One ~ You Owe Me
"Ash, why don't you eat something? Or is it just the nerves? Junior year can be rough but at least you got the hard part out of the way." My mother rambled. She hadn't stopped talking since I walked down for breakfast this morning. Don't get me wrong, I love her, but she really doesn't understand when to shut up.
I sighed at her nonsense. "I'm not really hungry." I admitted.
Grabbing my bag, I walked outside to my car; a small black car. I jumped into the driver's seat, throwing my bag into the back seat.
Laura had left for college 2 days ago, which should have left me as the new owner of her old car, but since Autumn was adopted, she was granted the unlimited power of being able to drive. Of course, since my rich parents felt bad about this situation, they let me use one of the extra cars that were away in storage. The bad thing? It was my grandma's car.
I pulled out my phone and hastily typed a quick message meant for one of my best friends, Becka.
On my way, see you soon.
She left me on "read" and I sighed at her annoying gesture.
I shook my head and cleared my thoughts. I had stayed up a little too late writing. After years of experience, I packed on the concealer so well that my under eyes were as white as a girl ordering a skinny latte at Starbucks.
The car was in motion, speeding down the road. Swirling trees flew past me, or rather, I flew past them. I took a quick glance in the side-view mirror.
My entire morning routine took about ten minutes. With my hair, makeup, outfit, and peircings; it wasn't too much of a struggle. I brushed my hair quickly and it took on a poofy bounce.
I slowed my car to a stop in a spot towards the front of the school. The engine faded to a small rumble, and I leaned back in my seat. I still had 15 minutes until I needed to be in my first class, so why not take my time?
Maybe I should just stay put in my car all day...
That thought was crushed when I spotted Becka and Trin, my other best friend, running up to my car. Taking a deep breath and preparing myself for the next full day of playing pretend, I slowly climbed out of my car, not before dragging my bag from the backseat and looping it around my arm.
Trin came bounding over with her bubblegum-colored hair flowing behind her.
"Hey, Ash! How was your summer?" She giggled, earning an eye roll from me and Becka.
"We saw each other last week," I reminded her.
"I know," she sighed wistfully. "Everyone else was doing the post-summer rituals so I thought we could try."
"Why be like everyone else?" I asked with a shrug.
They just awkwardly looked at each other, so I used that as an oppurtunity to nudge past them and walk towards the junior doors.
We, as in the "famous" family known as the Shroeders, have lived here in Eastview since my older sister Laura was three. My parents made it big when they were young, and have given us this lavish lifestyle that sometimes doesn't benefit us in the right way. (One of us children was a little spoiled growing up.)
When I reached the doors, Becka and Trin had caught up to me and were chattering behind me. Something about 'the cute new senior boy' across the hall. As always, okay, more like most of the time, I ignored them. I wasn't as boy-crazed as either of them, but as long as they didn't try to play matchmaker, I was alright. As I always was.
We made our way down the hall. Trin eventually turned to find her new locker, but mine and Becka's were close together. We continued down corridor, if you could even call it that, and we found our respective lockers.
I put in the combination and pulled up on the trigger, but it didn't open, just locked up. I huffed and tried again, but it didn't budge. Soon, my earliness this morning didn't matter because I was still here trying to open this damned locker.
"What the hell?" I mumbled.
"Need help?" A voice behind me called.
I whirled around and was faced by a boy around my age. His brown eyes bored into my pale blue ones.
"No," I growled. I didn't need nor want any help, especially from him.
I turned back to the devil locker, fumbling with the trigger thing. Yet, this boy didn't leave. Can't you take a hint?
"Are you gonna go to class?" I spat at him.
He shook his head nonchalantly. "I don't think so,"
"Why not?"
"I had this locker last year,"
"Meaning..." I trailed.
"I'm a senior," he confirmed.
Good. I won't see him a lot this year and then he'll be gone.
After another useless attempt, I kicked the locker with my boot. I turned back to the blond-haired boy with a raised brow.
"Are you going to help me or not?" I sneered.
He nodded with a smile, one so straight and bright that I wanted to roll my eyes, and trust me, I did.
After fumbling with the trigger for a moment, the locker swung open. My moth hung open in awe, but then slammed shut in annoyance.
"You have to push in, then pull." He replied with a dull tone.
I started putting in random notebooks and pencils, hoping he would go away.
"Not even a 'thanks'?" He asked. "Or a name, for that matter?"
I pulled out my schedule that had all my classes listed on it.
"Ashley," He read off the sheet.
"No," I barked. "Don't call me that."
"Why not?"
I slammed the locker door shut, spinning on my heel. The boy tagged along and followed me, much to my dismay.
"I'm Nathan," He informed me.
"Hi, Nate." I smirked.
His smile fell and turned into a frown.
"Hey, don't call me that."
"You keep calling me Ashley," I shrugged.
"Because it's your name!"
"I don't like it," I countered.
"Then what do I call you?"
I thought for a moment, contemplating whether or not I should tell him, or leave him hanging.
"Don't call me anything."
I reached my homeroom class and walked inside, leaving Nathan hanging by the doorway.
"You owe me! I helped you." He whined.
He did help me...
"How about you call me Ash then?" I called out to him.
"Deal," He smiled, showing me his perfectly annoying teeth. The bell rang and he looked up in worry. "Oh shit."
He ran out of the door, and only after a minute, did I realize I was smiling too.
