Ash’s POV

I had covered my bruise with makeup, making sure that nobody would be able to see unless they looked really closely or they removed the makeup, but that wasn’t going to happen. Although I knew that I covered it up perfectly, I still felt so self conscious and kept my head down whenever I was walking through the hallways. I didn’t want anybody calling me out and asking what happened. Telling Alex and Jack a lie was worse enough, I didn’t need to be lying to more people.

At least I didn’t have to see Luke anymore. I felt like I was falling in love with him, but he just suddenly changed. There was no way I could stay with him. If he cared, I would have, but he obviously didn’t. I didn’t care if we wouldn’t talk anymore, we were over. He fucked up, and I couldn’t accept that… but it was also partially my fault…

Oh, who was I kidding! It was all my fault! If I had just given him what he wanted, then we would still be happily together! Why did I have to push him away? Why did I have to be so afraid? It was just sex, it wasn’t really big deal. Harper told me that I should have taken the chance when I got it, but stupid old me had to go and screw it up.

Once again, I was looking down at my feet while I walked to my locker to put my books away and get the stuff I needed for the classes after lunch. Alex was joking around with Rian just a couple of feet in front of me, having come out of the same class as I was in. Normally, I would keep up with them and maybe join in with some of the banter occasionally. But today I couldn’t care less, and it seemed like they couldn’t either. They hadn’t realised that I was steps behind them, not listening, and not joining in on their conversation. Just another confirmation that I fucked up. My own friends didn’t even care anymore. Nobody cared.

I looked up when I was nearly at my locker, and froze. He was standing right there, leaning against the locker next to mine, looking around the hallway for a specific person; looking for me. I wanted to turn around and walk away right there, but we had already made eye contact. His stare terrified me, reminding me of the look he gave me the night before. It was icy, cold, yet there was still a small twinkle in them; the twinkle I fell for. He was still in there somewhere…

Taking a deep breath, I continued walking, trying my best to ignore him while I opened the thin metal door after unlocking it. I could feel his eyes looking right at me, boring through me, trying to get my attention. Trust me when I say I really tried my best, but when he kept inching closer I started to freak out, thinking he might cause a scene in the middle of the hallway. Nobody could know about what happened.

I looked up at him, seeing him give me a small smirk when I finally got my attention. However, I did not return it. After what he had done, I wasn’t going to give in that easily, not while there were people still around to protect me.

“What are you doing here?” I mumbled, trying to keep my voice low and quiet so nobody around us would here. They didn’t need to suddenly get into all my business and secrets.

“I just need to talk to you,” he whispered back, having a similar idea to me.

“So, talk.”

“In private, though.”

I looked at Alex and the others and saw them already walking towards the cafeteria. I was going to ask them if they minded if I went to talk to Luke for a bit before joining them, but they didn’t seem to care. So, i just shyly nodded at Luke, and let him lead me to an empty classroom. What a great convenience for one to be open! I sat down on one of the tables, even though that would mean I wouldn’t be able to run if I had to.

Luke closed the door and came up to me, stopping in between my legs and putting his hands on my thighs, “I just want to say I’m sorry about yesterday, and that I love you. I don’t know what came over me. I think I might have drunk a little too much at the restaurant, and it’s just been a very bad week for me. Taking it all out on you was a mistake. I never want something like that to happen again.”

I had told myself that I wasn’t going to forgive him, but damn did I like this guy so much. He even said he loved me! How could I just break up with him when he confesses that! And it seemed like he had some good excuses… right? I mean, he did apologize, that must mean something. It was impossible he was going to say all that unless he didn’t mean it.

“Okay,” I smiled shyly, looking up at him through my eyelashes. I might just have loved him as well, but I wasn’t ready to tell him. It was my small secret for now.

“Good,” he softly planted his lips against mine, pulling away just to rest his forehead against mine, “I just have one small request.”

