Disclaimer : South isn't mine. *blah,blah,blah*
Previously: The song ends as Ashley struggled to bite back her emotions.
But when her lips curve a second later, and she smiles, she doesn't see the need to dwell on it any longer. Ashley tosses the ipod back into her book bag just as the bell signaling sixth period erupts into the cafeteria.
Back to class Ashley.
*****
UPDATE: EDITED.
*****
Chapter Four : The Trick Is To Keep Breathing
Ashley made her way through the crowed halls of King High once again, dashing her way to her sixth period class; Art.
As she walked into the cluttered classroom, Ashley started to get this weird feeling. Like, the kind one would get entering into an elevator that had previously malfunctioned and killed four passengers the previous day. Kind of like that, but less morbid, and she couldn't shake it.
An older man, who she presumes to be the teacher, waves her over to his desk, obviously looking over the look of slight dread flashing across the girl's face. When an a hand touches her shoulder, Ashley abandons her thoughts, and focused on the man's face. She instantly recognized the man to be her seventh grade Art teacher, but an older, bearded version.
"Hello, Ashley, it's nice to see you again," He greets politely, motioning over at a desk in the far corner of the classroom. "Over there's your desk, okay? Now, just stand there while I go get your semester syllabus."
Obeying the teachers wishes, Ashley stood her ground quietly as the class started to fill up with more students she recognized. One of them calls out the teacher's name, Mr. Roberts, and threw some weird free form object into his hands. Once the teacher returns, he handed Ashley a packet of papers and told her she could sit down now. She only nodded, not quite in the mood to talk at the moment. She was still the new girl after all, no one would bother her today.
"Hello again, and welcome to another year here at King High," Mr. Roberts announces, stopping to raise his arms. "In this very cramped, yet stylish, square we call Art class!"
The teacher awaited a reaction from his students, but instead, received only silence.
"Well, don't all clap at once," He adds sarcastically. "Yeah, yeah. I wanna go home too."
I rolled my eyes at his humor, settling down into my desk. Thankfully, all my desks were relatively near the back and no one could really stare at me like they'd been doing all day without getting in trouble by the teacher.
"But first things first," Mr. Roberts says, pointing in my general direction. "Unless you're blind, you've noticed the new sparrow in our birds nest. Class, this little rebel here is Ashley Davies. Don't let the rocker bangs she's got going fool you, she's Ohio bred like the rest of us. Just moved back after what—three years, was it Ashley?"
Oh, god dammit. I bite my lip, fighting the urge to groan in annoyance, before answering him with a reluctant nod.
"Well then, Miss Davies, welcome to Art II," He continues, grinning her uneasiness. "Sorry, have to do that with every new student."
...
About 15 minutes into the class, and a few boring lectures over the syllabus later, there was a knock at the door. Looking up from the doodle she had been absently scribbling into the cover of her notebook, Ashley watches as Mr. Roberts opens the door with a loud gasp. She turns the volume down on her ipod, listening in.
"As I live and breathe," He breathed out, stepping halfway into the hall to hug the guest outside. "It's about time you showed up. How's my favorite pupil doing today?"
There's soft laughter outside of the door, which makes Ashley double take for a second, before turning back to her doodle and raising the music's volume again. Mr. Roberts guided the guest into the students view, except for Ashley, who was too entranced in her music to notice.
Curiosity is what made Ashley Davies lift her head again minutes later.
Mr. Roberts was at his desk, talking to a student. Her back was to Ashley, so she couldn't really get a clear look at her face, but she had a pretty good view of the back. The student was tall and slender with long, wavy chocolate brown hair. From her seat, she noted the student was wearing some faded baby blue jeans, a ruffled sleeveless blouse, and black flats. A brown pea coat draped sloppily over a book bag slung over her shoulder, contrasting with the elegance of her outfit. Ashley smiled, admiring the girl's fashion sense.
Minutes had passed, with Ashley still drifting her eyes towards the student every few seconds as Mr. Roberts led her about the room.
"I wonder who she is," She whispers aloud, curiosity beaming.
Mr. Roberts turned to the class then, grinning excitedly, and most likely about to introduce her. A small hand reaches up to her mouth as she shook her head at him, long chocolate waves bouncing. Giving into anticipation, Ashley removed her ear buds to listen.
"Students, your attention please," He calls out, clapping a few times as they quieted down. "There is someone special I want you to meet."
Ashley lent over her bad, unzipping it, and tossing her ipod inside as she listened to him continue to talk.
"Class, this is Spencer. Freshman, she fell in love with my class, and I'm glad she did," He informed them, practically bouncing at the heels. "And this year, she's graced us with her presence once more. I'm looking forward to her giving you amateurs a run for your money."
Ashley's hand hesitates on the zipper of her book bag, hearing a soft, familiar giggle filter over to her ears. "No way."
"Oh, I almost forgot! Spencer, I want to introduce you to our new student Ashley Davies..."
Ashley slowly lifted her head, meeting a familiar pair of shockingly blue, wide eyes staring right at her.
Slamming her eyes shut, and opening them again, she's completely sure she wasn't dreaming this.
Ashley was absolutely, positively sure she knew the girl in front of her.
After all, I'd know those eyes anywhere.
Blue eyes continued to stare into the stunned brown eyes across the room, both girls forgetting how to even breath for a second.
And in that moment, all both of them could think so say was...
"Ashley?"
"Spencer?"
R&R.