Conspicuous||A.F.I

12

*23rd January 2041*

Monday mornings are my enemy I always feel like a zombie. I'm glad I had a shower last night, I hate showers in the mornings. So I just threw on my school uniform and some light make up. Still half asleep, I dragged myself down the stairs to see Luke at the bottom of the staircase, staring at me.

"What you staring at?" I asked Luke in a harsh tone.

"I'm waiting for you to give me a ride to school." He said leaning against the staircase.

"What time is it?" I questioned.

"It is...8:20." Luke's eyes widened as he realised the time. We only have 10 minutes before the school bell rings.

"Can you find another way to get to school? I'm still not ready, I'll just make us both late." I rushed.

"I'll get the bus" He sighed, walking out of the door before slamming almost bursting my ear drums.

I ran into the kitchen and made myself some toast, trying to eat it as fast as I can.

I grabbed my keys off of the side and ran to my car whilst holding a mountain full of books in my hands. I tried to open my door but failed, my books fell on the floor in a puddle next to my car.

"Crap." I whispered, picking up the soggy books and groaning in annoyance.

"Do you need some help?" I looked up to see Ashton leaning on my car.

"Yes, please." I said handing him a couple of books and putting them in the car.

"Do you want a lift to school or anything?" I asked as an attempt to clear the awkward silence.

"If you dont mind." He said opening the car door and jumping in.

On the way to school I didn't know what to say to him, but questions are flowing around my brain about our kiss. Why did he kiss me? why did he leave straight after? But I just didnt know how to say them, it was like I was stuck for words when I actually knew everything I wanted to say.

"Ash-"

"I know what your going to say...it's about the kiss right?" He interrupted, starring at me as he chewed on his lip.

"Yeah, how did you know?" I answered slightly confused.

"Like I told you before, there are some things you don't know about me." He said throwing his legs up on the dashboard. I let out a loud cough and gestured to his dirty vans that were on my clean, brand new car.

"Why do you get so stressed about my feet on the dashboard?" He asked calmly. On the inside I was fuming but I tried to keep calm. He doesn't know how much of a neat freak I am, even at home I have to wash the dishes because my mum doesn't wash them properly. Sometime I think I might have OCD.

"I'm just a neat freak, that's why my cars so clean so please don't do it again." I said removing my eyes from the road ahead to look into his hazel ones.

"Keep your eyes on the road" Ashton yelled as I swerved back onto the road.

"You almost ran over a old woman" He laughed.

"It's not funny I could be but in prison for running over a granny!" I shouted but I ended up laughing along with Ashton. We were just laughing for no reason, actually Ashton was probably laughing at my stupidity for not focusing while driving.

"She doesn't have long left anyway." He struggled to breathe through his laughter as he slapped his hands on his jeans.

"Ashton! That's cruel you can't say that." I scolded him as I hit his shoulder.

"I'm sorry." He apologised, putting his hand on my left leg slowly rubbing it making me tense. Shivers ran all over my body and they increased as he kept rubbing.

I tried to focus on driving and I managed to get to school before I felt like shoving his hand off of my leg. As soon as I parked the car I unbuckled my seatbelt and jumped out the car.

"Who's Luke waiting for?" I broke the silence to see the sight of my brother Luke by Michael's car.

"Don't worry." He said unbuckling his seatbelt and shrugging.

"I don't want him to see you in my car, he'll kill me! Hide, quick before he sees you." I hissed to him.

"Wait here." He sighed as he tucked his legs into his chest.

I strolled towards Luke who was leaning his lanky body against the car. Michael and Calum stood close together and I saw a glimpse of smoke in between them.

"Hey Kerri, you alright?" Luke asked as he saw me approaching.

"I'm fine. But umm.. urm are Michael and Calum smoking?" I asked quietly.

"Yeah but don't worry I'm not going to smoke." He said bringing me in for a big hug.

"Luke get off of me!" I shouted whilst hitting him and trying to get him off.

"Woah mate, your going to suffocate her." I turned my head the furthest I could to see Ashton standing next to us laughing.

"Ashton suffocating her is not as bad as what you'll do to her." Luke hissed through gritted teeth as he let go of me and made his way to Ashton.

"I've lived in this world for too long to not be scared of a pathetic, weak little boy like you." Ashton said biting his lip so that he wouldn't be tempted to either hit Luke or worse, attack him. As in biting him.

"Calm down both of you, can you please just get along for me." I said tearing up in stress, they gave glances at each other for a minute before I said "please?"

"Fine." They sighed in chorus and shook hands still giving each other stares.

"Now that's sorted, I'm going to class." I waved good bye, walking away from the group of boys.

"Kerri wait!" Ashton shouted. I turned around to see him jogging towards me trying to push his bandana back out of the way of his eyes.

"Yeah, what?" I asked.

"I thought we could walk and talk." He suggested, smiling.

"Ok, lets go." Ashton and I started to walk to class in silence. I was going to say something but there was so many people in the cramped halls.

"Ashton." I spoke up.

"Lets go over here." He grabbed my arm and led me into a hall that I've never been in before. It was like a derelict, abandoned place; the windows were smashes on the class room doors, there was dust everywhere, and there weren't any working lights.

We slid down against the cleanest wall, avoiding the mold and bacteria. With our backs against the wall we sat silently, knees and shoulders touching.

"Yesterday." Ashton whispered.

"What about yesterday?" I asked.

"I'm sorry I kissed you. I just had to let you know that I do like you and I know I'm moving fast-"

I cut him off with a small kiss. His lips were softer than yesterday and I could feel the bumps from were he'd been biting them. It was short but sweet and I could taste the mint from the polo he had earlier.

"Now I'm sorry." I said hiding my face in embarrassment.

"It's fine don't worry, but um is it ok if I kiss you?" He asked shyly, as he lifted my head up, I nodded slowly.

Just as we were leaning in, the bell rung signalling the start of lesson.

"We have to go, can't be late for maths." I said breaking the tention between us.

"Yeah you better go, see you later." I got up and walked away from ashton as he sat still staring at me.

"Ashton, we'll finish this later." I smiled at him, his face lit up and I walked away blushing as I smiled at the floor.

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-harrysghost