In The Midst Of A Crowd

Chapter 2

"Get out squirt. Go and sit in the back with Katie." Chase said to me when we arrived at the Pierce's. Not wanting to piss him off, I slid out of the seat and got into the back sitting next to Katie.

"Morning Wafer." James says to me as he gets in. That's been my nickname since I've known him because my last name is Graham.

"Hi James." I muttered.

"What's wrong with you today?" He asks me.

"Nothing" I say, giving Katie the shut your brother up look. Everyone just chuckled at me, knowing that this was going to be a weird conversation.

"So James?" Katie asks, breaking the silence "Who are you dating now?"

"He he" he laughs nervously. "Sadie Clark. We've been going out for two weeks."

"The Sadie Clarke? The Jerk?" I ask. Everyone laughs at that except for James.

"She's not a jerk Ashlynne, she just has problems. Just like the rest of us." James says giving me a cold glare.

"Sure. And her problem is slamming me into my locker because she knows that I..." I quickly cut off looking at a wide eyed Katie.

"Because you what Ashlynne?" James asks. Oh my god he can't know I like him, everything will be totally different. I need to come up with something and fast.

"Because... I... I sit at the popular table and I'm a nerd. That's why." I say quickly.

"But you've always sat with us. I don't know why you're worried about that now." Chase says.

Before I can reply we are parked in the parking lot, with half an hour until class begins.

"C'mon Ashlynne. Let's go get our schedules." Katie says as she pulls me out of the car and across the lot with everyone watching our every move. That's the thing about driving to school with four of the football guys; all eyes are on us.

"Katie," I whisper, knowing everyone is watching me, "get me out of here. Fast." When I get anxious about things I start having panic attacks, but they only occur when I'm really stressed out or overly anxious. That's the thing that only my teachers, brothers and Katie know about. Everyone keeps it a secret for me, of course, but this made Katie worry.

"It's okay Ash. Just take a deep breath we're almost at the office." Jacob says from behind me. I just nod my head and breath.

"Katherine Pierce, Ashlynne Graham and Jacob Graham's schedule's please." Katie says to the secretary as I sit down in the chair behind her once we arrive at the office a couple minutes later. Once Katie receives them and gives Jacob his, relief crosses her face.

"We have almost every class together!" She says, handing me my schedule as we leave the office. I take a quick glance at it:

Graham, Ashlynne MacKenzie

Locker 148, 29-31-17

1. Homeroom/English, 17, Mr. Edwards
2. Biology, 32, Mr. Greene
3. Spanish, 18, Ms. Rosa
4. Algebra, 25, Mr. Williams
Lunch
5. Latin Studies, 7, Mrs. Leigh
6. History, 20, Ms. Meyer
7. Free Period
8. Phys. Ed, Gymnasium, Mr. Hudson

"I wonder who else I have those classes with." I mutter to myself as open my locker. Katie is two down from me on the right, Jacob is on her right, and Chase and Tyler are directly across the hall from us, but James is nowhere in sight.

"I wonder who's between us," Katie says turning to look at me "I hope it's not Sadie."

"Me too, but considering there are two lockers next to mine that are both currently empty, I'm worried it might be-" I reply being interrupted by a 'hey' behind me.

"Oh, Hey Ren! Is this your locker?" I ask one of my good friends Renee Mendes, pointing at one of the lockers between Katie and I.

"Yup. It just sucks because all of my classes are in the next hallway." She says.

"That's too bad, but at least we know where to find each other!" Katie says.

"Definitely," Renee says "I better go and say Hi to Peyt. I haven't talked to her since school ended last year." She's talking about our other friend Peyton Stewart, the fourth member of our friend group. "but first can I look at your guy's schedule's?"

"Of course" I say as both Katie and I hand over our schedules.

"Looks like I'm only with you for homeroom and free period Ashlynne."

"That's too bad, but at least we have some classes together! Tell Peyton to meet us in the cafeteria in five minutes so we can all meet before class." I say to Renee as she begins to walk away.

"Of course. See you guys there." She yells back walking into the other hallways.

"Since we still have a few minutes before we meet in the cafeteria and class starts in 15 minutes, I'll just meet you there. I have to go and ask Chase and Tyler something before they head out for training." Katie says to me, before walking across the hall.

"Well, well, well. Looks like I'm gonna be next to you all year, Sweetheart." A familiar voice booms from behind me. The person coming extremely close and wrapping their arms around me.

**********
A/N:
Who does the voice belong to? Is it James? Or is it someone else? Comment what you think.

Sorry for leaving it on a cliffhanger but it seemed like a good place to end the chapter.

Picture at the top is of the Pierce's (James, Katie and Chase).

Thanks for reading!
Cae♥