Heartstrings in Harmony

Chapter Three: Unraveling Mysteries

The final bell rang, releasing a flood of students into the hallways. Layla hurried to her locker, her heart thumping with a mix of anxiety and anticipation. She grabbed her biology book and made her way to the library, hoping Ashton would actually show up.

The library was quiet, a stark contrast to the bustling hallways. Layla scanned the room, quickly spotting Ashton at a table in the back. He was already absorbed in a book, his expression as enigmatic as ever. Taking a deep breath, she walked over and set her things down.

"Hey," she greeted softly, sliding into the seat across from him.

Ashton looked up, his dark eyes locking onto hers. For a moment, neither of them spoke, the silence thick with unspoken tension. Finally, Ashton closed his book and leaned back in his chair.

"Let's get this over with," he said, his tone neutral. "We need to decide on a topic for our project."

Layla nodded, opening her biology book to the list of suggested topics. "How about photosynthesis? It's straightforward, and there's a lot of information available."

Ashton shrugged. "Fine. Let's split up the work. I'll handle the research and you can work on the presentation."

Layla frowned. "We should work together on this. It's supposed to be a partnership."

Ashton's eyes flickered with something she couldn't quite identify—surprise, maybe, or annoyance. "Suit yourself," he muttered. "But don't expect me to hold your hand."

Layla bristled at his tone but refused to back down. "I don't need you to hold my hand, Ashton. I just think it'll be better if we collaborate."

He stared at her for a long moment, as if trying to figure her out. Finally, he nodded. "Fine. Let's meet here every day after school until it's done."

Layla felt a small surge of victory. "Deal. Let's start by gathering some books on photosynthesis."

They worked in silence, the only sound the occasional rustling of pages. Layla stole glances at Ashton, curious about what lay beneath his tough exterior. Despite his aloof demeanor, he was focused and efficient, quickly gathering relevant information.

"Why do you act like this?" Layla blurted out before she could stop herself.

Ashton looked up, his expression unreadable. "Like what?"

"Like you don't care about anything or anyone," Layla replied, feeling her cheeks flush.

Ashton's eyes darkened. "Maybe because I don't," he said quietly. "Now, are we going to work on this project or not?"

Layla bit her lip, regretting her question. "Sorry. Let's keep working."

They spent the next hour in silence, occasionally exchanging notes and ideas. Despite the initial tension, Layla found that working with Ashton wasn't as difficult as she'd feared. He was smart and had a deep understanding of the subject, making their progress surprisingly smooth.

When they finally wrapped up for the day, Ashton stood and grabbed his bag. "Same time tomorrow?" he asked, his tone more neutral than before.

Layla nodded. "Yeah, same time."

As Ashton walked away, Layla couldn't help but feel a pang of frustration. She had hoped to get a glimpse of the person behind the mask, but Ashton was a fortress—impenetrable and unyielding. Still, she wasn't ready to give up.

The next day at school, Layla found herself looking forward to their library sessions. Tyler and his friends continued to be warm and welcoming, but there was something about Ashton that intrigued her—a puzzle she felt compelled to solve.

During lunch, she sat with Tyler and his friends, laughing at their stories and jokes. Tyler was effortlessly charming, his smile infectious. But despite the easy camaraderie, Layla's thoughts kept drifting to Ashton.

"Earth to Layla," Mia teased, snapping her fingers in front of Layla's face. "Where'd you go?"

Layla blinked, realizing she had been staring off into space. "Sorry, just thinking about the biology project."

Tyler raised an eyebrow. "With my brother, right? How's that going?"

"It's... going," Layla replied, choosing her words carefully. "He's not exactly chatty, but we're getting the work done."

Tyler nodded, a hint of concern in his eyes. "Just be careful, Layla. Ashton's not like the rest of us."

Layla forced a smile. "I know. I'll be careful."

The afternoon passed quickly, and soon Layla found herself back in the library, waiting for Ashton. He arrived on time, as always, and they settled into their routine. As they worked, Layla found herself growing more comfortable with the silence between them.

"Why did you move to Harmony?" Ashton asked suddenly, breaking the silence.

Layla looked up, surprised. It was the first personal question he'd asked. "My mom wanted a fresh start. Things were... complicated back in the city."

Ashton nodded, as if he understood. "Harmony's not as perfect as it seems, you know."

Layla smiled faintly. "I'm starting to realize that."

They continued working, but Layla's mind was spinning. She had glimpsed a sliver of vulnerability in Ashton's question, a hint that maybe he wasn't as indifferent as he seemed.

As they packed up for the day, Layla felt a small sense of accomplishment. She might not have broken through Ashton's walls yet, but she was getting closer. And she was determined to unravel the mystery of Ashton Parker, no matter how long it took.