight, she was so restless. She ought to be the one out there with Claire, not Henry and Alex, but Alex had to interfere to protect his girlfriend maybe.She couldn't even concentrate on the lesson."We'll continue from here in the next class" Mr Oliver concluded the lesson and Ashley could not help but heave a sigh of relief."They ought to be done with their punishment, why aren't they back yet?" She contemplated, closing her book. She had only scribbled down some words in it because she wasn't concentrating.Claire wasn't happy about the whole thing either, all in her mind was that everything happened because of Ashley and that made her more furious.As soon as Mr Oliver stepped out of
Ashley flipped the novel in her hand to the next page. Frustrated, she slammed it on her table and rubbed her temples."That pervert" Her inner mind fumed. She just couldn't understand why all the students respected him, even Claire.She couldn't believe Claire spoke politely to Charles.She glanced at her wristwatch. "They should be back already" She thought, peering out of the window to see if they were coming already."Hey" Annabelle gave her a friendly punch on her shoulder.Standing directly in front of Ashley's table, she asked, "How do you know Henry?". Her eyes were filled with curiousity.Annabelle had been in the same class with Henry since they were in junior high school, but they've never spoken to each other before and so, she was kinda suprised when Ashley waved at him in the morning."Hmm…….We just met" Ashely made her re
Charles slapped Henry so hard on his cheek. The sound of the slap brought Ashley back to reality."How dare you talk to me like that?" Charles bellowed. Ashely clenched her fist hard. Her head was muddled up, but that didn't stop her from doing nothing."Do you have a death wish!" She pushed Charles angrily, but before she could take another step, Alex punched his face with his bandaged hand."Oh no!" Her inner mind exclaimed.Furious, Charles wanted to hit him, but Ashely stepped in between."Aren't you ashamed of yourself huh?!" She yelled."Get away now, I don't want to hurt you" He fumed."That's enough Charles" A voice said from behind and he turned."You don't wanna get into a fight do you?" He added. With clenched jaws, Charles stormed out of the cafeteria.
Alex was shocked. He didn't expect that she would not catch the ball. Now that her body was trembling a little, he was greatly worried."You were supposed to catch the ball" Alex said, squating in front of her and using his handkerchief to wipe off the blood.Strangely, her trembling body became calm at his touch."I never knew you would throw it back" She said in an annoyed tone."Says a dumbass who throws a ball and doesn't prepare to catch" he said sarcastically, making her more pissed.She pushed him angrily, but he tugged at her arms so they fell to the floor together, her whole body resting on his.A gasp escaped her lips. She could feel his heart beating fast, her heart was beating fast as well.Again, her eyes bored into his and she could not help but look deep into his eyes like she was trying to get answers from th
"This is so disgusting" Henry complained as he mopped the floor. Alex had been quiet all along.Henry felt uncomfortable about the silence and so, he stopped mopping and turned to Alex.Gazing at him, he battled with his thoughts. What exactly was he going to say to him? He had been such a jerk for not believing Alex, but he wasn't ready to apologize either because it was not entirely his fault and he still didn't believe that Alex had nothing to do with it."I hate people staring" said Alex in a cold voice. He had stopped mopping and he stood, supporting himself with the mop stick."Look, I know I've been a jerk. I'm sorry okay. Can't we just go back to the way we were? I'm tired of this enimity" said Henry in one breath. His heart beat increased as he waited anxiously for Alex to say something."That is so easy for to say right? I'm not interested in anything you have
"It's a long story" Annabelle said."Then cute it short" Ashley cut in impatiently.Annabelle gestured Ashley to come closer."They fought because of a girl. She disappeared and Henry blamed Alex for it" She whispered in Ashley's ear."What? Because of a girl? She disappeared?" Ashley exclaimed loudly."Shhh" Annabelle placed a finger on her lips.Now, Ashley wanted to ask her so many questions, but she was back to reading her book.Somehow, Ashley felt bad for both Henry and Alex. It was kind of pathetic. Lying on her bed, she grabbed her pillow and squeezed it.Her curiosity was eating her up. She wanted to know exactly what happened. She was tempted to ask Claire or Monica about it, but she cautioned herself.With the corners of her eyes, Annabelle watched Ashley toss restlessl
The rays of the bright morning sun seeped through the window, lighting up the room in a somewhat golden color.It was Friday. After taking her bath, Ashley put a pink track suit and a black baseball boot.There was a soft knock on the door. Standing close to the door, Ashley flung it open and a young lady strolled in with their breakfast."Breakfast is here" She called everyone's attention in a cheerful manner.The scent of freshly made toast and hot Coffee filled the air. The girls ate breakfast silently.Ashley's life at Lac international school had been kinda peaceful for the past few days except that Charles wouldn't stop getting on her nerves.She had gotten somewhat closer with Henry and Annabelle and Alex still acted like a jerk. Claire had been so moody, sometimes, Ashley couldn't help but think that she was on her period.But there was something bothering Ashley. Something she couldn't point out
She looked weird. She looked really weird to Ashley."Hi" The girl waved, a sweet smile curled on her lips.Hesitating a bit, Ashley waved back at her. She had never seen this girl before since she got to Lac international school."You seem lost. Are you going to the field?" Asked the girl in a sweet manner and Ashley couldn't help but think that her voice sounded angelic. She nodded her head in affirmation."You're on the wrong path. The field is this way" the girl gestured to the right."Oh" Ashley mouthed. She had indeed taken a wrong turn. As Ashley made to leave, The girl's voice stopped her."I'm heading to the field too, I can lead you there" the girl offered. Ashley looked at her with doubts in her eyes."Alright. Lead the way" Ashley said reluctantly.As they walked, Ashley felt more and more uncomfortable."I'm Elizabeth" The girl broke the silence between them.&n