Lost and Found

Chapter 8 | Ash

Julia's mother keeps glancing at Julia. Ignoring her mother's worried eyes, Julia chugs her tepid tea. She doesn't have time for small talk about her health. Today is the day she isn't getting lost anymore. And yes, she has said so many times before, but today really is that day–she has a secret plan.

Julia shovels down the last bit of yoghurt. Her books lay scattered across the dining table. Standing up, she gathers her school stuff. Her foot catches behind the strap of her backpack, and she almost trips over it. Domoor!

Yesterday, she tried to do some homework, but she fell asleep. Which meant she had to do her homework this morning. Getting up early isn't her thing anymore–well–it never was her thing, to be honest.

Cramming her books and lunch in her backpack, she puts her backpack on and follows her mother outside. Cecil carpools with her friends today, and there wasn't any room for her. Julia has never eye-rolled as hard as she did when Cecil told her.

Walking to school will take her forever. She isn't sure about the school bus, and Julia doesn't have a driver's licence or a car to drive herself. Thank goodness for her mother, who will drop her off on her way to work. Is getting dropped off by her mother as awkward here in the US as it is in the Netherlands? Maybe she can ask her mother for a bike to get to school?

The car drives smoothly over the asphalt. Her mother keeps glancing at her like she has done all morning. Julia turns on the radio to get rid of the tension, but her mother turns the radio off again. "Are you ready to go to school today? You seem tired."

"It's fine." Yeah, she's tired. She's always tired. But tiredness she can handle, exhaustion is her biggest fear.

"Do you have nice classmates?"

Julia shrugs her shoulders. "I guess." Except for Cecil. "I sit next to this girl who's nice."

"Great. And if you need help, you can ask Cecil."

Yeah, right! Even Mason is a better help than Cecil.

Her mother drops her off at school and waves Julia goodbye. The parking lot is nearly empty, and so is the school, just like she wanted. She takes out one of her school notebooks and draws the parking lot, followed by the entrée, the hallway and the small offices. She heads towards her locker as she marks the bathroom and classes. No more getting lost for her.

Voices drifting through the hallway grab her attention. She looks up from her notebook. Mason and Jake stand by some lockers with another boy with short brown hair. Jake gestures with his arms as he talks to the familiar boy. Is he the same boy who sat with Cecil and her friends?

Glancing around, she bites the back of her pencil. Is she turning around to draw the other side of the school, or is she going to try to sneak past them?

"What's your problem, Ash?" Jake says with a raised voice.

"You two, walking around like you own the place." Ash pushes against Jake. Pushing back, Ash slams into the lockers.

"Whoa. Stop." Julia holds up her hands as she comes between the boys. They look at her in surprise before Mason does what Mason does best and glares at her.

Jake has a big smile plastered across his face as he turns to her. "Hi, Julia."

"Uhm... Hi," she says. Okay, what now? What is her plan? Mason doesn't want her here. Jake has a creepy smile and isn't cleared from being a murderer. And she doesn't know Ash, except that he may or may not be friends with Cecil. Which can't be a good sign with how Cecil acts towards her or the questions her friends have asked Julia. What was up with that?

Ash straightens his t-shirt while he stares from Mason to her. "I don't think we've met. I'm Ash." He holds out his hand.

She blinks at him. "We're in the same class." Julia steps back, ignoring his hand. The boys are way too close to her for her comfort.

Ash opens his mouth to say something, but Mason steps in front of him, blocking Ash from her view. His eyes fall on her notebook. "Are you drawing a map?"

She looks up at him. "Yeah. You wouldn't give me one, so I'm making a map myself." The right corner of Mason's lips perks up a little. Or maybe she's imagining things again. "Anyway, I have to go," she says as she takes a step backwards.

"I'll walk with you." Mason tries to take her arm, but she jerks away.

"Why? So you can ignore me again?" She taps with her feet as she bites her lip. Guess his rejection hurt a little more than she thought it did. Why can't she make a friend?

Mason's face falls and turns into a glare the moment Ash laughs. Ash pushes him aside.

"Julia, right? Let me help you draw your map." She narrows her eyes at him. Does he truly want to help? He's in her class, and making another friend is what she wanted, right? Ash sees the doubt on her face. "To thank you for saving me from these bullies." He smiles. Jake and Mason turn to Ash to say something, but before they can, Ash takes her arm and walks her down the hallway.

"Why were Mason and Jake angry with you?"

"Hmm?" Ash looks over his shoulder. "Oh, yeah, that. I'm on the same basketball team as Mason. He's the star player, but I'm closing in. So every time I do something, they're at my throat. Anything to keep their proud star on top, right?"

She shakes her head. "But you're both on the same team." This doesn't make sense. Shouldn't teammates get along and play together instead of making each other miserable?

"Yep."

"But what about team spirit?"

Ash laughs. "Tell that to mister God-complex."

They sit down in the library, and Ash helps her fill in her map. No more getting lost and needing Mason's help. Although some part of her still wants to get along with him. He probably knows a lot of good hiking spots around here, and having a hiking partner would be great. Would Robin like hiking?

When the bell rings, Ash walks her to class. Robin sits in the front row.

"Morning," Julia smiles at her. Robin looks up and smiles back but frowns when she sees Ash.

Ash sits down behind her. He pokes her back, and Julia turns around. "Where are you from?"

Robin scribbles in her notebook, ignoring both of them. Or maybe just Ash. She'll have to ask what's going on between her and Ash. Maybe he's a pretender too, and that's why she doesn't like him.

"From the Netherlands. Or Dutchland, as I call it."

He grins. "Dutchland?"

"Yeah. I mean... The people from the Netherlands are called Dutch, the language is called Dutch–"

"So it would be logical to call it Dutchland." Ash catches on.

"Yeah. Although the words Dutch came from a misconception about Germany, which is called Deutschland in the original–"

The teacher clears his throat, and Julia turns back around. "If it's okay with Julia and Ash, I would like to start class."

A blush spreads along Julia's face, and she opens her textbook.

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A new chapter and a new character. Welcome, Ash.

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