Lost and Found

Chapter 19 | Uncertainty

Julia's heart pounds in her chest as she walks downstairs in her summer dress. She braided her hair to the side and put some extra effort into her make-up.

Yesterday was strange with how Ash acted. To be honest, she was a little embarrassed. Matt said nothing about the run-in with Ash, but his body language said enough. He and Ash won't be friends anytime soon.

Still, she's Ash's girlfriend, and he and Matt need to get along somehow. Matt is her friend, and she doesn't have many of those. Only Matt and Robin, who's also not a fan of Ash. Hmm, she's starting to see a pattern.

A car honks. Her stomach is in knots as she puts on her pink sneakers and takes her backpack. Would he kiss her again? She shouldn't mind the kissing, but everything goes so fast. She can't keep up. And she still has so many questions. For starters, why do his friends dislike her so much? To be fair, her friends don't like him either. But she can't think of what she did wrong to make his friends act this way towards her.

Julia walks down the path towards the car. "Hi, Ash," she greets him. He nods and drives away as soon as Julia closes the door. Silence fills the car until she can't take it anymore. "Are you angry with me?" They aren't even boyfriend or girlfriend for a week, and there's already tension and not the good sort of tension.

"Why would I be angry?"

A flush of exhaustion washes over her, and she fights the urge to rub her eyes. There's no need to create panda mascara eyes. "I don't know. You didn't seem happy yesterday." Or today.

"Would you if you found me hugging some girl in the forest?"

"Depends on the girl. If it's your friend comforting you, then no. I wouldn't be angry." She would be envious and insecure, but those emotions aren't anger.

"Well, I don't like it. So yeah, I'm angry."

Julia leans her head back against the headrest of the chair. "Sorry. How can I fix it?"

A smirk covers Ash's face. "I know a few ways."

A blush spread across her face as she chews her bottom lip. She isn't sure about his way of fixing things. Or how to react to it.

Ash parks the car in the school parking lot. The fresh morning air calms her mind, and she takes a deep breath. "So you're not mad anymore?" she says, dragging behind Ash.

"I don't know. Have you fixed it yet?"

"I don't know–" Ash's friends walk up to them. Her stomach turns, and she stares to the far side of the parking lot. Great!

Ash greets his friends, who all ignore her, but after everything that has happened, being ignored is better.

She hides behind Ash, but her hiding place is short-lived. Mason and Jake show up. Ash pulls on her arm, holding her against him–his lips crash on hers into an uncomfortable kiss. Maddix whistles. Can that boy calm down? Julia blinks when Ash's hand rests on her butt. This is not what she wants. Pulling away from Ash's kiss, Julia sees Mason and Jake walk away from the corner of her eyes.

The bell rings, and Ash lets go of her. Grabbing Maddix by his shoulders they laugh, and make their way to their classes. Leaving Julia to find her own way inside.

Something tells her this is going to be a long day.

***

The last bell rings. Scrambling to get her stuff in her backpack, she trudges outside. Her head pounds, and every step takes effort. Julia rolls her shoulders to loosen her sore neck muscles. Goodness, she needs a long, warm bath.