“Sure,” I bit my lip, looking him right in the eyes while occasionally glancing down at his lips again.

“Stay away from Alex and those friends of his,” he slowly pulled away completely, tightening his grip on my legs just a bit more. I thought he was joking, but his facial features were completely serious and stern.

So, I frowned, “But they are my friends as well. Why would I stay away from them?”

“No, they are not your friends,” he burst out, taking a step away from me, “They don’t give a fuck about you! I saw how they completely ignored you after class and just now! Friends don’t do that! I care about you; I try to protect you,” the space he had created just a second before, was being closed once again, leaving him to freely shout right in my face, “Ok?! So you better fucking stay away from them! I love you, they don’t! So, don’t you fucking dare hang around them anymore!”

I flinched as he growled the last word; I was terrified of what he was going to do next. It was likely he was going to try to hurt me again, and I couldn’t afford to have to cover up more bruises -- the one on my face alone took me 20 minutes! So, I just quickly and apprehensively nodded my head, agreeing to his suggestion -- no, wait, his request.

“Ok, good,” he calmed back down and kissed my cheek, “now go have some lunch, I don’t want you to be some skinnyass bitch.”

----
Alex’s POV

After class, I saw Luke standing at Ash’s locker, waiting up for her. I really wasn’t sure about him anymore. He had this weird angry and determined look that even terrified me! Of course I realised that Ash wasn’t walking next to Rian and I anymore, but I couldn’t dare let myself be caught around Ash while Luke was around. He was the least caring and the most frightening person here. Nobody could mess with him.

When Ash finally got to her locker, I heard them talking to each other in hushed tones, however I could never understand a single word. I didn’t understand why they would be talking like that, since normally Ash wouldn’t whisper unless it was to tease one of us with a ‘secret’. Their talk seemed to keep Ash held up at her locker for a while, and I decided to wait for her. But when Luke turned his head and glared at me, I knew it was time to go.

Yes, I should have stood my ground and fought against him, but that would only have hurt Ash. She really did like the guy and she seemed happy with him. The least I could do was let her be happy, and if Luke was what did that, I was going to have to be fine with it. Of course, I still had the same feelings for Ash, there was no way I could just forget about them and get over her. They would always be there, but i was just going to have to let it affect me a tiny bit less.

After we had gotten our food, and taken a seat at our usual table, I realised Ash still hadn’t come in yet. It was scaring me, wondering whether he would threaten her just like he had done to me, but that was just a silly and stupid thought. Of course he wouldn’t do that! But I still wanted to go look for… you know, just in case.

However, my worried were brought to a halt, when I saw her walk in and quickly join the line to get food. Since most people already had what they needed, the line was very short and she went through it in no time. I followed her with my eyes, ready to make some space for her by scooting up. But she never came; she never made eye contact or looking in our direction. She just walked straight to the empty table Lianne used to sit at, and sat there. Everybody else seemed to realise this as well, as when I went to tell my friends, I saw their heads looking in the same direction.

“Maybe she just wanted to sit somewhere else for once?” Jack suggested with a hopeful tone to comfort us all, “should we go up to her?”

“No, I’ll go, you guys stay here,” Lianne stood up, slung her bag over her shoulder and picked up her food, “she was the one that came to me when I was alone, now it’s my turn.” And with that she went to join the beautiful girl at the other end on the cafeteria.

“Guys, she thinks we betrayed her,” I mumbled with a sigh, watching as Lianne sat down right across with Ash trying to make a conversation, “we just walked away from her. That’s just mean. It’s like we don’t want her around us.”

“But that dude is terrifying!” Rian argued, “we can’t help it.”

“I know…”

It didn’t seem like Lianne’s plan was working. While she was still talking, although she had never gotten a reply back, Ash finished the last of her food before standing up to bring her tray away. She never looked back or Lianne, nor did she ever look in my direction.

We really fucked this up.

Notes

Hmmm.... what's going to happen next? Can you guess?