Community service - a.i (slow updates) #wattys2017

0.2

Ashton

You know that feeling when you're waiting for something and time seems to slow down that much you think all the clocks in the room are broken? Yeah, I'm currently experiencing this.

All day I've been planning how to get to the private school as quickly as possible. I finish school at 3:40. It takes me around 10-15 minutes to walk across town. But what if there's a mad rush to get out of school? What if there's a flash mob? What if she's forgotten?

"Ashton Irwin. Seen as though you've been more interested in watching the clock than you have been in my class perhaps you could tell us the answer to question seven?"

"Uhh... Two?" I shrug.

"Nice try Mr Irwin. Except we're in History not Maths" The teacher sighs "Listen"

The bell rings and I spring from my seat, shoving everything into my bag and then pushing my way to the front of the crowd to get out of the classroom.

Once out I run to my locker and grab everything I need, kicking it shut and running outside, instantly running up the sidewalk, heading for the other side of town.

I get to St Mary's, the private school, with ten minute to spare so sit on the curb and spray some antiperspirant and cologne. I run my fingers through my mop of hair and anxiously look around.

A line of BMW's, Roles Royce's and Range Rovers were already queuing, waiting to pick up kids. I look around at the couple of houses that lined the street opposite the school, peoples front gardens were bigger than my whole house. Yeah, you could tell this was the other side of town.

Kids begin flocking from the school so I stand up and lean against the fence, putting my shades over my eyes and reaching into my back pocket, retrieving my cigarettes and lighting one, inhaling the fumes before exhaling and looking around.

Around five minutes later I spot her. Anastasia. She walks out wearing the traditional uniform. A navy and white checked skirt, white shirt and navy blazer. With a tie with the school logo and her books pressed close to her chest. She walks out with another girl, giggling before she spots me and smiles. She whispers something to the girl who looks at me and squeals. I look down at my shoes and smile to myself.

"See you tomorrow Melody!" She calls "Good Afternoon, Ashton"

"Afternoon Anastasia" I nod.

"You know you can call me Ana" She says "I hate Anastasia, it's one of the ugly step sisters off Cinderella"

"Can't have you being linked to that now can we? Beautiful girl like you being linked to an ugly step sister"

Smooth Ashton.

Ana blushes and looks down at her shoes causing her hair to block her eyes. She looks back up and shakes her head, flicking her hair back behind her ear.

"So you're probably wondering why you're here" She says "I wanted to apologise for breaking your board"

"Right..."

She hands me her books then takes her rucksack off. Already I can see something that is too big to be in there is stuffed in. She opens it and pulls out a brand new board. Then swings the bag back onto her back and takes her books back, offering me the board.

"I'm sorry"

"You bought me a new board?" I ask.

"Yeah" She nods "is it the wrong one? If it is I can take it back and pick up a different one-"

"It's perfect!" I smile "Thank you so much"

"It was no problem" She shrugs.

"Do you like ice cream?" I ask.

"Who doesn't?"

"Would you maybe want to go for some?"

She pulls her phone out her pocket and texts someone before placing it back and looking up at me, smiling "Sure"

-

"So tell me about yourself, Anastasia"

"Well what do you wanna know?"

"How about interests?" I ask.

"Um I play piano and flute, I do Ballet and enjoy reading"

I stare at her blankly and she furrows her eyebrows, taking the spoon, now no ice cream on it, out of her mouth and shakes her head in confusion "What?"

"I meant like what do you do for fun?"

"That is fun for me..."

"So, like you don't get drunk? Don't go to parties-"

"I go to parties" She nods.

"With teenagers" I say and she shakes her head "Do you wanna?"

"What do you mean?" She asks.

"What are you doing this Friday?"