Disclaimer: I do not own any rights to South of Nowhere and all those good things
"Look, Ashley, I know it's been a hard time for you but if you don't start showing up for class you're going to fail," my English teacher tells me. She called my mom in for a parent meeting. I'm surprised she actually showed up.
"I can assure you that Ashley will be going to school from now on," my mom tells her. I roll my eyes and look down.
My mom thanks my teacher for her time and gets up to leave. I follow her out of the office.
"We'll talk about this at home. For right now get to class," she tells me. We both know that we won't talk about this at home.
I go to class. I try to slip in unnoticed but everyone turns my way. I hand my excuse slip to my teacher and sit in the back of the room.
In front of me is the same girl from yesterday. Normally I wouldn't remember a girl that I bumped into in the hallway, but it's very obvious she's not from around here. She turns around like she knew I was staring at her and smiles at me. I put on my best fake smile and smile back.
She turns back around in her seat.
After class she comes up to me. "I never got your name yesterday," she tells me. "I'm Spencer."
"Ashley," I say extending a hand to her. Her hand is warm and soft. It feels nice in mine. I have this urge to hold it, but I let it go.
"It's nice to meet you Ashley," she says.
"You too," I tell her.
"I guess I'll be seeing you around then," she says.
"I guess so," I reply.
At lunch Aiden comes and sits by me. "Hi, Ash," he says. Aiden. I used to love Aiden. Aiden used to love me. Aiden no longer cares and neither do I.
"Hi, Aiden," I reply.
"How are you doing?" he asks.
"I'm fine, Aiden," I tell him.
"Are you going to the party tonight?" he asks.
"I wasn't planning on it," I told him. I planned on going home and sleeping for the rest of the weekend.
"You haven't been to a party in weeks. That's not like you," he says.
"I'm just not feeling it," I tell him.
"Ashley…" He begins to say, but I see the look on his face. I've seen this look so many times in the past couple of months.
"Save it, Aiden, really I can't deal with this right now," I tell him. I don't want anymore 'Are you okays?' and 'I'm here if you need me.' What I need is everyone to leave me alone. No one actually cares and it's stupid to pretend that they do.
I get up and leave the table. I can't leave school or else my mom will guarantee that I don't get my trust fund. I can't breathe, and I need air.
I rush off to the music room. I tell myself to breathe.
Breathe. Just Breathe. I repeat this over and over until the knot in my throat goes away. I'm okay. I'm fine.
No one is in the music room since it's lunch. I take a guitar and strum for a while. At least this calms me. And for some time I truly feel okay.
After school, I go home. I throw my backpack on the ground and fall onto my bed. On my bedside is a picture of my dad and me. I look at it. He looks so happy. I look so happy. I was happy.
This picture is making me overwhelmed. This room is suddenly overwhelming.
I get into my car. I text Aiden.
"I think I might go to that party after all," I text him. He replies with smiley face.
I park two blocks away from the party to make sure my car won't get hit by some drunk idiot. I watch some people stammer out of the door before entering it myself.
I head to the kitchen and grab a beer. I open and chug it down fast.
"Ash," Aiden says from behind me. His arm is around Madison. I notice the new girl standing next to them, taking in the place.
"Do we really have to talk to her," Madison whines. Aiden ignores her.
"Hi," I say quietly. I regret my decision to come here, but I don't want to be home either.
"I'm glad you came," Aiden says. Madison rolls her eyes and grabs his arm. She drags him off to god knows where.
Spencer is standing there alone. She looks kind of awkward there just looking around.
"Hi, Spencer," I say. She looks at me. She smiles. I get that warm feeling again.
"Hi, Ashley," she says. "Enjoying the party?"
"Not really," I tell her, "You?"
"It's not really my thing," she tells me. I nod.
"Umm….I know a place if you want to go?" I say, more like question.
"That sounds kind of sketchy," she says with a smirk. Thinking back at what I said, I see how she got that impression.
"I meant that I know a quiet place at the beach. It beats this party," I explain quickly. She laughs quietly.
"Sure okay," she says. I lead her to my car.
"Do you play?" she asks gesturing to my guitar in the back seat.
"Yeah, a little," I reply.
"I'd like to hear you sometime," she says.
"Yeah, maybe," I tell her.
I drive to the beach. We don't talk much on the way there. She looks out the window, taking in the city.
When we get to the beach, I lead Spencer to my favorite spot. We sit.
"So tell me about yourself," I say to Spencer.
"Well, I moved from Ohio. Things here are pretty different. I'm a cheerleader," she says.
"Explains why you were hanging out with Madison," I say.
"What, you don't like Madison?" she asks me.
"Yeah, we don't really get along," I reply. She nods.
"And what about you," she asks me.
"Not much to tell," I reply. I really don't like to talk about myself.
"I'm sure that's not true," she says. I shrug my shoulders. She sighs.
"What would you like to know," I say. She smiles.
I know the chapters are short. So would you guys rather have longer chapters and wait longer to read them or shorter and have me post them earlier. Also do you like the style of it so far and what not?
