Before we say goodbay

★Chapter III★

After returning home, I noticed one strange thing.  Namely, me and Ashley haven't been in touch since the last time I was in school.

It was strange because we talk everyday.  I called her several times but her number was not within range.But I didn't care because I knew I was going to see her back at school anyway.

I got up to school like every day with an alarm clock that I first threw out the window.  I ate, got dressed and went to school.  I almost missed the bus but somehow I caught it.  I got on the bus ,looking around at the seats.  But just as contact with Ashley disappeared, so did she.  Ashley was gone, I was upset and pissed off at the same time, that next terrible day at school would have to be spent alone.

I don't think I mentioned that I don't have any friends from school besides Ashley.  Rather because everybody doesn't like me that much.  People say I have a weird character and I'm lazy. I didn't care about their opinions because my person didn't bother me.  In my opinion, I am a normal person. 

Coming back to Ashley, at first I thought she was sick or overslept and her mother would take her to school by car.  I sat down in any place and the bus headed towards the school.  I looked out of the window while driving to school. I was bored and had nothing else to do.

Our school bus stopped station by station and at a one station I saw that a boy had boarded. I was wondering if I was stupid and I didn't know who I'm going with the bus to school with, or if it was just a new student.  But somehow I wasn't paying much attention to him so I went back to looking out the window.

While looking out the window, I felt lonely but I had to get used to it since Ashley was gone.

The bus broke off and I found myself in school. 

In the 1st lesson, the school principal came with a new student to the class.  It was that guy from the bus. It was loud in the classroom so our headmaster coughed loudly and said in a low voice >>This is your new student in the class, I hope you will welcome him kindly and warmly<<

then he looked at the boy and said in a friendly voice >>And you introduce yourself to your new class in a few words<<

The boy looked at us a little nervous and started to say in a pleasant voice >>Hello, I'm Hugo and I come from Sweden.  I'm 17 years old and just moved here with my parents <<

At this point, an idiot in my class exclaimed loudly >>You speak English quite well for a foreigner <<

The boy blushed slightly and replied in a calm voice >>I can speak English very well. I was learning it when I was still living in Sweden.  In addition, I went to English language competitions, So probably... I won't have a problem to understand you .... I hope you will welcome me kindly  in your  class<<

Everyone started to applause and Hugo blushed slightly. However, our headmaster quickly paused and said as he was leaving our classroom >>Choose your seat.  If you have a problem, you can always come to me or to one of the teachers. And for now, goodbye and have a good day!<<
And so our headmaster disappeared from our class.  The bench next to me was empty because Ashley wasn't at school. 
When Hugo wanted to sit there, I told him in the most friendly voice I could >>Stop!  you can't sit here!this bench belongs to my friend! See! There at the back is also a empty place<<

Hugo looked at me nervous and embarrassed, then he said softly >>Oh...sorry, I'll sit at the back like you said<< After that he sat down on the bench at the back.

Honestly, I felt stupid how I treated Hugo, how was he supposed to know that Ashley was sitting here usually. It bothered me throughout the lessons, and what's more, it was that boy himself, which was bothering me.

I sat in class and couldn't take my eyes off him.  He was tall, fairly slim, with thick black hair, thin silver glasses, and was dressed in casual jeans, sweatshirts, and black converse shoes.  Nothing special, but I couldn't stop looking at him like if I was hypnotized.  He sat quietly taking notes in class, unlike me.  The only thing that could wake me up from this hypnosis was the school bell.  And so it happened.  The school bell rang as loud as never.  I woke up from it and got up from my seat to go to the teacher and ask what was going on with Ashley.

On the way I was stopped by one girl from the class, saying >>Hey Joy!  Why did you react to Hugo this way?  It was terribly unkind of you.  He is new, he knows no one here and you immediately treated him with such behavior<<

I looked at her slightly irritated and replied >>I know maybe I exaggerated a bit, but that's Ashley's place anyway!<<

She looked at me as if I was an idiot and asked >>You don't know anything?" 
I laughed in a rude way and asked here, "What do I not know again? Go on enlighten me! <<

>>Ashley flew out of the states to Australia!Wait ... don't you know  anything? ... << replied the girl with a surprised expression. 
I looked at her nervous and ran to the Headmaster as fast as I could. I knocked and just walked into his office. 

When the director saw me, he looked at me in surprise and asked sarcastically >>Hasn't mom learned how to knock and wait  for permission<< 
I didn't have time to talk so I asked right away >>Headmaster, is Ashley still going to school?"  Is it true that she left for Australia? <<

>>Yes, that's right, she flew out.  But it's been a few days since she left, so why are you suddenly asking? <<

Upset and at the same time in tears, I left the office bumping into Hugo.  I looked at him and he said, >>Is everything alright Joy?<<  . Tears ran so fast down my cheeks that I could barely see him. So I ran to the toilet. I looked in the mirror and couldn't believe what I was told a second ago.  My face was red and swollen from crying.  I thought I would cry and cry, but the bell for lessons interrupted me. So I returned to the rest of classes in a very bad mood. 

For the rest of the classes, I sat as if someone had died in my family.  I sat for the whole 7 hours looking at the book without paying attention to anyone.  I didn't even notice that Hugo was watching me the whole time.

As soon as the lessons ended, I left my classroom and ran towards the bus.  I took my seat by the window and sat staring as if it was a picture.  Hugo also came on the bus.  He sat down one seat behind me.  At that point, I also didn't notice that he was watching me all the way home.

That day my parents weren't home all day.

So I warmed up the dinner ,that

my mother left me in the microwave earlier.  I ate, washed myself and had no idea what to do with myself.  I was lying on the bed the whole time staring at the ceiling.  I've been wondering what I'm going to do now the rest of the time since Ashley is not with me. She was the only person that was really close to me. Without much trouble, I fell asleep and the day ended.