𝐈𝐓 𝐆𝐄𝐓𝐒 𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐈𝐄𝐑 ; daniel seavey

O N E

Ashley was new in school.

And, of course-like every other stereotypical time when a student enrolls in a new educational environment-people whispered and stared at her like she's some freaky science experiment.

She's never been the new kid before. She liked living in California with its beaches and warm sun. She missed going surfing on the weekends with her friends and she missed the small high school that she went to where she knew everyone.

California was nothing like New York.

New York is crowded, the people are rude and step on you like you're a piece of gum on their shoe, and there's a surprising amount of wind for a place with so many freaking buildings.

She really hated New York.

She also hated her new school, East High. Especially when her peers blatantly stared and pointed at her. She got it! She's new! Big freaking whoop! Now move on with your lives already!

When she entered first period, the noise level in the classroom immediately decreased. Geez, was it going to be like this all day?

Her black and grey converse squeaked as she walked to the empty seat in the back of the room. She sat down and glared at the teens that were still gawking at her. The hushed whispers began not long after.

"Hi."

Ashley turned to her right to find a girl with brown hair with blonde highlights and sea green eyes boring into hers. The girl wore a jean jacket with a white crop top and black leggings. She looked kind of snobby, but despite her tough exterior, she gave Ashley a wide smile.

"You're new here right?" she asked.

Ashley wanted to say, Well, no shit Sherlock, but held her tongue. She had a feeling that she did not want to get on this girl's bad side.

"Yeah, I am. My name's Ashley."

"Aspen," the girl responded back. More whispers surfaced through the room. Aspen rolled her eyes and directed a menacing glare to the rows of students.

"Can I help someone?" she practically yelled. Immediately, everyone turned away from the pair.

Ashley sighed in relief. "Thanks. I didn't know how much longer I would have held out before I snapped."

"No problem. I'm actually really glad you came here. You seem cool, and God only knows how tired I am of these idiots."

Ashley laughed. Aspen was definitely interesting and she liked her a lot. If she had to make friends with anyone in East High she's glad it's her.

Ashley sensed some movement to her left. She turned her head to see a boy dressed in all black. Black shoes, black jeans, black hoodie. She's never seen someone wear so much black in her life.

He was hunched over in his seat, just blankly staring at his desk. He looked so lifeless it unnerved her.

"Aspen," Ashley whispered to her new friend, careful so that the boy wouldn't hear, "who's he?"

Aspen looked over her shoulder to the boy and her eyes softened. "That's Daniel Seavey."

"Is he okay? He's just staring into space."

Aspen sighed. "His mother was killed by his stepfather a few months back. Luckily, the asshole's in jail and Daniel was taken in by the English teacher, Mr. Paul, who was good friends with his mom... But he hasn't been the same since."

Ashley gaped at her in utter shock. Here she was, complaining about moving like it was the end of the world when there were people like Daniel who had some serious problems in their lives.

She turned to look at Daniel again only to find him already gazing at her beneath the hood of his sweater.

She gave him a small smile, not out of pity, but out of friendliness.

His eyes widened the slightest bit before he quickly turned his head away from her.

Ashley couldn't help but wonder how lonely this boy must be. And God only knew how much of an expert she is on that subject.

So Ashley decided right then and there that somehow, someway, she was going to befriend Daniel Seavey.

And she sure as hell was going to see him smile.