I Never Said I Hated You

Progress: Chapter 6

No one's POV:

The next few days we're not easy...for anyone. Classes were awkward, and the class with Big Red and Ashlyn...no work got done on their project, and after the fight with Big Red, Ashlyn spent a lot of her time at the hospital with Seb and Carlos.

"Hi Seb, how are you feeling? It's been a few days since I've visited." Ashlyn asked him as she leant forward to give him a hug.

"His Ash, Carlos told me about your...fight. Are you okay?" Seb asked, watching for her reaction.

Ashlyn's eyes squeezed shut in contemplation ash she thought about her answer, "I'm fine. I thought we were getting along, but he yelled at me, and you know I don't like that. He shouldn't have lost his temper."

Seb smiled at her, as he caught Carlos' eye from the corner," I know, but you'll figure it out, you're Ashlyn Caswell, you always do."

"Thanks Seb, Carlos, I brought cards, do you two want to play a game or something?" Ashlyn asked as Carlos pulled over his chair closer to hers.

"I'd love to, let's have some fun." Carlos said as he started to shuffle the deck.
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"Hi Ashlyn," Red walked up to the seats where he and she sat during their class.

"Oh, now you're speaking to me?" Ashlyn questioned, as she picked at the new scab on her elbow.

Red's jaw dropped as Ashlyn continued looking elsewhere. "What? You're the one who told me you didn't trust me-"

"I don't know what's going on between you two, but now you're all awkward and angry around each other, so figure it out. You did have the most promising grade, now...maybe not." Mr. Stuart told them as he walked away.

Ashlyn rolled her eyes at the obvious statement.  "Yeah, I told you I didn't trust you, Red. You yell and lose your temper one minute, then 20 minutes later you're at my door with roses and are trying to kiss me. I don't know what you want."

"God, maybe Neens was right." Red looked out the window as he let his thoughts consume him, "maybe you are just like a lost little puppy who just follows around anyone she can. Why would you be all attached when you have nowhere to go, then run away the next? You're a user."

"Don't." Ashlyn clenched her hands into fists.

"No, you know it's true. I shouldn't have let you stay at my house, I should've known this would happen." Red continued on, ignoring Ashlyn's pleas to stop, not even noticing as she picked up her stuff to leave.

"I'm done, finish the project. Obviously human interaction isn't something you can do, so you can finish the project. I thought you changed, that you weren't like the rest of them, but until you're not, please, leave me alone." Ashlyn told him as she slipped a piece of paper on Mr. Stuart's desk, wiping away the stray tear that had slipped down her flushed cheeks.

Red rolled his eyes, as he saw the paper Ashlyn left behind with little hearts drawn all over it. "Fine, whatever, see what...I care"

"Be easy on her kid, as popular as EJ is, Ashlyn does not have an easy time with kids around here. She's picked on a lot, I know some of the harmful words I've heard have come out of some of your friend's mouths. I know you two hate each other, but I paired you up for a reason, just find a way to work it out." Mr. Stuart said as he rubbed his shoulder and sauntered off to his desk to read the note.
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"What do I do? Like what do I actually do, I'm desperate here." Big Red asked as he paced in his basement, Ricky watching him do so.

"And she didn't answer any of your texts?" Ricky questioned him as he turned around on the swivel chair.