High school Bad Boy's Secret

Chapter 9

~Ashlyn~
Callum and I were back to where we started-- being strangers.
I only talked to Nat,who kept asking me what's wrong?
She might have noticed something wierd about me.
It's true I have been acting all wierd lately.I occassionally talked to Jake and Tyler.
I deliberately avoided talking to Callum like he wanted.
I started spending more time with Liam. This is what I've always wanted - to spend time with Liam. But I don't feel like myself around him.
It seems I was more comfortable with Callum than I would ever be with Liam.
Sure Callum sometimes acted wierd now I know why, but even that makes me want to be closer to him.
This can't be happening....
I can't afford to be in love with him..
Days ago I had a crush on a different guy.
Everything has changed now..
These things are all fake- me being his girlfriend, my visit to his mom, that kiss.... every damn thing.

"Ashlyn....hey are you still here?" Liam shook my hand.
I broke out of my trance to see Liam looking at me. I sat at the corner of the cafeteria with Liam opposite of me. Nat and the guys sat just across us.
I told Nat that I won't be sitting with them because I wanted to spend more time with Liam which she was ok with. I looked over at Callum, he looked away as soon as our eyes met. I sighed.
"Yeah....just not feeling well" I lied to Liam.
"Ohh what's wrong?" He asked concerned.
"I just need to use the restroom" I said and I got up to leave.
~Callum~
I saw her leaving the cafeteria. I had a hard time resisting the urge to go after her.
I don't like seeing her with someone else. But it has to be this way. She can't be with me. It's my fault I was selfish, I wanted to be around her. I took advantage of my mom's condition to get close to her. All of this has led to the kiss and to the situation right now.
I feel like a criminal.

"Whom are you going to take to prom?" Tyler asked suddenly.
"I thought he might be going with Ash" Jake said munching his food.
"Nah... She's probably going with Liam" Nat said as if it was obvious.
"Her long time crush..." Jake sighed.
I was getting irritated.
"Guys please let's talk about something else" I said finally
The guys looked wierdly at me.Nat simply frowned.

I haven't really thought about prom. Well my first intention was to take Ashlyn with me.
Though I knew she would never agree. I never thought I'd ever get so close to her or kiss her.
I have to avoid prom at any cost.

~Ashlyn~
I felt tears flooding my eyes.
Why am I crying for a guy I met a few weeks ago.
What am I doing?
I've liked Liam all my life..
What's happening all of sudden now?
Why can't I focus on my life?
Why can't I focus on Liam?
Why can't I focus on anything?

I wipe away my tears before leaving the restroom.
I let out a yelp as soon as I step outside.
Liam was standing outside the restroom.
"What are you doing here?" I said catching my breath.
"Ohh... Did I scare you?" He asked innocently.
"Yeah Liam" I said a bit irritated.
"Oh sorry" he said biting his lower lip.
We stood there for about a minute after which he said-
"Do you want to go to the prom with me?"
I looked at him in disbelief.
My 'once' crush is asking me to the prom.
That's what I always wanted.
Any other day I would jumped in joy, but today was different.
I didn't like the idea of being with Liam anymore.
" I do... " I said after a while. I should move on. But then I said -" and I don't" I sighed. " I do and I don't"
"Huh...?"Liam said confused. " I thought you liked me....well atleast that's what Callum told me"
Wait what!!?
"Well I was convinced that you two are dating until he told me that you like me" Liam continued.
I looked at Liam in disbelief...
Callum!
Why did he do that?
Why does he think that I needed his help?
Why does he keep involving himself in my life?
I turned around without another word to Liam.
"Hey Ashlyn... Wait" I heard him say.

I searched for Callum in the whole school, I finally found him at the back of the school ground smoking.
Ofcourse!
I stormed towards him.
Before he could react any further I grabbed him by his collar and shouted-
"What's wrong with you? Why do you have to interfere with my life?" I yelled
He jerked off my hands from his collar.
"What do mean?" he asked calmly.
" Why did you tell Liam that I like him?" I half shouted.
"I just want you to be happy" he said with the same tone.
" You have no idea what makes me happy.." I said
"I was just helping you" he shrugged.
" I don't need your stupid help...infact you came to me asking for help" I said.
I saw him frowning at my words.
"It was your idea...the whole fake relationship thing" I continued "you kissed me first I didn't" I added
"And you didn't back off" he shouted back.
I glared at him.
"Just stay away from me" I told him.
I turned around to see the whole school gathered around us.
Some were even making videos.

I left school as soon as I could.
Back at home I couldn't control my tears.
What am I doing?
What's wrong with me?
Why is he effecting me so much?
I called Nat , she was there too. She deserves to know everything. She's my best friend.
I told her everything from Callum's mom's condition to our fake relationship around her and our kiss and him confessing his love to me and him telling Liam about my crush on the latter.
She was shocked as much as I was first.
She came over and we talked about it.
"You should have a decent talk with him" she proposed.
"No..he thinks I'm better off without him" I said.
"It's wierd you know...this one time your crush is showing some interest in you and you end up kissing another guy." She sighed
Yes it's wierd!
I decided to call up Liam and apologize to him for earlier and I told him everything. He deserved to know too. He said he understood. Which came as a relief.