Cloudy Cover, Clear Contents

Chapter 11 - Drama

Ash's POV

With the events of this morning.. I haven't been able to focus in class, but luckily my teachers don't seem to mind. I'm in math now and I just so happened to pair up with Mr. Camel himself. Although we didn't talk at first, I noticed his mouth open on multiple occasions.. as if he wanted to say something. He gets to a problem that he can't figure out and barely squeaks out 'help'. "What's the problem Calem?" "Well, I've got two.." "Two? But the paper only has one left?". His eyes finally meet mine, he gives out a low growl. "Ash, why are you interfering with Serena and I? You haven't even started a relationship with her.. and yet she somehow loves you more?" "So what's the problem? That she's hanging out with me or that I'm in the way?" "Both god damnit". I can't help but chuckle at his response. "Calem, I'm here to just get pay back.. I know I should forget about her.. I guess you did me a big favor, but I still hold a grudge" "And you're just going to use Serena?" "She agreed with me.. after she found out that you were cheating that is" "How-". I point at myself while I start figuring out the next set of problems. "I don't know what she sees in you. You're such a loner.. You may have been popular but you were a loner in junior high. All your friends were fake except for Paul and I" "What was I supposed to do? I can't help that my family has left me.. what am I supposed to do?" "You for one could just look to not interfere with everyone else's lives" "This makes no sense man, you don't want me to have some fun with Serena? You're not her boyfriend anymore, just quit it" "I'll persuade her, I saw her eyes, she doesn't love you.. she just is confused" "And who's the one who made her confused?" "Me.. But you escalated the whole thing" "Sure sure, let's just finish this set of probability problems"

Serena's POV

I wasn't sure how much time had passed in school, but what I did know was that lunch was upon me. While making my way towards the lunch building, I kept swearing to myself about the whole fiasco this morning. I told Calem that I loved Ash more, which I didn't.. But if I wanted to move on with my life, I was going to have to take some action. I was felt like I was drunk, drunk off of the pain I was feeling. I kept cursing until my eyes noticed someone in the hall. My headache, my drunk feelings just disappeared. It was as if my consciousness was knocked awake.

"So the hell do you need Calem". My voice sounded strong but my heart felt fragile. His body was slanted along a wall, with his hands in his pockets. His eyes looked up, and his gaze softened once it fell upon my eyes. As I came closer I noticed the expression on his face, not anger but concern. "Calem, what do you need". My voice was filled with venom, but again.. my heart was not. It took all my effort to just not run into his arms and plead for forgiveness. "Serena, we need to talk" "You talked to me already, get out.. I have Ash with me" "He's not good for you" "What do you mean 'Not good for me?'". My feet halted a meter away from him, his body straightened as he spoke "I was wrong, but using Ash.. is not going to work out for you. He puts up façades" "I know that, I've dealt with it first hand" "I knew him in junior high" "And why did you bully him, Paul told me that he was a nice guy" "He was nice, but his past was not. Don't get involved with him. His family matters are messed up and his flirting won't stop" "Family?" "I never flirted.." "Don't dodge the question, yeah you didn't flirt but you cheated on me" "Anyways" "That's not something to just gloss over Calem". Somehow my body had pressed into the wall while his body inched closer to mine, pinning me on the wall. "His fortune is massive, didn't you notice the car he had?" "I did, what's wrong with it" "I know I'm confusing you, but his family, Paris and his life.. it will put too much stress on you. Give up on him, I know you love me".

"I-I-I don't love you". I was barely able to stammer that out, but once I did he brought his face closer to mine, forgetting about the people in the hallways. A blush rushed towards my face as his was centimeters away. His breath was familiar and his touch was soothing. My mind fought, the old Serena and the new one. One telling me to trust him like I did before, while the other one telling me to get away from him. His lips kept getting closer and closer. "You want me to kiss, I know you do. Forget about Ash, I've seen his life, it's not pretty" "So before I even get to know him you want me to just judge him?" "Well sweet girls like you shouldn't deal with the pain and confusion that will come to you if you follow Ash's past". His lips were a mere centimeter away, my body wanted to push forward, push into his lips and forget about this whole mess. But someone came, clearing up my mind.

"So Calem, this is your way of taking your girl back? She's with me, not you". Calem's head swiveled in the direction of Ash's voice. His eyes met Ash's and he looked back at me. His face was farther away, but he then pushed his face into mine. His lips met my hand, as I was just able to get them in between our two lips. "What are you doing Calem, I'm not yours anymore". His face grew in anger as he then brought his body off of mine. I breathed a sigh of relief, but things weren't over yet. "Ash, what did you tell her!? What did you say to corrupt her!?" "Corrupt her? I'm not sure what you mean Calem?" "Have you told her anything about your past?". Ash's eyes widened as Calem kept speaking "Have you told her about your previous relationship? Have you told her about your parents? Your family as a whole? You know exactly what your bringing her into!? She's an innocent girl" "She's a strong women you mean". My face heats up, while Calem's eyes just continue to glare. "Who said I was bringing her into it, I'm just here to help her.. You hurt her, you hurt her trust and her courage. You confused her!" "Not bringing her into it? Does that mean you're toying around with this relationship you have with her?". My head regains the headache from before as I try to follow what they're saying. "I don't know Calem, she can decide if she wants, if she wants to be serious well.. I don't know my answer". I'm utterly confused at this point. "Let me get this straight, you're just taking her away from me?" "You could say that" "You're just like your mother, all she ever did was play around". As my eyes focus in on Ash, I notice anger start to seep into his face. "Bastard, I knew that was the reason that you played with Paris. Just so that you could get back at me. (He turns towards me) I'll tell you what Serena, I'll be completely honest. I'm not here to get into a serious relationship with you. I'm also not looking to play around with you. I'm not necessarily sure about why I'm doing this, but if you want to go back to that fake person.. go ahead. All he's done to me is put me down, he may admire me.. but I've had to go through hell to get to where I am today. All I'm looking to do with you is to take you away from someone who's just going to confuse you more. And maybe you can just help me in return". My eyes return to Calem's as his do the same with mine. "You hear that Serena? He doesn't care about you, he's just there to get some revenge. His life is a mess, he is a mess. Me? I want to take a journey with you. Till we die, I want to be my true self". (A/n: Probably you right now) I don't know what is happening. They've just talked about things that relate to them that I don't have a clue about. What is this about Ash's past? His family? His old girlfriend? What is he hiding? All he is, is a big flirt and sometimes a nice guy. But why is he a nice guy? IS that also a façade? What is his true personality. He's just so complexed. I notice his smiles are fake, even sometimes when he's around Astrid or Paul. What are you hiding Ash?

"I don't mind Calem, he's interesting.. And you're a liar, cheater and an easily controlled person. I'm moving on, I need to move on. You just confuse me, you say you love me, and yet you cheat with Miette. You say to get away from Ash, yet I don't know a single thing about him" "That's how it should stay Serena, get away from him". With my mind a little clearer, I make my way towards Ash and I intertwine my fingers with Ash.

"Calem, just... just.. stop confusing me. Stop hurting my heart" "That means you still love me!! You still care for-" "SHUT UP!! Relationships aren't to toy with, feelings aren't to mess around with" "Ash is going to do that with you" "STOP" "You can't even convince yourself, can't you see that he's confusing you" "Ash, let's go. Take me away, I can't take it anymore". Ash pulls my arms away from the lunch room, away from him.

And yet he still shouts 'You're going to hurt yourself!'.