REMINISCENT

CHAPTER ONE: Hurting (FINAL EDIT)

IMPORTANT A/N: Hey guys so before you start the story I just wanted to say thanks for choosing to read this book it means so much 😫...also I wanted to let you know that the characters and places are completely fictional and anything related to someone either living or dead is completely coincidental and not intentional. That being said, you're free to imagine how they look like, though I'll put a cast after I introduce everyone in the story so at least you have an idea...anyway enjoy 😁
(Welcome Back re readers and a warm welcome to first time readers❤️)

Ashley's POV
How do I start this story called my life?

I stared blankly at the clock, willing the hands to move faster. Another tedious day at college. My name is Ashley Woods, and I'm an 18-year-old sophomore. I still live with my parents, like most kids in this city, until we head off to university.

So the norm in this country is after you get your highschool certificate you go into college for three years. The education system here is straightforward: three years of college, and then university. We have A-levels for first-years, sophomores like me in our second year, and seniors in their final year. After completing college, we receive a diploma and can choose our university. Simple.

I'm sure you get the gist now right? So some classes are shared courses with the 2nd and 3rd years and others with the 1st depending on what you want to major and minor in when you go into the university.

Life pretty much sucks to say the least. I sighed, feeling trapped. Why can't we just go straight to university? This feels like an extension of high school, they just decorate it by calling us college students.

Anyway it's 8AM and I'm at my usual spot in front of Aiden. I've got music blasting loudly in my ears knowing damn well today would be the same as any other day, I waited for the bell to ring signaling the start of another dull class, see? Which college has a bell these days, and further slumped back in my seat zoning the world out lost in thought. I tend to think a lot about my life when I zone everything out to the point I don't even notice the lecturer had walked in and droned on and on.

I watched the clock hands tick at their own rhythm in hopes the day would just end already. Minutes later I felt someone slightly shake my shoulder repeatedly, the simple gesture sent shivers down my spine and caused goosebumps to erupt on my shoulders leaving my skin burning on the spot. I knew that touch anywhere, I didn't even have to guess. It happens even when we brush shoulders, lame I know

I calmed my racing heart down and slowly turned to face Aiden, his smirk unmistakable. I gave him  the most unbothered questioning look I could master, to which he twitched his lips upward and he pointed to the front of the class.

Confusion etched on my face, I turned to face our raging lecturer, Mrs. Clark. With a sheepish grin, I took off my headsets and sat up. So it begins

"Ms Woods! how many times did I call you?! " she thundered

"uh... I'm guessing a couple of times judging by the tone of your voice" I answered her sweetly but that only enraged her more...oops

"yes! And do you know what you get for that?" she said even louder than earlier

do I seem deaf? I wanted to ask but bit my tongue for now... Not

With a bored expression, I sighed "First of all I'm not deaf and neither is anyone else in this class secondly no, please enlighten me" at this point I'm pretty sure steam would come out of her ears

Mrs. Clark's face turned beet red. "Detention, Ms. Woods! detention is what you're getting!"

The class fell silent, awaiting my response. I shrugged again, unimpressed. Detention? Really?Do you now understand what I mean by they decorate this place saying it's college?