Zero

Chapter 6: Ashton

~Ashton's Point of View~

I don't understand how people can be jerks and get away with it. Seeing her read that note that some retard wrote, breaks my heart. She didn't even flinch or even react to the note. Instead she just crumpled it into a ball and threw it away. Do you know how many times this must have happened for her not to even care anymore?

I have tried making conversation with her, but she just ends them with one word. "How is the Hunger Games so far?" "Fine." "Do you have a pencil I could borrow?" "No." I even asked her, "What's for lunch?" This time she looks me in the eyes, and I swear I stopped breathing. What's wrong with me? Why am I getting so nervous? It's just Elizabeth. But she isn't just Elizabeth, not to me. Shit, where did that come from? "Food. We're having food, okay?" She says turning to look at the board. Just to see what happens, I begin to ask her another question, "Do you ha-." "You know what? How come you're asking me all these questions, huh? Let me ask you some questions." "Okay." I say, shrugging my shoulders.

For a moment she looks shock I agreed so quickly, but she quickly regains her composure. "Do you know what the hell is going on over on that board? 'Cause all I see is a hot mess of numbers and letters." I laugh at her description of algebra. "Yeah, it's simple." "Oh excuse me, I forgot I was talking to Mr. Valedictorian." She says mocking me. "Yeah you are. Now shouldn't you be groveling at my feet?" I ask her trying to contain my smile. "Shut up." She says smiling. She's even more beautiful when she smiles.

What the hell?

"Never, you comoner." I say, crumpling up a piece of paper and throwing it at her. She looks shocked that I did that, and I guess I could see why. I'm not one to throw things in class, or do anything that could disrupt the class. "I guess Mr. Goody-Two-Shoes, is now a bad boy?" She asks me raising her eyebrow. "I thought I was Mr. Valedictorian?" I ask her. "It changes depending on my mood. For instance if you piss me off, you shall be honored to be called Mr. Douche." She says laughing.

"Hey Ash. How you doing buddy?" Jacob asks me, getting up from his desk and patting me on the back. Just like that, Elizabeth is back to reading the board. I didn't even realize how loud the room had gotten, which means that Ms. Hoover must be completely knocked out. "What do you want?" I ask him aggrivated. He knows what he's doing, and I hate him for that. "Well the bell is about to ring. And I'm just making sure my buddy doesn't get trampled by this cow over here." He says gesturing to Elizabeth.

"Jacob. Leave." I tell him through clenched teeth. "Oh. You aren't falling for this heifer, are you?" Oh God, she will never forgive me for this. "No! Why would I fall for that?" I say gesturing towards Elizabeth. From the corner of my eye I see her flinch at my words. What was left of my heart, is now shattered into a thousand pieces. What the hell is wrong with me? The bell rings and she quickly swipes everything into her backpack and starts to leave. "Elizabeth!" I say, running after her, leaving a gapping Jacob behind.

I grab her by the elbow and force her to look at me. "Please, just let me explain." I say, grabbing her chin with my other hand, forcing her to look at me. I almost wish I was back in the classroom. Her eyes are filled with unspilled tears, and her lip is trembling like crazy. "No. You don't have to explain. I get it Ashton. Nobody wants to be with a cow." She says yanking her arm from mine. I'm left standing in the hall, feeling like Mr. Douche.