Close As Strangers

Chapter Three

   Finally, my last class of the day: History. I had at least one class with all three of those boys I met this morning and I hated it; I hated my chemistry class the most. I'm just glad I can end my school day with my favorite class. The bell rang just as I started to get my things ready to put in my bag. Quickly, I put my books in my backpack and walked out of the classroom, facing the floor as I walked. As I walked through the halls, I saw Ashton walking alone and felt like I should go walk with him. After all, he was the only person that was actually nice to me today.

   "Hey", I smiled as I walked up to him.

   "Oh, hey", Ashton smiled back at me.

   "I just want to say thank you...For earlier", I said softly as I walked next to him.

   "You don't need to thank me", Ashton smiled, his dimples standing out.

   "Actually, I think I do. You're literally the only person that's been nice to me today. Well, at least the only person who's actually wanted to talk to me...Besides Luke and his friends", I spoke somewhat fast.

   "Oh..I'm sorry", Ashton frowned a bit.

   "It's fine. I'll see you tomorrow, yea?", I smiled.

   "Yea, see you tomorrow", Ashton replied with that award winning smile of his.

   I waved a bit as I walked away from him, heading towards the gate I was supposed to meet Luke, Michael, and Calum at. All three of them were already standing there waiting for me, Luke smoking a cigarette. I looked to the ground once again and walked right past them, not really wanting to be in the presence of Luke. Fast, heavy footsteps followed behind me and before I knew it, there was a large hand on my shoulder. I was quickly turned around to see Michael standing there, Luke and Calum slowly making their way towards me.

   "Where do you think you're going?", Michael said angrily, clenching his jaw.

   I froze, not knowing what to say. "I-I just-", I started, but Luke cut me off.

   "It doesn't matter where you're going. What matters is why you aren't speaking up and using your damn words", he said and lightly pushed my shoulder.

   "L-Leave me alone", I said softly and looked to the ground.

   "She can speak?", Luke sneered and stepped closer to me.

   Michael and Calum laughed, stepping closer to me. Luke pushed me once more, making me stumble a bit. Calum took the notebook I was holding in my arms away from me and started flipping through it.

   "Give that back!", I yelled somewhat confidently and reached for the notebook.

   Calum turned away from me and started reading what I had written down with my doodles out loud, a lot of the stuff kind of personal.

   "Stop!", I screamed and snatched the notebook from Calum's hands.

   All three boys were chuckling and smirking.

   "What're you gonna do?", Michael smirked and pushed my shoulders gently, but hard enough to make me stumble a bit.

   He pushed me back again before I could answer. Instead of answering, I punched him as hard as I could in the stomach, making him fall back into Calum. Before they could do anything else to me, I quickly walked off to find my sister. I was holding back tears as I searched the courtyard for Amy. When I finally found her, I walked up to her and smiled, trying not to show how upset I was.

   "How was your first day?", I asked as we walked to my car.

   "Pretty good. I made a new friend named, Tina", Amy grinned.