White Lies and Music Notes

Chapter Twenty

A week has passed since the incident with Eric and me hiding. Looking back, I think it was cowardly of me, to just run away from him. I guess I could run away from my problems, but - as clichéd as it sounds - you have to face them, you can't just run away.

That early morning, I returned to my room and fell asleep in my bed for another hour or so. When the others woke up, they bombarded me with questions. I had to go straight to Professor Ironside's room and he gave me detention for four days.

I spent Thursday and Fridays lunch sitting in his office, writing lines - something we hardly ever did in England - and when the weekend came I was extremely glad to go home to Aunt Caroline. I didn't tell her much of my week at school. I didn't tell her about Matt, or about Eric. I didn't tell her about my shock attack or that I had run away and then got detention. I did tell her about my friends and about Harris, who I have always gone to for a chat (not literally, of course).

I came back on Monday, my mind clear, and I continued my life as if nothing had ever happened between Matt and I. Or Eric and I, for that matter. Ashley hasn't spoken to me, either, but I have made new friends. As well as Taylor, Melanie and Roxanne, Lucy has sort of come into our lives, and a girl called Kirsty, who was in my riding class.

I still had detention on Monday and Tuesday. But come Wednesday, I was free. The others from my room went shopping at the weekend and we all decided we wanted to paint out room violet. We spent to whole of Wednesday lunch and afternoon painting our room and by Thursday, we still hadn't finished.

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As I entered my French class on Friday, I could feel the room go quiet. The teacher wasn't there yet and before I entered, there was a slight chatter. Now, there was silence, as the whole room stared at me. It took only a few moments until I knew why.

"I'll say it one more time, Matt, get your hands off of her." It was Ashley. He had his back to me and I don't think he knew I was there. Matt had sen me, though.

"You don't know her, Ashley. I do. I was the one who went on a date with her. I was the one who spent time with her. You are the one who left her hanging on the first day. Do you know how that made her feel?"

"You don't get it. She doesn't like you, Matt. All this time, she's only been USING you." And suddenly I knew where he got it from. The only people who knew, were Taylor and Melanie. And Harris. He had heard once again. "She was using you so that she could get someone else. And you were too dumb to see through it."

"Ashley. I got her first, and if you have a problem with her decision, why don't you take it up with her?" He shouted as he pointed to me. Ashley turned around to face me, his face now only angrier.

"What's going on here?" I asked quietly, and yet the whole room heard. I felt intimidated, knowing that everything I was saying was being heard by multiple pairs of ears. Ashley's normally dark skin, seemed unbelievably pale. He had bags under his eyes which weren't there two weeks ago, and his body was less toned than before. I knew instantly something wasn't right. Not only was he spilling my secrets, but he was also using them to his advantage. I couldn't help but feel glad that he was suffering.

I decided then that I couldn't sit next to him again, as stupid as it sounds. So I turned on the charm and said to Matt:

"You don't happen to have a seat next to you, babe?" Saying it to him felt wrong, especially after the whole thing with him kissing the girl, but I decided that this relationship had to work for two reasons now - for Eric, and for Ashley.

"Yeah, of course." He smiled at me and asked one of his 'followers' to move. I sat in her place and smiled pleasantly back at Matt.

"I still haven't forgiven you, encase you're wondering." I whispered in his ear with a smile, so others would think I said something flirtatious.