Perfectly Unseen

3: bad to the bone

B a d
to the bone
~+~+~+~

I COULDN'T believe I was sent to the office. I felt my stomach burn from the shame with each step I got closer to the black door. I knew I wasn't really in trouble, but that didn't stop the sickening swirling in my belly. My thoughts went to that day at the library; it just wasn't adding up. How could somebody hate someone so easily?

With a shaky inhale and determined exhale, I raised my fist to the door and knocked.

"Come on in," I heard the receptionist say surprisingly cheerfully. You would think seeing disgruntled kids sent to the office all day long would make her less inclined to be smiley.

"Hi," I gave a shy smile to the happy woman. "I'm here to-"

"Just sit the hell down." Ashton rolled his eyes at me from the few seats in the waiting area. And by waiting area, I mean that closet sized space between the receptionists desk and the wall. Apparently a waiting room in the office wasn't one of the schools priorities.

I scowled at him, refusing to look at him as I took the only seat left -the one beside him of course. The silence began to make me antsy after a few minutes. I hated when it got so quiet you could hear a pin drop. I mean, unless I was reading, then the words sort of filled the silence. I played with my hands, picking at my sore hangnail on my finger as my brain began that roll of thoughts that seemed to react like a snowball. It just got larger and larger the more it went on.

My insecurities began to fill my head; what was it about me he didn't like? Was it really just because I interrupted his secret rendezvous? Or was it just something he didn't like about how I looked? Did he think my nose was too big? Sometimes it felt too large for my face. Maybe it was my eyes, that boring shade of green. They weren't even a nice green, they were practically grey. My glasses didn't help either. They were big, old, and ugly. Or my hair. Did guys even care about hair? Maybe the pale blonde offended him. Jesus. It could have been anything. My skin wasn't bad, I mean I had my occasional spot but what teenager didn't? Besides, it was clear right now. It was a little palish pink though. I knew I was a loser, but why would that offend somebody like him? I mean, could he even see himself?

My eyes on their own accord flickered over to the perfect looking male specimen, causing me to flinch slightly when I saw him looking back at me. His black eyes were still evil, but he seemed more curious as if wondering what I had been thinking. I could feel my cheeks once again heat up, quickly looking back down to my lap. My stomach spun as I pulled my knees up to my chin, resting on them to try and hide my annoyed blush.

The office phone rang, interrupting my thoughts for moment. "Yes, of course. I'll send them right in." The lady turned to us, "Mrs Stevenson will see you two now. Sign your names here, please." She tapped a clipboard on the desk with her pen.

I grabbed my bag off of the floor, quickly scrawling my name along the paper before clenching my jaw and walking towards the door titled 'Principal's Office'. Being the nice person I was, I held the door open for Ashton. Of course, he just glared at me in return.

Sorry for being civil. What in the world was I thinking? Clearly I was just so rude.

"Mr Ryder, I really thought after our last talk you would have kicked this thing in the butt." Mrs Stevenson started with a sigh, shaking her short bobbed black hair sadly. "You're a good kid, Ashton. I don't know why you're so hell-bent on proving to the world you're not."

Ashton sat in the chair beside me, throwing his bag on his lap before stretching out comfortably. "Claire, don't patronize me." His lips twitched up in a smirk. "I'm as bad as they come."

Both Mrs Stevenson and I rolled our eyes. Please, try a little harder won't you, Ashton?

"Ashton, you know, I hold a lot of respect for your mother." She eyed him with her sharp blue eyes, "But if you keep this up, I'm afraid I'm going to have to put that friendship to the side. You can't keep disrupting classes and causing scenes. You are almost a proper adult, it's not cute like it was back in grade school." She ran her hand through her hair, peering agitatedly at the boy.

"Cute? Nah, ma'am. Bad to the bone." He once again egged her on with a twinkle in his eyes. "Besides, this creep deserved what she got." He sneered at me, "Spying and following me; she should be thanking her damn god I don't hit girls."

"Mr Ryder, quit with the names and swears." She growled, her eyes narrowing in a warning.

I felt very much like a third wheel as I sat watching the two bicker back and forth like old family pals. Meanwhile, there I was trying to become as small as I could be. But, eventually Mrs Stevenson realized I was there, her blue eyes spearing mine.

"Ms Dawn, you've been awfully quiet. Is there anything you wish to add?"

I bit my bottom lip as Ashton glowered at me to keep my mouth shut. "Just that I didn't follow him." I squeaked out daringly as I saw out of the corner of my eye his eyes roll in disbelief. "I-I was reading an-and he just..." I risked a look at him as he frowned at me with a tight jaw.

I was such a nice person I couldn't even tattle on him. Or maybe I was just weak and afraid of what he might have done if I did.

My eyes fell back to our principal, "He was looking for book and saw me t-trying to stay unseen. I guess he thought I had followed him there." My voice was small as I finished the story weakly, wringing my hands together uncomfortably. My eyes were now on my hands. I never enjoyed lying; it made my stomach upset.

She sighed, bringing her attention back to Ashton who had his eyebrows pinched, facing me. "I know you have a lot of stuff going on right now, Ashton, but you can't take it out on Ms Dawn... or any other student for that matter." Her voice was quieter as I glanced up at Ashton in wonder. "You need to get your anger under control. If that means spending a few days at home-"

"No." He snapped, flames in his eyes as he did. He turned to me with something unrecognizable in his stern expression, "You're not a creep, Haley."

I was chewing my lip again as my eyebrows furrowed together. "Ailie, not Haley." My voice muttered, not really sure what else I was supposed to do.

I mean, I guess I could have said thanks? But he just stated something I was perfectly aware of. Saying thanks was like saying I didn't already know that. Besides, the damage was done. He called me a creep in front of our classmates. Unless he was prepared to take it back in front of them, it didn't matter. He didn't deserve a thank you.

He exhaled irritatedly, "Whatever. Can I go now?" He ignored me, raising an eyebrow up at our principal.

She let out a breath, shaking her head, "This is your last chance, Ashton. There will be consequences next time you are out of line." She looked at me with a smile on her thin lips, "I'm sorry you had to miss class for this, Ailie. You two may go to your next class now." She told us just as the bell for the ending period rang.

I wondered briefly if Ashton knew we had the next period together too. The thought made me nervous as we walked out the door, me ahead of Ashton.

My arm was suddenly pulled back into his hard chest just as I heard the office door click shut. Kids were gradually exiting their classrooms when I felt a pair of warm lips grazing against my ear, "Don't believe for one second I told the truth in there. I'm just getting started with you, princess." He purred, making my stomach swoop and my skin buzz in all of the places he was touching me.

What did he mean? What was he planing? At least I was princess now instead of creep. It didn't feel better. If anything it was more intimidating. But the most scary thought was how we had gym together in ten minutes...

Oh, I was dead.