Moving on...

Ashley's POV

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I glanced at my alarm clock for the third time.It sighed at the 00:05 that blinked at me.

The conversation I had overheard kept playing in my head.Was I going to let that incident shape me forever?Even though Caleb was an irritating,cocky jerk,he was being nice to me and I recollected all the times he had tried to help me out and I had blown him off and still he was adamant on talking to me.I remembered that one time when he had offered me his sandwich because I was crying.Some kid had knocked my lunchbox and a ten year old Caleb,irritating even then,had offered me his sandwich.But being the cynical person I was,still am,I just eyed him suspiciously till he dropped his smile and walked away.

Oh my god!How many genuinely nice people had I pushed away from my life?I have been so defensive against the "wrong " people,that I had missed the chance to have an amazing high school life and as Meera had said,a few more people who I can trust wouldn't hurt.

I threw my blanket off and  rushed to my study table where my bag was kept.Rummaging through it,I found the file Caleb had given me.

I switched on my night lamp and leafed through the drafts on my bed.

The file had Caleb D'Laurentis written on it in neat handwriting.I wondered if he would be asleep.My hand subconsciously grazed the wall behind my bed rest.On the other side of the wall was Caleb's room.

I turned page after page till I reached one particular story. There was an asterisk symbol on it,denoting that the person had not yet agreed to share his or her story, he or she had refused to give an interview. I started reading Caleb's neat handwriting.

Once upon a time,in this very school,walking the same corridors as you are,was a girl.She went to the same classes as you and sat on the same desks and ate in the same cafeteria too.

But there were so many things no one knew about her.To any of her classmates,like you and me,she was normal,she was shy and unsocial,but to her,she was broken,locking herself away from the world to prevent herself from shattering further.If you ever saw her from a distance you'd think she's laughing and she's happy,but the moment you get closer,you realise her eyes are sad.They are not just sad,they are filled with fear and insecurities.

Her clothes managed to cover her bruises and her glasses managed to cover her tears.

She was strong,stronger than most people I knew.The only thing that kept her going was hope,a hope that one day she would be able to get out of this hell.

She never let anyone in,she was like an ocean,she'd pull you in just a little and then push you out if you come too close.

The tears that shielded my eyes now escaped drop by drop,till I let out a cry.The story was incomplete and I needed to know the whole story.I will find out.I grabbed my anxiety pills from my bedside drawer and gulped them down.

I walked towards my window and pushed them open.I propped my elbows on the sill and looked up at the sky.

It was my favourite colour,midnight blue.It just soothed me.The tears flowed freely down my cheek as I cried silently.

The images flashed through my head.His cold brown eyes,his menacing grin.I gripped my head,trying to get those images out.

'Not asleep yet Cinderella,its 12 o'clock.'

I quickly wiped my tears and steadied myself.I drew my curtains a little back and turned my head towards the left,making Caleb's face visible.

'How did you know,you couldn't even see me?'

'When I didn't hear the loud snores like I normally do everyday,I figured you weren't sleeping,' he smirked.

'Hey a girl gets tired dealing with jerks all day!',I defended.

He gave a throaty laugh.'A normal girl would have felt offended that I accused her of snoring and you defend yourself instead!'

'Now tell me princess were you crying?',he asked me gently with concern laced in his voice.

'No,just needed some fresh air.'

'You're not a very good liar Cinderella.'

'Caleb?'

'Yes m'lady?'

I chuckled,'Do you really think I'm allergic to boys?'

Silence...I searched his face for an answer but he had taken his face back,hiding it behind his curtain.

Not knowing what to do,I whisper,'Good Night Caleb', and was about to turn when I heard a soft,'No...Good Night Princess'

Smiling to myself,I walk towards my bed.